The last fighting Tommy

The biography of Harry Patch, the last surviving soldier from the trenches of World War 1.

Born in 1898, Harry began his working life as a plumber before being conscripted into duke of Cornwalls light infantry whre he served on the Western front for 4 months before being injured by a shell that killed 3 of his friends. After the war he returned to plumbing and in WW2 served as a fireman in Bath as he was too old to serve in the Army.

I found this a fantastic read, fascinated that here is a man still alive that was born before the wright brothers took their first flight, the automobile became a popular mode of transport and Queen Voctoria was still on the throne.

To think that out of the many millions who served during the first World war, and the many who never made it home, this guy is one of the few remaining survivors who can still recall first hand what it must of been like!! Sadly once these last few remaining veterans die (i think there is only about 20 Worldwide) then WW1 will pass over from living memory to history.

A great read and my ultimate respect to this man and his peers from a generation of men never equalled.