Tony’s military send-off
AVETERAN who served in the Second World War was given a fitting send off with a full military funeral.
Gustav Charles Antoine - known as Tony - died aged 96, following a short illness.
More than 150 people attended his funeral at Tytherington Family Worship Church on Friday, July 6, with six standards, a piper and honour guard.
Speaking after the funeral, Tony’s stepdaughter, Carole Edge, said: “It was absolutely superb. You’re not supposed to say that about funerals but it was. It wasn’t sad because he had a wonderful life and he had a send off he deserved. The vets were absolutely amazing.”
The standards were provided by the Royal Air Forces Association, Macclesfield Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, The Royal British Legion and two Air Training Corp units.
A piper from The Waterloo Pipes and Drums played the Last Post, and an Honour Guard taking the salute was made up of serving officers from the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps and Retired officers of the Royal Air Force and Army Legal Services and members of the Air Training Corps.
The Pall Bearers were veterans of The Cheshire’s, The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
Vince Fogharty, who took part in the Honor Guard, explained that Tony played a significant part in a little known part of the Second World War, and was among 100 men sent to Madagascar to protect it from the Japanese.
He said: “Tony had many happy memories of his time in the RAF and wider wartime travels in East Africa, Egypt and Palestine. He was finally discharged at the end of his War Service on 20th May 1946 and received the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, Defence and War Medals.”
Tony, of Kent Walk, Upton Priory, was a regular at the Macclesfield Royal British Legion, the Macclesfield Armed Forces and Breakfast Club.
He had been training to be a chef when he joined the Royal Air Force on 27th July 1940, aged 19, and joined the catering corps.
He served on Madagascar off the east coast of the African continent until 1942. British forces invaded the island, which was held by the Vichy French, to ensure that it did not fall into Japanese hands and become a base for Japanese Navy warships and submarine, and Tony’s ship was torpedoed by the Japanese on the firs night of their arrival. Veteran’s
Tony died as a result of heart failure at Macclesfield Hospital on June 17, and leaves daughters Barbara Walkden and Carole Edge.