TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the first ever SAS recruits who has died at the age of 88.

Norman Watson - dubbed The Fox due to his cunning ability to escape capture - was just 17 years old when he signed up for the elite Special Air Service at the height of the Second World War.

Mr Watson, originally from Walkerburn, Peeblesshire, joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1942. But his athletic prowess playing rugby in the Borders quickly led to him being transferred to the 5th Battalion Parachute Regiment.

After training at RAF Ringway near Manchester, he was selected to become part of the covert SAS unit set up the previous year by Scots Guards commando David Stirling.

The following three years the war hero completed daring missions across north Africa and Europe against the Nazis - including raids in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Crete, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Norway, France and Germany.

His friend Charles Miller said: "As a Second World War Special Air Services volunteer he had numerous escapes, but none more extraordinary than when passing through enemy lines in Germany after D-Day. He was seen by an Allied patrol who held fire believing he was a tramp.

"By extraordinary coincidence and good luck he had come upon his home Battalion, the 8th Royal Scots, and an officer from Walkerburn recognised him exclaiming 'It's Norman Watson, The Fox'."

His daughter Amanda Forte said: "Another time he was among a group of four dropped by parachute behind German lines with a Jeep. There was a padre and two other SAS members, and dad was the only one to come back alive out of the four of them."

Even in the final weeks of the war, Mr Watson and his patrol took the surrender of the German garrison in Bremen. Being a bomb-disposal expert he was also deployed to Norway after the German surrender to check for booby traps among the U-boat fleet.

His courage and endeavour during the conflict with Germany led to him being selected as the SAS representative for the Victory Parade in London shortly afterwards. He was also honoured by the people of Norway in December of same year for his part in their liberation.

Undeterred by the war ­experience, he volunteered to remain in the Parachute Regiment and fought for a further three years in Palestine.

Mr Watson married sweetheart Peggy on July 14, 1945.

Following his extended stay in the Army, Mr and Mrs Watson moved to Walkerburn where they raised their son, Keith, and three daughters, Lynn, Gail and Amanda.

For 36 years he worked as a Forestry Ranger with the Forestry Commission.

Just before his 89th birthday, he was admitted to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where he died in his sleep on November 5.

His funeral service will take place on Monday at Chesterfield Crematorium in Derbyshire.