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| Hundreds expected to attend war veteran's funeral after newspaper ad | Hundreds expected to attend war veteran's funeral after newspaper ad |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hundred of people from across the UK have pledged to attend the funeral in Lancashire of a World War Two veteran they never knew. | |
| Harold Jellicoe Percival served as ground crew on the famous Dambusters raids carried out in May 1943 by 617 Squadron. | |
| Mr Percival who died last month aged 99, never married or had children. | Mr Percival who died last month aged 99, never married or had children. |
| The funeral home organising the service put an advert in a newspaper appealing for people to attend. | The funeral home organising the service put an advert in a newspaper appealing for people to attend. |
| Mr Percival, who lived in Penge, south London, before joining Bomber Command, died in Alistre Lodge Nursing Home in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire. | |
| Nursing home manager Lorraine Holt told BBC News she had been inundated with responses from people after the advert was reposted on social media sites. | Nursing home manager Lorraine Holt told BBC News she had been inundated with responses from people after the advert was reposted on social media sites. |
| "Late last night we had a call from a soldier on leave from Afghanistan who said he wanted to attend. | "Late last night we had a call from a soldier on leave from Afghanistan who said he wanted to attend. |
| "Then an 80-year-old lady from London who served in the RAF called us to say she was attending. | "Then an 80-year-old lady from London who served in the RAF called us to say she was attending. |
| "The response has been absolutely incredible. | "The response has been absolutely incredible. |
| "Our local police have been in touch asking if we need any traffic control on the day of his funeral after hearing how many people are due to attend. | "Our local police have been in touch asking if we need any traffic control on the day of his funeral after hearing how many people are due to attend. |
| "We're going to open the nursing home for anybody who wants to come after the service, but I'm not sure how we'll cope with so many people." | "We're going to open the nursing home for anybody who wants to come after the service, but I'm not sure how we'll cope with so many people." |
| 'Private man' | 'Private man' |
| Davis Boothman, secretary for the RAF Association Leyland branch, said they had also helped to ensure Mr Percival's funeral on Monday was well attended: "We normally do try and make a showing at these times. | Davis Boothman, secretary for the RAF Association Leyland branch, said they had also helped to ensure Mr Percival's funeral on Monday was well attended: "We normally do try and make a showing at these times. |
| "It is important that we remember people like Harold - they are part of us." | "It is important that we remember people like Harold - they are part of us." |
| Mr Percival's nephew, David Worsell, who cannot attend the funeral, said: "He was a private man. | Mr Percival's nephew, David Worsell, who cannot attend the funeral, said: "He was a private man. |
| "He worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays. | "He worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays. |
| "He travelled around England with only his backpack. | "He travelled around England with only his backpack. |
| "He didn't have a postal address - he just used to get everything sent to my mother's address and would go through it when they met up." | "He didn't have a postal address - he just used to get everything sent to my mother's address and would go through it when they met up." |
| Frank Richard Carew-Percival, who contacted the BBC from Australia, said he was Mr Percival's nephew and was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to attend the service. | Frank Richard Carew-Percival, who contacted the BBC from Australia, said he was Mr Percival's nephew and was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to attend the service. |
| "He lived with us on and off in Australia and New Zealand. He loved cricket and taught my son how to spin bowl." | "He lived with us on and off in Australia and New Zealand. He loved cricket and taught my son how to spin bowl." |
| He said his uncle was a shy man who led a "nomadic type " lifestyle. | He said his uncle was a shy man who led a "nomadic type " lifestyle. |
| "I managed to trace him six months ago and sent him photos of when he lived with us. | "I managed to trace him six months ago and sent him photos of when he lived with us. |
| "We always had a Coe's (Harold Jellicoe Percival) room wherever we lived as he could turn up at any time." | "We always had a Coe's (Harold Jellicoe Percival) room wherever we lived as he could turn up at any time." |
| Mr Percival's family has told the BBC a nephew, great-nephew and great-niece will be at his funeral, which takes place at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day, at Lytham Park Crematorium. | Mr Percival's family has told the BBC a nephew, great-nephew and great-niece will be at his funeral, which takes place at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day, at Lytham Park Crematorium. |