The Last Post

[Joshimodo]

Finally found the peace he fought for.


An era ends.

That is honestly quite a beautiful statement.

Thanks.

 

[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.

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.

You're right, I forgot about the Bonus Army. So even before WWII, they were mistreated and ignored. Hell, in that case they were completely pushed around as if they were enemies.

 

[jasoncyrus]

I respect him for one thing and one thing only.

He managed to live for more than an entire CENTURY.

Don't care what he did in life etc etc.

Simply the fac that he defied the odds for THAT long is incredible.

 

[Wadders]

It is sad that we will be the last generation to know anyone who lived and fought through the great wars, 10 years from now many kids might not even know what WWII was.

Then it should be the job of our generation to ensure that that doesn't happen.

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

Good call. I love that song, I think I'll listen to it now, in remembrance of these people

 

[sms_117b]

111 years is an incredible length of time to live, he must have had a few good stories, and few haunting ones. However, now he finally rests, may it be with the peace he so richly deserves.

 

[systhicsfg]

Finally found the peace he fought for.


An era ends.

That is honestly quite a beautiful statement.

It's hard to put it better than that.

 

[Kriptonite]

*salutes*

*Joins in salute*

*salutes as well*

 

[chronobreak]

Man, imagine someday everyone that knew the world before the internet, or even television are going to be gone, and we're going to lose that "link to the past". I'd take heed of the advice of these people, though they may have lived in "outdated" times I'm sure they still have much to teach us!

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Rest in peace.

It's a shame the real heros are put on the bottom of the bin while everyone and their dog cares so much about some guy that dances.

 

[Hikikomori Ookami]

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

Actually there are still quite a few WWII survivors around still. I think the numbers on that are still sitting around a couple millions as the survivors of that are on average still in their mid-80's. Also, Darrell "Shifty" Powers of Easy Company, 101st Airborne (Band of Brothers) passed away last month and that went without notice. I know that's WWII but these men deserve to be remembered too.

 

[nova18]

Rest in peace.

It's a shame the real heros are put on the bottom of the bin while everyone and their dog cares so much about some guy that dances.

A-fucking-men.
Seriously, this guy lived through 2 World Wars and lived to see 111.
Yet his death is skirted over to make way for more Michael Jackson news?
It's sad that the Western world idolizes celebrities over national heroes.

 

[RebelRising]

Rest In Peace, man. You will be missed.

I had two great-grandfathers fight in WWI, on the Eastern front. One was a Austro-Hungarian Hussar, and the other was Russian, who died on the battlefield. It's kind of strange that were both on opposite sides, but, hey, that's war for you.

I greatly respect their contributions, and salute them as well.

 

[Internet Kraken]

Wow, 111 years. That's really long, especially when you consider that he served in a war. Rest in peace.

And no, I don't think WW1 will be forgotten. If it is it will be our fault for not teaching the younger generations the importance of this war.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Rest in peace.

It's a shame the real heros are put on the bottom of the bin while everyone and their dog cares so much about some guy that dances.

A-fucking-men.
Seriously, this guy lived through 2 World Wars and lived to see 111.
Yet his death is skirted over to make way for more Michael Jackson news?
It's sad that the Western world idolizes celebrities over national heroes.

Yeah that reminds of this helicopter pilot that goes into a extremely hot zones to save people 13 times. And he's not even mention in his local paper.

These guys are the heros. Not a pop singer...

 

[Kuchinawa212]

*salutes*

*Joins in salute*

*salutes as well*

*Joins salute too*
he earned it

 

[InvisibleSeal]

No words can really describe the loss that this is. The last person to have lived through it all, and the only person who could really have understood, this is truly a loss to society.

111 years is a long time to live and remember.
I hope he finds the peace that he fought so hard for.

 

[j0z]

I feel sad never having heard of him, but this is really sad news.

*salutes*

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

*Joins in salute*

*Salutes Also*

May he rest in peace. I did not know that there were any survivors still alive from WWI.
The late last survivor from a largely overlooked war.
RIP

 

[Wandrecanada]

That's very sad news as there are very few WW1 veterans left for the world to remember it by. Here is a list of all the remaining WW1 survivors by country. There are so few the list can be seen all at once:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_last_surviving_World_War_I_veterans_by_country

 

[Zenode]

R.I.P.

WW1 should not be forgotten, it was the turning point of the century and it was a starting point for WW2 and generated alot of other conflicts, it indirectly caused Communism to spread causing the Cold War, Vietnam, Chinese civil war, Korean War and many others.

Lest We Forget

 

[jebbo]

"They're all gone."

*Salute*

Indeed. No-one left on this planet who can speak of what happened first hand.
A humbling moment.

Edit: I misread he was the last British vet, not the last one worldwide. Still it's an important moment