Royal family honours John 'Paddy' Hemingway as tributes pour in
Buckingham Palace has released a heartfelt statement honouring John 'Paddy' Hemingway, the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, following his passing at the age of 105.
During the Changing of the Guard on Wednesday, the Band of the Coldstream Guards played the Battle of Britain March and The Royal Air Force March Past in tribute to the late war hero. The royal family also shared details of the tribute on their official Instagram account.
The Palace statement read: “Today, the Band of the Coldstream Guards played the Battle of Britain March and The Royal Air Force March Past during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in honour of John 'Paddy' Hemingway, the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, who died yesterday at the age of 105.”
Group Captain Hemingway, who served in the Royal Air Force from the first day of the Second World War until its conclusion, retired in 1974. He passed away in a Dublin care home, remembered for his modesty despite his remarkable service.
Prince William, who trained as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in 2009, also paid tribute, saying: “I was sad to hear about the passing of John 'Paddy' Hemingway this morning, the last of ‘The Few.’ We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them.”
