Prince William has issued an emotional message expressing his sorrow, saying “we shall never forget them,” after hearing the news of a sad death.
The Prince of Wales took to social media to pay tribute to the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, following his death aged 105. The veteran played a crucial role in defending the United Kingdom against Nazi oppression during the summer of 1940. His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience.
In his message today, William said: “I was sad to hear about the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway this morning, the last of “The Few”. We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them. W.”
Born in Dublin in 1919, Mr Hemingway enlisted in the RAF in 1938 and soon became one of the young pilots who fought in the Battle of France. Two years later, he was among the men known as “The Few”, coined by Winston Churchill to describe Britain’s Battle of Britain pilots.
Also paying tribute was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who said he was saddened to hear of Mr Hemingway’s death, adding: “Eighty years ago, the courage and determination of Paddy and all our brave RAF pilots helped bring an end to the Second World War. They fearlessly flew over enemy territory to protect the UK and its Allies, risking their lives.
“He never considered himself a hero and often referred to himself as the ‘Lucky Irishman’, a man simply doing his job, like so many others of his generation. Despite his sacrifice, he would tell stories of the joyous memories he made and moments he shared with his peers, many of whom never returned home. Their sense of duty and service secured our freedom, and we shall never forget them.”
In an interview with the Mirror in 2019, when he turned 100, Mr Hemingway said he disliked being called a Second World War hero. Instead, he says it’s the luck of the Irish that saw him through the war. Hewas shot down four times, but lived to tell the remarkable tale – from being plucked out of the North Sea by a rowing boat to strolling past Nazi troops disguised as an Italian farmer.
He said at the time: “I regard myself as an exceptionally lucky man. I have recently celebrated my 100th birthday, my health is good and I survived being shot down four times – twice in two weeks during the Battle of Britain – with just minor injuries. I lived through extraordinary times but I don’t see myself as exceptional in any way. I’m alive because of luck.”
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