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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| WW2 soldier who died alone to get military style funeral | WW2 soldier who died alone to get military style funeral |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The funeral of a soldier who served in World War Two and outlived his family is to take place with military pomp after appeals on social media. | The funeral of a soldier who served in World War Two and outlived his family is to take place with military pomp after appeals on social media. |
| Stewart Cooney, 95, served with the Royal Artillery and died in a care home in Leeds with no family. | |
| His funeral will see Royal British Legion standard bearers, a piper and soldiers from his old regiment attend. | His funeral will see Royal British Legion standard bearers, a piper and soldiers from his old regiment attend. |
| Martyn Simpson, one of the event's organisers, said: "We never let a brother go alone." | Martyn Simpson, one of the event's organisers, said: "We never let a brother go alone." |
| 'Old soldier' | 'Old soldier' |
| Other mourners are to include Territorial Army soldiers, a motorbike escort from the Royal British Legion Riders and members of the public, he said. | Other mourners are to include Territorial Army soldiers, a motorbike escort from the Royal British Legion Riders and members of the public, he said. |
| Mr Simpson, who served in the RAF and is a Royal British Legion standard bearer, said having seen the online appeals he also helped spread the word and had been amazed by the response. | Mr Simpson, who served in the RAF and is a Royal British Legion standard bearer, said having seen the online appeals he also helped spread the word and had been amazed by the response. |
| "It's a marvellous thing, I feel quite emotional, he served in World War Two and I don't know his history but anybody who served deserves this", he said. | "It's a marvellous thing, I feel quite emotional, he served in World War Two and I don't know his history but anybody who served deserves this", he said. |
| Who was Stewart Cooney? | |
| Dougie Eastwood, who works for the company that runs Colton Lodges in which Mr Cooney died, started the appeal after he noticed Royal Artillery insignia in Mr Cooney's room. | Dougie Eastwood, who works for the company that runs Colton Lodges in which Mr Cooney died, started the appeal after he noticed Royal Artillery insignia in Mr Cooney's room. |
| "He outlived his wife and son and died with no family so I got in touch with 269 Royal Artillery based in Leeds and it just went viral". | "He outlived his wife and son and died with no family so I got in touch with 269 Royal Artillery based in Leeds and it just went viral". |
| "I couldn't see his funeral only attended by a couple of care workers, a social worker and a priest." | "I couldn't see his funeral only attended by a couple of care workers, a social worker and a priest." |
| "I'm quite happy he'll go the way an old soldier like him should do." | "I'm quite happy he'll go the way an old soldier like him should do." |
| Mr Eastwood also served in the Royal Artillery for 25 years. | Mr Eastwood also served in the Royal Artillery for 25 years. |
| The Yorkshire Evening Post also appealed for mourners to attend the funeral. | The Yorkshire Evening Post also appealed for mourners to attend the funeral. |
| It is thought Mr Cooney served in several theatres of war, including service in Malaysia. | It is thought Mr Cooney served in several theatres of war, including service in Malaysia. |
| The service is to be at Rawdon Crematorium at 12.20 BST followed by burial at Pudsey Cemetery. | The service is to be at Rawdon Crematorium at 12.20 BST followed by burial at Pudsey Cemetery. |