While I was searching this site last sunday my brother was trying to get hold of me to tell me of my fathers tragic death.He was 87 but fit and was a fantastic character,he choked on his dinner,fell and broke his neck,a sad end for someone who helped to take out a Tiger tank with a sten.
Although in the Royal Artillery during the war he always wanted to fly but was passed over by the RAF,his cousin Noel whom he treated like a brother won the DFC flying Blenheims.
My old man always had a love of aviation and took me to my first airshow at Newton,Notts in 1956,this was followed by trips to Syerston,Cottesmore,Hucknall,Finningley etc.I took him to Waddington a few years ago to the Flypast enclosure where he met Ken Ellis.The last airshow he attended was the Duxford D-Day veterans airshow,where,as a veteran he was treated very regally and couldn’t understand all the fuss,especially the many different people,including kids who wanted to shake his hand and get his autograph,if anyone watched Anglia GMTV news the next day,he was the old boy that the cameras zoomed in on,typical of him he wouldn’t wear medals or anything like that,just his Royal Artillery badge on his blazer.
From landing at Arromanches on D-Day +1,he took part in all the major battles in Europe,Caen,Carpiquet airfield,Falaise,The Seine crossing,Brussels,Operation Market Garden when he directed the artillery fire for the Americans crossing the river,crossed Njuimeden bridge under fire,had the incident with the Tiger tank,then the Rhine and Hamburg following which he was sent to India to fight the Japanese.I found his war diaries on Monday,I’ll have to study them,but there are a lot of aviation references,I know he was strafed by Me 262’s.
His funeral is at Bramcote Crematorium, Nottingham on friday 21st of January at 12:20,if anyone is planning to fly near there at that time whether it be a Cessna,warbird or Tornado,a dip of the wings would be appreciated.
The end of an era.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th January 2005 at 13:31
Pete, sorry to hear about your father, but in a way I’m glad that you still have the opportunity, through his diaries, to learn more about what he went through. Sounds like he was a wonderful dad, and will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with you and your family.
By: setter - 16th January 2005 at 22:56
Pete
So sorry to hear of your loss – You have his memory to be proud of. My father was a Vet too – he served on Timor as a Comando in the Sparrow Force – and I was and am very proud of him – When your sadness is blunted a little you will find comfort in all your memories of him and the pride you feel in his achievements and having known him.
I am thinking of you and may he rest in peace.
John
By: turbo_NZ - 16th January 2005 at 21:24
On behalf of our NZ’ers here, condolences and deepest sympathies to you, Pete.
May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.
,
Chris (TNZ)
By: stewart1a - 16th January 2005 at 20:16
my coindolences peter. sounds like a true hero
By: Locobuster - 16th January 2005 at 20:05
My condolences as well, Pete. Sadly I fear we may never see the likes of your father, and the people who fought in history’s greatest conflict, again.
By: allan125 - 16th January 2005 at 19:51
Deepest condolences to you and your family
By: trumper - 16th January 2005 at 13:41
Please add my condolences to the others posted on here . What we do today we have to thank people like your father for,i just hope we can make something good and positive of this world they fought to give us.
By: agent86 - 16th January 2005 at 10:53
A great man passes
Your father and others like him have been my heros all of my life.It saddens me to no end to see them all dying off.A fate we all share.All that I can do is to take my hat off to them and to say thanks for all that they have done for us/me>You have my sincerest condolences and I salute your father.may he rest in peace Tim
By: Quinny - 15th January 2005 at 21:09
Your Dad and his many colleagues,gave us what we take for granted today,and that is freedom.I’m sorry to hear of his passing. 🙁
My deepest condolences to yourself and your family.
Ken.
By: Snapper - 15th January 2005 at 21:00
My condolences too. Though they get fewer each day, they never become lesser.
By: italian harvard - 15th January 2005 at 20:59
I would like to express my deepest condolences too mate, may he rest in peace like all the brave men in the world who fought for our freedom.
Cheers
Alex
By: XL391 - 15th January 2005 at 20:35
My sincere condolences. We owe people like your father and my grandfathers an enormous debt for what they did all those years ago. May he rest in peace.
By: Dog House Ldr. - 15th January 2005 at 20:01
Old soldier’s never die,they just fade away…. my deepest condolences from all on this side of the pond.
By: Avro's Finest - 15th January 2005 at 19:53
Sorry mate
words cant say enough, may he rest in peace. He sounded like a good old boy.
By: mmitch - 15th January 2005 at 18:51
Nice memories, they are the best.
mmitch.
By: Snaps - 15th January 2005 at 18:47
Times like this words never come easily but please know that we are thinking of you and send our condolences.
Snaps
By: Bruggen 130 - 15th January 2005 at 18:03
A thousand memories gone forever,very sad.
Bruggen 130.
By: Charley - 15th January 2005 at 17:29
It is very sad to hear of the passing of another of “The Greatest Generation”. Please accept my condolences on your loss.
By: Hairyplane - 15th January 2005 at 17:13
Hi Peter
Thank you for sharing the news with us – a terribly sad end.
We owe our freedom to Dad and many others like him.
The chap who owned the airstrip at Shotteswell, Freddie Spencer, died a couple of years back and I had the opportunity to record his wartime memoirs.
Like dad, he was a modest hero winning the DFC and 2 bars flying Lancasters. He survived 97 missions.
Such people make a huge impression on lives that would have been somewhat different had they not fought so valiantly. Unlike so many others, they fortunately survived to enjoy the freedom they had won for their country
RIP
Hairyplane
By: Manonthefence - 15th January 2005 at 17:08
Pete
Please accept my sincere condolences, your father sounds like one of the old guard and a top bloke. I will raise a glass in his honour tonight.
Sign In
January 15, 2005 at 4:42 pm