A heartbreaking appeal has been launched to find mourners to attend the funeral of one of the Second World War’s last black “Pilots of the Caribbean” who died alone.
Peter Brown, a retired flight sergeant from the Windrush generation, was found dead in his flat in Maida Vale, west London, aged 97.
A website was set up in order to find his known family members who have not been located till this day.
The call was also initiated to encourage anyone who wishes to pay their respects to attend his funeral at Mortlake Crematorium on March 29 at 12pm.
As well as the page, a GoFundMe has been organised to raise £500 to ensure that the Windrush WW2 veteran has an "inscribed book of remembrance, as a lasting testimony of his memory and contribution."
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Westminster City Council, various RAF and RAFA members and organisations, as well as Black History scholars have come together to ensure that Mr Brown has a funeral "befitting his importance as one of the last (possibly the last) West Indian members of WW2 RAF aircrew in Britain."
On the GoFundMe page, organiser Candice McDonald wrote a touching tribute to the 'brave' former flight sergeant who would have been roughly 17-years-old when he joined the RAF.
Candice wrote: "Mr Brown bravely answered the call and battled for us; together we want to do this last battle for him.
"We're appealing to the public to help us raise funds to commission an inscribed book of remembrance, as a lasting testimony of his memory."
Candice added that "an estimated 10,000 people left their families and homes in the Caribbean to join the British armed forces" and that "some, like Mr Brown, settled in the UK and are known as the Windrush Generation."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and MPs Johnny Mercer and Tom Tugendhat, who were part of the armed forces, tweeted their full support to find Peter's family.
Neighbour Marcin Laszczychs paid tribute to a “humble and cheerful” hero, who had flown five operations in Lancaster bombers during his time before his health began to deteriorate.
He told Evening Standard: “Peter was a true gentleman. He talked about his role in the war but was humble and matter-of-fact about it.
“One day Peter fell as he came back from the shop. That’s when his health started to get worse. Everyone looked out for him and neighbours helped him. It’s so sad we have lost a character.”
A shop worker who saw Mr Brown frequently described him as a 'kind, smart man' who bought a newspaper every day and 'knew everything' occurring in the world.
Mr Brown is said to have been one of 6,000 volunteers from the Caribbean an travelled to Britain in 1943 with 11 other men.
He is believed to have becmme a wireless operators and air gunners and later passed his aircrew selection board on September 19.
My Brown was then posted to 625 Squadron at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, home of the Dambusters.
The GofundMe has now raised £110 out of it's £500 goal and you can find out more information or donate here.
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