Tributes paid to Second World War RAF veteran

Tributes have been paid to an RAF Second World War veteran who carried a baton at the recent Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham and was assisted by the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Albert Jarrett passed away on 2 August at the age of 98. 

He grew up in Jamaica and joined the RAF at the age of 17 in 1942, starting his basic training on the island before travelling to the UK in 1943. He continued with his training at RAF Melksham, Wiltshire. 

Albert was then posted to Maintenance Units, working mainly in Logistics, serving at RAF Sutton Coldfield and RAF Grantham.

He was demobilised in 1946 and returned to Jamaica. He then came back to the UK in 1953, as part of the Windrush generation, living and working in Birmingham. In later years he met retired Warrant Officer Donald Campbell and they founded The Forgotten Generations, a charitable archive highlighting the contributions to the Armed Forces of British African and Caribbean people.

He remained active right up until the end of his life with an appearance at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham just days before his death.  

After inquiries to the Ministry of Defence, Albert belatedly received his War Service Medal in 2021. In June this year, at a Platinum Jubilee reception at No10 Downing Street, he received a Points of Light Award, for people who make change in their community. Later that month he visited RAF Wittering to take part in a Jamaican cultural day.

Retired RAF Warrant Officer Donald Campbell paid tribute to his friend. 

He said: "I met Mr Jarrett five years ago at a VOWS Windrush event, and our journey was fantastic right up until he was a baton bearer at the Commonwealth Games performance at the Alexander Stadium.

Mr Jarrett was always a gentleman to whoever we met and was able to effectively communicate his story.

He felt that his life was extended over the past five years by the people he met and places he went to."

He added: "He will be truly missed, but long remembered in all our hearts. Lest We Forget."