Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter has condemned the ‘vile’ trolls’ who abused and mocked the army veteran after his death and revealed the poignant final moments she shared with her father.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast, which will air tomorrow, Hannah Ingram-Moore spoke of the online trolling her family had faced in the past year during Captain Tom’s fundraising journey and said ‘it would have broken her father’s heart’.
Ms Ingram-Moore also discussed the family’s last holiday together in Barbados and her father’s remarkable legacy of ‘hope and joy’.
It comes after the Second World War veteran, who raised more than £32million for the NHS last year by walking 100 laps of his garden, passed away on February 2 at the age of 100 after being admitted to Bedford Hospital with coronavirus.
Captain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore (pictured together), spoke of the online trolling her family had faced
Ms Ingram-Moore said: ‘I think that when he went into hospital we really all believed he’d come back out.
‘We thought the oxygen would help, that he would be robust enough, [but] the truth is he just wasn’t. He was old and he just couldn’t fight it.’
Speaking about her father’s final moments, she continued: ‘I said to him in the last few days so what do you want to eat when you come home and we decided it was steak and chips.
‘He was really excited about coming out for steak and chips and getting his frame back outside and his walker. The last real conversation was positive and about carrying on and that’s a lovely place to be.’
Despite the overwhelming support from people across the country, Ms Ingram-Moore said there had been a ‘vile minority’ who had made hurtful comments about her father.
She said: ‘I think it would have broken his heart honestly if we’d said to him people are hating us. I couldn’t tell him.
‘Because how do you rationalise to a 100-year-old man that something so incredibly good can attract such horror so we contained it within the four of us and we said we wouldn’t play to that vile minority, we wouldn’t play to them.
‘We’re not because we are talking to the massive majority of people who we connect with.’
Captain Tom Moore, with (left to right) grandson Benji, daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and granddaughter Georgia
The Second World War veteran raised more than £32million for the NHS last year by walking 100 laps of his garden
Ms Ingram-Moore also discussed the family’s final family holiday together to Barbados where Captain Tom was able tick visiting the Caribbean off his bucket list.
She continued: ‘It was just amazing, he sat in 29 degrees outside, he read two novels, he read the newspapers every day and we sat and we talked as a family.
‘We went to restaurants (because we could there) and he ate fish on the beach and what a wonderful thing to do. I think we were all so pleased we managed to give him that.’
On missing her father, Ms Ingram-Moore added: ‘We’ve lost a huge part of our life. Every time I go through a door I expect to hear him or see him.
‘But the legacy is hope and joy, let’s not lose sight of the fact that for him this was all about tomorrow will be a good day and being hopeful and no reason to sit and mourn for too long. Get on with it. And make a good job of it.’
Earlier this month, the Queen led tributes to the inspirational war veteran and fundraising hero who raised more than £32million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his milestone birthday.
Her Majesty sent a message to Captain Tom’s grieving relatives and told of her joy at meeting him in person when he was knighted in July.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Queen is sending a private message of condolence to the family of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
‘Her Majesty very much enjoyed meeting Captain Sir Tom and his family at Windsor last year.
‘Her thoughts and those of the Royal Family are with them, recognising the inspiration he provided for the whole nation and others across the world.’
A tribute to Captain Tom was emblazoned on the screens at Piccadilly Circus, while the London Eye, Wembley Stadium, and Blackpool Tower were all lit up in his honour.
Downing Street also lowered its flags to half-mast as Boris Johnson hailed the national hero as a ‘beacon of hope in the world’.
The Prime Minister said: ‘Captain Sir Tom Moore was a hero in the truest sense of the word.
‘In the dark days of the Second World War he fought for freedom and in the face of this country’s deepest post war crisis he united us all, he cheered us all up, and he embodied the triumph of the human spirit.
‘It is quite astonishing that at the age of 100 he raised more than £32million for the NHS, and so gave countless others their own chance to thank the extraordinary men and women who have protected us through the pandemic.
‘He became not just a national inspiration but a beacon of hope for the world. Our thoughts are with his daughter Hannah and all his family.’
And in a mark of Captain Tom’s international acclaim, President Joe Biden’s White House posted a tweet paying tribute to the man ‘who inspired millions through his life and his actions.’
Captain Tom’s daughters announced the sad news that their father had passed away just after 4pm on February 2.
They said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father, Captain Sir Tom Moore.
‘We are so grateful that we were with him during the last hours of his life; Hannah, Benjie and Georgia by his bedside and Lucy on FaceTime.
‘We spent hours chatting to him, reminiscing about our childhood and our wonderful mother. We shared laughter and tears together.
Captain Tom receiving his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Windsor Castle
The Union flags above Downing Street are lowered to half mast to honour Captain Sir Tom Moore
‘The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he’d only ever dreamed of.
‘Whilst he’d been in so many hearts for just a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will stay alive in our hearts forever.
‘The care our father received from the NHS and carers over the last few weeks and years of his life has been extraordinary. They have been unfalteringly professional, kind and compassionate and have given us many more years with him than we ever would have imagined.
‘Over the past few days our father spoke a great deal about the last 12 months and how proud he felt at being able to leave behind the growing legacy of his Foundation.
‘We politely ask for privacy at this time so we can grieve quietly as a family and remember the wonderful 100 years our father had. Thank you.’
Watch the full interview tomorrow morning, February 17, on BBC Breakfast at 8.10am on BBC One.