IT WILL be a 'beret' merry Christmas for a valiant old soldier from Dunster who has been given a new red beret and badge more than 60 years after his original was stolen by trophy-hunting Germans. Former paratrooper Peter Clements, aged 82, lost his coveted red beret when he was taken prisoner after being parachuted into Arnhem during World War Two. But when he told West Somerset Council's home improvement officer Judy Ernest of his loss he was sent a replacement - more than six decades after the event. "It's the best Christmas present I could ever wish for," Mr Clements said. Touched by his plight, Judy contacted SSAFA Forces Help, which contacted the Parachute Regiment who were happy to send Mr Clements a new beret. He said: "I parachuted from a Dakota into Arnhem in the second wave. I got a German bullet in the leg and, two days later, was taken prisoner of war. "One German wanted my beret and another my badge so they just took them. "I lost a lot of mates at Arnhem but getting my beret back is like bringing a member of the family home." Mr Clements was just 19 when he went to war but he managed to escape from his captors when he was marched with other prisoners to another camp. "I stepped off the road to answer a call of nature and that was the last the guards saw of me," Mr Clements said. He walked for weeks, evading capture and depending on the kindness of local people to direct him away from German patrols before meeting up with the United States' 101 airborne division in Austria. After some rest and recuperation, he was repatriated but joined another regiment so he never got a new beret and badge. SSAFA case worker Richard Barron said the organisation had been happy to help. He said: "It is really heart-warming to see the pleasure his new Para beret is giving him. "At this time of modern conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, we would do well to remember the sacrifices that earlier generations of soldiers, sailors and airmen like Mr Clements made for this country and to acknowledge the debt we owe to all of our servicemen and women."