Funeral for Second World War RAF veteran being moved to accommodate large crowds (Picture: Supplied)
The funeral for one of the last black RAF Second World War veterans is expected to be moved to accommodate the large crowds expected to be in attendance.
Organisers were inundated with requests to attend the service for flight Sergeant Peter Brown, who died alone aged 96 in Maida Vale, west London.
The service had originally been due to take place in a 140-capacity chapel in Mortlake, south-west London, on Wednesday.
However, Westminster City Council has said a new date and venue are being arranged, and it is working with the RAF and Ministry of Defence to ensure Sgt Brown is given the ‘send-off he deserves’.
Sgt Peter Brown enlisted in the RAF in 1943 and continued to work as a signaller after the war ended
Sgt Brown died alone aged 96 and a campaign has been launched to track down his remaining relatives (Picture: Leon McGowran)
Born in Jamaica in 1926, Sgt Brown enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve in September 1943.
He trained as a wireless operator/air gunner and was posted to RAF Scampton.
After the war ended, he re-enlisted in the RAF, working as a signaller.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: ‘Details of the future date and venue are still being finalised but will be announced as soon as possible. We are looking to secure a venue closer to Mr Brown’s home in Westminster.
‘Westminster City Council, which is legally responsible for the funeral, said it became clear that the original plans were too small after a hugely successful call-out for mourners by the media and online.
‘We really want to thank the group that has convened to support the council in making arrangements.
‘Additional time will allow the council to work with well-wishers, community groups and the military to give Mr Brown the send-off he deserves.
‘The priority remains providing Mr Brown a fitting, dignified funeral and allowing everyone who wishes to pay their respects the chance to do so.’
The council said it believes the chapel would not hold the large number of people expected to turn up.
A campaign had been launched by The Sun to find Sgt Brown’s surviving family members so that they can attend his funeral.
Reacting to the campaign, Rishi Sunak wrote in a tweet: ‘Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served the RAF.
‘I hope that the nation gets behind this @thesun campaign.
‘We’ve also arranged for a RAF trumpeter to attend the funeral, alongside a senior RAF officer.’
An RAF spokesperson said that we should ‘never forget’ the sacrifices made by personnel like Sgt Brown.
The sergeant’s funeral has been moved to accommodate large crowds of mourners (Picture: Leon McGowran)
‘Flight Sergeant Brown is an example of the selfless contribution of all Commonwealth personnel who have served throughout the RAF’s history,’ the spokesperson said.
‘We should never forget their sacrifices which have defended our freedom and kept us safe.’
Lord Mayor of Westminster Hamza Taouzzale said that he would attend the service.
‘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,’ he said.
‘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 know many others are also taking part. I would ask that you think of him.’
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Sgt Peter Brown was one of the last ‘pilots of the carribbean’ who served in the RAF during the war.