UK D-day veteran Sidney Marshall

[gibbo]

NINETY-year-old Sidney Marshall made an extraordinary sacrifice for his country.

As a UK Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot, he was one of the 156,000 personnel who fought for freedom on D-day.
But Marshall, who died at his home in St Annes, England, on June 16, has few living relatives. And those who are still alive live considerable distances away. Undertakers fear no one will attend his funeral service.

So a local funeral director has made an extraordinary plea to fellow Armed Forces personnel: Come to Mr Marshall’s funeral. Don’t let this brave man be sent off alone.


http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/re...arshalls-service/story-fnixwvgh-1226968931497

 

[davelambert271]

Marshall’s funeral will take place at the Lytham Park Crematorium on 4 July at 1.30pm.

It will be interesting to see just how many people attend. If it's like other funerals in similar circumstances there could be three figures.

 

[thecelticbard]

I believe this has happened before, and from memory, possibly in the same area. The Funeral Director in this situation normally contacts the local Royal British Legion Branch who get involved, and as Dave has said, the numbers do turn out with various standards of the local branches of associations in that area, irrespective if he was even known. However, this always assumes that some-one knows that the deceased had been in the Forces, and I've heard of a couple where that was not known until after the funeral.
Brian

 

[gibbo]

I had never heard of it before. Hope he gets a good send off

 

[thecelticbard]

Gibbo, as you know I have a Masters in Useless Information, but the ex-service community does help whenever they can. I'm sure he will have a good send off. Brian

 

[leefer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28062899

I am sure he will get a good send off,it is Armed Forces today here in the UK.

I salute Sidney Marshall...and i salute the Armed ForcesO0O0O0