Dunkirk hero laid to rest
Reporter: Andrew Rudkin
Date published: 07 December 2011
A WAR hero who was one of the last to escape the shores of Dunkirk was respected with a touching final salute.
The remarkable life of former World War Two soldier John Brocklehurst, who died a few days ago aged 93, was celebrated at his moving funeral yesterday.
Mourners watched on as representatives from forces charity SSAFA and the Royal British Legion paid homage to the former despatch rider from Royton by marching in front of the hearse.
Known as Jack to friends and family, the avid Manchester City fan’s coffin was draped in a flag as it arrived at Hollinwood Crematorium.
The veteran’s collection of four war medals sat proudly on top of his coffin — along with a toy Churchill dog, which utters John’s favourite phrase “oh yes”.
He was laid to rest in his beloved football club’s hat, gloves and scarf.
The hero’s experience and actions of the Dunkirk evacuation were described as similar to Steve McQueen’s character in the classic 1963 film The Great Escape.
Son, Derek Brocklehurst (68) described how his father dramatically manoeuvred his motorbike like the film star - escaping enemy fire from the Germans.
Through his role as a messenger to the Allied troops, a young married John, of the 58th Light Anti Aircraft Royal Artillery, battled to reach the beaches of northern France in June 1940.
Son Derek Brocklehurst (68) said: “My Dad was one of the last to leave Dunkirk and he only just made it.
“He was on one side of the river aiming for Dunkirk and the Germans were on the other side trying to stop them.
“He had to cross bridges then blow them up to stop the Germans getting across.
The Dunkirk evacuation, dubbed Operation Dynamo, saw 338,000 troops rescued, with then Prime Minister and one-time Oldham MP Winston Churchill calling the evacuation a “miracle of deliverance”.
When John eventually escaped on a fishing trawler he docked at Southampton, where he was given Marmite butties and just four days leave.
John lived in West Gorton and Wythenshawe after serving the full six years of the war and spent a large chunk of his working life on the buses.
The great-grandfather of four who lost his wife, Lilian in 1964, suffered a stroke in 2008 and he then moved in with his youngest of two sons in Shaw Road, Royton.
He would spend time with his son socialising in his local pub The Royal Oak in Shaw, where he was a popular figure.
Derek added: “One particular night he was talking to someone in the pub about Dunkirk when a young lad who had been stood at the bar listening came over to him.
“He took hold of his hand, knelt down and said thank you to dad, as he said “It’s people like you who have made it possible for people like us to come in here and enjoy ourselves”.
“Dad never forgot what he said.”
The medal Derek never got to give his dad...
THE SON of World War Two hero John Brocklehurst was on the verge of giving his father a medal of honour.
The Royton great grandfather was set to be awarded a Veteran’s Medal - but died just before he was to be told the great news.
Son, Derek Brocklehurst (68), said: “I enquired to SSAFA to see if he was entitled to a Dunkirk war medal, which they said did not exist, but then I got the news he was entitled to a Veteran’s Medal.
“This is due to come to us in the next couple of weeks, but unfortunately before I could surprise him.
“Now he has passed away he will never know.”
