Master Bates Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 Great War veteran Henry Allingham, the current worlds oldest man has died. Goodnight Sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee_saint Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP. Hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerBadger Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 Asked about the secret to his longevity, he answered, "Cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women." Top man - RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP. Hero. +1. I think that this should focus the mind on our attitudes to old people. My dad signed up when he was 17 in 1939 and spent his youth fighting for this country against the Nazis. He didn`t have a "youth" like people today and spent it wondering whether he would make it to the end of each day. He was an ASDIC operator, locked away at the bottom of his ship, knowing that he stood next to no chance if they suffered a hit. All of these deserve our gratitude for giving us the things that we freely enjoy today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Block 18 Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 +1. I think that this should focus the mind on our attitudes to old people. My dad signed up when he was 17 in 1939 and spent his youth fighting for this country against the Nazis. He didn`t have a "youth" like people today and spent it wondering whether he would make it to the end of each day. He was an ASDIC operator, locked away at the bottom of his ship, knowing that he stood next to no chance if they suffered a hit. All of these deserve our gratitude for giving us the things that we freely enjoy today. Ill second that. RIP Mr Allingham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillyanne Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocker268 Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP I feel that once Harry Patch passes away there should be a state funeral to honour the entire generation, who gave so much for the whole world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP and thanks to you and your colleagues over the years who ensured our freedom. A rest, well earned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robsk II Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP Same goes for all of his generation, of course. Interesting chap, Mr Allingham. Worth reading his memoir. Kept a clear head and a sense of modesty and perspective until the end, really - was asked in earlier in the year how he'd like to be remembered - he replied, "I wouldn't. Forget me. Remember the others.". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robsk II Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 He was 48 on D-day. Incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 i always thought that people in his generation were....not only lived through 2 world wars but could well have fought in them both... so sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwarwick Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 +1. I think that this should focus the mind on our attitudes to old people. My dad signed up when he was 17 in 1939 and spent his youth fighting for this country against the Nazis. He didn`t have a "youth" like people today and spent it wondering whether he would make it to the end of each day. He was an ASDIC operator, locked away at the bottom of his ship, knowing that he stood next to no chance if they suffered a hit. All of these deserve our gratitude for giving us the things that we freely enjoy today. Top post. RIP Henry and thank you and all your colleagues for the sacrifices you made to allow us to live the life we enjoy today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Bates Posted 18 July, 2009 Author Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP I feel that once Harry Patch passes away there should be a state funeral to honour the entire generation, who gave so much for the whole world. +99k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP, not just to him, but to everybody who gave their lives fighting, or have passed away since. These people are heroes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjim16 Posted 18 July, 2009 Share Posted 18 July, 2009 RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 19 July, 2009 Share Posted 19 July, 2009 Bye old chap. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robsk II Posted 19 July, 2009 Share Posted 19 July, 2009 This chap was 'a hero', of course. But not only were his peers, but also those serving today, and inbetween And not to take anything away from it, but I think even today, we would find a great generation amongst this apparent shambles if it was required of us. The point is, people face what needs to be faced, in the end. History shows us that. What makes his generation special is that they HAD to face it, and did so in such conditions and times. Same goes for WW2 veterans and that generation. If anything, people like Mr Allingham, for me, are not about individual heroism, generally. Many would themselves say they are only heros because they were there, or survived, or indeed died. It's about remembering what people can be capable of if they choose to, or have to. I see an awful lot of negative things manifested in today's culture, though I probably get a particularly bad version of it - and it's just good, for me, to remember what a collective of individuals can face or achieve if they must. Of course, these conflicts also vividly demonstrate how violent, disgusting we can be - but they prove, more than anything else, that we react to bad with good, and the worse the tribulation, the better we respond. With the passing of Mr Allingham's generation, a light that shone this fact over that dark part of history will be extinguished, but hopefully remain in record and the actions of future generations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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