Soldiers’ champion and war veteran dies at 86

TOM Fitzpatrick, a founder member of Oldham Royal Artillery Association

TOM Fitzpatrick, who fought long and hard both for his country and the rights of ex-servicemen and women, and the disabled, has died. He was 86.

A Second World War veteran, and highly regarded by all who knew him, Mr Fitzpatrick was a leading light in the borough when it came to the ex-services.

He was one of the founder members of Oldham Royal Artillery Association, which dates back 36 years, and a major player in the local branch of the Royal British Legion. His efforts for his fellow men earned him a Pride in Oldham nomination in 2002, when he was 78. His wife, the late Catherine, told the Chronicle then: “He will not slow down — he loves helping people.”

Stoic to the end, Mr Fitzpatrick insisted on continuing with his duties for both organisations after he was diagnosed with cancer last month.

His service to the country started during the war when he operated as a gunner and saw action in Italy, Belgium, Germany and Holland.

He kept in lifelong touch with friends he met in Holland during the war, and on leaving the Army, worked as a volunteer for a variety of charities. He organised war pensions surgeries and helped veterans fill in paperwork and concerned himself with their general welfare.

And for more than three decades was a familiar figure on the poppy stall in Oldham town centre in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday.

One of his daughters, Barbara Crossley, said: “He died after a short illness and it came as a great shock to the family.

“He lived for his family and delighted in his grandchildren.”

She added: “He was still trying to go to the Royal British Legion and the Royal Artillery when he was very poorly — he was stubborn to the end.

“We have been contacted by many people and they all said he will be sadly missed.”

Mr Fitzpatrick lived in Hargreaves Street, Oldham, and leaves three daughters, Barbara Crossley, Pat Rogers and Karen Fitzpatrick, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at Oldham Crematorium next Tuesday at 3pm.