amvg Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 (edited) HARRY Patch, the last survivor of the First World War to fight in the trenches, died today. He passed away this morning at Fletcher House, the care home in Somerset where he was living. He was 111. 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 just quietly slipped away at 9am this morning Edited July 25, 2009 by amvg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I hoped someone would post this and see you did . He was the last British WWI vet , are there any other WW1 vets in the world or was he the Last one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ives Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 a sad day as the last of the few has now gone to a greater place may he rest in peace and be given the funeral he deserves as a memorial for all the tommys of the first world war Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonsfotos Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 A sad day, in fact a sad week with the passing of both Henry Allingham and now Harry Patch. They are all together now. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recymech66 Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Very sad indeed, RIP to both great men. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Sad. I thought he was going to go on and on. WW1 has just about passed from living memory. There is one other British WW1 survivor - Claude Choules (ex RN) who lives in Australia. There is also at least one US WW1 survivor. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamsd Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 sad day 4 all at least he his back with his pals R.I.P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 What a shock, after the death of Henry Allingham for Harry Patch to go within a few days really saddens me. My thoughts are for the two families. The last survivors in Britain of a truly great generation. God bless, may they Rest in Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosie Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Oh my God this is really spooky, I have wanted to read Harry Patch's autobiography for ages, my friend dropped it off to me this morning. RIP Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 It will be a sad day when the Great War passes from living memory. The last of a unique generation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 the WW1 guys at W&P held a memorial to Harry on Sunday by their trench at 11 am, quite a few reenactors and public turned up for it, very moving, RIP Harry Patch, the last Tommy. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoggyDriver Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 RIP Harry. He lived a very long life (double a lot of people) and is now at peace. Sad day indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Sad. I thought he was going to go on and on. WW1 has just about passed from living memory. There is one other British WW1 survivor - Claude Choules (ex RN) who lives in Australia. There is also at least one US WW1 survivor. Tim There is just one American vet left, he was an Ambulance driver behind the Western Front and one Canadian, now living in America who underwent training in Britain but never went to France. This info courtesy of Wiki. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Apparently there is one other British vetran, but he lives in Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Very sad... soon the Great war will be out of living memory and feels further away than ever now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 very sad R.I.P :cry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Very sad... soon the Great war will be out of living memory and feels further away than ever now A very sad day for all - these men were the last of their kind and I doubt we'll ever see their like again. At least, as others have said, they are reunited with all the friends they lost so long ago!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I agree with Degy's sentiments. We hear so much about the men of 1939-45 being the "Greatest Generation" - though this really only applies to the Americans from 1941-1945 in truth. The men of 1914-19 who fought from Flanders to East Africa and from the Falkland Islands to Siberia for their King and Country and came from all across our present day British Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland were giants. They were of their time and have had close on a century of revisionists and opportunists telling us how stupid and naive they were. It's a moot point. God bless Harry Patch. He knew who he was and didn't need telling. MB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I agree with Degy's sentiments. We hear so much about the men of 1939-45 being the "Greatest Generation" - though this really only applies to the Americans from 1941-1945 in truth. The men of 1914-19 who fought from Flanders to East Africa and from the Falkland Islands to Siberia for their King and Country and came from all across our present day British Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland were giants. They were of their time and have had close on a century of revisionists and opportunists telling us how stupid and naive they were. It's a moot point. God bless Harry Patch. He knew who he was and didn't need telling. MB Said revisionists never having had to stand to under fire, in thick mud deep enough to drown in whilst being made to fight a war against modern weapons using tactics little changed from the days of Waterloo. All because of firmly placed ideals regarding loyalty to King and Country. No wonder the Germans referred to these men as "Lions led by donkeys"! At least the generation that fought in 1939 - 1945 had the advantage of using modern tactics that developed as the war progressed...... And now said revisionists run the country so I guess we can expect to see attempts to rewrite the history books from this point on.... :argh: :argh: :argh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Apparently there is one other British vetran, but he lives in Australia. You're getting worse:n00b: thats what Tim said in his post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 (edited) There is one other person in Britain claiming to be a Great War vet but his claim has not been verified, he claims to have been a bicycle messenger in the South of England. Edited August 16, 2009 by Degsy Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosie Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 It was Harry Patch's funeral today At the going down of the sun & in the morning we shall remember them. Lest we forget, for I never shall. Thank you Harry. 6 Monarchs, 21 Prime Minsters & countless historical events. Harry Patch - Only a whisper away. God bless you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) They shall not grow old as we that remain grow old. Age shall not weary them or the years condem At the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remeber them Verse Four of the poem For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon 1896-1943 For The Fallen With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. Edited August 6, 2009 by Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 There were 2 programmes on BBC2 tonight, the first at 7pm was on Henry Allingham, the second at 7.30pm was on Harry Patch, both very emotional I felt. Both programmes were shown as changes to the published schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 There were 2 programmes on BBC2 tonight, the first at 7pm was on Henry Allingham, the second at 7.30pm was on Harry Patch, both very emotional I felt. Both programmes were shown as changes to the published schedule. Saw them both; Very moving, as you say; Degsey. Thought the poem Andrew Motion did for Harry patch was spot on. Lest We Forget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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