Edith Johnstone-Hart

She had been regarded as an eccentric cyclist by most in her Herefordshire Village but Edith Johnstone-Hart had a past that would cause a sensation at her funeral.

The spirited lady from Eltons Marsh harboured a dark tale of wartime espionage - secrets she took to her grave.

A member of the Special Operations Executive, she never breathed a word about the dangerous missions she undertook behind enemy lines in World War Two.

The opportunity finally to present the sketchy details of her brave life was seized by her friends, including the Rev. Jimmy Morrison at her funeral in Burghill on Monday 28th. January 2002.

Affectionately known as "Johnny" she was described as one of the 'few old loyal compatriots' by John Edwards , a piper who attended her funeral in full regalia to play Flowers of the Forest - the traditional final tribute for military heroines and heroes.

Born in Germany 'Johnny' was the daughter of a German mother and a Scots father, a textile manufacturer.

The family had moved to London when she was a girl before making what was probably a discreet move to a sheep farm in Wales at the outbreak of war, for the safety of mum.

It is believed 'Johnny' saw her roots as Scottish and she became a staunch patriot - her coffin was swathed in a Union Flag by the Royal British Legion who paid tribute to the women they regarded an unsung heroine.

Paying homage to her extrodinary life, the Rev. Jimmy Morrison said she had a great heart, capable of enormous sentimentality, and on several occasions they had sat together watching Remembrance Day on TV.

After painstakingly piecing together her chequered life he found his friend had initially trained as a caterer in London. She was called up to the Auxillery Territorial Service and trained, to the amusement of friends as a steward for the officers' mess.

"Then they discovered she spoke German like a native and trained her to jump from aircraft - and so began the dark world of the SOE," Mr. Morrison told a congregation mostly of friends - she had few close family.

What happened to the secret agent thereafter, 'Johnny' made sure no one would ever know. What is certain is that she survived a bomb blast and eventually left active service because of a back injury.

There was a fiance called Michael, for whom her love remained undaunted since his death in 1944.

Every year she placed a cross, with a message on the back, on the war memorial at Burghill Church. Mr Morrison pledged he would continue the tradition for 'Johnny' and Michael.

It is not known why she eventually settled in Hereford. At one time she worked for a company called Saunders Valve in the City, and for several years she was a receptionist at St. Mary's Hospital.

Her colourful life included 40 years with the Girl Guides Association. She was district commissioner and a badge secretary when she was in her 80's, until ill health forced her to step down.

She lived alone, cycling everywhere, enjoying the occasional dram of whisky and a cigarette, but loved entertaining friends, who warmly remember her as full of fun and great company.

She died peacefully at Stretton Nusring Home on January 20 aged 87, in failing health, her spirit had remained indomitable.

John Edwards piped Lord Lovat's Lament as her coffin was lowered into the ground - a tribute reserved for true bravehearts.