ONE of the last survivors of Britain's worst-ever maritime disaster has died at his Hereford home, aged 83.

Thomas Hutchison was a 19-year-old soldier aboard the HMT Lancastria when German bombers struck on June 17, 1940, killing around 6,000 troops, RAF personnel and civilian refugees.

A hero to the last, the 83-year-old who survived a tragedy greater than the Titanic, died in dignity from his war scars on February 5, after sharing his story with family for the first time.

It began as he awaited evacuation off France's St Nazaire coast aboard the 16,243 ton Cunard liner. Over laden with men, stationary and undefended, it was a sitting duck for enemy planes.

Thomas was inside an inner cabin when the first of four bombs struck and he struggled to the upper decks. "To get off the boat he remembered 'boots off, top uniform off', but one of his boots knotted," said daughter, Raye Dancocks, who has diligently recorded her father's memoirs.

Thomas, who lived and died at Shellard Walk, Redhill, described how the ship made a lurch towards the water and he jumped, one boot on, with thousands of others into a bullet strafed sea.

"He said 'I was floating on my back and looked up and saw aircraft. Bullets were hitting the water in a line coming towards me.' He thought 'If you are going to kill me I'm not going to watch'. He rolled on to his side and the bullets missed him by feet and inches," said Raye, vice chairman of the Lancastria Association.

Casualties not killed by bombs - one shuttled down the ship's funnel and exploded in the engine room - and bullets, died from ingesting deadly oil, leaking from a bomb-ruptured fuel tank.

Oil sank through every pore of Thomas' body and into his mouth. He would have joined his colleagues of No 1 Heavy Repair Shop and their mascot, Happy the dwarf, in their watery grave had he not been plucked to safety by French fishermen. They gave him warm red wine and he vomited black oil, saving his life.

It took two hours for the German Dornier Do17 planes to strike the Lancastria. Incredibly, during her death throes, troops stranded on her sinking hull were heard singing 'Roll out the Barrel' and 'There will always be an England'.

Amongst the rescued troops was another Herefordshire man, Ken Belsham from Moreton-on-Lugg, and a friend of Thomas', Tom Beattie, who lives in Hay-on-Wye.

"Tom was a good friend and a popular person," said Mr Beattie, who had been in the Lancastria's hold, along with, Tom, playing cards. He had gone out for fresh air when the first bomb struck, claiming his mates below. He said many were trapped by the ship's automatic doors.

After the war Thomas returned to Britain and married Sadie at St Martin's Church, Hereford. His next posting with wife and new baby, Raye, was to Singapore where the married quarters was the Japanese officers' quarters of Changi Jail!

It was their next home, a jungle village, where Thomas' life was threatened a second time. He contracted TB in one lung and was saved by having half his ribs removed and the infected organ folded down.

"His cussedness and determination to get over any illness was to the point of bloody mindedness, which is why with all that was wrong, he has lived to 83 years," said Raye.

He was also determined to mark his diamond wedding anniversary. He gave Sadie a beautiful diamond ring just days before his death.

A celebration of his life will be at 1pm tomorrow, Friday, at St Martin's Church, Hereford, where they wed. His coffin will be graced with his medals and beret and draped with the Union flag. The friends he has made over the years will be welcome at the service.