Royal Naval Patrol Service Association

The Funeral of John Dunn

I am sure that a full report of John Dunn's funeral will appear in the next Newsletter but as it will be several months until then, here is an interim report.

John Dunn's funeral took place on Tuesday, 19th June 2012 at 1.20pm at the Crematorium at Gorleston. It was a warm and sunny day and those attending gathered and reminisced outside and in the ante-room before moving into the chapel. A number of veterans of several services were present particularly those the RN Patrol Service, other RN branches and the Royal Artillery.

The coffin, draped with the white ensign, was led into the chapel by the standards of the Royal Naval Patrol Service, Beccles Royal Naval Association, British Legion, Sea Cadets Beccles, Royal Artillery and the Fleet Air Arm to the sound of 'Calm is the Sea' by a male voice choir. There was just the one large square white wreath from his family on the coffin bearing the RNPS badge.

The service was led by the Association's Chaplain, Supt. James Izzard. After a brief introduction the 23rd Psalm (Crimond) was sung after which we all sat and the Association's Vice-President, Capt. Jon Scoles, OBE, RN (Rtd) read the lesson. After the lesson the Association's President, Commander Gary Titmus, RN (Rtd) gave his tribute to John, recalling a number of episodes from his personal experiences as well as relating some of the John Dunn folklore.

After prayers for the family came Supt. Jim Izzard's eulogy with an account of John's roots and life, some further recollections of John and a reading of 'A Sailor Died Today', based on A. Lawrence Vaincourt's poem and adapted to suit the occasion. We stood for the sailors hymn 'Eternal Father...' and after the Commendation and Committal came the Last Post and a full two minutes silence. The silence was broken by Reveille and then the Evening Hymn and Sunset.

Following the Grace, Supt. Izzard led the family out past the standards into the adjacent cloister followed by the rest of the congregation where many of the ex-service visitors were introduced to John Dunn's relations. John relations then went on to hold their own private family wake and the ex-service visitors and friends of RNPSA moved back to Lowestoft and the grounds of Sparrows Nest, where an excellent light buffet and tots were served in the conservatory of Giardino's, a new restaurent there.

It was a moving funeral, a fitting tribute to John for his wartime service as well as for his support of the Association since. For those of us who were too young to have served in WW2 it was an apt reminder of how much we owe to those of his generation who did. Rest in peace, John.

G. A. Michael Sims

The family wreath for John Dunn which was later placed in
the ashes plot close to the RNPS Memorial in Belle Vue Park

 Last amended 21st June 2012