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John Hemingway -The Last Of The Few

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Written on 18 March 2025.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few

John Hemingway has died at the age of a hundred and five It was the luck of the Irish he said that helped him to survive At the age of nineteen he left his home in County Dublin And enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was officially sworn in. It was at the age of twenty-one that he took to the sky After having gained his pilot wings enabling him to fly He'd gone to England's assistance in their darkest hour And he never once gave up even when things turned sour. He was shot down four times but always found his way back And defended our skies from a relentless German attack Their brave defence became known as the ‘Battle of Britain’ But for those brave pilots Germany would have won I am certain. He flew hurricanes and spitfires in combat during his career Always facing the enemy head on and never showing any fear Once his spitfire was shot down whilst on a mission over Italy His parachute didn't deploy fully but his fall was broken by a tree. Others called him a hero, but he never claimed himself to be Often said he was just doing a job for the defence of the country He lost many comrades on missions it was a dangerous thing to do John and his fellow brave comrades became known as ‘The Few’. It's people like John who made great sacrifices for their country And it is because of their sacrifice we live in peace, and are free We owe those brave pilots a great debt that we can never repay How fitting for John that he died peacefully on St Patrick's day. Group Captain John Allman Hemingway 17/07/1919 — 17/03/2025

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Joe Maverick

Date: 3/25/2025 12:32:00 PM

Well well Tom very well done.' It seems I also have honoured him and all those few, in a write i did when St Georges chapel was being threatened with closure..May we use our words wisely.' And to Help humanity..Its a reason i am hesitent to Condemn Russia as it fought so hard in ww2 We hear stalin did evil..Yet many were just fighting off the same enemy Britian was." All Respect to all those fallen.)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/25/2025 1:50:00 PM

Thank you very much Joe, as time marches on enemies become friends and vice versa, same as empires come and go, it's always been like that and I don't think that will ever change. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Michael Tor

Date: 3/25/2025 12:00:00 AM

What a man Tom, a true Hero you depicted him wonderfully in this Tribute. If anyone in this world faced adversity it was he and he overcame it and won. the heart of a lion he had. Thank you for sharing...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/25/2025 1:19:00 AM

Thank you very much Michael, life expectancy for fighter pilots during the Battle Of Britain was about four or five weeks but they still went up to face the might of the luftwaffe, him and his fellow pilots were the best of the best, we owe them our freedom. Tom

David Crandall

Date: 3/24/2025 3:55:00 PM

Interesting to hear about this incredible guy. Nice tribute poem!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/25/2025 1:16:00 AM

Thank you very much David, he was a very humble man, never saw himself as a hero. Tom

Duke Beaufort

Date: 3/20/2025 7:55:00 AM

Tom, thank-you for highlighting captain Hemingway. It’s a treat to see that there are people like this among us. Something to honor. We owe a lot!! Smiles!! I watched the video…remarkable how dangerous it was and he never hesitated. He just served and did what was right.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/20/2025 9:47:00 AM

Thank you Duke, they were courageous young men who knew the risks involved, the average life span for fighter pilots was about 12 weeks, but it didn’t stop them answering the call. Because of them we have freedom and democracy. May he rest in peace. Tom

Lisa Brown

Date: 3/19/2025 11:38:00 PM

What a lovely tribute to a true hero. Well done :-)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/20/2025 2:40:00 AM

Thank you very much Lisa, we owe him and his comrades a great debt, Tom

Deb M

Date: 3/19/2025 1:30:00 PM

Wow Tom….what an interesting and informative write which l really enjoyed reading….105 wow and a real hero! Great write as per my friend! Debx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/19/2025 2:09:00 PM

Thank you very much Deb, the last of our great heroes from the Battle Of Britain, who prevented the Nazis invading us. There's been loads of tributes for him on social media. Tom

Daniel Henry Rodgers

Date: 3/19/2025 5:46:00 AM

Hello Tom, What a stunning tribute this israw, reverent, and deeply moving. I think you’ve breathed life into John Hemingway’s legacy, making his courage feel personal. I loved how the rhythm carries his story like the wind under a Spitfire’s wings. I felt every word. I am always a Hemmingway Fan! - Spring Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/19/2025 7:50:00 AM

Thank you very much Daniel, he and his comrades took on the might of the luftwaffe putting a huge dent in Hitlers ambition to invade England, they became known as the 'few' after Churchills wartime speech and John was the last of them, what a great age he lived to, finally bowing out on St Patrick's day. Tom

Valsa George

Date: 3/18/2025 9:50:00 PM

He sounds to be a great hero and a hardcore patriot. After braving four serious attacks, he survived and still served his country without fear. A great tribute to a great man. I hope Hemingway is a Historical man. As ever, your narrative is so moving.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 10:26:00 PM

Thank you very much Valsa, he certainly was, it was a dangerous occupation and many of his fellow pilots lost their lives, how he managed to survive is the stuff of legends. Tom

Lin Lane

Date: 3/18/2025 1:52:00 PM

Shot down four times and survived! I'd never have had the courage to fly again. There are too few like 'The Few.' Your skill at writing never loses its shine, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 10:24:00 PM

Thank you very much Lin, how he managed to survive beggars belief, in the Battle Of Britain him and his comrades took out 90 Nazi fighters. He won't be forgotten, that's for sure. Tom

John Read

Date: 3/18/2025 11:45:00 AM

Love your tribute poem Tom to captain John the last of the few.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 1:35:00 PM

Thank you very much John, it was a dangerous occupation and many didn't return from their missions, he was certainly one of the lucky ones. Tom

David Kavanagh

Date: 3/18/2025 11:26:00 AM

I seen this story on the news earlier today talk about defying the odds, or having 9 lives Tom, in another life a guy could trip over and and be paralysed or die, John certainly was a war hero, although he would be far too humble to admit it, you have written a great tribute, what a life he had, and to bow out on St Patrick’s day, well you just couldn’t write the script, thanks for highlighting his passing with this fine piece of poetry, cheers David

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 11:40:00 AM

Thank you very much David, he was an amazing man for sure, and as he once said he had the luck of the Irish. He lost a lot of friends in dogfights and it must have taken its toll on his mental health, I hope they organise a flypast over Dublin, he deserves it. Tom

Silent One

Date: 3/18/2025 9:57:00 AM

He lived a very long life and what a hero he was... A wonderful tribute Tom..

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 10:37:00 AM

Thank you very much SO, he certainly did, he had a lot of luck too. I hope you are keeping well. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/18/2025 7:43:00 AM

- A wonderful tribute to John Hemingway, Tom :) - hugs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 7:55:00 AM

Thank you very much Anne-Lise, he certainly had the luck of the Irish and what a great age he lived to. Tom

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 3/18/2025 6:44:00 AM

A hero that should be remembered. Your story poems are always a delight. Well done. Deserves a POTD.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/18/2025 6:49:00 AM

Thank you very much Victor, but for him and his fellow pilots we'd probably be living under a dictatorship. Tom