9 replies to this topic

[danslittlefinger]

http://www.dailymail...s-aged-111.html

The Queen led a flood of emotive tributes last night to the ‘Last Tommy’ Harry Patch - the only surviving British soldier of the First World War trenches - who died early yesterday aged 111.
The former plumber, who became a frontline machine-gunner at 18 and a hero for successive generations, passed away peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home in Wells in his native Somerset, surrounded by family and friends.
He had become Britain’s oldest man seven days earlier when another Great War veteran and friend, Henry Allingham, died in Sussex, aged 113.


The final three: Mr Patch (centre) marks the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I last November. Henry Allingham (left) died only last week aged 113 and Bill Stone (right) died in January aged 108




The only British First World War veteran still alive now is Claude Choules, 108, who served in the Royal Navy and lives in Perth, Australia.
Henry John ‘Harry’ Patch was born in the reign of Queen Victoria on June 17, 1898, at Combe Down, near Bath.
Private Patch was conscripted into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and served as an assistant gunner in a Lewis machine gun team.

Despite being badly injured by a shell, Harry survived the bloody slaughter of the trenches of Passchendaele between June and September 1917.

The battle cost more than 70,000 British lives, including many of his friends.


Over 90 years ago: A young Mr Patch posing with other WWI soldiers

The Queen said last night: ‘We will never forget the bravery and enormous sacrifice of his generation.’ Prince Charles said: ‘Nothing could give me greater pride than paying tribute to Harry Patch from Somerset.
‘Harry was involved in numerous bouts of heavy fighting on the frontline but amazingly remained unscathed for a while. Tragically, one night in September 1917, when in the morass in the Ypres Salient, a German shrapnel shell burst overhead badly wounding Harry and killing three of his closest friends.’
Friend Jim Ross said: ‘He used his great age and fame to communicate two messages: Remember with gratitude and respect those who served on all sides; settle disputes by discussion, not war.’
A memorial service will be held at Westminster Abbey later this year to ‘mark the passing’ of the First World War generation.


The last of the greatest generation, Mr Patch, I salute you.

[Tybre]

First Allingham and now Patch. Amazing to see how long they lived, and yet terrible to see them go.

[PlayItBogart]

Our (Canada) last WWI vet turned 109 last week.

Canada's last surviving First World War veteran celebrated his 109th birthday in Washington state on Thursday.

John Babcock, who now resides in Spokane, Wash., said he intended to celebrate the occasion in a modest way by having lunch at a favourite restaurant with family and friends.

Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson will also attend the luncheon.

Babcock was born July 23, 1900, on a farm near Kingston, Ont.

At 15, he lied about his age so he could enlist in the army.

He arrived in England a few months later with the 146th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but in August 1917, after the truth about his age was discovered, he was sent to the Boys Battalion — a corps of 1,300 young soldiers training until they were 18.

The war ended before Babcock was old enough to go to the front lines in France.

He moved to the United States in the 1920s and became a U.S. citizen in 1946. At the time, dual citizenship was not allowed, so Babcock had to give up his Canadian ties.

He was again granted Canadian citizenship in 2008.

http://www.cbc.ca/ca...irthday837.html

[Cruiserweight]

R.I.P.
You deserve it.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

A true British hero. Let us never forget.

[Aris007]

Not only a British hero! His services helped all the ally countries.

R.I.P Sir!

[DamnCoffee]

R.I.P Sir.

I salute you. You are a true hero.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Requiem in Pace

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Not only a British hero! His services helped all the ally countries.

R.I.P Sir!

Indeed he did.

[danslittlefinger]

Requiem in Pace

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

That brought a lump to my throat. Thanks for posting.