Six hundred mourners turned out today to pay their respects to one of the last WWII ‘Pilots of Caribbean’ following an appeal to find his relatives.
Flight Sergeant Peter Brown received a full RAF military funeral today following an outpouring of public support after he died alone at home in in Maida Vale, London, aged 96.
The airman's funeral - originally set for March 29 - had initially been expected to be a low-key affair at Mortlake Crematorium after his family could not be contacted.
But it was moved to 600-capacity St Clement Danes Church in Westminster, The Central Church of the RAF, after the public united to give him the hero’s send-off he deserves.
The coffin was draped in a Union Jack flag and was carried by unformed pallbearers into the church.
The service was livestreamed on YouTube and included readings and live singing performances.
Mr Brown, originally from Jamaica, came to the UK at the height of the Second World War to volunteer for service in the RAF.
He flew in Lancaster bombers carrying out a number of missions as a radio operator and gunner.
He had been one of the last survivors among 450 black airmen nicknamed the Pilots Of The Caribbean.
Mr Brown died in December.
Council officers began a search for relatives, which quickly got taken up by historians, military researchers, genealogists, and community groups.
One family member tracked down in Kingston, Jamaica, travelled 4,600 miles to pay her respects.
Relative Brooke Alexander, 31, said: "When I first heard he'd died alone, it broke my heart.
"If we couldn't be there in his life, I really hope in his death we can get his family there to pay our tributes to him."
Long-lost relative Rosie Bird, 62, flew all the way from Vancouver, Canada, to pay her respects after reading about Peter’s story in the British press.
The retired school secretary, originally from Jamaica, had been hunting for Peter since she first researched her family tree in the 1990s.
“It was only by happenstance that I read British newspapers a lot in Canada and I saw the story about Peter Brown and that they were looking for his family,” she told the Mirror.
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“I had a feeling that he was my Peter Brown but I wasn’t 100%.”
She later confirmed he was her dad’s first cousin, making him her cousin once removed.
Rosie flew to London for two days with her husband and brother-in-law to attend Thursday’s service.
She added: “I had been looking for him since the 1990s when I was doing my family tree, but found her dad’s family left Jamaica in the 1940s.
“So I didn’t know where I could find him. My dad’s generation and Peter left for WW2 in the forties and then we lost track of him.
“It was amazing when I read the newspaper article. I thought - I finally found him.
“It was so wonderful to read about him and what had happened to him after he came to England.”
After seeing the 600-strong turnout she said it was “just wonderful” that he was receiving a proper send off.
“I think it’s glorious, just wonderful,” she added. “It’s just such a tribute to him and all the Jamaican men and people from the British West Indies that left to come and serve.
“The RAF are honouring him and the other men from his squadron and that is so amazing.”
Also paying tribute was Donald Campbell, 71, founder of The Forgotten Generations - an organisation which campaigns for British African and Caribbean history to be taught in schools.
He said the funeral was a fitting tribute to the flight sergeant’s legacy.
He told the Mirror: “Peter Brown in his young days came from the Caribbean, in this case Jamaica like myself.
“He was on the front line, flying into enemy territory - that’s so gallant.
"It should be celebrated.
“A lot of us will take a bit of Peter Brown away and tell it to others and leave his legacy behind.”
Johanna Lewin, a retired major and Chair of the Royal Air Force in Jamaica 580 branch, helped to track down his relatives after finding details of a post box in Jamaica.
She said the turnout was “amazing”, adding that she hopes this case will help to ensure that no other servicemen will die alone.
“It’s extremely gratifying to see the involvement of Westminster City Council and the RAF to see that he’s recognised appropriately,” she added.
Representatives from Caribbean community organisations and those who helped trace his relatives were also in attendance, as well as celebrities including actor Colin McFarlane, who has appeared in numerous TV shows including Outlander and Holby City.
Trevor Michael Georges, who plays Ed Bailey in Coronation Street, said: "When I heard about Peter, I thought it was a very sad situation and I had to come to pay my respects.
"As a youth I was actually going to join the RAF. I was in the cadet force. But at the last minute, for various reasons, I changed my mind and decided to become an actor.
"Around 6,000 Caribbeans joined in the war effort. In a situation where every little bit helps, he made a big contribution."
Mr Brown's body was found six days before Christmas when his neighbour Paul Newman became worried he was not answering his door.
Mr Newman, who interviewed Peter for a local magazine, said of his neighbour: "Peter didn't want to elaborate too much on what he did in the war.
"He did tell me that he'd had to lie a little bit about his age to join up. He was just 16.
"He told me he'd been based at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, and there was a rumour among the neighbours that he was one of the Dambusters.
"Peter wasn't a Dambuster but at Scampton he was sharing the same air base with the guys who carried out the raid on the German dams.
"We know for certain he was a wireless operator and air gunner on Lancaster bombers with 625 Squadron.”
Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: "The national response to Peter Brown's story has been overwhelming.
"The details of his life and subsequent search for relatives have truly captured the public imagination and moved people around the world.
"Our priority has always been to ensure Mr Brown receives a fitting, dignified send-off which allows those wishing to pay their respects the opportunity to do so.
"We are grateful to the RAF who have stepped in and provided a perfect venue to reflect Peter's military service.
"We will continue to work with the RAF, community groups and well-wishers to ensure the service represents the many aspects of Mr Brown's life."
The church gave "priority access" to those with a connection to Mr Brown.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and MPs Johnny Mercer and Tom Tugendhat, who were part of the armed forces, tweeted their full support to find Mr Brown'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 is believed to have becmme a wireless operators and air gunners and later passed his aircrew selection board on September 19.
Mr Brown was then posted to 625 Squadron at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, home of the Dambusters.
An RAF spokesperson said: “Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served throughout the RAF’s history.
"We should never forget their sacrifices which have defended our freedom and kept us safe.”
A GofundMe was also launched 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."
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.
Candice also 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."
