Respects paid at funeral for Grantham D-Day hero
A hero and veteran of the Second World War was given his final send-off today (Tuesday).
Frank Northing, who fought in the D-Day landings of 1944, sadly passed away last month.
Today, Armed Forces personnel and veterans lined the route to the Grantham Crematorium Chapel to honour his services to the nation.
Frank, who passed away aged 94, was awarded with France's highest honour, the Legion d'honneur, back in 2016 for his part in the landings and the liberation of France.
Many service officers and veterans lined the route this morning to honour Frank's bravery, dressed in full uniform including medals and berets.
Under normal circumstances, they would line the streets, before following the hearse to stand shoulder to shoulder forming a guard as the coffin is brought out.
Unfortunately, due to social distancing guidelines, respects were paid with a salute as the hearse drove past, with those paying tribute maintaining a safe distance from one another.
On Facebook, Price & Son Family Funeral Directors, which organised the service, said: “We, a grateful country, said goodbye to a D-Day veteran and Legion d'honneur recipient - France's highest military honour - his coffin draped in the union flag and adorned with his favourite roses. A big thank you to the military community of Grantham as always for turning out to to pay their respects, lest we forget!
“Stand down sir, your duty is done.”
Jim Hill, who runs the Grantham Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, had known Frank for around six years, meeting the war hero through his wife.
“We became quite close," Jim said. He worked close to wear Frank lived and would often pop round to see him, as well as taking him to British Legion meetings and often going for a Costa coffee together.
Even when Frank moved into Gregory House Care Home, Jim would still bring a Costa round when visiting his friend.
Jim remarked on a fond memory with Frank at the Tollemache pub in Grantham. He said: “I got everyone’s attention and explained who Frank was and what he’d done. Everybody applauded him and shook his hand for what he’d done. It was absolutely brilliant.”
Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, Jim had not seen Frank since Christmas.
He added: “I know Frank loved his wife dearly, and I don’t have a bad word to say about him.”
