Results 1 to 25 of 51
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8th Jun 2007, 7:13 PM #1
Britain's Oldest World War I Veteran Celebrates 111th Birthday!
Spotted it on the news yesterday:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6724313.stm
Originally Posted by BBC News
Daily Mail article
List of surviving veterans worldwide
Stanisław Wycech was only 15 when he signed up! He also fought with the Bolsheviks in 1920!
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8th Jun 2007, 9:31 PM #2Wayne Guest
Blimey!
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8th Jun 2007, 9:35 PM #3
Wow! It's quite amzing that there's anyone still alive that fought in WWI. Quite astonishing that he's still getting around.
Si xx
I've just got my handcuffs and my truncheon and that's enough.
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8th Jun 2007, 10:58 PM #4WhiteCrow Guest
I remember in 1986 my history teacher saying how time was running out back then to really interview the WWI generation, as they were practically going extinct.
I don't know if anyone saw the program last year "The Last Tommy" but it was really very moving.
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8th Jun 2007, 11:16 PM #5
What a remarkable man - in fact, they're all remarkable men.
It never fails to amaze me that the Great War occurred nearly a century ago, and yet it still has such significance to our generation, the earliest conflict to resonate still. It's so sad that these few men will not be around for very much longer. I hope that their actions, and the actions of those who died so long ago, are still remembered by future generations, long after the last of the veterans has gone.
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9th Jun 2007, 2:00 AM #6
26 veterans have already died this year. They'll all be gone soon.
Lists of known WWI Veterans deaths by year:
1999 (446) | 2000 (303) | 2001 (210) | 2002 (144) | 2003 (124) | 2004 (121) | 2005 (83) | 2006 (50) | 2007 (26)
Harry Patch and Alfred Anderson appeared in that. Sadly, Alfred Anderson (Scotland's last WWI veteran/last survivor of the "Christmas Truce" and the Battle of the Somme) died just after The Last Tommy was broadcast in November 2005. Harry Patch is now The Last Tommy, but he didn't even speak about the war until he was 100.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5090664.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwa...llery_03.shtml
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9th Jun 2007, 2:07 AM #7
Is there any way of finding out how many people born in the 1800s are still alive?
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9th Jun 2007, 2:13 AM #8
Only found some stuff about Centenarians so far:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centenarian
http://www.grg.org/calment.html
A high percentage of them will have been born in the 1800s.
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9th Jun 2007, 7:47 AM #9WhiteCrow Guest
Well look at Iraq, we still haven't lost the knack of sending young men abroad underequipped to their deaths, unless their names are Harry or William.
But think about the uproar over the 100 or so casualties we have to date over 4 years now.
The casualties on World War One were on an epic scale. I hope to God's sake we've lost our stomach for war on such a scale, and that any Government which caused a problem like the Somme would be hunted out of office.
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9th Jun 2007, 8:58 AM #10
Wow, I hope I live to be that age. And he doesn't look 111 does he? He could pass for 75.
Love the patronising tribute to him though - "he's concious of what's going on around him". It's only one step from there to "he's not yet in a vegetitive state - it's great!"
If I get to 111 I'm bound not to have such a quotable quip as "I'm pleased to be seeing another tomorrow" ready. The newspapers will probably say:
When asked how it felt to turn 111, he said, "dunno really. Hey has someone trodden in something. Are there any sandwiches left?".
Si.
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9th Jun 2007, 11:53 AM #11
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9th Jun 2007, 12:05 PM #12
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9th Jun 2007, 1:05 PM #13
It looks like there are still four German WWI veterans alive:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivi...of_World_War_I
A lot of those Italian, French and US veterans didn't see much action.
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9th Jun 2007, 1:47 PM #14WhiteCrow Guest
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9th Jun 2007, 4:33 PM #15
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9th Jun 2007, 4:42 PM #16
Words fail...
Matt- there are definitely records of official births in the late 19th century, although it might be tricky getting hold of them. The Mormon church has records of all births. They were a great help when I was tracing my birth mum; they might try and get you to join them though!
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7th Mar 2008, 8:12 PM #17
Harry Patch was all over today's news:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7279861.stm
Originally Posted by BBC News
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6th Nov 2008, 2:18 PM #18
Sad time to dig up this thread with news that Sydney Lucas has died, aged 108.
But Henry Allingham (first post in this thread) is still alive. Celebrated his 112th birthday back in May
I think that only leaves three or four surviving British World War 1 veterans.
Ninety Years Of Remembrance
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6th Nov 2008, 5:18 PM #19WhiteCrow Guest
I have to say I've liked what the BBC have been doing about getting famous people to look up their ancestors in World War I. Somehow with so few people left to talk about it, we need to pass the torch on to make the ugly message of this 4 year tragedy relevant to todays society. With only a lone voice left, it's time for a new generation to champion those who time would forget.
World War I is so long in the past now, it's surprising we have any survivors at all. I passionately believe it's something we can never forget or dismiss, not for the survivors, but the many young men, often younger than we who gave their lives in often futile efforts.
You read through the reports of Generals who sent waves of men to their death in the Somme, convinced of their battle plan. Generals who refused to allow airmen parachutes because it would show cowardice. Unbelievable.
I read this week about the SAS Command who resigned over the MOD's lack of provision of suitable equipment for his men,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7703419.stm
He's not been the first to resign over such an issue. Thank goodness attitudes in the armed forces have changed dramatically since World War I, that commanding officers now place such importance on the well being of their men.
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6th Nov 2008, 6:35 PM #20
Yes, there are only 4 men from the 1st World War left now.
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8th Nov 2008, 11:01 AM #21
All I know, is that my grandfather, was in The Black Watch, and fought at
Gallipoli, where he contracted malaria, it was an illness that effected him off and on for the rest of his life untill his death in the 1970's. My dad, says his father never talked about his experiences in WWI, but I suppose people who have been through the horrors of war don't like talking about it.
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You read through the reports of Generals who sent waves of men to their death in the Somme, convinced of their battle plan. Generals who refused to allow airmen parachutes because it would show cowardice. Unbelievable.
I read this week about the SAS Command who resigned over the MOD's lack of provision of suitable equipment for his men,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7703419.stm
He's not been the first to resign over such an issue. Thank goodness attitudes in the armed forces have changed dramatically since World War I, that commanding officers now place such importance on the well being of their men.
lets face it this is nothing new as far back as the Criamean War 150 odd years ago the British, army was disgracfully under equiped .
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11th Nov 2008, 11:00 AM #22
2 minutes silence please.
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11th Nov 2008, 11:07 AM #23
Fat chance here, the fire alarm sounded to start it but the chap next to me continued giving his demonstration to his colleague regardless.
Si.
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11th Nov 2008, 11:11 AM #24
Our little section did OK, we didn't have the fire alarm but we managed two minutes quiet. Gobby McMouth over the way couldn't bring himself to shut up for two minutes though.
Pity. I have no understanding of the word. It is not registered in my vocabulary bank. EXTERMINATE!
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11th Nov 2008, 11:16 AM #25
Our customers and staff here observed it.
Si xx
I've just got my handcuffs and my truncheon and that's enough.
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