Peter Brown flew in Lancaster Bombers like these [RAF 1942 detail IWM]

ONE of the last surviving black Second World War RAF pilots is to be given a fitting funeral service after a group of neighbours and military experts came together to ensure his life is not forgotten.

Peter Brown, who lived in Warrington Crescent, Maida Vale, came from Jamaica to fly five operations in Lancaster bombers for the Royal Air Force in 1943.

He served in Palestine, Tripoli, Egypt, and Malta and later worked for the London County Council and the Ministry of Defence – and he was a big cricket fan and an MCC member at Lord’s.

Without next of kin in this country, a group of supporters have rallied round.

Military researcher Mike Jackson told the Extra: “If no one had made the effort this guy would have had a funeral and no one would have been there.

“Now he is going to get a public health funeral with a proper service. I do a lot of investigations about this sort of thing but this one has turned out to be rather difficult. I have been trying to unlock doors, but it has just been one of these cases.

“Everyone has been so co-operative to make sure this gentleman is remembered.

“Neighbourhood police have been helpful as they knew he had an RAF career. Westminster Council is very generously paying the extra to have the service. Even the mortuary held on to his body for a long period. He could have been cremated weeks ago, to be honest.

“People are just trying to make the best for him.”

He added: “I just wish everyone who is interested now really knew him before he passed away.

“The saddest thing is that he was clearly a bit of a character. He was always very clean. But he had sometimes wore slightly bedraggled clothes, sometimes with a piece of string around a belt.”

Mr Jackson is just one of a growing group of interested parties and neighbours of Mr Brown who have been researching his life since his death in December last year. They have been combing through newspaper cuttings and contacting official organisations in this country and Jamaica.

The finer details of his war effort are not known and many of his personal belongings have been lost in a flat clearance.

Mr Jackson, who often conducts research on former service personnel, said: “The Empire came forward to help the mother country, is probably a way of putting it in 1940s terms. There were various schemes available.”

“Peter Brown is probably the last surviving Jamaican aircrew in the United Kingdom. We can’t say he is definitely the very last one living in this country. But we think he is. If there are any others still alive, we are hoping this article could help flush it out.”

Archives show how Mr Brown travelled to Britain along with a group of 11 other young men who were all destined to be RAF wireless operators and air gunners in September 1943.

They visited the West India Committee Rooms in 40 Norfolk Street Paddington – a club where people could pick up mail and socialise with other Caribbean servicemen and women – in November 1943.

Major (Ret’d) Johanna Lewin JP, chair of the RAF association Jamaica branch, said: “We are all very saddened that he died alone and that no family members have been identified.

“I am making further efforts to see if I can locate any family or friends here in Jamaica.  This includes asking the local newspapers to run an article or Notice.  This should happen and some other stuff.

“It is very important for us to ensure that our veterans are recognised and enjoy their last days with dignity and at least the basic comforts.

“Sadly we do not know about many of those who remained or returned to the UK.”

Historian Dr Kathleen Chater said: “Black people have played a part in British society since Tudor times. Peter Brown’s was one of the more important roles, defending the country. So he, and all the others, should be remembered and commemorated.”

Mr Brown’s funeral is to be held at noon on March 29 in the Mortlake Crematorium.