Full military honours funeral for Doncaster World War 2 D-Day hero

Bomber Command gunner Ken Johnson, who died earlier this month at the age of 95, will be given a guard of honour and the Last Post will also be played at his funeral.

There will also be flag bearers and a flag folding ceremony at his funeral which will take place at Rose Hill Crematorium on January 29 at 11.40am.

Ken, who was awarded France’s highest military honour for his bravery during the conflict, died on January 3.

In 2016, Mr Johnson of Balby, received the Légion d’Honneur, France’s highest miliary honour.

Mr Johnson joined 20 other veterans for the ceremony held at The Allied Air Forces Memorial and Yorkshire Air Museum in York.

RAF gunner Ken was lucky to escape alive when a British Lancaster bomber dropped a bomb on his plane around seven days after D-Day in France.

Speaking to the Free Press in January 2016 he said: “We were flying in a formation and I looked up and saw the plane above us open up its bomb doors.

“We tried to radio but it was too late, the bomb dropped and took our tail clean off.

“A Canadian lad, Carson Foye his name was, got taken out by the bomb. Our pilot managed to fly us to safety, God knows how.”

He said: “I consider myself a very, very lucky man. I did my bit and I’m proud that I did so. To receive the medal is such an honour.”

In 2014, French president Francois Hollande, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, pledged that all servicemen who fought alongside France to defeat the Nazis would receive the nation’s highest military honour.

Daughter Beverly Delmar said: “They are giving dad a full military send off with flag bearers and the Last Post and everything.”

Following Mr Johnson’s funeral, a celebration of his life will be at held at Balby’s Woodfield Club with all welcome.