Tributes paid to "dedicated, passionate and experienced" submariner

Mr Coles, who lived in Craven Road, Newbury, was one of a small group of Royal Navy volunteers who took part in a secret and dangerous mission on board HMS Faulknor to sink German battleship, Tirpitz, in 1943.
He was involved in many attacks as part of the midget X Craft submarines, including the destruction of floating docks in Bergen, Norway, in 1944.
He also played a vital role in the cutting of communication cables in the Far East which forced enemies to use easily interceptable radio communications - an operation which ended the Second World War months earlier than anticipated.
Mr Coles’ dedication and bravery saw him awarded a distinguished service medal in the Second World War for service in a midget submarine.
After his naval retirement in 1958, he joined the civil service and worked for several years in Malaysia, where he was recommended for an MBE for overseeing the removal of radar equipment from Penang Hill RAF base.
It was Mr Coles who took down the last Union Jack flag at the base.
When he moved back to Newbury, he worked part-time for dredging company Van Oord UK (formerly Zanen) in Hambridge Lane.
He died peacefully on Friday, May 2. It follows the death of his wife of 62 years, Marie, in 2010.
He was born in Tilehurst, however spent most of his childhood in Theale with his Autn Alice and Uncle Fred, following the death of both his mother and father before he was six years old.
His youngest daughter, Jane Gilbert, with whom he lived with for his final two months, said: “Family life was so important to my dad as he had such a rough start in life.
“He was a devoted husband to my mother who sadly died from dementia. He cared for her completely by himself and refused to let her go into a home even though he was 90 himself.
“Family was just so huge to us.
“He was so kind and patient, loving and generous. He was a saint.”
Her partner, Stephen Minchin, added: “When people speak of Vernon, everybody mentions dignity, generosity and kindness. That was the man.
“He was so happy, so warm and humble.”
He also leaves behind his other children, Susan and John, as well as seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Just four weeks before his death, on his 94th birthday, Mr Coles fulfilled the single two items on his bucket list - travelling on the Channel Tunnel and visiting Menin Gate war memorial in Belgium.
At the time of his death, he was still president of the Royal Berkshire Submariners Association and of the HMS Faulknor Association.
Mr Coles’ funeral is being held at St Mary’s Church, Shaw-Cum-Donnington, at 1pm on Friday, May 23.
He will be buried with his wife in Shaw Cemetery.
A wake will follow at the Newbury Royal British Legion Clubhouse, Pelican Lane, from 3pm.