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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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War vet and world's oldest man, dies, aged 113
Source: Agencies |
July 19, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
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THE world's oldest man, 113-year-old World War I veteran Henry Allingham, died yesterday after spending his final years reminding Britain about the 9 million soldiers killed during the conflict.
Allingham was the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force, which was formed in 1918. He made it a personal crusade to talk about a conflict that wiped out much of a generation.
Though nearly blind, he would take the outstretched hands of visitors in both of his, gaze into the eyes of children, veterans and journalists and deliver a message he wanted them all to remember.
"I want everyone to know," he said. "They died for us."
Only a handful of World War I veterans remain of the estimated 68 million mobilized. There are no French veterans left alive; the last living American-born veteran is Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia.
"It's the end of a era - a very special and unique generation," said Allingham's longtime friend, Dennis Goodwin, who confirmed his death. "The British people owe them a great deal of gratitude."
Born on June 6, 1896, Allingham left school at 15 and was working in a car factory in east London when war broke out and he joined up in 1915.
Allingham and other airmen set out from eastern England on motorized kites made with wood, linen and wire. They piled on clothes and smeared their faces in Vaseline, whale oil or engine grease to block the cold.
As a mechanic, Allingham's job was to maintain the rickety craft. He also flew as an observer on a biplane. At first, his weaponry consisted of a standard issue Lee Enfield .303 rifle. Parachutes weren't issued.
He fought in the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of World War I, served on the Western Front and was wounded in the arm by shrapnel.
Allingham was the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force, which was formed in 1918. He made it a personal crusade to talk about a conflict that wiped out much of a generation.
Though nearly blind, he would take the outstretched hands of visitors in both of his, gaze into the eyes of children, veterans and journalists and deliver a message he wanted them all to remember.
"I want everyone to know," he said. "They died for us."
Only a handful of World War I veterans remain of the estimated 68 million mobilized. There are no French veterans left alive; the last living American-born veteran is Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia.
"It's the end of a era - a very special and unique generation," said Allingham's longtime friend, Dennis Goodwin, who confirmed his death. "The British people owe them a great deal of gratitude."
Born on June 6, 1896, Allingham left school at 15 and was working in a car factory in east London when war broke out and he joined up in 1915.
Allingham and other airmen set out from eastern England on motorized kites made with wood, linen and wire. They piled on clothes and smeared their faces in Vaseline, whale oil or engine grease to block the cold.
As a mechanic, Allingham's job was to maintain the rickety craft. He also flew as an observer on a biplane. At first, his weaponry consisted of a standard issue Lee Enfield .303 rifle. Parachutes weren't issued.
He fought in the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of World War I, served on the Western Front and was wounded in the arm by shrapnel.
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