MILITARY man and keen follower of family history Tony Head, originally from Bournemouth, has died at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, aged 85.

Winton born Tony who lived with his family at Jameson Road attended Winton and Moordown School. At the age of 14 he joined the army cadets and then became a full time soldier in Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

In 1951 he married his wife Gwendoline Joan Jordan, a Londoner, at St James's Church, Bermondsey and they went on to have two children, Stephen and Nicola.

The family travelled with Tony when he was posted to Aden, Germany, Cyprus and Jamaica. He also served with the West African Frontier Force in Nigeria.

Tony was also a parachute instructor and rose to the ranks to become a captain before leaving after 22 years' service.

Tony and his family then emigrated to Brisbane in Australia under the '£10 Pom' scheme. The scheme had been running since the end of the Second World War to encourage Britons to begin a new life in Australia and escape post-war rationing and housing shortage for a fare of just £10.

Tony first worked for a car dealership but then decided to start his own business which became very successful. He brought his business and family back to Britain and settled near St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

After Tony retired he was an avid follower of family history for many years and uncovered all sorts of colourful ancestors from the Bournemouth area, including the notorious gamekeeper and poacher Solomon Head and Harold George Head, his father's cousin, who was one of the first tank men to serve in the First World War. His meticulous research produced a fascinating dossier on Harold's involvement in the first tank battle.

As Tony admitted himself, for all the years of service in the regular army he was unlike Harold as he had 'the dubious distinction of never firing a shot in anger, nor having anyone shoot at him'.

Five years ago he became a Chelsea Pensioner and moved to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. A private ceremony will be held there and in a few months' time his ashes will be interred at the family grave at St John's Church, Moordown, Bournemouth.

"He was always ready with a smile or a joke and was a great character loved by many", said Pat Roe, one of his cousins.