A brave veteran who was awarded two Military Crosses while serving in the Malayan jungle has died aged 90.

Major Rex Carr, who was born in Stowlangtoft and lived in Hawstead, was known locally for his gardening business and had a 30-year military career.

Born on October 23, 1922, Maj Carr, known as Pat in the Army, was educated at Malvern before enlisting into the Suffolk Regiment at the beginning of the war.

In early 1944, Maj Carr joined the 4th Battalion 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha Rifles and served in the Battle of Kohima in northern India as a company commander.

It was with the 7th Gurkha Rifles in Malaya in 1953 that he was awarded the Military Cross for “outstanding personal courage, brilliant leadership and cool-headed skill” while on anti-terrorist operations near Bentong when he silenced a terrorist Bren gun firing on his men.

In 1953/54, Maj Carr proved himself to be one of the most successful company commanders in the country with his unit accounting for 50 of the enemy.

In a firefight in the wetlands of Tasek Bera, Negeri Sembilan, he had two fingers of his right hand shot away, and had it been two inches higher, the bullet would have killed him.

Before his wounds had healed, he was back in action in the jungle.

The citation for the award of a Bar to Maj Carr’s Military Cross said: “It is not too much to say that Major Carr’s skill, bravery and relentless pursuit of the enemy whether in deep jungle of swamp or any other kind of terrain have become a byword.

“He has shown an utter disregard for danger and such skill in operations that he is an outstanding example to every other officer taking part in this campaign”.

Maj Carr left the army in 1969 and moved to Hawstead with his wife Rosemary, who he leaves behind as well as daughter, Sylvia, and two sons, Charlie and James and 11 grandchildren.

He died at home on August 22.