Fylde war veteran denied service honour dies, aged 96

A Fylde war veteran who battled unsuccessfully for a service honour has died aged 96.
Alan Cunliffe flew 36 missions as a Flying Officer in the Second World WarAlan Cunliffe flew 36 missions as a Flying Officer in the Second World War
Alan Cunliffe flew 36 missions as a Flying Officer in the Second World War

Alan Cunliffe was a Flying Officer in the RAF during the Second World War, risking his life to complete 36 missions.

For the final year of his service, when he was aged 22, he was a navigator on Wellington and Liberator aircraft flying from an aerodrome in Southern Italy over targets all over Europe including the South of France, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

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After Whitehall announced in March 2013 that a special Bomber Command clasp had been commissioned, Mr Cunliffe sent his application off for the honour, but, as we reported at the time, he was horrified to learn his application had been denied.

With no reason given on his rejection letter, Mr Cunliffe, who was living in Wrea Green at the time, reapplied only to receive a second letter turning his bid down.

The letter from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency said his unit was “part of the Mediterranean Allied Air Force so regrettably you are not eligible.”

The clasp is only for raids in Western Europe, a decision he described at the time as “a nonsense” but reluctantly accepted, adding: “This medal would be quite an honour, so to not have been given it I am very, very annoyed.

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“I am dismayed at this decision. But that’s it, I am not going to apply again.”

Mr Cunliffe died peacefully in Alistre Nursing Home in St Annes.

He was married to Hilary Cunliffe for many years and had a son David, daughter Diane and step daughter Justine. He also leaves daughter-in-law Deborah, grandchildren Chris, David, Cathryn and Olivia, and three great grandchildren.

Diane said: “We were very proud of dad and his war service.

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“Despite all our efforts, he never received a medal for his part in Bomber Command and since we are living in lockdown, with its regulations of social distancing, coronavirus dealt a cruel blow in being unable to give my father the send-off he deserved. Surely an unfitting end for someone who risked his life to serve his country.”

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