It was about the coolest oddly named britain since napoleonoic wars vet, pine coffin.
Harry Patch
"Any one of them could have been me. Millions of men came to fight in this war and I find it incredible that I am the only one left."
On graves at a Flanders war cemetery, July 2007,
He's Britain's last Tommy, The last man to 'go over the top' Last year he wrote his autobiography (Age 109) The Last Fighting Tommy, which is now on my wish list.
Because of my Wiki addiction I got to wondering, how many other WW1 vets are still around, as they aren't young any more, and have some how survived terrible times.
So here they are:
Harry Patch
Claude Choules , The youngest know WW1 vet (age 107) also A WW2 vet
Sydney Lucas Was completing training when the war ended, also a WW2 non-combat vet. (age 107)
Glady Powers The last female veteran now living in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada (age 108)
Franz Kunstler The last central powers veteran, also a WW2 vet, and is listed as having fought communists, durning the later stages of the russian revolution I'm guessing. Is currently a museum guide (at age 107) and also germany's oldest living man.
Delfino Borroni (age 109) captured by the Austrians during the war.
Francesco Domenico Chiarello (age 109) Also a WW2 vet.
Henry Allingham (age 111) Last surviver of the battle of jutland, the last of the founders of the Royal air force, last member of the Royal navy air service. Lived under his own care until age 109, and has one great-great-great-grandchild
Allingham famously credits "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild womenand a good sense of humour" for his longevity.
Smoke' em if you got em Henry.
Bill Stone (age 107) One of fourteen children (wow) was a stoker on the battlecruiser HMS Tiger. In WW2 was Chief Stoker and particated in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Broke his hip at age 106 and decided it was finaly time for a rest home.
John Babcock (age 107) One of 13 children (wow again) Repeatly tried to join up while underage, was eventual put into the reseves. Earned his highschool diploma at age 95. One of his sisters lived to age 102. Is credited as the last canadian veteran, which he disagrees with. Recieved well wishes from Queen Elizabeth II on his 107th birthday whom Babcock jokes is a "nice looking gal"
Frank Buckles (age 107) Joined the army at age 16 and served as a driver in France. Was captured by the japanese in the Philippines, as a civilian, and spent three years in a prison camp. According to his care taker does 50 sit ups every morning.
Lest we forget
