Oldest WWI veteran dies aged 113

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and one of the last surviving World War I servicemen, has died at the age of 113, his care home has said.

Last month, Guinness World Records confirmed the veteran was the world's oldest man.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8157128.stm

[ZombieHorde]

1. Do you have a disciplined mind? nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. I hope I know what two plus two makes

:evilgrin:

[No Elephants]

6. Pudding?

[cslinger59]

38. Weird, I was just pondering this on my drive in to work today.

I was wondering if there were any WWI vets left.

RIP

Chris

[Hello_Kitty]

2. RIP Henry. eom

[proteus_lives]

4. RIP and Godspeed.

:patriot:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

32. You surely mean...

[proteus_lives]

33. I was wondering if they made those!

What's the typing version? I knew he was British. Is there a Canadian version too?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

34. Here's the source for all your patriot needs. If you want something not there, ask.

http://users.vialink.com.br/jcastro/patriots

Case in point:

[proteus_lives]

35. Thank you!

:hi:

[Norrin Radd]

5. Peace to Henry.

[No Elephants]

7. If I am not mistaken, we still have a WWI alive. He lied about his age bc he was not old enough to

join up. Treated his own wounds, too, bc he feared a doc would realize his age.

[CBHagman]

11. I think that's Frank Buckles.

He was honored not long ago.

http://www.frankbuckles.org/

I remember the days when World War I vets marched in the Memorial Day parades. That was my grandfather's generation, of course.

[elocs]

12. My grandfather lied about his age to join the Army in WWI,

then he volunteered for WWII when he was in his 40's and served in Berlin.

[dipsydoodle]

20. Mine too

He joined up when he was 14 years old in 1914. It took them a while to suss this before they kicked him out. He then went to work for the local water board until he was 16, joined the Royal Engineers and by 1921 he was still out in Basra installing their water supply. I think by then he was an RSM. I've still got his swagger stick with its sand ? filled silver knob.

[IndianaGreen]

8. The secret of a long life: Cigarettes, whisky, and wild women

I posted a thread about Henry last month. Here it is:

He is one of three British men still alive who actively served in the First World War, is the last surviving founder of the Royal Air Force.

The secret of a long life: Cigarettes, whisky, and wild women

Henry Allingham, now the world's oldest man prescribes 'Cigarettes, whisky, and wild women'

By Jerome Taylor

Saturday, 20 June 2009

Having spent 113 years and 14 days on this earth, Henry Allingham is used to breaking records.

He is one of three British men still alive who actively served in the First World War, is the last surviving founder of the Royal Air Force, has long held the record for being the oldest man in Europe and earlier this year he became Britain's most ancient man ever after overtaking John Evans, a Welsh former coal miner who died in 1990 aged 112 years and 295 days.

But when Mr Allingham woke up yesterday morning at St Dunstan's care home for blind ex-service personnel, in Ovingdean, near Brighton, the supercentenarian was informed that he had suddenly achieved the highest age-related accolade for men.

Tomoji Tanabe, a Japanese retired civil engineer, had died peacefully in his sleep overnight. He was 113 years' and 274 days' old and had more than 50 great-grandchildren. Having foregone alcohol and cigarettes all his life, Tanabe had became the world's oldest man in January 2007.

That mantle has now passed to Mr Allingham – the first time a British person has ever held such a title.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x26229

[Catch22Dem]

14. Worked for Churchill

Regarding that article, I'm amazed that a coal miner lived to 112. (John Evans)

[caseymoz]

27. Meaning: he would have probably lived to be 130 if he had abstained from cigarettes and whiskey.

He might have lived to 120 if he had abstained from one of them.

[B3Nut]

37. I shall certainly drink a whiskey tonight in his honor

He probably drank Scotch or Irish whiskies, all I have is an assortment of bourbons (I do prefer bourbon mostly.) But nevertheless, I shall drink a toast to him. Perhaps a pour of Blanton's is in order. God speed, sir.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[IndianaGreen]

9. Henry Allingham photos published by The Guardian

Henry Allingham in 1916

Photograph: Collect



Circa 1915

Photograph: PA

More photos here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2009/jul/18/henry-allingham

Guardian's story here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/18/henry-allingham-oldest-man-dies

[rasputin1952]

10. RIP Mr. Allingham...

it is time to join your brothers in arms.

[Vidar]

13. RIP Mr. Allingham. You certainly fought the good fight.

[Kolesar]

15. English teachers in my school assigned us to read "All Quiet on the Western Front"

They gave me a lot to think about in the succeeding four decades. Thirty miles and three years from Kent State, they wanted better for the new generation.

"We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces. The first bomb, the first explosion, burst in our hearts. We are cut off from activity, from striving, from progress. We believe in such things no longer, we believe in the war."
- Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet On The Western Front, Ch. 5
http://classiclit.about.com/od/allquietonthewestern/a/aa_allquietquot.htm

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. I love the German title, which is more resonant

Im Westen Nichts Neues

It was translated early as "All Quiet on the Western Front," and was used to signal that in German war communications. But the double meaning in German is clear: Nothing New in the West. Kinda gives the lie to all that "War to End all Wars" nonsense, no? The English title misses this double meaning completely, making the book a critique of the war, rather than a critique of the Western culture that produced it.

[Kolesar]

31. I did not know that! ... eom

[timeforpeace]

16. Advice: someone wants to name you World's Oldest Person, pass. They're dropping like flies.

[jberryhill]

36. Seriously....

I guess it would be mildly interesting, if the next one was:

"World's Oldest Person Dies In Bus Plunge"

...but I kept track a while back, and the "world's oldest person" dies about every month and a half.

It's not a title I'd wish on anyone.

[scheming daemons]

39. You know what? I would LOVE the opportunity to be the oldest person on the planet

Get back to me in 2080, when I'm 113.

;-)

[Libertas1776]

18. At ease

Mr. Allingham. His passing is truly humbling, considering he fought and survived a war in which millions died. Now, you could probably count all of the living veterans on one hand. We must never forget their sacrifice.

I think I'll close this post with a quote from the man himself on what attributed to his longevity. "Cigarettes, whiskey and wild, wild women — and a good sense of humour."

I think he knows what he is talking about considering he was 113 at his passing. I am sure he lived a good, long, eventful life.

Rest in Peace, Sir.

[dipsydoodle]

19. News of Mr Allingham's death

has been almost constant all day on our TV news channels here in the UK.

He was in the Battle of the Somme as an air mechanic amd later in the war joined the newly established Naval Air Reserve in which capacity he fought on an armed trawler in the Battle of Jutland !

RIP Henry Allingham.

[caseymoz]

22. He was blessed to get out of that slaughter and have a long life afterward.

[dipsydoodle]

23. Apparently he had said in the past,

as had other veterans, that anyone who got out of that war alive was lucky.

[IndianaGreen]

25. Henry Allingham: 'War's stupid. Nobody wins.'

Yet he dislikes talking about conflict, saying only: "War's stupid. Nobody wins."

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-secret-of-a-long-life-cigarettes-whisky-and-wild-women-1710744.html

[PatSeg]

26. Henry Allingham was a stark reminder

that the horrors of war do not fade with time. He would not even talk about his war experiences until the last few years. Soldiers may "get on with their lives" (many don't), but they never forget. What a truly defective species we are.

[caseymoz]

21. I looked it up, there are now only six World War I veterans left.

And a 7th who is unconfirmed.

[PatSeg]

24. Incredible

I was wondering recently if there were any WWI vets left. I figured they must have all passed by now. He saw so much and remained sharp until the end. Suddenly makes me feel very young and inexperienced.

[annarbor]

28. Semper Fi, Sir...

Your watch has ended.

Rest in Peace

Ann Arbor-

[Rhiannon12866]

29. K&R. BBC link, video: UK's oldest veteran on WW1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7702327.stm

[dipsydoodle]

30. Watch this video clip

It's black humour but to a certain extent it conveys that the awful circumstances of WW1.

The end of the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyevNgtvA1A