Farewell to Burma veteran, Charles, 88

Charles Maber, from Tettenhall, served as a Leading Aircraftman in 292 Squadron of the RAF during what is considered to be one of the most arduous conflicts of the Second World War.

He went on to become a key member of Wolverhampton's Burma Star Association, taking the role as chairman for the last five years of his life.

The association was founded in London in 1951 to promote the comradeship experienced during the bitter fighting in the sweltering jungles of Burma.

Although Germany's surrender on May 8, 1945 effectively brought the Second World War to an end in Europe, British troops continued to battle their Japanese counterparts in Burma until August 15.

Many of them, including Mr Maber, stayed in the Far East until 1947 to deal with unrest resulting from the drive for Indian independence. Although crucial to the eventual allied victory, the Burma Campaign was, and still is, almost unrecognised by much of the free world.

It was a harsh and brutal experience for the young Mr Maber, the son of a decorated British Army Sergeant Major who had signed up in 1943 as a 17-year-old.

His daughter, Michelle, said it was something he undertook out of love for his country and a deep seated respect for the armed forces. "Dad didn't like to speak about the war and whenever he did he used to get very emotional," said the 53-year-old, who lives in Stourbridge.

"He was proud to have been able to serve his country. For him it wasn't about fighting. He used to say that as far as he was aware he had never killed anyone. For him, coming from a family with a military background it was just a pleasure to have been there when he was needed.

"Right up until his death he would speak with real pride about the lads who are out there doing it today."

Mr Maber was born in Clonmel in County Tipperary and moved to India as a 6-year-old where his father Jack served as a Sergeant Major in the British Army. The family returned to the UK and lived on an Army base in Hampshire before moving to Wolverhampton when his father was offered a job as a commissionaire at Thompson Bros in Spring Road, Ettingshall. After joining the RAF in Catterick in 1943 he trained as a flight mechanic at RAF Cosford and was promptly drafted to go out to the Far East.

He left Liverpool docks on the SS Johnan van Oldenbarnevelt, eventually arriving at the South East Asia Command in Columbo, Ceylon. The ship had been forced to travel unaccompanied after getting stuck in a sandbank and endured a treacherous journey, having briefly been tracked by a German Fokke-Wulf Condor as it passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. Mr Maber was stationed at an airbase near to the frontline until the end of the war.

There he was tasked with maintaining military aircraft to ensure they were fit to take part in missions, with much of his work involving planes used to supply Chindits - a British India Special Force that would engage in penetrative missions deep behind enemy lines.

The role of aircraft was considered crucial in turning the campaign in the Allies favour. In 2011 Mr Maber spoke about his experiences in Burma on Don Clarke's film For Your Tomorrow.

Mr Clarke said: "Charles was incredibly modest and never tried to overplay his role in the war. The men who served in Burma faced terrible conditions, many of them, like Charles, contracted malaria and had to deal with what must have been a truly awful existence."

After the war Mr Maber moved to Wolverhampton where he followed in his father's footsteps and worked at Thompson Bros as a nuclear engineer. He remained there until he retired aged 63.

His wife of 64 years, Beryl, said since Charles' death the family had been inundated with messages from well wishers. "Reading all the comments that have come through about Charles brings tears to my eyes," said the 86-year-old.

"He was well liked for his humour and his dedication to the forces. He will be missed."

Mr Maber received four medals in respect of his service - including the Burma Star - and was a proud member of Wolverhampton's Burma Star Association, which was founded in the mid-1990s. The group had around 50 members at its peak, but Mr Maber's death means there are now only four remaining.

Acting chairman John Ward, aged 91, was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers based in North Burma during the conflict. He first met Mr Maber in 2005.

He said: "We are all getting on now but the aim has always been to keep the memory alive. Charles was a bright, fit and very kind man. He always represented the association with honour and was greatly admired."

Mr Maber was a keen photographer and longtime member of the Grange Camera Club. Examples of his work have been displayed in Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

He died on November 12 after a short illness and, as well as wife, Beryl and daughter Michelle, he leaves behind son John, aged 49 and grandson James, aged nine.

His funeral will be held on December 4 at Bushbury Crematorium, with a service held at the Tettenhall United Reform Church.

At the service Mr Ward will read John Edmonds' famous words from the Kohima Epitaph: "When you go home, tell them of us and say. For their tomorrow, we gave our today."