The Funeral Of The Last Surviving Soldier of WW1

[king mob]

Harry Patch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Patch) was buried today at Wells Cathedral (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2009/aug/06/firstworldwar) and with him a little bit of history is buried as well.

Patch was against war, and during his time in the tenches he used to aim at German soldiers legs or wide, in an attempt not to kill anyone. His message of peace and his stories of the horrors of the First World War (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7peTBVprtY)should be essential reading and veiwing for anyone, not just historians.

He also had a song recorded in his honour by Radiohead (http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8184000/8184802.stm), which was nice.

[Aspield]

What a sad passing.

I actually thought about this when looking at the Avengers/Invaders crossover -- that soon enough the WWII folks will be dwindling also (my Grandpa being one of them).

[Cam63]

Rest In Peace, Harry.

[FeminineMystique]

Let's just hope after the horrors of the war, wherever he is now he's got some peace

[Charles RB]

His message of peace and his stories of the horrors of the First World War (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7peTBVprtY)should be essential reading and veiwing for anyone, not just historians.

And what does it say about us that he and other veterans have been saying this for years and we're still throwing soldiers into the meat grinder? :frown:

[mgs]

I saw a news report on this tonight. but was he the last of ALL of WW1 or just the oldest, in England?

[Charles RB]

Last of all WW1, pretty sure - everyone else died off.

[mgs]

Last of all WW1, pretty sure - everyone else died off.
if true, that's pretty amazing. I think he was 111 y.o.

[king mob]

And what does it say about us that he and other veterans have been saying this for years and we're still throwing soldiers into the meat grinder? :frown:

Did you see the comments from a few politicians & high ranking armed forces officers after his funeral that Patch would have approved of Britain invading Afghanistan as it's a 'justified war', even though he refused to comment on it while he was alive?

[Charles RB]

Did you see the comments from a few politicians & high ranking armed forces officers after his funeral that Patch would have approved of Britain invading Afghanistan as it's a 'justified war'

No, but it's fucking stupid of them when he's been quoted saying NO war is worth it. That by definition has to include Afghanistan.

[berk]

This was on the National news here last night, and I was blown away by the guy's bravery and honesty. I mean the bravery to take the completely unequivocal anti-war stance that he did at such a late stage of his very long life, when just being alive must have been a tremendous physical and mental strain. At a time when any criticism or even questioning of why we (Canada) are in Afghanistan immediately gets twisted into the usual "not supporting our troops" accusation, I can't say how impressive it was to see this centenarian WWI veteran speaking the words he spoke. Not just saying "war is bad" but getting right down to the ugly core of the truth and telling us straight out that all these young men and women who are being blown up by IEDs or killed in whatever fashion are dying because they are being used as expendable tools by their governments for the crassest and most futile ends.

[berk]

Last of all WW1, pretty sure - everyone else died off.I think he must have been the last surviving British WWI soldier, because the news here said the last Canadian guy, John Babcock, is still alive.

Another thing that impressed me was his insistence that there be no guns, ceremonial or otherwise at his funeral and that soldiers from WWI enemy countries like Germany be present because he saw all soldiers from all sides as victims of the decision-makers that sent them to be killed.

[K-DoG7p7]

I think he must have been the last surviving British WWI soldier, because the news here said the last Canadian guy, John Babcock, is still alive.

Another thing that impressed me was his insistence that there be no guns, ceremonial or otherwise at his funeral and that soldiers from WWI enemy countries like Germany be present because he saw all soldiers from all sides as victims of the decision-makers that sent them to be killed.

John Babcock newver saw action

there are three still alive who sevred in the armed forced during WW1 but none olf them saw action..

Harry did he was in the trenches

[king mob]

Another thing that impressed me was his insistence that there be no guns, ceremonial or otherwise at his funeral and that soldiers from WWI enemy countries like Germany be present because he saw all soldiers from all sides as victims of the decision-makers that sent them to be killed.

He could have had a full state funeral, but he was a Wells lad & he wanted to be buried where he was born.It was a moving funeral & it was nice to see a huge spread of ages in the crowd outside Wells Cathedral.