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Tragic war widow's last wish

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 27 August 2002

Updated: 15:40, 27 August 2002

A GRIEVING daughter is seeking help to have her mother's ashes scattered at the site of her war hero father's grave in the South Atlantic.

Anita Flanagan, 57, who died on August 9, was devastated when her husband Edmund was killed during the Falklands War in 1982.

Petty Officer Writer Flanagan was 38 when Argentine Super Etendard jets attacked his ship, the Atlantic Conveyor, after mistaking it for the carrier Hermes.

The cargo ship was hit by an Exocet missile and Edmund Flanagan died when the vessel - carrying supplies for the British forces - caught fire and sank.

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Now daughter Cassandra Flanagan is looking to reunite her parents after more than 20 years. The couple, who lived in Beverley Close, Rainham, at the time of Mr Flanagan's death, had been married 18 years.

Miss Flanagan, 29, attended her mother's funeral service at St Augustine's Church in Gillingham on Friday and the following cremation at Medway Crematorium. She says her mother, who died of deep vein thrombosis, would have wanted her ashes to be scattered where her beloved Edmund was buried at sea off the coast of the Falklands.

She said: "My mother never really got over my dad's death. She never met anyone else and she missed him right until the end. She mentioned before how she wanted her ashes scattered where he was buried in the South Atlantic. They were so close it only seems right that they should be reunited at the end."

Miss Flanagan, who now lives at Aylesford, near Maidstone, said she was looking for help in getting her mother's ashes down to the South Atlantic. She said: "I've been in contact with the Royal British Legion, but they say they don't conduct services like this.

"I don't think I'll be going down to the Falklands, but I'd really appreciate it if someone going that way could take my mother's ashes with them."

Anyone who can help out should contact Medway Today reporter Andrew Ramsbottom on 01634 821326.

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