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| Hundreds attend war veteran's funeral after newspaper ad | Hundreds attend war veteran's funeral after newspaper ad |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people from across the UK have attended the funeral in Lancashire of a World War Two veteran they never knew. | Hundreds of people from across the UK have attended the funeral in Lancashire of a World War Two veteran they never knew. |
| Harold Jellicoe Percival, who was known as Coe, served as ground crew on the famous Dambusters raids carried out in May 1943 by 617 Squadron. | Harold Jellicoe Percival, who was known as Coe, 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. |
| The Reverend Alan Clark, who conducted the service, said: "We marvel at the power of the printed word, whether on paper or screen." | The Reverend Alan Clark, who conducted the service, said: "We marvel at the power of the printed word, whether on paper or screen." |
| Mr Percival's nephew, Andrew Colyer-Worrsall, said the attendance was "just remarkable". | |
| "He was a quiet man, he was an ordinary man who did his duty and served in the war and to see so many people turn up, it's just overwhelming," he said. | "He was a quiet man, he was an ordinary man who did his duty and served in the war and to see so many people turn up, it's just overwhelming," he said. |
| "I can only say thank you so much to everybody. | "I can only say thank you so much to everybody. |
| "We thought there would just be two or three of us, so to see this many hundreds of people turn up is stunning." | "We thought there would just be two or three of us, so to see this many hundreds of people turn up is stunning." |
| Mr Percival, who lived in Penge, south London, before joining Bomber Command, died in Alistre Lodge Nursing Home in Lytham St Annes in Lancashire. | 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." |
| 'Private man' | 'Private man' |
| The RAF Association Leyland branch, said they had also helped to ensure Mr Percival's funeral on Monday was well attended. | The RAF Association Leyland branch, said they had also helped to ensure Mr Percival's funeral on Monday was well attended. |
| The association's standard bearer Stuart Dagger said: "We are saying goodbye to a hero." | The association's standard bearer Stuart Dagger said: "We are saying goodbye to a hero." |
| The Dambusters March played as Mr Percival's coffin was carried into Lytham Park Crematorium at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day. | The Dambusters March played as Mr Percival's coffin was carried into Lytham Park Crematorium at 11:00 GMT on Armistice Day. |
| A two-minute silence was observed around the coffin to mark the anniversary of the World War One armistice before it was carried into the crematorium. | A two-minute silence was observed around the coffin to mark the anniversary of the World War One armistice before it was carried into the crematorium. |
| About 100 people were inside with another 400 standing silently outside in the rain. | About 100 people were inside with another 400 standing silently outside in the rain. |
| Relatives of Mr Percival thanked those who attended and who spread the word saying "We are overwhelmed. This shows how great the British public are." | Relatives of Mr Percival thanked those who attended and who spread the word saying "We are overwhelmed. This shows how great the British public are." |
| Mr Percival's nephew, David Worsell, who could not attend the funeral, said: "He was a private man. | Mr Percival's nephew, David Worsell, who could not 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 room wherever we lived as he could turn up at any time." | "We always had a Coe's room wherever we lived as he could turn up at any time." |
| Mr Percival's family told the BBC a nephew, great-nephew and great-niece would be at his funeral. | Mr Percival's family told the BBC a nephew, great-nephew and great-niece would be at his funeral. |