A 92-year-old war hero who died after crashing into a sign post on his motorcycle was an active member of Redruth Royal British Legion.

The family of Frederick Pengilly, known as Fred, have paid tribute to the nonagenarian who was a member of the Parachute Regiment during World War Two.

He parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and Operation Varsity. After the war he was an active member of Redruth Royal British Legion and was the town’s parade marshall for many years.

Mr Pengilly was born in Miami, Arizona in 1920 to Cornish parents, and he joined the Army in 1937. His wife Lilian died in 2010 and he is survived by four sons and a daughter.

Mr Pengilly died on Sunday, September 16, as a result of the collision on the previous Tuesday. This took place at around 10.50am on the A3047 outside Redruth School.

A police spokesperson said Mr Pengilly was riding his small Aprilla motorcycle when it appears he lost control, leaving the road and riding onto the grass verge before colliding with a sign post.

At the scene he spoke to witnesses and police officers before being taken to Truro’s Royal Cornwall Hospital, where he died from “serious” injuries five days later.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Sergeant Phillip Grigg at the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit at Camborne, on 101 quoting log number 220 11/09/12.