Veterans give war hero send off he deserves: Mourners honour Royal Marine, 78, with no living relatives who was saved from 'paupers' funeral after public appeal

Veterans turned out in force today to attend the funeral of a former Royal Marine after a public appeal saved him from having a pauper's funeral.

Soldier John Harley Campbell, known as Ian, died aged 78 on July 14 and it was thought he would be given an unmarked grave.

But two Armed Forces charities stepped in to give the ex serviceman - who was known as Johnny Cash's number one fan - the funeral send off he deserved complete with bagpipes and buglers.

The Royal Marines Association together with Forgotten Veterans UK arranged the send off which was attended by around 100 people in Portchester near Portsmouth, Hants.

During his time in the service, Mr Campbell served in Northern Ireland, Borneo, Aden, on the HMS Belfast and in Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth, Hants.

Armed forces charities and 100 mourners today attended a service for former Royal Marine John Harley Campbell after launching an appeal to save him from a pauper's funeral

When former Royal Marine John Harley Campbell died in hospital in July aged 78, it was thought he would be buried in an unmarked grave without a next of kin to organise his funeral

The Royal Marines Association together with Forgotten Veterans UK arranged the send off which was attended by around 100 people in Portchester near Portsmouth, Hants

For his service, Mr Campbell had been awarded the Saudi Arabia Medal, the Long Service Medal, the General Service medal and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal.

After retiring, he lived on his own. He had no wife or children.

Gary Weaving, CEO and founder of Forgotten Veterans UK said: 'It was me who was called into the hospital on the 14 July.

'The staff were very concerned that he had just no one, he had no friends or family listed as his next kin.

'All they had was his address so I put a post on Facebook to ask people who may have known him.

'Through the power of Facebook, we managed to put on a wonderful display. He was destined for a pauper's funeral and I said to the council I would be going into that unmarked grave before he did.'

Mr Campbell died of Covid and pneumonia as he caught the virus in Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth, Hants after he was admitted for liver and kidney problems.

Gary Weaving, CEO and founder of Forgotten Veterans UK said: He was destined for a pauper's funeral and I said to the council I would be going into that unmarked grave before he did'

Andrea Phillips, 53, from Portsmouth, was very close friends with Mr Campbell. She said: 'Ian would be so proud of the funeral - he would shed a tear or two...'

Hayley Thornhill, a funeral arranger at Forever Together Funeral Care, helped organise Mr Campbell's final journey.

She said: 'It's a lovely thing to do - these two charities have stepped in and made sure that he gets the honour that he deserves as a Royal Marines veteran.'

Andrea Phillips, 53, from Portsmouth, was very close friends with Mr Campbell. 

The pair became friends 31 years ago when Mr Campbell helped Andrea move into her flat.

They lived next door to one another and stayed in touch for more than three decades.

Hayley Thornhill, a funeral arranger at Forever Together Funeral Care who helped organise Mr Campbell's final journey said: 'It's a lovely thing to do - these two charities have stepped in and made sure that he gets the honour that he deserves as a Royal Marines veteran'

Mr Campbell died of Covid and pneumonia as he caught the virus in Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth, Hants after he was admitted for liver and kidney problems

Ms Phillips said: 'Ian knew his own mind, and he would do anything for anyone when he was well. A good friend.

'When I lost somebody, he was the one I could talk to. He helped carry my partner's coffin. You could rely on him to do anything.

'We used to watch Billy Connolly together, and Ian was Johnny Cash's number one fan. When Johnny Cash died, we thought it would be the finish of him.

'He loved kids and he loved animals - he loved to walk, when he was still able. We used to go out for rides and have lunch.

'Ian would be so proud of the funeral - he would shed a tear or two..'

Andrea said that Ian, from Kirkaldy, was a 'very proud Scotsman' despite living in Portsmouth for decades.

She is pleased that the two charities have stepped forward to pay for Ian's funeral.

Andrea added: 'I think it's great - I can't really afford it, but there's no way Ian was going to be given a council burial, he deserved better.'