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Florence Green: Funeral held for last WWI veteran | Florence Green: Funeral held for last WWI veteran |
(about 17 hours later) | |
The funeral of a woman thought to be the last person to serve in the armed forces during World War I has taken place in west Norfolk. | |
Florence Green, 110, from King's Lynn, served as a mess steward at RAF Marham and RAF Narborough in 1918. | Florence Green, 110, from King's Lynn, served as a mess steward at RAF Marham and RAF Narborough in 1918. |
She died on 4 February at Briar House care home, King's Lynn, 15 days before she was due to celebrate her birthday. | She died on 4 February at Briar House care home, King's Lynn, 15 days before she was due to celebrate her birthday. |
The funeral was held at Mintlyn Crematorium, Bawsey, and marked with a flypast by a Tornado from RAF Marham. | The funeral was held at Mintlyn Crematorium, Bawsey, and marked with a flypast by a Tornado from RAF Marham. |
Mourners included a guard of honour from the 42F King's Lynn Squadron Air Training Corp, standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association and personnel from RAF Marham. | Mourners included a guard of honour from the 42F King's Lynn Squadron Air Training Corp, standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association and personnel from RAF Marham. |
AVM Ray Lock, representing the Chief of Air Staff, said: "Florence was a very popular member of our community. | AVM Ray Lock, representing the Chief of Air Staff, said: "Florence was a very popular member of our community. |
"I know personnel from Marham would go and see her at birthdays and take round Christmas cakes which just show the affection everybody held Florence in. | "I know personnel from Marham would go and see her at birthdays and take round Christmas cakes which just show the affection everybody held Florence in. |
'Wonderful flypast' | 'Wonderful flypast' |
"She was almost one of our founding members and I think the affection she was held in was entirely mirrored for the affection she felt for the Royal Air Force." | "She was almost one of our founding members and I think the affection she was held in was entirely mirrored for the affection she felt for the Royal Air Force." |
Mrs Green leaves behind three children, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. | Mrs Green leaves behind three children, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. |
Speaking after the service, her daughter June Evetts, 76, said: "It was such an honour they [the RAF] did such a wonderful flypast and all the personnel were here. | Speaking after the service, her daughter June Evetts, 76, said: "It was such an honour they [the RAF] did such a wonderful flypast and all the personnel were here. |
"Mum was always smiling. In an interview on her 100th birthday she said what a wonderful time she had [in the mess], the best time of her life." | "Mum was always smiling. In an interview on her 100th birthday she said what a wonderful time she had [in the mess], the best time of her life." |
The world's last known combat veteran of World War I, Briton Claude Choules, died in Australia aged 110 in May 2011. | The world's last known combat veteran of World War I, Briton Claude Choules, died in Australia aged 110 in May 2011. |
The last three World War I veterans living in the UK - Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch - all died in 2009. | The last three World War I veterans living in the UK - Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch - all died in 2009. |
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