All of them were complete strangers to each other. And what's more, they don't even know personally the man whose funeral service they were attending. Yet 200 people responding to a Facebook plea campaign turned up to pay their last respects for James McConnell, a Royal Marine, who died in January at 70 years old in a Hampshire nursing home.

The home staff that attended to Mr McConnell said the war veteran had no known friends or family who can attend to his funeral. The only information they have of the old man was that he had served in the Royal Marines. Upon learning of the sad instance, the vicar assigned to lead his funeral, Rev. Bob Mason, took no second thoughts to post a very public message on Facebook.

Rev. Mason pleaded to the public to attend McConnell's ceremony to provide the Marine Corps veteran a more dignified send-off.

He likewise sought the Facebook page of the Royal Marines Association to further his plea, just taking chances even though he knows its members might not have probably heard who Mr McConnell was. But the opposite happened as members of the association immediately shared and re-shared the reverend Facebook plea.

"In this day and age it is tragic enough that anyone has to leave this world with no one to mourn their passing, but this man was family and I am sure you will agree deserves a better send off," Rev. Mason wrote. "If you can make it to the graveside for that time to pay your respects to a former brother in arms then please try to be there."

Mr McConnell would have been very pleased perhaps to know that 200 people, strangers to each other and to him, braved the freezing weather temperatures just to attend his final send-off ceremony at Milton Cemetery in Portsmouth.

The Royal British Legion standard bearers first led a small procession followed by a group of flag-bearing motorcycles.

"The great majority of you who have come here today did not know James McConnell but wanted him to have a dignified farewell," Rev Mason said. "I thank you for that kindness and generosity of spirit."

The service concluded with two buglers from the Royal Marines Band Service playing the Last Post.

Danny Marshall, a former Royal Marine, said he attended because the corps was an extended family.

"It was mentioned wrongly that he did not have family; the corps family is bigger and better than most people would know about," he said.

"We are all family and always will be."