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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Facebook plea for 'no family' RAF veteran's funeral | Facebook plea for 'no family' RAF veteran's funeral |
| (1 day 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 served in World War II, when he was stationed in North America, Africa and India, but his funeral on Wednesday was due to be poorly attended. | He served in World War II, when he was stationed in North America, Africa and India, 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". |
| 'Tragic life' | 'Tragic life' |
| He lived his final years at The Gables care home in Gorleston, Norfolk, where deputy manager Julie Hayes remembered him as a "real gentleman". | He lived his final years at The Gables care home in Gorleston, Norfolk, where deputy manager Julie Hayes remembered him as a "real gentleman". |
| "He hated TV, he called it the fools' lantern, but would write poetry and sing to us while wearing his top hat," she said. | "He hated TV, he called it the fools' lantern, but would write poetry and sing to us while wearing his top hat," she said. |
| Mr Davies had two brothers and two sisters, who all pre-deceased him, and never married. | Mr Davies had two brothers and two sisters, who all pre-deceased him, and never married. |
| "He had quite a tragic life," added Ms Hayes. | "He had quite a tragic life," added Ms Hayes. |
| "He was supposed to meet his proposed wife in Malta, but then he was stationed in North Africa, so he missed his wedding. | "He was supposed to meet his proposed wife in Malta, but then he was stationed in North Africa, so he missed his wedding. |
| "He never knew what happened to her. | "He never knew what happened to her. |
| "He also never got over the death of his brother, who was also in the RAF and was just 19 when he was killed in the war." | |
| A message about his death and forthcoming funeral was posted on a serviceman's forum earlier this month, where it was spotted by Mick Smith. | A message about his death and forthcoming funeral was posted on a serviceman's forum earlier this month, 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. | "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." |
| Slept in a haystack | Slept in a haystack |
| Mr Davies was born and bred in Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth, and left school at 14 to work on a poultry farm for seven shillings a week. | Mr Davies was born and bred in Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth, and left school at 14 to work on a poultry farm for seven shillings a week. |
| He remembered the Regal Cinema being built and watched the first film shown there, The Private Lives of Henry VIII. | He remembered the Regal Cinema being built and watched the first film shown there, The Private Lives of Henry VIII. |
| Aged 15, he walked to London - sleeping in a haystack en route - to join his brother, Arthur. | Aged 15, he walked to London - sleeping in a haystack en route - to join his brother, Arthur. |
| He was a hotel chef in the capital before and after World War II, and later a maintenance engineer at The Star Hotel in Great Yarmouth until his retirement. | He was a hotel chef in the capital before and after World War II, and later a maintenance engineer at The Star Hotel in Great Yarmouth until his retirement. |
| He continued to work into his mid-80s, running a market stall selling CDs in aid of the Caister Lifeboat. | He continued to work into his mid-80s, running a market stall selling CDs in aid of the Caister Lifeboat. |
| 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. | "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." |