A British veteran who lost his beret on the Tube while traveling to London for the Remembrance Day service, had it returned to him after a network of cabbies scoured London to find it.
Paul Jacobs, from Ramsgate, only noticed his beret was missing when he reached the Cenotaph in Westminster, as thousands gathered to pay their respects on Sunday.
The father-of-one put a call out on social media, which was picked up by volunteer taxi driver Dave Hempstead who travelled across London to deliver it to Paul.
Paul, who served in the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was blinded by a Taliban bomb while trying to save a colleague in Afghanistan in 2009.
The rifleman, aged 20 at the time, spent three weeks in a coma after the incident.
He was awarded the George Medal for bravery having been commended for ‘acts of bravery not in the face of the enemy’.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain this morning, Paul said: ‘Remembrance Day and Remembrance weekend is the only weekend we have all year to remember the past and the present.
Paul Jacobs who was awarded the George Medal after being blinded by an IED blast in 2009, speaks to Good Morning Britain
Paul put a call out on social media, which was picked up by volunteer taxi driver Dave Hempstead, who travelled across London to deliver it
‘I was going to get on the tube when my beret fell out of my pocket. I didn’t notice until I was all the way across London at the Cenotaph.
‘I put out a message on social media and luckily someone found it, put it on a post and took a photo of it.
‘And Dave Hempstead, who is a volunteer taxi driver for the taxi charity for military veterans, who was in my unit, picked it up and delivered it to me.
‘I just hope they didn’t charge for the journey because I’ll be paying a fortune!’
While in hospital recovering from his tour in Afghanistan, Paul met his wife, Louise, who was treating him for his injuries at the time. They have a son together.
When asked about the beret, Paul said: ‘The beret represents my unit. It was given to me by someone very dear to me, my secondary school teacher who told me I should join the forces. A very lovely lady, she passed away a few years ago.
Paul, who served in the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was blinded by a Taliban bomb while trying to save a colleague in Afghanistan in 2009
Military veterans gathered on Whitehall in central London for the Cenotaph service
King Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal join veterans and dignitaries at the Cenotaph
‘In the beret is a silver coin she gave me and it goes with me everywhere, any activity I do. It’s her still believing in me.
‘Getting behind veterans and the armed forces is so important. It is so important the nation is behind us It is the only two days we get to talk, with our sense of humour which got us through the dark times.
‘Don’t be offended by it. It shouldn’t be made into politics. It should be about the veterans and the armed forces.’
King Charles and Prince William left tributes to fallen heroes on Sunday, alongside the leaders of the Conservative party and government, Kemi Badenoch and Sir Keir Starmer to mark the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.
The Royal British Legion’s veteran parade saw 10,000 veterans, representing 326 different armed forces and civilian organisations, marching past the Cenotaph.
Second World War vets Alec Penstone and Mervyn Kersh were among those on Horse Guards Parade ahead of the Royal British Legion march past the Cenotaph on Sunday
King Charles appeared emotional as he solemnly looked towards the Cenotaph in remembrance
Further wreaths after the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London
King Charles, who looked emotional as he solemnly saluted the stone monolith, left a message on his wreath reading: ‘In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice.’
The Queen was absent from yesterday’s ceremony to ensure she makes a full recovery from a chest infection, and to protect others from any risk.
In her place, her Equerry Major Oliver Plunkett laid her wreath at the Service of Remembrance.
In a simple message, she had written: ‘In everlasting remembrance.’
And the Prince of Wales added: ‘In memory of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We will remember them’
Thousands of people lined Whitehall for the annual event, including a two-minute silence at 11am, while current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was joined by eight former PMs – a record number – to lay wreaths.
Sir Keir hand-wrote a small message to the remembered heroes, saying: ‘To the immortal memory of those who laid down their lives for us all.’
And Kemi Badenoch left a message on her wreath reading: ‘We will never forget the incredible courage and bravery of British servicemen and women, who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms today.’
She added in capital letters: ‘We will always remember them.’
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