The Last Post

[FlameOfArnor]

WWI veteran Patch dies aged 111

The last British survivor of the World War I trenches, Harry Patch, has died at the age of 111.
Mr Patch was conscripted into the Army aged 18 and fought in the Battle of Passchendaele at Ypres in 1917 in which more than 70,000 British soldiers died.

This a really definitive event, but something weird...
I heard nothing about it until about 10 minutes ago.
Was it just me being ignorant or was it just not important to us that the last living reminder of one of the most important events in history is now gone.
Thoughts?

 

[Agent Larkin]

May he rest in peace. Im a person who believes WW1 should be remembered. But because I live in Ireland we gloss over it in history because another slightly more important event happened.

 

[teisjm]

That came as a suprise, most people who fought in WW2 are dead, either durring teh war or of old age, but untill today there was a living guy who fought in WW1?

rest in peace dude

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

When did it happen? It is a shame that the last link to one of history's major events has passed. Apparently it's more important to today's media where Michael Jackson's body is every second. I guess I'm just old fashioned. And cranky.

Then I'm old fashioned and cranky with you.
May this man rest in peace.

 

[Sir Ollie]

*salutes*

Rest in peace two veterans in a week its a shame.

 

[Wadders]

Rest In Peace.

It's a damn shame, especially with Henry Allingham dieing a week ago as well, but everyone has to go I guess If i was wearing a hat, I'd take it off to both of them.

WW1 often gets overlooked, sadly.

 

[Sir Ollie]

*salutes*

Rest in peace two veterans in a week its a shame.

Who was the second?

Henry Allingham last airmen died on the 18th.

Edit - He was the first, Harry patch was the second.

 

[madcap2112]

It's such an under appreciated thing in America since we weren't as involved in it like we were in WWII, but the Great War was still one of the biggest events in the 20th century and one of the biggest wars in all of human history. Pretty much everybody that fought in that war is gone now, but over here it's historically overshadowed by the second World War and I don't think the veterans of that conflict ever got the same amount of respect over here as they should have. All the same, may he rest in peace.

 

[Wadders]

*salutes*

Rest in peace two veterans in a week its a shame.

Who was the second?

Harry Patch is the second, a chap called Henry Allingham died last weekend aged 113, also a WW1 veteran.

 

[FlameOfArnor]

yeah he was 111, the world's oldest man i think.
EDIT ah, just saw above post, 2nd oldest then

 

[Rolling Thunder]

When I get to heaven,
To Saint Peter I will tell,
'One more reporting in, sir'
I've served my time in hell.

Rest in peace, Mr Patch. Of all of us, you've earned it most.

 

[Gaderael]

huh. Just listened to The Green Fields of France twice today, and now I read this.

Here's to you, Harry Patch. I'm sure both my grandfather and great grandfather, who also were veterans, will give you a proper welcome.

Spoiler: The Dropkick Murphys - The Green Fields of France

 

[Soxafloppin]

god, 111, thats A LONG TIME.

This actually reminds me of when i was reading the paper the other day, there was this woman who is 89 and had worked in the same shop for 75 years.

 

[Dmatix]

Its amazing that so many people tend to forget a war like that.
Guess it just gets overshadowed by WW2.From one soldier to another, Rest in peace.

 

[Joshimodo]

Finally found the peace he fought for.


An era ends.

 

[Code_Red]

This marks the end of an era.It is important that we never forget the sacrifices made by all those who fought in WW1.May they rest in peace.

 

[RavingPenguin]

When did it happen? It is a shame that the last link to one of history's major events has passed. Apparently it's more important to today's media where Michael Jackson's body is every second. I guess I'm just old fashioned. And cranky.

Then I'm old fashioned and cranky with you.
May this man rest in peace.

Can I join you two in the old and grumpy corner?

OT: Thats really... its just.... wow, Im at a loss for words. I'll say this then, no-one should ever forget the sacrifices made in WW1, it may be even more historically important than the second.
For all those who fought in that war we salute you
*Salute* [sub]Dont cry mate, be strong, everyones watching[/sub]

 

[Agent Larkin]

Finally found the peace he fought for.


An era ends.

That is honestly quite a beautiful statement.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

When did it happen? It is a shame that the last link to one of history's major events has passed. Apparently it's more important to today's media where Michael Jackson's body is every second. I guess I'm just old fashioned. And cranky.

Then I'm old fashioned and cranky with you.
May this man rest in peace.

Can I join you two in the old and grumpy corner?

OT: Thats really... its just.... wow, Im at a loss for words. I'll say this then, no-one should ever forget the sacrifices made in WW1, it may be even more historically important than the second.
For all those who fought in that war we salute you
*Salute* [sub]Dont cry mate, be strong, everyones watching[/sub]

I'll join you and we can have a grumpy and cranky ho-down. I salute this man, for serving in that war, and living long enough to tell the tale into the next century. These kind of persons should be more recognized than what the mainstream media talks on and on about.

 

[Flying-Emu]

It's such an under appreciated thing in America since we weren't as involved in it like we were in WWII, but the Great War was still one of the biggest events in the 20th century and one of the biggest wars in all of human history. Pretty much everybody that fought in that war is gone now, but over here it's historically overshadowed by the second World War and I don't think the veterans of that conflict ever got the same amount of respect over here as they should have. All the same, may he rest in peace.

They really didn't. They were forced to march on Washington in the Bonus Army just to get the benefits they were promised as veterans of WWI. It's rather disgusting how they were tossed aside.