"We salute you": Police and Cornish army veteran pay tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore

The 100-year-old passed away in hospital after recently testing positive for coronavirus

Author: Emma HartPublished 3rd Feb 2021

Following the death of Captain Sir Tom Moore, a Cornish army veteran says he embodied the military ethos of "never give up".

Gary White from Probus is joining the millions who are paying tribute to the 100-year-old fellow veteran.

He died in hospital after recently testing positive for coronavirus.

The pandemic hero raised millions for the NHS during the first lockdown, by walking laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

Gary served 25 years in the Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles and tells us Sir Tom was an inspiration to all servicemen and women.

"That's that military ethos that we're taught, just keep going and never give up, and that's how we won the wars.

"It's what he represented, it wasn't just his age. He was sort of that dogged British spirit, that bulldog spirit that the British have got.

"His saying was tomorrow will be a good day and he went about his life like that really, just trying to be positive and showing that it will get better.

"He never gave up and he said, look, the little things count. He was just walking around his garden but what did it represent for the rest of the country?

"The whole country got behind that and the money he was raised was phenomenal but that's what he represented.

"It wasn't just him, he represented Britain in a time when we needed help".

Army Veteran Gary White from Probus

Captain Tom's family confirmed the tragic news of his death on his official Twitter page on Monday, posting a picture with the caption "Captain Sir Tom Moore - 1920 - 2021".

Devon and Cornwall Police were among the thousands who retweeted the post, writing "we salute you".

"We are very sad to hear the news today that Captain Sir Tom Moore has passed away at the age of 100.

"Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.

"We salute you".

Devon and Cornwall Police on Twitter

The Queen had led tributes in the UK, describing Captain Tom as an 'inspiration to the nation'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called him a "hero in the truest sense of the word".

David Beckham shared this video of the moment he met Sir Tom, describing him as the "very best of British".