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| 'No family' RAF veteran to get 'gentleman's send-off' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| An RAF veteran who died without any surviving family is to be given a send-off by ex-servicemen and an escort of bikers after a Facebook campaign. | An RAF veteran who died without any surviving family is to be given a send-off by ex-servicemen and an escort of bikers after a Facebook campaign. |
| John Davies was 94 when he died in Great Yarmouth earlier this month. | John Davies was 94 when he died in Great Yarmouth earlier this month. |
| He had spent time in the US, Canada and India with the RAF but his funeral on Wednesday was due to be poorly attended. | He had spent time in the US, Canada and India with the RAF but his funeral on Wednesday was due to be poorly attended. |
| A Facebook post has suggested people pay their respects "to see this gentleman on his final journey". | A Facebook post has suggested people pay their respects "to see this gentleman on his final journey". |
| Mr Davies grew up in Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth, before active service during World War II. | |
| Debbie Lowe, his neighbour of 20 years at a sheltered housing complex, said he never married or had children. | |
| 'Walked to London' | 'Walked to London' |
| His brother was killed when he crash-landed coming back from a sortie in World War II, and his sister died several years ago. | His brother was killed when he crash-landed coming back from a sortie in World War II, and his sister died several years ago. |
| "People knew John as Bomber Davies," she said. | "People knew John as Bomber Davies," she said. |
| "He did a lot of work for charity and would stand in Yarmouth Market Place selling CDs for the Caister lifeboat. | "He did a lot of work for charity and would stand in Yarmouth Market Place selling CDs for the Caister lifeboat. |
| "He loved walking and told me when he was a young man he walked to London, sleeping in a haystack." | "He loved walking and told me when he was a young man he walked to London, sleeping in a haystack." |
| She said he had become a recluse in recent years and moved to a care home in 2011, after developing dementia. | She said he had become a recluse in recent years and moved to a care home in 2011, after developing dementia. |
| He died at St David's care home in Great Yarmouth. | He died at St David's care home in Great Yarmouth. |
| 'Really heartwarming' | 'Really heartwarming' |
| A short message about his death and forthcoming funeral was posted on a serviceman's forum, where it was spotted by Mick Smith. | A short message about his death and forthcoming funeral was posted on a serviceman's forum, where it was spotted by Mick Smith. |
| He reposted the plea on his own page on Friday, after noticing it was getting "little attention". It has since been shared more than 700 times. | He reposted the plea on his own page on Friday, after noticing it was getting "little attention". It has since been shared more than 700 times. |
| "I've got friends in Great Yarmouth in the services and ex-services and so the message spread like a bush fire," said Mr Smith, of Newmarket, Suffolk. | |
| "We've heard from RAF veterans' organisations who have said they will send standard bearers, it's really heart-warming." | "We've heard from RAF veterans' organisations who have said they will send standard bearers, it's really heart-warming." |
| Mr Smith has helped organise an escort of bikers, who will ride with Mr Davies' coffin from Great Yarmouth to Gorleston. | Mr Smith has helped organise an escort of bikers, who will ride with Mr Davies' coffin from Great Yarmouth to Gorleston. |
| "Someone with such a distinguished service record for this country should be given a really good send-off," he added. | |
| "I hate it when you hear about carers attending a funeral and there being a four or five people there, I think that's so sad. | "I hate it when you hear about carers attending a funeral and there being a four or five people there, I think that's so sad. |
| "People like him built this country." | "People like him built this country." |