Lawrence Churcher: Funeral for last known Royal Navy Dunkirk veteran

A ceremonial has been held for the past known Royal Navy seasoned of Dunkirk.

Two lines of Royal Navy sailors provided a defender of honour for 102-year-old Lawrence Churcher during a work successful Portchester, Hampshire.

Pallbearers carried his coffin, which was draped successful a Union Jack with his Navy headdress connected top, done pouring rain.

Mr Churcher, who was calved successful Portsmouth and died astatine a attraction location successful Fareham, landed successful France successful May 1940, returning connected a vessel carrying rescued soldiers.

He was awarded the Legion d'Honneur for his bravery - the highest bid of merit successful France.

Announcing his death, foundation Project 71, which supports World War Two veterans, said helium had been a "truly singular man".

The foundation said helium was the past naval seasoned of the Dunkirk evacuation.

It said: "When he, unneurotic with thousands of others of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force), was ordered to propulsion backmost to the beaches, helium began looking for the Hampshire Regiment successful the anticipation of uncovering his 2 brothers, Edward and George.

"Amazingly they met each different and managed to sail backmost to the UK connected the aforesaid ship."

Mr Churcher is reported to person said: "When my brothers recovered me, I conscionable felt relief.

"There were truthful galore soldiers determination and continuous craft dropping bombs and strafing us, I had truthful galore things connected my caput until I got connected committee of our ship.

"One fella leaned connected my shoulder, gave a suspiration of alleviation and said 'Thank God we've got a Navy' and that benignant of churned it up wrong of me.

"We knew we had to get those soldiers backmost from Dunkirk."

Mr Churcher went connected to service successful the Mediterranean, astatine D-Day and ended the warfare successful East Asia.

After World War Two helium worked for a printing firm, sold crystal creams and became a shot referee.

He attended Portsmouth FC matches from 1928 and was hailed by the nine arsenic 1 of their oldest fans.

Mr Churcher's backstage ceremonial work was attended by household and friends.