Tributes to Captain Sir Tom
TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to former member of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment Captain Sir Tom Moore, who has died at the age of 100.
He enlisted into the eighth battalion of Halifax’s historic Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (8 DWR), an infantry unit that was converted to operate Churchill tanks as part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC).
In 1940, he was selected for officer training and rose to the rank of captain, later being posted to 9 DWR in India.
He served and fought in the Arakan in western Burma, since renamed Rakhine State, and went with his regiment to Sumatra after the Japanese surrender.
Captain Sir Tom became a household name after raising almost £33m for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden.
Captain Sir Tom died surrounded by his family, his daughters said this week, after he was taken by ambulance to Bedford Hospital on January 31.
He had been treated in the hospital in January for pneumonia, and was discharged on January 22, but later that day he tested positive for coronavirus.
He was treated at home until developing breathing problems.
A statement from his family read: “We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime. We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together. The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of. Whilst he’d been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.”
Brigadier Andrew Meek, President of the Duke of Wellington’s Regimental Association, said: “Capt Tom, as he was known throughout the Regiment, was an inspiring Yorkshireman and proud member of The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. During the dark days of World War Two he served his country as part of the Forgotten Army in Burma and subsequently ensured that the memory of 9 DWR was never forgotten by organising off his own bat their annual reunion dinner. Over the past year he raised the spirits of the nation when we were all in need of inspiration due to the pandemic.
“His words of hope and encouragement lifted morale across the country. In undertaking his walk not only did he raise a mammoth amount of money for the NHS he also ensured that the name of the Regiment became known to all, 16 years after amalgamation.”
YOUR TRIBUTES: See page 17 or online: www.halifaxcourier.co.uk