One of the most decorated heroes of the Second World War was John Owen Flint who farmed at Barholm, near Bourne, and in 1944 was awarded a DSO and an MC while serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment in Europe.

On 22nd November 1944, Flint (always known as JOF) led B Company of the 4th Battalion in an attack on Maasbree, a Dutch town close to the border with Germany. The ground was flat and provided no cover. The Germans had Spandau machine gun positions which were well dug in and the leading platoon sustained heavy casualties.

Flint led the two remaining platoons forward and directed the attack which was carried out under a hail of machine gun fire. Once again, the advance was checked as the forward troops took casualties.

Followed by his runner, Flint stalked the most dangerous of the Spandau teams and despite coming under direct fire from the other machine gun positions, he succeeded in accounting for the Spandau and its crew with his Sten gun. He then brought his company on to their objective where they came under heavy shell fire. His forward observation officer's carrier with its communication unit was knocked out so Flint, using his radio set, called down artillery and mortar fire and broke up two counter attacks.

When a third attack came in from the flank, no complete platoon could be spared to deal with it and so Flint led an assault party and, firing his Sten at point-blank range, caused the enemy to flee in disorder, leaving behind their dead and wounded. He was awarded an immediate DSO.

Flint was on born at Stamford, Lincolnshire, on 24th July 1916 and educated at Stamford School. He worked for Barclays Bank, joined the Territorial Army and when the Second World War broke out, was commissioned into the Lincolnshire Regiment and posted to 4 LR.

While taking part in the short, ill-fated campaign in Norway, he was forced to enter a farm where his men were sheltering through a door covered by enemy snipers and a machine gun. When the house was set ablaze, he got his platoon out of the building by firing a Bren gun from an exposed position to cover their withdrawal. He was mentioned in despatches.

After two years in Iceland, where the aim was to forestall occupation by the Germans, Flint landed with 4 LR on Sword Beach on D+4. The battalion went into action soon afterwards and lost most of its carriers in heavy fighting.

In September the company commanded by Flint made a successful attack on a strong enemy position in woodland at Gainneville, near Le Havre.

In October, they held a vital sector of the main approaches into Baarle-Nassau, a village on the Belgian-Dutch border. Flint's outstanding leadership, skilful patrolling and deployment of his men convinced the enemy – as confirmed by interviews with prisoners – that they were dealing with a force three times their size. He was awarded an MC.

A tank commander from the Canadian regiment, which fought alongside Flint at Arnhem, said of him: "He was a real soldier, one in a thousand, the best I've ever served with. I was with every division in the British Eighth Army and some in the US Fifth Army, and I knew only two like him. The Germans didn't stand a chance against guys like him."

On returning to England, Flint farmed at Barholm where his cattle were an absorbing interest. He bred his own and won many championships at the local shows. For many years he served on the Stamford show committee as chairman and later as president. He was also a regular churchgoer, serving on several diocesan committees and played a regular part in church activities. A lifelong supporter of the Lincolnshire Regiment, he also served on the regional Army Benevolent Fund for many years and in 1964, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.

Flint died in hospital on 15th December 2009 after suffering a fall. He was 93. The funeral was held on Christmas Eve followed by a thanksgiving service at St Martin's, the village church at Barholm, on 7th January 2010. He had married Kathleen Smith in 1944 and she predeceased him but he was survived by their son and daughter.

* Acknowledgments to the obituary column of the Daily Telegraph, 25th February 2012.