From the London Times. Only three of them left in Britian.Today, as Henry Allingham (pictured) struggled in vain against the infirmities of old age as he attempted to rise to his feet, it told a powerful story of remembrance and loss.
Almost everyone knows the name of Henry Allingham now - and Harry Patch and Bill Stone, Britain’s surviving veterans from the First World War. The last living reminders of a generation that sustained such terrible losses, they are the symbols of a suffering that modern generations find hard to understand.
But for Mr Allingham and his comrades, the memories of what happened are real, and personal, and theirs; and when, just before 11am today, and 90 years to the minute after the signing of the Armistice, he attempted stand up in front of a crowd of thousands and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph, his gesture said more about war and grief than any prayer or salute.
The three of them were lined up in their wheelchairs in front of the memorial to lay their wreaths, each representing the armed service they belonged to - the Royal Air Force for Mr Allingham, 112, the Army for Mr Patch, 110, and the Royal Navy for Mr Stone, 108.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5131342.ece
1 comment:
I continue to love the story of our West Virginia neighbor Frank Buckles, the last surviving U.S. veteran of the Great War.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/06/frank-buckles-americas-last-living-world-war-i-vet/
BruceR
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