Originally Posted by
snapper41
I am mystified by how, if this gentleman flew operationally, he had no operational medals (France and Germany Star). I’m also annoyed at the media coverage - Channel 4 have just called him (several times) ‘field sergeant’, and he was not a pilot. Typically, members of the Caribbean community have trotted out the usual ‘they were ignored/forgotten/given nothing’ whines. I wonder if, had he not been from that community, we would have seen a full funeral at St Clement Danes, CAS in attendance, media coverage…
I agree, the Channel 4 coverage was awful, incorrect and also imbalanced. However, whilst this was FS Brown’s funeral, it was also a celebration of the last of the many from the Caribbean that came to fly and fight over Europe - that was why his funeral was big. The same went for Harry Patch (the last fighting Tommy of WW1) when he sadly passed, the last of a particular generation tend to get a good send off in recognition of their peers.
I believe that you had to apply for the medals too? Many did not know this, certainly the many that settled in the London area having been put up in the Clapham Common Bunker from the Windrush return. That may be why he is missing them.
Lest we forget
Flight Sergeant Peter Brown and the rest of his Caribbean colleagues who came to serve in world war 2 for the RAF.