Captain Sir Tom Moore was a British war veteran who served during the Second World War.
He celebrated his 100th birthday last April when the pandemic of Covid-19 started.
Captain Tom was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after having some difficulties with his breathing, and unfortunately, he lost the battle with the virus.
Early Life
Thomas Moore was born at home in Keighley, West Yorks, on April 30, 1920. He was the second child of Isabella and Wilfred.
Although Wilfred was deaf, his hearing disability didn't stop him in his business intentions. He ran a successful family building firm.
Thomas completed an apprenticeship as a civil engineer before joining the 8th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment as a part of the Royal Armoured corps.
During WWII, he was enlisted in the 145 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps. Later, he was chosen for officer training in 1940, rising to the rank of captain.
Then he was sent to India and went on to serve his country in Burma.
After The War
When the war came to an end, Captain Tom returned to the UK. Here, he trained tank crews at Bovington, Wiltshire, and continued his hobby as a motocross rider.
After the war, he returned to his civilian life and married Pamela, who was 15 years younger than him.
Captain Tom moved in with his daughter Hannah and her two children in Bedfordshire when his loving Pamela died from dementia back in 2006.
A True Hero
The hero, who became a beacon of hope as the Covid-19 pandemic first gripped the world, fell ill with pneumonia. His pneumonia medication didn't allow him to have the Covid vaccine at the moment.
Last week he was tested positive for the coronavirus, and he was admitted to Bedford Hospital. Moreover, they said Sir Tom had been joined at his bedside by members of his family.
His daughter Hannah said that he was not in intensive care, and she thanked the medical staff for doing everything in their power to make him comfortable.
Sharing The Heartbreaking News
Later, his grief-stricken family confirmed the tragic event.
Daughters Hannah and Lucy announced in a touching statement that their dear father passed away.
Tributes
The death of Sir Tom left everyone in pain and shock.
Tributes from all over the world saw the light of the day. Many political leaders and celebrities sent their condolences.
The Queen had led tributes to the hero today, and she also has sent a private message of condolence to his family.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman claimed:
"Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Cpt Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year. Her thoughts, and those of the Royal Family, are with them, recognizing the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world."
Boris Johnson called him a 'hero in the truest sense of the word' as he also offered his comforts.
The PM spoke to Captain Tom's daughter Hannah to pass on his comforting words and to offer any kind of support the family may need.
Besides the kind words, the flag above No10 has been lowered to half-mast to honor the veteran.
Caring Thoughts
The NHS, for which Sir Tom raised millions of pounds, tweeted:
"Thanks for everything, Sir Tom."
Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also tweeted:
"Such sad news. RIP Captain."
David Beckham was also among those who paid tribute to Sir Tom. He shared his thoughts on his Instagram account.
His Greatness
The war veteran won the nation's hearts with his bid to raise money for NHS staff before his 100th birthday on April 30 last year.
His goal was to raise £1,000 by walking 100 laps of the 25-meter (82ft) loop in his garden. He even made a vow to keep walking while people were still donating after he achieved the marvelous feat on April 16.
In the end, he raised £32,796,355 for NHS charities and received a knighthood from the Queen.
Before the ceremony, Captain Tom joked how if he kneeled, he would never be able to get up again, but he was sure that the ceremony would go well because it wasn't The Queen's first time to serve it.
The ceremony was The Queen's first face-to-face meeting since the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, and it was performed as an extraordinary exception.
Lightness In The Dark
Captain Sir Tom became a shining light for the nation in the darkest moments of the pandemic.
His generous and caring soul refused to slow down after his incredible fundraising efforts. So, he released a heartwarming version of You'll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball.
The single went straight to Number 1 on playlists and included a spoken-word introduction from Captain Tom.
He said:
"Hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark."
With this, he became the oldest person to reach the top of the charts with the charity single.
A Life Of 100 Years
When Sir Tom turned 100, his birthday was celebrated with an RYF flypast, and he was promoted to Colonel.
Captain Tom also showed up on the cover of GQ magazine.
For that occasion, he appeared draped in a Union Jack with his medals pinned to his tux.
Wishes
After his fundraising, he told how he wanted to revisit India, travel to Barbados, and even a journey along Route 66. He also added how he hoped that we will beat the pandemic soon.
At least he succeeded to fulfill the wish to visit Barbados before his tragic death. During the Christmas holidays, he and his family had the opportunity to visit the Caribbean island.
Kind And Witty
Captain Sir Tom always knew how to make fun of himself. He even wanted to make a bet that he would live to 103.
He said:
"Some people can't bear the thought of death but I draw strength from it.
If tomorrow is my last day, if all those I loved are waiting for me, then that tomorrow will be a good day too."
Captain Tom's heroic life was told in the bestselling book Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day. This book instantly reached the top on The Sunday Times.
It's not an easy thing to be an honest and kind man in this cruel world.
We will never forget you, Captain Sir Tom. May your soul rest in peace.
