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Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:55 pm
by Captain Seafort
The last Tommy
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 Coombe Down, near Bath, and had been living at a care home in Wells, Somerset.
The oldest WWI veteran Henry Allingham, who served in the Royal Navy and the RAF, died at the age of 113 a week ago.
His biographer Richard Emden said Mr Patch passed away at 0850 BST on Saturday morning.
A statement from the Fletcher House care home said: "It is with much sadness that we must announce the death of Mr Harry Patch on 25 July at the age of 111.
"Funeral arrangements are being made in accordance with Mr Patch's wishes, and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and the residents and staff of Fletcher House."
He goes to join his old mates
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:06 pm
by Teaos
Wonder if its just coincedence that he died so close to the other guy or if it was him giving up since he was the last Brit vet left.
RIP
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:14 pm
by Sionnach Glic
May he rest in piece.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:34 pm
by thelordharry
Sleep well, Harry
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:37 pm
by Tsukiyumi
Another soul heads to Valhalla. RIP.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:32 am
by Deepcrush
Dude, he's British, he's going to the Forever Pub with JC and the big G.
Long live the King and Queen.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:54 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
Just read about this in the paper today. *Salutes* Thanks, Harry.
Only one veteran left in the United States.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:35 am
by Monroe
I hope at least one lives to the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. That war was quite something. Remember about a year ago when the last Christmas Truce survivor died? We'll never see a war like that.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:09 am
by Tsukiyumi
Monroe wrote:...We'll never see a war like that.
That's for sure.
"Hey, Abdul? Want to call a truce so we can play some football, and share some wine and ham?"
"Football is a tool of Satan! Wine is evil, and ham is unclean!"
"Yeah, but they're still fun."
"Okay, okay. Let's toss the, as you say, 'pigskin'."
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:39 pm
by Captain Seafort
Monroe wrote:I hope at least one lives to the 100th anniversary of the start of the war.
I doubt it there - there are only three left worldwide.
Claude Choules, RN
John Babcock, CEF
Frank Buckles, AEF
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:47 pm
by Mikey
Well, at least Mr. Patch can now tell his old mates that he outlasted that flyboy. Lord knows he saw enough horror at Ypres; may he rest easy now.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:02 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
Ah, the Christams Truce. The last gasp of sanity.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:49 pm
by Sionnach Glic
Tsukiyumi wrote:Monroe wrote:...We'll never see a war like that.
That's for sure.
"Hey, Abdul? Want to call a truce so we can play some football, and share some wine and ham?"
"Football is a tool of Satan! Wine is evil, and ham is unclean!"
"Yeah, but they're still fun."
"Okay, okay. Let's toss the, as you say, 'pigskin'."
We're talking soccer football. No pigskin involved.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:12 pm
by Mikey
Oh. Let's see, derived from the Irish practice of coating an enemy's head in lime and then kicking it around.
Actually, that ought to fly pretty well over there.
Re: Harry Patch dies
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:39 pm
by Captain Seafort
Mikey wrote:Actually, that ought to fly pretty well over there.
Well, there is a Mongolian game that resembles polo. Not sure about the Afghans though.