‘Family of soldiers’ attend the funeral of veteran
HUNDREDS of strangers have attended the funeral of a Scottish soldier who served in the Second World War.
Stewart Cooney died aged 95 in a care home in Leeds last month having outlived most of his family, leading to a social media appeal for mourners.
Royal British Legion standard bearers, a piper and soldiers from the Royal Artillery, his old regiment, were on hand in a service that proved to be standing room only.
Dougie Eastwood, area trainer for BUPA Care Services, which runs Colton Lodges nursing home where Mr Cooney died, launched an appeal for representatives of the armed forces and the Royal British Legion to attend their comrade’s funeral.
Mr Cooney, who was born in Dundee, served as a gunner during the war and was in the army for a total of 25 years, fighting in Egypt and Sicily, as well as a combat spell in Malaysia.
Mr Eastwood said: “I’m humbled by the fact this family of soldiers have come together to bury this gentlemen with respect and dignity. We’re in the world for such a short time, no-one deserves to go to the grave without being recognised.”
Mr Cooney’s long lost sister, Helen Walker, 84, made the trip from Manchester with her sons Scott and Stewart for the funeral.
She said: “I’m thankful he had a good send-off and I’m sad I didn’t get to see him before he went. It has been years since I saw him. I think it was at a wedding and he was with his wife.”