Hundreds attend funeral of WWII veteran George Osborne in Southampton after appeal for mourners goes viral

George Peter Osborne, a Bomber Command Signaller during World War Two, passed away last month at the age of 96 with few close family or friends.

On Tuesday the funeral director for the service made a moving appeal - which was shared thousands of times online - for the veteran to be paid the respect he deserved for serving his country.

And today 350 people - many of them former and serving members of the military - responded to his call, packing out a crematorium in Southampton, Hants, to give Mr Osborne a fitting send-off despite never having met him.

Servicemen and women gave his hearse a guard of honour while mourners lined the crematorium driveway as his coffin was driven in.

Such was the crowd, that many could not find seats inside.

Among the well wishers was former Sapper James Wilson, who lost both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Engineers.

The 36-year-old from New Milton said: "I didn't know him, but that doesn't matter it's about service brotherhood.

"He served on the battlefield like me, and although it was a different battlefield it doesn't matter. War is war.

"That's why we turned up, to show our respects for another brother.

"If I can I always try and come to show my respects for any fallen brother who might not have many friends or family.

"Anyone who severed deserves a decent send off. It was amazing to see so many people turn up."

Squadron Leader Tim Hayes at the Defence School of Policing and Guarding turned up with 17 other RAF service personnel in training to pay their respects.

The 45-year-old, who has served in the military for 24 years, said: "We came today to show our respects to a military family member.

"The armed forces is a family as far as I am concerned and that doesn't change when you leave.

"Paying your respects to veterans is important and something we strongly encourage to new officers, that that is the family they have just joined.

"Anyone who has served in the military is a family, we are a community that support each other during and after they leave service."

Minister Matthew Smith, who presided over the funeral, described Mr Osborne as 'a real hero' who fought for our country's freedom.

Addressing mourners, he said: "Welcome to a very special time for a very special gentleman.

"Born in a period of history which is lost in the vaults of time, this country and other territories owe a tremendous debt to his generation.

"To a real hero who gave us freedom of choice and freedom to our country.

"People of his generation are generally very stoic. They endured and lived through a lot.

"He will now have been reunited with those comrades and friends who have already crossed over before him."

Some mourners wept as a series of photos detailing Mr Osborne's life were shown while Nimrod by Elgar played in the background.

At the end of the service, members of the armed forces stood to attention while the Last Post was played.

The two original mourners, chef Helder Zeferino and his partner Hannah Gilkes, then went outside and released ten white doves.

David Butts, 73, who served as part of the merchant navy, said it didn't matter who you served with or when, you fought for freedom.

Mr Butts, from Eastleigh, Hants, said: "I came here today to show my respect for a man who was obviously a great and stoic man who served his country.

"It doesn't matter that I never knew him, I knew that he was a man of great courage and strength. Anyone who served during the second world war was a hero in my eyes.

"It doesn't matter which branch of the armed forces you served with, they fought for freedom and that's all that matters.

"And anyone willing to do that deserves a fitting send off."

In the Facebook post, Funeral Director Paul Capper had said: "Dear all, I have been entrusted with the funeral arrangements of a very brave gentleman.

"George Peter Osborne died in Southampton General Hospital on the 20th January 2019 aged 96 years. Sadly his executor died a month previously.

"Two friends are arranging his funeral for Thursday 14th February at The East Chapel of Southampton Crematorium at 09.45hrs.

"Whilst looking through a photograph album of his it turns out that he was, according to the RAF Museum in London, a signaller in Bomber Command Air Crew.

"There is, so far, two people attending his funeral, is there anyone out there that could help to swell the ranks and give this brave hero who has no family a fitting send-off?"

According to friends, after the war Mr Osborne - who was adopted as a child - continued to serve in the RAF before enjoying a lengthy career as a waiter aboard cruise ships.

He never married and had no children, they said.