IAIN Thomson was a man of the Army - and one of its best shots.

He spent 30 years serving his country all over the world and his exploits of derring-do would fill a book.

Sadly, it will never be written: most of the stories of courage will pass in to history with his funeral at St Martin's Church in Hereford tomorrow (Friday).

Eight years of his service were spent with 22 Special Air Service Regiment in Hereford and it became his adopted city, where he spent the last few years of his retirement.

He became a staff sergeant in the earlier days of the regiment and has been described as a popular, respected and dedicated soldier.

People from far and wide are expected at the funeral to honour the man who was mentioned in dispatches for services in Borneo and received a commendation for work in Beirut.

Among them will be his only son, also Iain, who knows just a little of his father's experiences and hopes to mingle with other mourners to find out more.

"My father talked little of his work, but he loved the Army; it was his life and it gave him a buzz," he said.

Iain Thomson was born in Fife in Scotland, the eldest of five. His father died when he was 12 and he had to leave school at 14, starting work 'going down the pits'.

He joined the pit rescue team, its youngest member, not knowing that disaster was near.

There was a massive explosion, caused by methane gas, killing many of his work-mates.

Iain, the smallest, squeezed through a gap and was the first to see fellow miners lying fused together in death. But he coped, and the experience helped prepare him for his future life.

At 20 Iain joined his local Black Watch Regiment and then 2 Parachute Regiment before setting his sights on the SAS. In 1963 he was one of two soldiers out of 100 candidates to be accepted for the elite regiment.

He loved the life, seeing service all over the world. "He was a round peg in a round hole," said his son.

At 26 he was in Borneo, a lead scout with Lillicoe Patrol. While gathering intelligence in terrorist territory he was shot in the leg and seriously hurt. He was sought by friend and foe and hid-out in the jungle for days before being rescued by Ghurkas.

Maggots had invaded his wounds and probably saved his life but he was left with a limp. He was mentioned in dispatches for his contribution in Borneo

After leaving the SAS Iain served with the Army in Brecon, training others and later went to Singapore with the Gordon Highlanders. He was an expert parachutist but in 1985 broke his 'good' leg when jumping in Germany.

He did security work in many parts of the world and was part of a team looking after scientists, including man on the moon Neil Armstrong, working in caves in Ecuador.

Iain won recognition as one of the best shots in the British Army, with many awards including top prizes at Bisley.

He found it hard to give up Army life and gave some of his later years in Hereford helping to train others.

The last couple of years were blighted with illness but, like a true soldier, Iain battled to the end before his death, at the age of 65, in Heartlands Hospital last week.

The funeral service at St Martin's Church is at 1.30pm, followed by cremation.

Donations for St Michael's Hospice, for which he had great admiration, would be welcome.