UK bids farewell to coronavirus hero Captain Tom Moore with plane fly-past, gun salute at funeral

Soldiers formed a guard of honour and gave a firing salute at a ceremony held by the 100-year-old war veteran’s family in Bedford

Moore, who died in February, raised nearly US$45 million for health care charities by completing 100 lengths of his garden last year

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment carry the coffin of Captain Tom Moore during his funeral in Bedford on Saturday. Photo: AP

Published: 9:53pm, 27 Feb 2021Updated: 10:48pm, 27 Feb 2021

Britain bid farewell on Saturday to Captain Tom Moore with a nationally televised funeral for the 100-year-old war veteran who became a global hero for his extraordinary fundraising efforts during the pandemic.

Soldiers formed a guard of honour at the small ceremony held by Moore’s family at a crematorium in Bedford in central England.

Six soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment, the successor to the one Moore served in during world war II, carried his coffin, draped with the Union flag and his military cap and sword as 14 soldiers gave a firing salute.

A second world war-era plane from a nearby RAF base flew over the crematorium and later a bugler sounded the Last Post, followed by a minute’s silence.

“The Armed Forces are immensely proud to contribute to the celebration of his extraordinary life of service,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

A three-round gun salute by the British soldiers at the funeral of Captain Tom Moore in Bedford. Photo: AP