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| Veteran, 109, revisits WWI trench | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The last known surviving British soldier to have fought in the trenches of World War I has revisited the site where he fought 90 years ago. | |
| Harry Patch, of Somerset, made the trip to Flanders in Belgium to recall his part in the battle which claimed 250,000 British casualties. | Harry Patch, of Somerset, made the trip to Flanders in Belgium to recall his part in the battle which claimed 250,000 British casualties. |
| He also went to pay homage to the thousands of German soldiers who lost their lives. | |
| The 109-year-old fought in the Battle of Passchendaele when he was aged 19. | The 109-year-old fought in the Battle of Passchendaele when he was aged 19. |
| He served with the Duke of Cornwall's light infantry and was called up for service while working as an 18-year-old apprentice plumber in Bath. | He served with the Duke of Cornwall's light infantry and was called up for service while working as an 18-year-old apprentice plumber in Bath. |
| During the fighting, Mr Patch was badly wounded and three of his best friends were killed when a shell exploded just yards from where he was standing. | During the fighting, Mr Patch was badly wounded and three of his best friends were killed when a shell exploded just yards from where he was standing. |
| 'Suffered the same' | 'Suffered the same' |
| He made the trip with historian Richard van Emden, who helped Mr Patch write down his memories. | He made the trip with historian Richard van Emden, who helped Mr Patch write down his memories. |
| Mr van Emden showed him the five miles they advanced over 99 days which claimed 3,000 British casualties every day. | Mr van Emden showed him the five miles they advanced over 99 days which claimed 3,000 British casualties every day. |
| He was also shown a recently discovered panoramic photograph of the fields taken in 1917. | He was also shown a recently discovered panoramic photograph of the fields taken in 1917. |
| "Too many died," said Mr Patch. "War isn't worth one life." | "Too many died," said Mr Patch. "War isn't worth one life." |
| He said war was the "calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings". | He said war was the "calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings". |
| Mr Patch laid a wreath at the site of the trench, which now forms part of a German war cemetery. | Mr Patch laid a wreath at the site of the trench, which now forms part of a German war cemetery. |
| Around 250,000 Germans died in the battle which has been described as one of the bloodiest and most brutal battles of the Great War. | Around 250,000 Germans died in the battle which has been described as one of the bloodiest and most brutal battles of the Great War. |
| "The Germans suffered the same as we did," Mr Patch said. | "The Germans suffered the same as we did," Mr Patch said. |