Dozens of strangers show up to funeral of war veteran who had no family left

Dozens of strangers have made sure that a war veteran wasn't buried with no witnesses.

Ronald Knights served in the armed forces for 12 years and saw active duty in the Suffolk Regiment, which is now known as the Royal Anglian Regiment.

He was affectionately known to many as Ron or ‘Fuzzy’, and he was familiar to many people in Felixstowe, where he lived for more than 20 years.

He died at the age of 90 in Ipswich Hospital, Suffolk back in July and it was thought he had no family left.

However, when it came time to organise his last moments, funeral director David Button was worried it was just going to be the two of them.

SWNS

So, he put a call out to ex-military man Jay Lorenz, who has organised many biker escorts for funerals in the past.

Lorenz was able to whip up some support and around 70 mourners gathered to give Knights the farewell he deserved.

“David and I are both ex-military, as we served at the same battalion in the 90s," Jay said.

“We approached this funeral like a military operation.

“This ceremony was organised by two veterans for a veteran. We did it our way.

“It was the only right way to give Mr Knights the proper send-off."

There were around 35 bikers who rode down the street alongside the casket.

He added: “In the escort, there were many veterans as well as general bikers.

"They just wanted to bring it together for a guy we never knew, but at the end of the day, he served in the same regiment as we did."

David was blown away by the turnout and said it was really nice to see strangers looking after a fellow serviceman.

"There was no family in attendance today, and to see the motorbike community come together as well as ex-service personnel was truly lovely to witness," he said.

“The alternative to today's service would have been a public health cremation with absolutely no one in attendance.

“It was a lovely send-off for a gentleman who enjoyed life and was thought so fondly of by so many.”