The Last WWI British Soldier dies

[Wija 0]

I know that this is not a "Rangers" thread but I feel it is worthy to be put anywhere. Admins please do as you feel is right.

 

Harry Patch who served in the First World War in the trenches died aged 111.

 

May he be given a chair at the top table.

 

I Sir, salute you. R.I.P.

 

 

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The last British survivor of the World War I trenches, Harry Patch, has died at the age of 111.

 

Mr Patch was conscripted into the Army aged 18 and fought in the Battle of Passchendaele at Ypres in 1917 in which more than 70,000 British soldiers died.

 

He was raised in Combe Down, near Bath, and had been living at a care home in Wells, Somerset.

 

The sole British survivor of World War I is now seaman Claude Choules who is aged 108 and lives in Australia.

 

'Great man'

 

Henry Allingham, who served in the Royal Navy and the RAF in WWI, died at the age of 113 a week ago.

 

Mr Patch's biographer Richard Van Emden said he passed away at 0850 BST on Saturday morning.

 

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I had the honour of meeting Harry, and I share his family's grief at the passing of a great man.

 

 

Mr Patch's biographer Richard Emden said he passed away at 0850 BST on Saturday morning

"I know that the whole nation will unite today to honour the memory, and to take pride in the generation that fought the Great War.

 

"The noblest of all the generations has left us, but they will never be forgotten. We say today with still greater force - 'We will remember them'."

 

The Prince of Wales said nothing could give him greater pride than paying tribute to Mr Patch.

 

He told the BBC: "Harry was involved in numerous bouts of heavy fighting on the front line 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.

 

"In spite of the comparatively short time that he served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Harry always cherished the extraordinary camaraderie that the appalling conditions engendered in the battalion and remained loyal to the end."

 

'True gentleman'

 

Mr Patch served as a private at the Third Battle of Ypres - known as Passchendaele - from June to September 1917 when he was seriously injured by a shell explosion which killed three of his friends.

 

His friend Lesley Ross said she felt great affection towards him.

 

"Extremely modest, dignified gentleman, with a slightly wicked sense of humour and considerate to everybody he met. Very polite and I would sum him up as a true gentleman," she said.

 

 

Mr Patch was conscripted into the Army aged 18

The Fletcher House care home said in a statement it extended its deepest sympathies to Mr Patch's family and friends.

 

Andrew Larpent, chief executive of Somerset Care, said Mr Patch died peacefully in his bed having been unwell for some time.

 

"His friends and his family have been here. He just quietly slipped away at 9am this morning," he said.

 

"It was how he would have wanted it, without having to be moved to hospitals but here, peacefully with his friends and carers."

[craig 5,199]

I personally have no issue with this thread remaining here Wij.

 

RIP Harry

 

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

[Super_Ally 0]

I know some posters only use this forum and often ignore some of the others, so might be a good idea to keep it here so more people get a chance to see it.

[Gazza_8 233]

111 years old. Man, that's a crackin' innings especially when he survived two world wars.

[bmck 117]

history moves so quickly. rip harry. we will remember.

[alexscottislegend 2,325]

Strange coincidence that his death came only days after the 113 year old Henry Allingham.

[Bluedell 5,627]

We owe these brave soldiers so much. Thank you, Harry, on behalf of me and my family.

 

RIP.

 

 

[Frankie 8,562]

Yep, thanks Harry and to all of your colleagues before and after you who keep us all safe...

[Wija 0]

Watched a we bit of an interview the other day he gave a while back - he said that we should not forget the British soldiers, and we should not forget the German soldiers. The First WW was the first real war of machinery and biological weapons. And although the enemy used them on the Allied troops, he was asking for everyone to remember ALL the dead.

 

The man IS what this country SHOULD stand for, and strive to be at least half the human being he was. And yet the country idolises people such as Jade Goody, Jordan, Pete Doherty (I could go on) and would rather take the dole than work.

 

For the freedoms that this man, and so many like him got for us we should hang our heads in shame.

[fraser54 0]

Watched a we bit of an interview the other day he gave a while back - he said that we should not forget the British soldiers, and we should not forget the German soldiers. The First WW was the first real war of machinery and biological weapons. And although the enemy used them on the Allied troops, he was asking for everyone to remember ALL the dead.

 

The man IS what this country SHOULD stand for, and strive to be at least half the human being he was. And yet the country idolises people such as Jade Goody, Jordan, Pete Doherty (I could go on) and would rather take the dole than work.

 

For the freedoms that this man, and so many like him got for us we should hang our heads in shame.

 

 

Amen !

I myself visitied my grandpa's uncle's memorial in Tunisia a few years back. His body was never found after his death during the battles in Tunisia of World War II, there is plenty of bodies with no names on them which one may well be him. Once you go there and experience it, it is very moving.

 

We Will Remember