Last Post for Blackpool D-Day veteran

Forces veterans and members of the public lined the road to bid a final farewell to one of Lancashire’s last D-Day heroes - Derek Coyle.
By Tim Gavell
Published 8th Jun 2020, 12:30 BST
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The former Royal Marine, 94, was given a fitting send off at Lytham Park Crematorium with a horse-drawn hearse and standards on parade.

Derek was one of the first wave ashore on Juno beach on June 6, 1944 and also fought in Burma with his unit, 42 Commando.

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After the war he returned to Blackpool to his wife Hilda. Hilda died in December 2016.

The horse-drawn hearse carrying former Royal Marine Commando Derek Coyle to his final restThe horse-drawn hearse carrying former Royal Marine Commando Derek Coyle to his final rest
The horse-drawn hearse carrying former Royal Marine Commando Derek Coyle to his final rest

He was a regular at the Armistice Day and other military commemorations in Blackpool and the former civil servant was a member of the Royal Marines Association.

He died on May 12 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Mike Warren from the Blackpool branch of the association said: “We had around 20 branch members lining the road and four standards. There must have been 30 to 40 members of the public too.

“He was so highly thought of locally, a lovely man.

“We think he had the send off he deserved despite the current restrictions due to coronavirus.

“We gave him everything he wanted and it was good to see so many people there.”

Related topics:BlackpoolLancashire