Arthur Wyeth died aged 83 on August 6 this year from the industrial disease mesothelioma. He lived with his wife Violet Lilian Wyeth in Grafton Avenue, Bognor Regis.

It is thought he first came into contact with asbestos when he served in the royal navy as a member of a gun crew from 1942 to 1946.

The standard blankets issued to servicemen had asbestos woven into the material to make them fire proof.

Coroner Roger Stone said: “Clearly during life he was exposed to asbestos, we can not say when he contracted the disease.

“We owe him a thank you for serving during the war, he died from the industrial disease mesothelioma.”

His condition first came to light last Christmas when he complained of having a bad cough and cold, this developed into breathlessness in February.

After the war he went to work on pleasure boats on a river and later worked as a builder on many different jobs, where it is thought he came into contact with asbestos again. He retired in 1987.