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WWII Vet Lied About Age to Join RAF at 16
4 Jul
Summary
- Jamaican veteran lied about his age to join the RAF at 16.
- He served as a mechanic, servicing radar and electronic equipment.
- His funeral featured a New Orleans-style jazz band and RAF pallbearers.
Gilbert Constantine Clarke, a Jamaican Second World War veteran, was honored posthumously at 100 years old. Born in Montego Bay, Clarke joined the Royal Air Force at just 16, having misrepresented his age after reading about potential threats in the Caribbean.
He trained as a mechanic, eventually serving on British and American air bases. Clarke was instrumental in fitting, servicing, and repairing radar and electronic equipment for vital aircraft like Hurricanes and Spitfires.
His funeral in East London on Saturday was a poignant tribute, with a New Orleans-style jazz band leading the procession. Members of the RAF respectfully carried his coffin, underscoring his dedicated service and sacrifice.
Clarke previously shared his excitement upon joining the RAF and the urgency felt during the war. He recalled hearing the massive planes depart for D-Day in 1944, understanding the necessity for everyone to contribute to the war effort against Hitler.
