World's oldest man, WWI vet, dies aged 113

[Angelus71 4]

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and the oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, has died at the age of 113, his care home said Saturday.

 

Henry Allingham was a founding member of the modern Royal Air Force.

 

Allingham died in his sleep at St. Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, England, the home said in a statement.

 

Born on June 6, 1896, Allingham was active until his final days, having celebrated his 113th birthday last month on the HMS President with his family, the care home said.

 

The Guinness Book of World Records Certified Allingham as the world's oldest man last month, St. Dunstan's said.

 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Gordon Brown both paid their respects to Allingham on Saturday.

 

"The queen was saddened to hear of the death of Henry Allingham. He was one of the unique generation who sacrificed so much for us all. Our thoughts are with his family at this time," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

 

"I had the privilege of meeting Henry many times," said Brown. "He was a tremendous character, one of the last representatives of a generation of tremendous characters. My thoughts are with his family as they mourn his passing but celebrate his life."

 

Born in the East End of London during the reign of Queen Victoria, Allingham was brought up by his mother and grandparents. His father died when he was a baby.

 

He joined the Royal Naval Air Service as an aircraft mechanic in 1915 after his mother died.

 

Allingham was the last known survivor of the Battle of Jutland, considered the greatest battle of World War I. He was serving aboard the armed trawler HMT Kingfisher, which was sent to meet up with the British fleet as it fought the Germans off what is now mainland Denmark.

 

The battle still holds the record for the most gun-armed battleships and battlecruisers engaged in a fight, according to Britain's Ministry of Defence.

 

In 1917 Allingham was sent to France to support the Royal Flying Corps. His job as a mechanic was to service the aircraft and recover parts from downed planes, but pilots would often ask their mechanics to fly with them, so Allingham would sit behind the pilot and drop bombs or operate the machine gun.

 

Allingham served in Flanders until that November, when he moved to the aircraft depot at Dunkirk, France. He stayed there until the end of the war.

 

Allingham was a founding member of today's Royal Air Force, which was formed in 1918 when the Royal Naval Air Service merged with the Royal Flying Corps.

 

He married his wife, Dorothy, in late 1918 and left the RAF a few months later, in April 1919.

 

But Allingham remained a reservist, and during World War II he was called on to find a solution to the German magnetic mines that were bottling up the English harbor of Harwich, on the Essex coast.

 

Allingham and his team devised an effective system to neutralize the mines, after which every ship was fitted with a neutralizing device using the system.

 

His dedication to the military and the memory of fallen troops never wavered. In his later years especially, Allingham was often seen at memorial events, even though he could no longer walk and had to be transported in a wheelchair.

 

"Henry was always determined to ensure that today's generation does not forget the sacrifice of those who died on the Western Front," St. Dunstan's said in a statement after his death. "Until recently, he regularly visited schools and attended war-based events as an ambassador for his generation."

 

Asked once at a memorial ceremony how he would like to be remembered, Allingham brushed off any thought of it, saying people should instead remember those who died in the wars.

 

"Remember them, not me," he said.

 

He was made a chevalier in France's Legion of Honor in 2003 and was promoted to officer earlier this year. In awarding him the honor this year, the French ambassador to Britain thanked Allingham on behalf of French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his part in protecting France during both World Wars.

 

The Royal Navy celebrated Allingham's birthday last month by throwing him a party aboard the HMS President. A birthday cake and card signed by the First Sea Lord was delivered by fast raiding craft of the Royal Marines, and he was given a decanter of Pussers Rum, his "favorite tipple," on behalf of the Fleet Air Arm.

 

Allingham's wife, Dorothy, died in 1970. Their two daughters both died in their 80s.

 

He is survived by six grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 21 great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great grandchild, all of whom live in the United States, the care home said.

 

Since 2006, Allingham had lived at St. Dunstan's, a care home for blind ex-servicemen and -women on the southern English coast. He had lost his sight as a result of age-related macular degeneration.

 

"Everybody at St. Dunstan's is saddened by Henry's loss and our sympathy goes out to his family," said Robert Leader, chief executive at the care home. "As well as possessing a great spirit of fun, he represented the last of a generation who gave a very great deal for us. Henry made many friends among the residents and staff at St Dunstan's. He was a great character and will be missed."

 

.........................................

 

R.I.P

Edited July 20, 2009 by Angelus71

[JonGoodwyn 1]

If hes the oldest man in the world, he isn't exactly going to be the second oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, is he?

[Jimbo 133]

RIP

[PaddockLad 14596]

Only one left now...Harry Patch, the only man left alive who fought in the Flanders trenches at Passchandale.

 

In Austrailia I think the last Gallipolli vet is going to or actually got a state funeral......don't know if I agree with that or not?

 

rip Henry

[Toonraider 0]

If hes the oldest man in the world, he isn't exactly going to be the second oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, is he?

 

I suppose there could be an older woman who served in WW1 still alive?

[Craig 6307]

A true hero. May he rest in peace

[Ayatollah Hermione 12767]

Sign me up for 113 right now. RIP

[Tom 13861]

R.I.P

[Andrew 4222]

If hes the oldest man in the world, he isn't exactly going to be the second oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, is he?

 

I suppose there could be an older woman who served in WW1 still alive?

 

I'm all for modern equality like but when you consider that most women couldn't vote at the time how many do you think served in the forces?

[NJS 3980]

I'm extremely cynical when it comes to the glorification of war and that usually includes remembrance services but I found last years service where this bloke attended to be extremely moving.

 

RIP.

[TheMoog 0]

A true hero. May he rest in peace

 

Yep, RIP old timer, did his country proud.

[Monkeys Fist 38775]

If anyone deserves a State Funeral, this man does.

If for no other reason than to remind the current generations of the enormous sacrifices made by his.

RIP a true Brit.

[Craig 6307]

113 magnificient years - the majority of which, the quality is attributable to him and his comrades - echo MF's comments, this man deserves a tremendous send off.

[Toonraider 0]

If hes the oldest man in the world, he isn't exactly going to be the second oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, is he?

 

I suppose there could be an older woman who served in WW1 still alive?

 

I'm all for modern equality like but when you consider that most women couldn't vote at the time how many do you think served in the forces?

 

Thats why I put a bloody question mark after what I had written I wasnt sure if woman served in some way Not frontline stuff of course but serving the government in wartime jobs, such as engineering and munition factories, nursing etc etc. I think some American states had given woman the right to vote during WW1 but it didnt come into force untill just after.

[Tom 13861]

I would have thought when a country is at war - it's not just the soldiers that fight but everybody in the nation in some way or other.

[Toonraider 0]

I would have thought when a country is at war - it's not just the soldiers that fight but everybody in the nation in some way or other.

 

Yeah thats what I meant really Tom, I suppose though woman didnt fight in the forces as such in WW1...but helped the war effort in other ways.

[JonGoodwyn 1]

If hes the oldest man in the world, he isn't exactly going to be the second oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, is he?

I suppose there could be an older woman who served in WW1 still alive?

 

I'm all for modern equality like but when you consider that most women couldn't vote at the time how many do you think served in the forces?

 

Thats why I put a bloody question mark after what I had written I wasnt sure if woman served in some way Not frontline stuff of course but serving the government in wartime jobs, such as engineering and munition factories, nursing etc etc. I think some American states had given woman the right to vote during WW1 but it didnt come into force untill just after.

I didn't think of that

 

But you're right, women served as Ambulance drivers and nurses on the front line - they obviously weren't allowed to fight in the British army at the time (although a few still managed managed it , mostly for other countries)

 

/GCSE history

Edited July 18, 2009 by JonGoodwyn

[The Fish 8989]

He's right in that this generation are too quick to take their liberties for granted. Myself included.

 

RIP Old Bean

[Rob W 0]

If anyone deserves a State Funeral, this man does.

If for no other reason than to remind the current generations of the enormous sacrifices made by his.

RIP a true Brit.

 

 

a couple of years ago they announced there would be a proper commemoration service after the last WW1 veteran dies to remember all those who died - that way there wouldn't be any unseemly argument over who was last etc etc

[Billy Castell 0]

Astonishing to think he was middle aged by WW2, and a pensioner by the time of the moon landings.

 

There was a French woman who lived to 127 or so, who died a few years ago and her dad owned a paint shop. Reporters were stunned when she said she had met Vincent Van Gogh when she was a little girl, as Vincent often bought paint at her dad's shop. Cue all the reporters getting all reverential after they asked what he was like, only to be told he was rude, horrible and stank of booze all the time.

[Meenzer 14055]

Mr. Allingham, who was the world's oldest man when he died, attributed his remarkable longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women."

 

R.I.P. old boy, a life well lived.

[Rob W 0]

Astonishing to think he was middle aged by WW2, and a pensioner by the time of the moon landings.

 

There was a French woman who lived to 127 or so, who died a few years ago and her dad owned a paint shop. Reporters were stunned when she said she had met Vincent Van Gogh when she was a little girl, as Vincent often bought paint at her dad's shop. Cue all the reporters getting all reverential after they asked what he was like, only to be told he was rude, horrible and stank of booze all the time.

 

 

aye - she was no fool that one - when she was 95 she cut a deal with her family lawyer by which he paid for her care and he got the house when she died............ it was a very long wait..............

[Sonatine 10003]

Last WW1 trenches hero passes away

 

Harry Patch, the last survivor of World War I to fight in the trenches, has died.

 

He passed away at Fletcher House, the care home in Somerset where he was living. He was 111.

 

The care home released a statement which read: "It is with much sadness that we must announce the death of Mr Harry Patch at the age of 111.

 

"Funeral arrangements are being made in accordance with Mr Patch's wishes, and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and the residents and staff of Fletcher House."

 

Mr Patch, known as the Last Tommy, fought in the battle of Passchendaele in 1917 in which more than 70,000 British troops died.

 

He became Britain's oldest man when another veteran of the war, Henry Allingham, died on July 18 aged 113.

 

Mr Patch was a machine-gunner in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

 

He served in the trenches as a private from June to September 1917.

 

Born on June 17 1898, he grew up in Combe Down, near Bath, and left school at the age of 15 to train as a plumber.

 

He was 16 when war broke out and reached 18 as conscription was being introduced and after six months training he was sent to the frontline.

Edited July 25, 2009 by Sonatine

[Jimbo 133]

[Monkeys Fist 38775]

R.I.P. Harry

Plans announced today for a special service to remember the WW1 generation this autumn.