Samuel Sorie Sesay, one of a dwindling group of West Africans who fought in the British army in World War Two, died last month in Sierra Leone at the age of 101. Ahead of his funeral on Friday, Umaru Fofana looks back at his life.
His memories were vivid but he felt forgotten.
Celebrating a century of life in 2020 and surrounded by his large family, Pa Sorie, as he was known, was keen to talk.
Dressed in a neat suit, adorned with his medals, the affable war veteran recounted stories of his time fighting the Japanese in Burma more than 75 years earlier.
He was one of the 90,000 West African troops who were shipped to Asia.