Servicemen rally for an elite soldier who died all alone
DOZENS of strangers paid their respects at the funeral of a hero paratrooper who died alone.
It was feared just two people would turn up for the service in memory of Lance Corporal Terence “Paddy” Purcell, who died aged 69.
But mourners flocked to say farewell following an appeal on social media.
Among those paying tribute were former servicemen, including those from the elite SAS regiment.
Mr Purcell, from South Armagh, served with 2 Para, the select airborne light infantry battalion, from where special operations soldiers are chosen.
He also completed a spell in an anti-tank regiment in Germany with 3 Para.
Mr Purcell last lived in a care home in Kingston, south-west London, but little is known about his life. Six veterans carried his coffin, draped in the flag of the Parachute Regiment, flanked by a guard of honour in Kingston.
Alan Crutchley, from Shropshire, the only person who knew Mr Purcell, said: “He was a good boxer and I remember fighting with him in Berlin in 1979.”
The small chapel was crammed with ex-Parachute Regiment soldiers and veterans from the Welsh Guards, the Royal Navy, the Armed Forces charity SSAFA and the Surbiton and Croydon branches of the Royal British Legion.
The response came after a post on X and Facebook which appealed to people to “attend the funeral of a veteran”.
It simply read: “He has no family. No one should take their final journey alone. Please retweet. RIP Sir.”
Brotherhood
Mourner Bob Craft, of the 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (1 Para), and the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, said: “The outpouring of support and energy from the veteran community has demonstrated the unwavering brotherhood, comradeship, compassion and love that exists among us, especially for a fellow veteran like Terence Purcell.”
During the service, the sound of a C-130 troop carrier aircraft was played. As is traditional,The Last Post was sounded, followed by Ride of the Valkyries, Pomp and Circumstance and the theme tune from the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far.