Members of the Royal Family have led tributes after the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025, at the age of 105.
John Hemingway joined the RAF as a teenager and was part of Prime Minster Winston Churchill’s ‘Few’ to whom the British nation became indebted for defending the country’s skies in 1940 from the German Luftwaffe during World War II.
Beholden to the efforts and heroism of the Battle of Britain pilots, in August 1940, Churchill famously declared: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Originally from Ireland, Hemingway, a young Royal Air Force Pilot Officer, played a critical role in seismic events during the war, including defending British and allied troops as they retreated to the beaches of Dunkirk.
Hemingway battled against German aircraft above France in May 1940 after the French were invaded by Nazi forces intent on defeating Britain’s neighbors.
By the Spring of 1940, the German military would prove too powerful, so Hemingway and his Hawker Hurricane – along with the remaining pilots, aircraft and crews – returned to the UK.
As part of the No. 85 Squadron, during the Battle of Britain Hemingway would form one of the front-line alliances of the 11 Group (Fighter Command) to respond to Luftwaffe attacks.
In the course of his career Hemingway was forced to bail from his aircraft four times, including once while on his way to meet the King in July 1941 to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
As the last surviving pilot from the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, Hemingway epitomized the character of ‘The Few’ and was said by the RAF to always have a “twinkle in his eyes as he recalled the fun times with colleagues”.
“He never saw his role in the Battle of Britain as anything other than doing the job he was trained to do. He didn’t see it as an epoch-making moment in the history of the RAF or the United Kingdom,” the RAF stated on March 17, 2025.
The air force added: “His passing marks the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II.”
Royal Family leads tributes to ‘Paddy’
Since his passing on March 17, 2025, tributes from the highest levels in British life have been pouring in, including those from the Royal Family and the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In a social media post, Prince William wrote: “I was sad to hear about the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway this morning, the last of “The Few”. We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them.”
I was sad to hear about the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway this morning, the last of “The Few”. We owe so much to Paddy and his generation for our freedoms today. Their bravery and sacrifice will always be remembered. We shall never forget them. W
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 18, 2025
Keir Starmer joined the tributes, writing: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the last known Battle of Britain pilot. His courage, and that of all RAF pilots, helped end WWII and secure our freedom. We will never forget their bravery and service. Thank you, John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff wrote: “It is with great sadness that I heard of the passing of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway today. I am thankful that I was able to meet and spend time with him in Dublin, most recently in January this year. Paddy was an amazing character whose life story embodies all that was and remains great about the Royal Air Force.”
Knighton added: “This was a generation who understood the importance of service and comradeship. A generation who believed that with hard work, clarity of purpose and a determination to succeed, they would not lose. Their efforts and the efforts of all our personnel past & present are the bedrock on which the Royal Air Force maintains the security of the UK at home and abroad. Their sense of duty and willingness to put others before themselves should inspire those who will build the next generation Air Force.”
Today, St Patrick’s Day 2025 the last known Battle of Britain pilot, Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC has sadly passed away.
Born in Dublin in 1919 he joined the RAF in 1938. A true gentleman, amazing character and outstanding example to us all.
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/lGY32Hu8Ie
— UK Defence in Dublin (@UKDefenceDublin) March 17, 2025
Westminster Abbey also contributed, with a social media post that read: “We were saddened to hear of the death of John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the last surviving Battle of Britain pilot. The service and sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle is honoured at an annual Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication held here in the Abbey every September. The Abbey’s RAF Chapel is also dedicated to ‘The Few’ – the airmen who fought against extraordinary odds to defend the country from invasion in 1940. The chapel was unveiled by King George VI in 1947.”
