My Grandfather

My grandfather died last week. We all knew his funeral was going to be a bit out of the ordinary but weren't quite expecting this.

This is what the local paper had to say about it. There was also a photographer at the funeral taking pictures but I'm not sure which paper he was from.

Last Post honour for D-Day landings marine Jeff, 85
Monday, October 12, 2009, 09:20

A MILITARY funeral will take place today for a former Royal Marine from Paignton who fought in the D-Day landings.

A bugler will sound the Last Post when Jeff Skinner is cremated at a special funeral service.

The 85-year-old was a member of the Royal Marine Association. He landed on Juno Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944 along with the Canadians.

Mr Skinner, a Royal Marine from 1940 to 1946, was responsible for ship-to-shore communication.

He was born in 1924 in Morthoe near Ilfracombe in North Devon, and had lied about his age to join the Army at 16 and 47 days.

After being demobilised Mr Skinner, who lived in Paignton for most of his life, worked in the printing industry as a signwriter and calligrapher.

Iain Wilson, of the Royal Marine Association Torbay branch, who will be reading Mr Skinner's eulogy at his funeral, said: "He was quite a busy lad.

"During his childhood he suffered from tuberculosis, spending a considerable time in sanatorium conditions.

"He joined with HO 28 Squad in Stonehouse Barracks on September 4, 1940.

"He qualified as a Signaller (RMS3) at Devil's Point Signal School, Plymouth, and was posted to HMS Poyer Quartier and HMS Joberg operating out of Londonderry and Larne in Northern Ireland.

"After D-Day he remained at the beach establishing communications with HQ Ship HMS Hilary, laying telephone cables in the area.

"In late 1944 he was drafted for service in the Far East. Jeff was promoted to Colour Sergeant.

"Due to the Japanese surrender, in 1945, he returned to Stonehouse Signals School until Class 'A' Demob in February 1946.

"His pride in the corps was paramount. His skills as a signwriter and calligrapher were outstanding.

"He was in demand for all types of artistic work, which he never refused."

On September 15, 1990, Mr Skinner was made an honorary life member of the Royal Marines Association for his service to the corps.

Mr Skinner created and hand wrote the names of the 3,975 Royal Marines who died during the Second World War for a Book of Remembrance which can be seen in the chapel at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone.

Mr Skinner also produced a similar book to commemorate the British personnel who died during the Falklands War.

Mr Wilson said: "He never took a penny for this work. That's the kind of person he was."

Mr Skinner produced similar works for other organisations including the Royal British Legion, the Not Forgotten Association and the US Marine Corps.

Mr Skinner will be remembered by family members and friends as well as 20 members of the RMA while a bugler from Plymouth Royal Marines band will play the Last Post.

A Royal Sergeant Major from Lympstone will also attend.

The funeral will take place at Torbay Crematorium at 4.15pm today.