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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Veteran of both world wars dies | Veteran of both world wars dies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The last British serviceman to serve in both World War I and World War II has died aged 106. | The last British serviceman to serve in both World War I and World War II has died aged 106. |
| Captain Kenneth Cummins served in the Royal Navy in WWI and the Merchant Navy in WWII. | Captain Kenneth Cummins served in the Royal Navy in WWI and the Merchant Navy in WWII. |
| Until his death at home in Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire on 10 December, he was one of five WWI veterans living in the UK. | Until his death at home in Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire on 10 December, he was one of five WWI veterans living in the UK. |
| Dennis Goodwin, chairman of the WWI Veterans' Association, said: "Any death of a veteran of WWI means the end of a unique and special generation." | Dennis Goodwin, chairman of the WWI Veterans' Association, said: "Any death of a veteran of WWI means the end of a unique and special generation." |
| Illegally destroyed | |
| The four WWI veterans who survive him are: William Stone, 106, of Oxford; Henry Allingham, 110, from Sussex; Philip Mayne, 107, of Richmond, North Yorkshire; and Harry Patch, 108, from Somerset. | The four WWI veterans who survive him are: William Stone, 106, of Oxford; Henry Allingham, 110, from Sussex; Philip Mayne, 107, of Richmond, North Yorkshire; and Harry Patch, 108, from Somerset. |
| In WWII, Mr Cummins survived the torpedoing of his ship, the Viceroy of India, which was owned by P&O but used by the military. | |
| In 1918 he witnessed nurses' bodies floating in the ocean after a Canadian hospital ship was illegally destroyed by the Germans. | In 1918 he witnessed nurses' bodies floating in the ocean after a Canadian hospital ship was illegally destroyed by the Germans. |
| "Ken was one of the icons," said Mr Goodwin. | "Ken was one of the icons," said Mr Goodwin. |
| "It was the likes of Ken and all the vets who survived WWI who put this country back on its feet and made Britain what it is today." | "It was the likes of Ken and all the vets who survived WWI who put this country back on its feet and made Britain what it is today." |