Full military funeral for former RAF man - The Solihull Observer

Full military funeral for former RAF man

Solihull Editorial 3rd Mar, 2014 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

WHEN Barry Morgan Neal died at a Solihull care home last month there was no trace of any of his relatives or friends.

But the former RAF technician received a full military send-off with standard bearers, the Last Post and a Union Jack draped over his coffin when nearly 100 old soldiers, airmen and Silhillians touched by his story attended his funeral at Robin Hood Cemetery on Friday (February 28).

Mr Neal, 76, died at the Beech Court retirement home in Shirley.

His military past was only revealed when council workers clearing out his Solihull home stumbled across RAF memorabilia and hundreds of Airfix models.




One of the case workers in charge of Mr Neal’s estate, himself a member of the Territorial Army, set about trying to find out more through the online Army Rumour Service website.

Not only did he appeal for any extra information about Mr Neal – but he also called on servicemen and women to attend his funeral and give him a proper military send-off.


And the appeal worked as almost 100 people turned out to give hime a poignant final salute.

Observer photographer Neville Collins was on-hand to pay his respects and capture these images of a fitting tribute to the former RAF man.

A proper military send-off for former RAf technician Barry Morgan Neal. 10.014.009.spl.nc8

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