A GRAVESIDE salute was given to Squadron Leader Harold Starr on the 75th anniversary of his death while piloting a Hawker Hurricane in the Battle of Britain.
Sqn Ldr Starr is buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Radnor Street, and today Dan Gurney, who has tended the grave for decades, and wife Janet paid tribute to him by placing a wreath on the grave with a sprig of rosemary, which signifies remembrance.
The touching gesture comes before a flypast on September 15 directly overhead by Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in honour of Sqn Ldr Starr and the other 543 RAF Fighter Command pilots who died in the battle.
Although the grave bears the date of August 30 official reports show that Sqn Ldr Starr died early on the morning of August 31, 1940.
As well as the flypast the grave will also feature in a ceremony involving Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force, during the culmination of a week of events to mark the sacrifice of the RAF pilots.
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