Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/17
By: Joseph Yeh
Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) Taiwan will send four military officers to attend the funeral of a
CNA file photo
retired British army captain to drape the Republic of China (ROC) national flag over his coffin in fulfillment of the veteran’s request, after he was rescued by the ROC army in a World War II battle in Myanmar, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Sunday.
Gerald Fitzpatrick, 99, passed away on Aug. 27 in Leeds, North England. He was one of the 7,000 British soldiers rescued by the 113th Regiment of the Chinese Expeditionary Force from Japanese Imperial forces during the Battle of Yenangyaung in April 1942.
Fitzpatrick repeatedly expressed his desire to have his coffin draped in the ROC flag to express his gratitude to the nation, according to the ministry.
After learning of his passing, military spokesman Chen Chung-chi (陳中吉) said Defense Minister Yen De-fa (嚴德發) immediately asked officers currently studying in the United Kingdom to pass on condolences to Fitzpatrick’s family. [FULL STORY]
