World War 2 RAF veteran Gilbert Clarke, who died aged 100 on May 23, was given a hero's farewell on Saturday as mourners lined the streets of East Ham, London. The funeral procession was led by a New Orleans jazz band and escorted by five generations of the Clarke family and a cavalcade of black cabs from the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, of which he was a stalwart and valued friend.
Final Journey to East Ham Town Hall
The hearse carrying Clarke's coffin, draped in a Union flag, travelled to East Ham Town Hall for a service of remembrance. There, RAF standard bearers met the cortege as Be Still My Soul was played on a steel pan. The service, led by Rev Dr Michael King, heard how proud Gilbert “endured much, gave much, and remained thankful”.
Lied About Age to Join RAF
Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December 3, 1925, Clarke was just 17 when he lied about his age to join the Royal Air Force. He passed all required tests and basic training before leaving his family to travel by sea to Liverpool. Stationed at British and American air bases in the UK, he served as a Leading Aircraftman, fitting, servicing, and repairing electronic equipment as a radar mechanic on frontline fighter planes, including Hurricanes and Spitfires.
Service and Sacrifice Remembered
The congregation sang O Ruler of the Earth and Sky (The Airman's Hymn) as Rev Dr King told them: “For King and country. For service rendered. For sacrifice remembered. We honour Gilbert Clarke.” Speaking previously, Clarke said: “I volunteered like so many millions of others from Britain, the Commonwealth and elsewhere out of a sense of duty, to fight for King and country, and play my part in ensuring we left the world a better place for everyone. I was a poor, barefoot Jamaican in Montego Bay, wanting to be a flight mechanic and to help serve during the war in Europe.”
Life After War and Taxi Charity
For the past 30 years, Clarke lived with his eldest daughter, Norma, in Plaistow, east London. The wheelchair-bound veteran was a regular on trips organised by the Taxi Charity, including pilgrimages to the D-Day beaches in Normandy and summer seaside jaunts to Worthing. His last trip was with the British West Indian Regiment to Ypres in April, where he participated in a moving act of remembrance at Menin Gate. Clarke recalled the start of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, saying: “We could hear a droning noise. Think of it as one plane, think about 50 planes, think about 500 planes, think about 1,000 planes. You couldn’t see the sky, it was all black with planes. We asked the Sergeant and he said ‘This is it, they’re going to Europe.’ And we all shouted ‘Give them hell boys.’”
Committal and Tributes
A committal service for family was held at Manor Park Crematorium, where four of Clarke’s favourite songs were played: Green Onions by Booker T. & the M.G.’s, If You Don't Know Me by Now by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, and When Will I See You Again by The Three Degrees. Taxi Charity chairman Colin Mills said: “Gilbert represented the very best of his generation - courageous, humble and devoted to his country during one of the darkest periods in our history. It was an honour for our charity and our volunteer London cab drivers to spend time with him over the years at commemorations, social events and trips where his warmth, humour and remarkable stories touched so many people. Veterans like Gilbert are at the heart of everything the charity stands for, and we will forever be grateful for his service and sacrifice. As the number of World War 2 veterans sadly continues to diminish, it becomes ever more important that we preserve their memories and ensure future generations understand the freedoms they fought so hard to protect. Gilbert’s legacy will live on through the lives he inspired and the friendships he made within the Taxi Charity family. Stand easy Gilbert, your duty is done.” Clarke’s son Alan said: “His life touched a lot of people and everyone loved him.”
