Goodbye, sweetheart
Spitfire flypast and an Armed Forces guard for Vera Lynn’s final journey
HER soaring voice, visits to troops and songs of optimism and love gave the nation hope in the Second World War’s most desperate days.
So, for Dame Vera Lynn’s funeral yesterday, what more fitting way to honour her than with a flypast by two Spitfires – the aircraft that turned what could have Britain’s darkest hour into our finest.
On what was also the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain, the planes took to the skies above village of Ditchling, East Sussex, where the ‘Forces’ Sweetheart’ lived for more than half a century.
One was the only surviving airworthy Spitfire to have actually served in the Battle of Britain as the Luftwaffe was repelled in 1940. The other bore the black and white ‘invasion stripes’ that Allied aircraft were painted with for D-Day to identify them as ‘friendly’ to our air and ground forces.
The aircraft arched over the village twice before, with the distinctive roar from their Merlin engines, soaring directly over the cortege as it stood at rest at noon.
The bells of nearby St Margaret’s Church tolled solemnly and applause rang out from hundreds of well-wishers lining the streets, among them radio DJ Zoe Ball.
Some wore face masks, but there were shouts of ‘hip hip hooray’ from the crowd, followed by a spontaneous rendition of Dame Vera’s most famous song We’ll Meet Again.
The song helped raise morale in the war and took on new meaning for the 75th anniversary of VE Day during lockdown. Dame Vera died aged 103 on June 18.
Yesterday her coffin, draped in a union jack with her honours resting on top, was taken by hearse from her home to a crematorium in Brighton. The cortege was flanked by members from all the Armed
Forces, including three Coldstream Guards in full ceremonial uniform and bearskins.
Many people had travelled the length and breadth of the country to pay tribute to Dame Vera, who performed for troops on the frontline – often at great personal risk – in countries including Egypt, India and Burma.
William Baker, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, was fulfilling a promise to his late father, a sailor, to attend the funeral. ‘He said she helped morale in an unimaginable way by coming to see them,’ he said.
Former Foreign Office diplomat Peter Marshall, 72, who lives in Italy, said: ‘For many in this country Dame Vera Lynn symbolises a certain harsh time that all families lived through. Her passing marks the end of an era and it is very moving.’ Jonathan Jones, 82, f from London, L d said: id‘V ‘Vera Lynn L was a symbol of all the good qualities of this nation.’
At the crematorium, members from all three services formed a route-lining party outside the chapel, together with a military bearer party ready to receive the coffin. A bugler from the Royal Marines provided a musical tribute i inside id th the chapel. h l Th The Mi Ministry i of Defence was represented by a senior officer who, along with the bugler and the small family group, were the only people to attend the private service because numbers were limited due to coronavirus.
A full memorial service will be held at a later date. Dame
‘A symbol of the good qualities of this nation’
Vera’s daughter Virginia LewisJones said her mother would have been touched so many had turned out to pay their respects. She added: ‘It means so much to us to see my mother’s legacy living on. We are sure her music will endure for ever but most importantly, we hope people will continue to support those charities she cared about so much.’ Susan Fleet, Dame Vera’s assistant for more than 20 years, said of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast: ‘She would be incredibly humbled because she was the most humble person you would meet. She would feel very special, very loved, as she deserves to be.’