Hundreds of people from across the UK have attended the funeral in Lancashire of a World War Two veteran they never knew.
Harold Jellicoe Percival served as ground crew on the famous Dambusters raids carried out in May 1943 by 617 Squadron.
Mr Percival, who died last month aged 99, never married or had children.
The funeral home organising the service put an advert in a newspaper appealing for people to attend.
The Reverend Alan Clark, who conducted the service, said: "We marvel at the power of the printed word, whether on paper or screen."
Mr Percival, who lived in Penge, south London, before joining Bomber Command, died in Alistre Lodge Nursing Home in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.
Nursing home manager Lorraine Holt told BBC News she had been inundated with responses from people after the advert was reposted on social media sites.
"Late last night, we had a call from a soldier on leave from Afghanistan who said he wanted to attend.
"Then an 80-year-old lady from London who served in the RAF called us to say she was attending.
"The response has been absolutely incredible."
'Private man'The RAF Association Leyland branch, said they had also helped to ensure Mr Percival's funeral on Monday was well attended.
The association's standard bearer Stuart Dagger said: "We are saying goodbye to a hero."
The Dambusters March played as Mr Percival's coffin was carried into Lytham Park Crematorium at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day.
About 100 people were inside the crematorium with another 400 standing silently outside in the rain.
Relatives of Mr Percival thanked those who attended and who spread the word saying "We are overwhelmed. This shows how great the British public are."
Mr Percival's nephew, David Worsell, who could not attend the funeral, said: "He was a private man.
"He worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays.
"He travelled around England with only his backpack.
"He didn't have a postal address - he just used to get everything sent to my mother's address and would go through it when they met up."
Frank Richard Carew-Percival, who contacted the BBC from Australia, said he was Mr Percival's nephew and was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to attend the service.
"He lived with us on and off in Australia and New Zealand. He loved cricket and taught my son how to spin bowl."
He said his uncle was a shy man who led a "nomadic type " lifestyle.
"I managed to trace him six months ago and sent him photos of when he lived with us.
"We always had a Coe's (Harold Jellicoe Percival) room wherever we lived as he could turn up at any time."
Mr Percival's family told the BBC a nephew, great-nephew and great-niece would be at his funeral.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Veteran's funeral after media plea
Dengan url
http://cangkirtehhangat.blogspot.com/2013/11/veterans-funeral-after-media-plea.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Veteran's funeral after media plea
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Veteran's funeral after media plea
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar