Tag: oldest man
WWI Vet & World’s Oldest Man Passes
by admin on Jul.20, 2009, under Historical Heroes
Living to 113 and 42 days earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest man in the world. But Henry was exceptional for far more than his age.
The valiant First World War veteran did much more than any history book to ram home the realities of war.
Honoured He was the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland in 1916, a survivor of the Battle of Ypres in 1917, and the sole survivor of the original RAF.
Henry’s astonishing stamina, determination and loyalty to lost comrades saw him work constantly to ensure his memories – and their sacrifices – were not forgotten.
Blind, almost deaf and gnarled with arthritis, he made scores of personal visits each year to tell his stories to young people and spread a message of peace. The first time we met was four years ago among rows of stark headstones at the Longuenesse military cemetery in St Omer, France.
Henry had made the exhausting 450-mile journey from his home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, by car.
But he garnered every ounce of strength he had to struggle out of his wheelchair and stand at the gravesides to pay his fallen comrades the respect they deserved. Read on…
Incredible. I recommend continuing with the article. Henry certainly had an incredible life, and may he rest peacefully now that he has reached the end of it.
