A war veteran who only had one wish before he died saw it fulfilled through the kindness of strangers.
George Wilson from Southport died at the age of 98 in June of this year. He served in the RAF during World War Two, lying about his age to join after the death of his father on board HMS Crispen. After the war, a life at sea followed as he travelled the world in the merchant navy before finally coming home and settling in Southport again.
One of his final requests was to see the standard of the ACA (Aircrew Association) at his funeral. Due to falling number of WW2 RAF veterans still alive the ACA was disbanded and before his death George was one of the last.
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Speaking to the ECHO his grandson Greg said: "My grandfather never asked for anything in his life even when he was ill and he had a carer he kept trying to get up to make him cups of coffee. The ACA was made up of men who served in the war and there was a great camaraderie, they shared a connection you can only get from that kind of service.
"There were times during the war where he survived by sheer luck. He went to so many funerals of his friends in the RAF and the standard would be there.
"He never spoke about it but it must have had an effect on him being one of the last members and having the standard at his funeral was his only wish, it was the only thing he ever asked for."
Greg then decided to try and locate the standard the only problem was he had no idea where it was. He contacted Sefton Council but they could not point him in the right direction.
In a last-ditch attempt, he called RAF Woodvale in the hopes they would be able to help. Warrant Officer Neil Blair then took it upon himself to find the standard and spent an afternoon at Southport Town Hall before finally stumbling upon it.
Greg said that Neil went "above and beyond" for his grandfather a "man who he had never met". Greg also contacted the Royal British Legion who arranged for a pallbearer to meet the funeral procession at the Southport Crematorium.
Greg who lives in Bristol said: "It cut me in half seeing the standard there I just sat there and thought my grandfather got his one wish. The people who helped us went above and beyond I can't thank them enough.
"He never asked anyone for help and to have to ask for something like that right at the end at 98 years old. I'm just so glad we managed to do it for him."
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