RIP Henry Allingham ( Last Survivor of Jutland )

[clacton2]

This fine old gent died on 18th July, may he rest in peace.
See link below for a taste of his remarkable story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5856015/Worlds-oldest-man-Henry-Allingham-dies.html

Jon

[Ed Rotondaro]

This fine old gent died on 18th July, may he rest in peace.
See link below for a taste of his remarkable story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5856015/Worlds-oldest-man-Henry-Allingham-dies.html

Jon

Jon:

An amazing man who certainly lived his life right. God wanted a new friend to talk to. May he rest in the peace he helped provide.

[paladin5]

Truly a sad day :(

[Mart]

Everyone will be sorry to hear that Harry Patch has also died today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8168691.stm

I thought people would like to know.

Take care

Martin

[keschofield]

It looks like the Tommies are all together again and have finally made it to Tipperary.

Rest in peace gentlemen, you did your duty well!

[clacton2]

Everyone will be sorry to hear that Harry Patch has also died today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8168691.stm

I thought people would like to know.

Take care

Martin


Yet another old warrior and gentleman departs this earth.
RIP with your comrades Harry!

Jon

[john964]

Yet another old warrior and gentleman departs this earth.
RIP with your comrades Harry!

Jon

That means that there are only 3 documented WWI vets left world wide 1 British 1 American and 1 Canadian/American

[Mart]

That means that there are only 3 documented WWI vets left world wide 1 British 1 American and 1 Canadian/American

Are there any left from the other side of the conflict - Germans, Austrians, Turks etc?

In a BBC report on the day of Harry Patch's death, they reported that when he was taken to Passchendale towards the end of his life, he talked of his great sadness and grief for all of the soldiers who died, on both sides of the conflict. He viewed the whole thing as as a huge tragedy and had, over his long life, come to strong conclusions on the futility of warfare, and his disappointment that it never seems to end.

His biographer, who seemed totally devoted to him, reminded the program that Harry was not a hero, or extraordinary. He had just survived long enough to recall, for us, the experience of all those other "ordinary" people, who had the same experience. He only agreed to talk to the biographer when he was 100 years old, or more. Fortunately, we now have a record. So, an ordinary, man, yet the more special for it.

Having decided to tell his story, he then apparently loved all the attention - and why not? He never claimed to be anything special, except old, but it was nice that in his last years he had a lot of company, and people who cared for him. He was also, apparently, still "sprightly" in his care home, and developed a "special friendship" :)

[john964]

Are there any left from the other side of the conflict - Germans, Austrians, Turks etc?


No, the last Central Powers veteran died 27 May 2008.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Everyone will be sorry to hear that Harry Patch has also died today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8168691.stm

I thought people would like to know.

Take care

Martin

Martin:

It's just amazing that any veteran of WWI survived this long. Imagine the changes that he saw in his lifetime. May he rest in peace.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Are there any left from the other side of the conflict - Germans, Austrians, Turks etc?

In a BBC report on the day of Harry Patch's death, they reported that when he was taken to Passchendale towards the end of his life, he talked of his great sadness and grief for all of the soldiers who died, on both sides of the conflict. He viewed the whole thing as as a huge tragedy and had, over his long life, come to strong conclusions on the futility of warfare, and his disappointment that it never seems to end.

His biographer, who seemed totally devoted to him, reminded the program that Harry was not a hero, or extraordinary. He had just survived long enough to recall, for us, the experience of all those other "ordinary" people, who had the same experience. He only agreed to talk to the biographer when he was 100 years old, or more. Fortunately, we now have a record. So, an ordinary, man, yet the more special for it.

Having decided to tell his story, he then apparently loved all the attention - and why not? He never claimed to be anything special, except old, but it was nice that in his last years he had a lot of company, and people who cared for him. He was also, apparently, still "sprightly" in his care home, and developed a "special friendship" :)

Martin:

People need to understand that wars are fought and won not by heroes by by ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things.