Not so Few: Total of surviving Battle of Britain veterans increases from eight to nine after family point out that hero pilot, John Hemingway, 98, who was born in Dublin, is one of the last nine surviving fighter pilots who saved Britain from a Nazi invasion
A Battle of Britain hero who was presumed dead is in fact alive and well and he is enjoying a quiet retirement in his native Ireland.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery and shot down four times in the Second World War.[/I]
By: John Green - 29th May 2018 at 10:09
Perhaps Mr. Hemingway and all those altruistic volunteers thought that GB was worth fighting for. I wonder if they’d think that to-day ?
By: stuart gowans - 29th May 2018 at 09:11
I guess it could be said that it wasn’t quite a lot of peoples fight, the South Africans, the Australians/New Zealanders, Canadians, all far enough away from the fight,(initially) that they could have stayed out of it, “cometh the hour cometh the man” I think sums it up.
By: jamesinnewcastl - 28th May 2018 at 15:48
Fabulous to hear that another pilot lived on and is still enjoying the freedom he fought and volunteered for!
I can’t begin to imagine his thoughts each time he was shot down, did he dispair every time or just think – here we go again?
James
By: John Green - 28th May 2018 at 13:44
Yes, I too saw this article in my newspaper. I thought how typical of this man’s generation. He participates in the most crucial battle of the second World War and says nothing.
As presumably an Irish citizen, it wasn’t his fight. He volunteered as did so many of his countrymen.
Mr. Hemingway, thank you.
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May 27, 2018 at 6:44 pm