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St Annes RAF war hero Sidney Marshall funeral plea | St Annes RAF war hero Sidney Marshall funeral plea |
(35 minutes later) | |
A plea for mourners to attend the funeral of a former RAF serviceman who took part in the D-Day landings has received an enthusiastic response. | |
Rear Gunner Sidney Marshall earned a Distinguished Flying Medal after his Lancaster Bomber survived an attack from German fighters in 1944. | Rear Gunner Sidney Marshall earned a Distinguished Flying Medal after his Lancaster Bomber survived an attack from German fighters in 1944. |
He died, aged 90, at his home in Caryl Road, St Annes, on 16 June, but has few relatives to attend his funeral. | |
Undertaker Eddie Jacobs is now hoping people will come to pay their respects. | Undertaker Eddie Jacobs is now hoping people will come to pay their respects. |
The RAF has promised to send a contingent to the service. | |
The plea, which has also featured on Twitter, has echoes of last year's funeral for Dambusters veteran Harold Jellicoe Percival which was attended by hundreds after a campaign from the RAF. | The plea, which has also featured on Twitter, has echoes of last year's funeral for Dambusters veteran Harold Jellicoe Percival which was attended by hundreds after a campaign from the RAF. |
'Say thank you' | 'Say thank you' |
Mr Jacobs, of funeral directors RL Whitehead and Daughter, said: "At the outset there were only going to be a few people coming until the brother got to hear of it and he said that Sidney deserved a better send off for what he had done. | Mr Jacobs, of funeral directors RL Whitehead and Daughter, said: "At the outset there were only going to be a few people coming until the brother got to hear of it and he said that Sidney deserved a better send off for what he had done. |
"9 Squadron, who are in Afghanistan, picked up the story, and they'll be sending a contingent to the funeral. | "9 Squadron, who are in Afghanistan, picked up the story, and they'll be sending a contingent to the funeral. |
"I've had a call from a head teacher at a school in Blackpool and he wants to bring 15 pupils along. I think people just want to say thank you for all that he did." | "I've had a call from a head teacher at a school in Blackpool and he wants to bring 15 pupils along. I think people just want to say thank you for all that he did." |
Mr Marshall served in 9 Squadron and completed 28 sorties into Germany under heavy fire. | Mr Marshall served in 9 Squadron and completed 28 sorties into Germany under heavy fire. |
He was decorated for helping to guide his Lancaster to safety following a raid on Bergen, when the plane was attacked by Focke-Wulf fighters. | He was decorated for helping to guide his Lancaster to safety following a raid on Bergen, when the plane was attacked by Focke-Wulf fighters. |
The bomber's guns were paralysed, but Mr Marshall managed to communicate with the pilot via radio, helping him dodge further fire. | The bomber's guns were paralysed, but Mr Marshall managed to communicate with the pilot via radio, helping him dodge further fire. |
Mr Jacobs said: "He was a lovely quiet man. I met him when his wife died and all this only came out after he died and it gives a different look to his life." | Mr Jacobs said: "He was a lovely quiet man. I met him when his wife died and all this only came out after he died and it gives a different look to his life." |
The service will be held at Lytham Park Crematorium on 4 July. | The service will be held at Lytham Park Crematorium on 4 July. |
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