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| Oldest WWI veteran dies aged 113 | Oldest WWI veteran dies aged 113 |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Allingham served with the Royal Naval Air Service in WWI, later transferring to the Royal Air Force at the time of its creation. | Mr Allingham served with the Royal Naval Air Service in WWI, later transferring to the Royal Air Force at the time of its creation. |
| Bosses at his Brighton care home said everybody was "saddened by Henry's loss and our sympathy goes to his family". | Bosses at his Brighton care home said everybody was "saddened by Henry's loss and our sympathy goes to his family". |
| Last month, Mr Allingham, born in 1896, became the world's oldest man. | Last month, Mr Allingham, born in 1896, became the world's oldest man. |
| His funeral will take place later this month at St Nicholas' Church in Brighton. | His funeral will take place later this month at St Nicholas' Church in Brighton. |
| Mr Allingham, whose life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs, has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild. | Mr Allingham, whose life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs, has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild. |
| He joined the Royal Navy Air Service in September 1915 and served in Ypres before transferring to the RAF in April 1918. | He joined the Royal Navy Air Service in September 1915 and served in Ypres before transferring to the RAF in April 1918. |
| In November last year, he took part in ceremonies to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. | In November last year, he took part in ceremonies to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. |
| Henry Allingham's 113th birthday celebrations in June | |
| Speaking before events began, Mr Allingham said he couldn't forget the war even if he wanted to. | Speaking before events began, Mr Allingham said he couldn't forget the war even if he wanted to. |
| "I saw too many things I would like to forget but I never will forget them, I never can forget them," he said. | "I saw too many things I would like to forget but I never will forget them, I never can forget them," he said. |
| For decades, he buried his war memories, avoiding reunions and refusing to discuss the events with his family. | |
| But, in 2005, he was persuaded to unveil an RAF memorial in France and decided it would have been disrespectful to his former comrades to refuse. | |
| This was followed by numerous honours and accolades. | |
| WORLD EVENTS SINCE 1896 1901 - Queen Victoria dies1914 - WWI begins1929 - The Wall Street Crash1945 - First atomic bomb detonated1953 - Everest climbed for the first time1963 - President Kennedy assassinated1969 - Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon1977 - Death of Elvis Presley1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall1990 - Nelson Mandela freed from prison after 27 years2008 - US elects first black president | WORLD EVENTS SINCE 1896 1901 - Queen Victoria dies1914 - WWI begins1929 - The Wall Street Crash1945 - First atomic bomb detonated1953 - Everest climbed for the first time1963 - President Kennedy assassinated1969 - Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon1977 - Death of Elvis Presley1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall1990 - Nelson Mandela freed from prison after 27 years2008 - US elects first black president |
| He was given a doctorate in engineering from Southampton Solent University and was made an honorary freeman of Brighton and Hove. | |
| He was also made an honorary member of the Royal Naval Association, received a Legion d'Honneur and published his life story. | |
| In the foreword to Mr Allingham's autobiography, published in 2008, Prince Charles described him as "one of our nation's historic treasures". | |
| "We should all be humbled by this quiet, genial man and his desire to extol peace and friendship to the world, despite all the horrors he witnessed at such a young and impressionable age," he wrote. | |
| Last month, the Royal Navy hosted a 113th birthday party on HMS President in London for his family, close friends and members of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. | |
| Dennis Goodwin, founder of the First World War Veterans' Association, led the tributes to Mr Allingham, the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland and his old friend. | |
| "Henry was truly a gentleman - his strength of character, his purpose. He left quite a legacy to the nation of memories of what it was like to have been in WWI," he said. | "Henry was truly a gentleman - his strength of character, his purpose. He left quite a legacy to the nation of memories of what it was like to have been in WWI," he said. |
| Veterans minister Kevan Jones said he was "greatly saddened" to hear of Mr Allingham's death. | Veterans minister Kevan Jones said he was "greatly saddened" to hear of Mr Allingham's death. |
| "For one of his age, his vigour for life was extraordinary," he said. | "For one of his age, his vigour for life was extraordinary," he said. |
| "I was humbled to meet somebody who had led such an amazing life and we owe such a huge debt of gratitude to him and his generation." | "I was humbled to meet somebody who had led such an amazing life and we owe such a huge debt of gratitude to him and his generation." |
| 'Great spirit' | 'Great spirit' |
| Robert Leader, chief executive of St Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, near Brighton, said: "He was very active right up to his final days, having recently celebrated his 113th birthday on HMS President, surrounded by family. | Robert Leader, chief executive of St Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, near Brighton, said: "He was very active right up to his final days, having recently celebrated his 113th birthday on HMS President, surrounded by family. |
| "As well as possessing a great spirit of fun, he represented the last of a generation who gave a very great deal for us. | "As well as possessing a great spirit of fun, he represented the last of a generation who gave a very great deal for us. |
| "Henry made many friends among the residents and staff at St Dunstan's. He was a great character and will be missed." | "Henry made many friends among the residents and staff at St Dunstan's. He was a great character and will be missed." |
| Mr Allingham is survived by Harry Patch, who turned 111 last month and is now the last British survivor of WWI. | Mr Allingham is survived by Harry Patch, who turned 111 last month and is now the last British survivor of WWI. |
| Did you ever meet Henry Allingham? What are your memories of him? Send us your comments using the form below. | Did you ever meet Henry Allingham? What are your memories of him? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |