A search is under way to find the family of one of the RAF’s last black second world war veterans, who died recently.
Peter Brown, a retired flight sergeant, died alone aged 96 in Maida Vale, west London. Without any known family, Westminster council and the RAF are attempting to locate any relatives of Brown to pay tribute to him at Mortlake Crematorium on 29 March.
Brown was born in 1926 in Jamaica and is believed to have enlisted in the armed forces when he was 17. According to the RAF, Sgt Brown enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943, and was trained as a wireless operator/air gunner. Brown took part in missions in Palestine, Tripoli, Egypt and Malta before leaving the forces in 1950.
Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, alongside MPs Johnny Mercer and Tom Tugendhat, who both served in the armed forces, tweeted their support in the search for his family.
The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said Brown was an example “of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served the RAF. I hope that the nation gets behind this Sun campaign.
“We’ve also arranged for an RAF trumpeter to attend the funeral, alongside a senior RAF officer,” he added.
Jamaican authorities were also reportedly searching for any living relatives of Brown.
Hamza Taouzzale, the lord mayor of Westminster, said: “Mr Brown was one of the many servicemen and women who volunteered from the West Indies and across the former colonies to fight for the UK and the world at a time of its greatest need.
“We owe him – and the many others like him – a huge debt of gratitude. His obvious modesty meant that we did not know of his actions until after his passing. Despite extensive efforts, no family members have been traced. As the first citizen of Westminster, I shall attend his funeral and I hope to be joined by many others so we can offer him a fitting send-off.”
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.”
