Mourners pay respects to Normandy veteran Peter Hemp
The Norwich and District Normandy Veterans Association standard is flown as veteran Peter Hemp's funeral cortege arrives at the Waveney Memorial Park at Ellough. The standard bearer is Tristan Everett. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2018
Standard bearers lined the route as mourners gathered to pay their respects to D-Day veteran Peter Hemp.
The funeral service for Mr Hemp, who died aged 95 on January 5, was held this morning at Waveney Memorial Park and Crematorium in Ellough.
Mr Hemp played a vital role in the Normandy Campaign of 1944 after joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), using the skills and knowledge he gained as an apprentice mechanic at Days Garage in Clapham Road, Lowestoft.
He was posted to Essex to prepare for active service in northern France as part of the Normandy campaign to sweep the Nazis back. He joined a mobile team, 113 Workshops, REME, which dealt with the maintenance and repair of army equipment.
After being demobbed from REME, Mr Hemp worked at Parry's garage in Oulton Broad and then at the Brooke Marine maintenance shop, where he remained until his retirement.
You may also want to watch:
In 2016, he was presented with the prestigious Légion d'honneur medal – France's highest military honour – for his bravery and service. Until recently, he made the annual pilgrimage back to Normandy with his colleagues from the Norfolk and District Normandy Veterans' Association to visit the beaches where he landed almost 75 years ago.
Four members of his family carried in the coffin, with members of the Royal British Legion and the Normandy Veterans' Association among those lining the route.
Most Read
- 1 Could direct trains run from Lowestoft to London again?
- 2 'Anti-social rider' has quadbike seized in the snow
- 3 Butchers' could be converted into cafe under new plans
- 4 Norfolk's first mass Covid vaccination centre to open in food court
- 5 'Disappointment' as thieves raid £16,000 of kit from town's sports club
- 6 'This is very welcome': Go-ahead for HMO close to town centre
- 7 Flood warning as Suffolk set for 23 hours of heavy rain later this week
- 8 Everything we know so far about Covid vaccinations in Norfolk and Waveney
- 9 Junction closed for third crossing preparations
- 10 Tributes to man, 31, who died on Christmas Day
His coffin was decorated with flowers and his collection of medals.