A SECOND World War veteran from Bury, who survived a 932-mile death march', has died peacefully in his sleep in New Zealand.

Ron Malone was captured in Crete by the Germans in June 1941 and spent the next four years as a prisoner of war (POW), working in camps at Peiskretcham, Tarnovitz and a coal mine in Knurov in Poland.

When the Russians advanced, the German guards forced the prisoners, including Ron, to leave the camp in January 1945 and march by night, to avoid being seen by allied planes, in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees centigrade. They walked for 1,500 kilometres until reaching Bavaria in April. It was known as the Death March.

Returning from Germany in 1945, Ron went back into the army for rehabilitation and was demobilised in 1946. Ron was born on April 28, 1920, in Charles Street, Bury. His mum was Nelly Malone but Ron was fostered by her sister, Beatrice. He later lived in Ashworth Street and then at 11 Louis Avenue in north-east Bury.

At the age of 20, Ron, who was better known by his middle name of Stanley, joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

A year later, on his 21st birthday, he landed in Crete which fell into enemy hands on June 1, 1941.

Ron was a POW in Stalag 7A in Bavaria, at Westend Lager in Munich and at Stalag 8B in Upper Silesia.

Back at home, his family had moved to Morecambe and, following demobilisation, Ron followed them.

Later he applied for a job as an engineer in New Zealand, leaving the UK in 1949 for Christchurch, where he met and married Dorothy Penhalluriack in 1950.

Ron was living at a retirement home with his wife in Christchurch where he died peacefully on October 2, aged 86.

He is also survived by their three children, Brandon, David and Barbara, and five grandchildren.

The Bury Times was told of Ron's death by distant relative and former Bury man, Tony Malone who lives in West Sussex. He said: "The Malone family has a very long association with Bury, Tottington and Radcliffe.

"I was researching my family tree and came across Ron's name in back issues of the Bury Times.

"He was a very brave man who suffered horrific treatment at the hands of his German captors during the Second World War."

Tony added: "Anyone who knew Ron or his family can contact me. I will gladly share information.

Anyone wishing to get in touch with Tony can write to him at 3 Windermere Crescent, Goring by Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6JY; telephone 01903 246486, or email tony@malone6.fsnet.co.uk