Tributes to war veteran and founding REME member after his death at 100

James Joseph Lindsay, who has passed away at the age of 100, was one of the last surviving founding members of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Corps which was formed at the Battle of El Alamein in 1942.

He celebrated his milestone birthday during the height of lockdown at Stitchell House in Greatham on May 1 – one day after Captain Tom Moore.

His daughter Verity Waddell said: “My father had a fabulous 100th birthday despite the virus restrictions and was amazed and very touched by all the publicity.

"Somehow the REME museum saw it and publicised it and a big surprise was all the cards he received from retired REME personnel.

"Dad always said he wanted to make it to be 100 years old.

"He told carers the day before he died that he was happy to go and join his wife now.”

James’s son Raymond, who had been unable to visit James since the beginning of the year due to lockdown regulations, was with him when he died on Sunday afternoon.

He said: “My dad passed away peacefully at 4.25pm after a happy few hours alternating (lockdown regulations) between myself and my partner Di.

"I would like to express my gratitude to Stitchell House and its carers for their kindness, compassion, dedication, and unflinching professionalism in caring for my dad and looking after his best interests right up to his final minutes.”

Also on his birthday, James received a video message from REME warrant officer Kelvin Redshaw thanking James for the impact he had on how the Corps continues to operate today by providing the Army with the right and working kit.

WO Redshaw said: “That’s down to gentlemen like you James and we’ll always remember that.”

James originally signed up to join the RAF at the beginning of the war but became impatient when his call up papers did not arrive quickly so joined the Army instead. He spent a lot of time in Malta and in Italy.

While serving with the Army he met his future wife Hilary who was working at a fire station in Stockton.

After the war they married and lived in Sunderland. They had daughter Verity and also son Raymond.

The whole family travelled to TT motorbike races on the Isle of Man and near Scarborough.

James worked at Bristol Siddley Aircraft Engines in Sunderland, and later ran a village Post Office with Hilary near Thirsk.

They moved to Greatham around 15 years ago and Hilary passed away in 2018.

The REME has offered to provide a drape for his coffin, bugler and representative at his funeral still to be arranged.

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