Hundreds turn up to mourn 100-year-old war hero with no loved ones

Hundreds of people from across the UK turned up to mourn at a stranger's funeral after answering a care home’s plea for mourners to honour a WW2 veteran with no friends or family.

Oswald Dixon, who had, since 2015, lived at Broughton House in Salford - a care home for ex-service men and women - was one of thousands of young people who left their homes in Jamaica to serve the King in WW2.

Oswald Dixon, who celebrated turning 100 this year at the care home, was blind and had dementia, and died on 25 September.

With no friends or family, care home staff grew concerned Mr Dixon’s service to this country in life would go unrecognised and launched a public appeal for mourners to attend his funeral.

Staff at Broughton House decided to invite the general public and posted details of his funeral on the care home’s Facebook page.

It said: 'It is with regret that Oswald has no family members in the UK and his funeral will take place at Agecroft Crematorium on Wednesday 9th of October at 2.20pm.

'At his 100th birthday celebration, Oswald said that he "always tried to live life as it should be lived, by doing things for other people".

'His warm character will be missed by everyone involved at Broughton House.'

The Facebook post triggered the attention of RAF personnel and the general public as news of the invitation spread.

On a wet Wednesday, Salford's Agecroft Crematorium was quickly filled as hundreds of former and serving RAF service personnel turned up to honour Mr Dixon.

Arriving in a hearse decorated with 100 poppies to commemorate his service during the war, Mr Dixon’s coffin was carried into the chapel past a guard of honour formed by serving members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and RAF Cadets.

A man claiming to be Mr Dixon’s estranged son also attended the funeral. He says he thought his father had died years ago before reading about the public appeal for mourners.

Edward Aspin, a bus driver who lives in Dublin, says his parents had separated and he had lost all touch with his father.

Oswald Dixon volunteered in Kingston, Jamaica in 1944 - along with over 6,000 Caribbean RAF servicemen. He served as a flight mechanic and trained new recruits.

Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer attended the funeral.

Mr Mercer wrote on Twitter: 'A huge privilege to attend the funeral of 100-year-old RAF veteran Oswald Dixon in Manchester this afternoon.

'He died with no known family; but actually had a huge one who all turned out today.'

A letter from the Jamaican High Commissioner and government, paid tribute to Mr Dixon’s war service.

Chris Lindsay, chief executive of Broughton House, said: 'On behalf of all the residents and staff at Broughton House, I would like to thank the veteran community, the people of Greater Manchester and all those who travelled from afar for showing their tremendous compassion and support to a veteran whose warm character will be missed by us all.'

click here for more details or to contact Broughton House