Hundreds of veterans answered a call to attend the military funeral of a lonely paratrooper who died with no known friends or family.
Lance Corporal Terence ‘Paddy’ Purcell was due to be buried at Kingston upon Thames Crematorium, in southwest London, yesterday with just two people attending his funeral.
But after a fellow veteran put a call-out on social media, hundreds soldiers who served with 2 Para and 3 Para, Paddy’s regiments, attended his funeral.
Along with the paratroopers, fellow servicemen from The Welsh Guards, the Royal Navy including a submariner, the Armed Forces charity SSAFA and the local branches of the Royal British Legion from Surbiton and Croydon joined them to pay their respects, the Sun reported.
The post read: ‘He has no family, no-one should take their final journey alone, please retweet. RIP Sir.’
Lance Corporal Terence ‘Paddy’ Purcell was buried at Kingston upon Thames Crematorium, in southwest London, yesterday
Funeral celebrant Bob Craft, a veteran of 1 Para and 22, who conducted the ceremony told those gathered: ‘The outpouring of support and energy from the veteran community has demonstrated the unwavering brotherhood, comradeship, compassion and love that exists among us, especially for a fellow veteran like Terence Purcell.
‘Although many of you may not be acquainted with each other, you are all connected through the service for our Queen, now King and Country.
‘Regardless of your cap badge, you have chosen to pause your usual routines today to honour the emotions that accompany us when we experience the loss of a veteran.’
As The Last Post sounded the celebrant added: “Terence’s time is now over, a veteran whose battles have come to an end.
“With hearts heavy with sorrow, yet light with gratitude. May his spirit soar with the Valkyries as he joins the noble ranks of warriors who have gone before him.
“We commit the body of Terence Purcell to its end with nature and to be cremated. Rest peacefully and enjoy being welcomed into the halls of heroes.”
He said of the dead paratrooper: ‘Maybe you were lonely, maybe you were sad, but maybe and hopefully you were happy, either way your final journey is well underway and everyone here can visualise that journey that we all expect to take one day.’
Terence, from South Armagh, Northern Ireland, last lived in a care home in Worcester Park, Kingston.
His ashes are set to be scattered under a parachute at Peterlee airfield in Hampshire, as well as atop Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons in May.
Craft said on social media that he was aware of at least three similar veteran funerals, where no one was likely to attend, happening this week.
‘This is a growing problem and we want to make all those people who work in care homes and hospitals where veterans may be living or receiving end-of-life treatment contact regimental associations to ensure that we can give these veterans and heroes the send-off they truly deserve.’