God rest his soul - The Firearms Forum

358 winchester · 08-07-2009, 12:36 PM

Britain's final WWI infantryman honored at funeral

By ROBERT BARR, Associated Press Writer Robert Barr, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 39 mins ago
WELLS, England – He was a soldier, a survivor of the trenches — and, in later years, an advocate for peace.

The funeral of Harry Patch, Britain's last infantry veteran of World War I, was a tribute both to a simple man and to the millions of soldiers who died on the battlefields of northern Europe.

British soldiers, marching shoulder-to-shoulder with their comrades from Belgium, France and even Germany, a former foe, escorted Patch's coffin through this town in western England on Thursday to honor Patch's respect for all the soldiers in the war.

People stood quietly as the coffin, shrouded in a Union flag, rolled through the soundless streets. As the hearse passed, townspeople fell in behind, walking in silent tribute.

Patch, who died July 25 at age 111, began talking about his experience of trench warfare only in his last years, having shared nothing with his family. He had returned, wounded, from the Western Front and quietly lived out his life as a plumber.

He outlived two wives and both of his sons.

Gen. Richard Dannatt, the top commander of Britain's army, attended the service at Wells Cathedral. An honor guard was drawn from The Rifles regiment, successor to Patch's unit.

"Today marks the passing of a generation, and of a man who dedicated his final years to spreading the message of peace and reconciliation," said Veterans' Minister Kevan Jones. "Active participation in the Great War is now no longer part of living memory in this country, but Harry Patch will continue to be a symbol of the bravery and sacrifice shown by him and those he served with."

Only a handful of veterans of the war remain, including British-born Claude Choules of Australia, 108, who served in the Royal Navy, and Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia.

Patch boasted that he hadn't killed anyone in combat, but he did shoot at the legs of a German soldier who charged with a bayonet.

"He called out something to me in German, I don't suppose it was complimentary, but for him the war was over," he said.

"I've often wondered whether he realized that I gave him his life. He was no more than 15 yards away when I shot him. I couldn't miss, not with a Webley service revolver, not at that range."

At least 8.5 million soldiers are reckoned to have perished in the 1914-18 war.

"Too many died," Patch had said. "War isn't worth one life."

An hour before the service, people lined up along the mile-long (1.6 kilometer-long) route from the nursing home where Patch died to the cathedral, and several hundred gathered under leaden skies on the green outside the cathedral. Among them were many elderly men with military medals on their chests, and one in the uniform of the French Foreign Legion.

Joe Davis, 81, said his father, like Patch, would never talk abut his experiences in World War I. He said he learned details of his father's war service only after he died.

"It's amazing," he said. "Was it so horrible they couldn't talk about it?"

During the memorial service, Patch's friend Jim Ross said the veteran described his experiences only reluctantly — and in hopes that his words would be used to encourage peace.

"Harry knew that by speaking out, the memories would come back, the demons I call them, would come back to torment and torture him," he told the mourners. "I believe they did, but I believe Harry made the decision because he wanted to get his message broadcast. His prime message is that we should settle disputes by negotiation and compromise, not by war."

Patch will be buried where he was born, in the mining village of Combe Down, 20 miles (33 kilometers) northeast of Wells.

Patch felt no urge to volunteer after war was declared in 1914, but two years later he was drafted into the army, and sent to France in the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

He was part of a British offensive which began July 31, 1917, in the third battle of Ypres.

It rained all but three days of the following month. Patch remembered the battlefield as "mud, mud and more mud mixed together with blood."

Recalling a time when he went "over the top" into no man's land, Patch said: "All over the battlefield the wounded were lying down, English and German all asking for help. We weren't like the Good Samaritan in the Bible, we were the robbers who passed and left them. You couldn't help them."

He was wounded on Sept. 22 in a shell blast which killed three members of his gun team.

The offensive carried on until Nov. 6 when the British claimed victory, having advanced five miles (eight kilometers) in three months to capture what was left of the village of Passchendaele. There were nearly 600,000 dead and injured on the two sides.

Working with historian Richard van Emden, Patch produced a book in 2007, "The Last Fighting Tommy," a reference to the nickname given to soldiers of that era. He donated the profits to purchase a lifeboat.

Patch joined two other veterans — Henry Allingham and Bill Stone — on Nov. 11 at the national Remembrance service in London, all in wheelchairs.

Allingham, 113, an air force veteran, died a week before Patch. Royal Navy veteran Stone, 108 and the last British veteran to serve in both World Wars, died Jan. 10.

On the eve of Patch's funeral, the rock group Radiohead released a song, "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)," in tribute to Patch. The group said profits from downloads would go to the British Legion, the national veterans' organization.

"I am the only one that got through, the others died where ever they fell," the song begins.

artabr · 08-07-2009, 01:24 PM

We Are Diminished

May God bless his soul.

Art

Trouble 45-70 · 08-07-2009, 02:22 PM

British WW I soldiers, all present and accounted for Sir.

Haligan · 08-07-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artabr

We Are Diminished

May God bless his soal.

Art

Amen

Haligan · 08-07-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trouble 45-70

British WW I soldiers, all present and accounted for Sir.

I don't know why, but that choked me up.

Brian48 · 08-07-2009, 05:03 PM

Wow. Rest easy sir.

Tom Militano · 08-07-2009, 05:11 PM

Sounds like quite a man. I would have considered it an honor to shake his hand.

Charlie the sniper · 08-07-2009, 07:12 PM

God rest Harry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7peT...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABSvq...eature=related

Artemus · 08-07-2009, 08:55 PM

I hope Mr. Patch is finally receiving the peace he deserves.That's an awful long time to rehash bad memories.

pickenup · 08-07-2009, 11:55 PM

May he R.I.P.

The Rebel · 08-09-2009, 06:15 AM

"The Last Of An Era"
~ I Salute You Sir ~

08-07-2009, 12:36 PM	#1
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	God rest his soul Britain's final WWI infantryman honored at funeral By ROBERT BARR, Associated Press Writer Robert Barr, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 39 mins ago WELLS, England – He was a soldier, a survivor of the trenches — and, in later years, an advocate for peace. The funeral of Harry Patch, Britain's last infantry veteran of World War I, was a tribute both to a simple man and to the millions of soldiers who died on the battlefields of northern Europe. British soldiers, marching shoulder-to-shoulder with their comrades from Belgium, France and even Germany, a former foe, escorted Patch's coffin through this town in western England on Thursday to honor Patch's respect for all the soldiers in the war. People stood quietly as the coffin, shrouded in a Union flag, rolled through the soundless streets. As the hearse passed, townspeople fell in behind, walking in silent tribute. Patch, who died July 25 at age 111, began talking about his experience of trench warfare only in his last years, having shared nothing with his family. He had returned, wounded, from the Western Front and quietly lived out his life as a plumber. He outlived two wives and both of his sons. Gen. Richard Dannatt, the top commander of Britain's army, attended the service at Wells Cathedral. An honor guard was drawn from The Rifles regiment, successor to Patch's unit. "Today marks the passing of a generation, and of a man who dedicated his final years to spreading the message of peace and reconciliation," said Veterans' Minister Kevan Jones. "Active participation in the Great War is now no longer part of living memory in this country, but Harry Patch will continue to be a symbol of the bravery and sacrifice shown by him and those he served with." Only a handful of veterans of the war remain, including British-born Claude Choules of Australia, 108, who served in the Royal Navy, and Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia. Patch boasted that he hadn't killed anyone in combat, but he did shoot at the legs of a German soldier who charged with a bayonet. "He called out something to me in German, I don't suppose it was complimentary, but for him the war was over," he said. "I've often wondered whether he realized that I gave him his life. He was no more than 15 yards away when I shot him. I couldn't miss, not with a Webley service revolver, not at that range." At least 8.5 million soldiers are reckoned to have perished in the 1914-18 war. "Too many died," Patch had said. "War isn't worth one life." An hour before the service, people lined up along the mile-long (1.6 kilometer-long) route from the nursing home where Patch died to the cathedral, and several hundred gathered under leaden skies on the green outside the cathedral. Among them were many elderly men with military medals on their chests, and one in the uniform of the French Foreign Legion. Joe Davis, 81, said his father, like Patch, would never talk abut his experiences in World War I. He said he learned details of his father's war service only after he died. "It's amazing," he said. "Was it so horrible they couldn't talk about it?" During the memorial service, Patch's friend Jim Ross said the veteran described his experiences only reluctantly — and in hopes that his words would be used to encourage peace. "Harry knew that by speaking out, the memories would come back, the demons I call them, would come back to torment and torture him," he told the mourners. "I believe they did, but I believe Harry made the decision because he wanted to get his message broadcast. His prime message is that we should settle disputes by negotiation and compromise, not by war." Patch will be buried where he was born, in the mining village of Combe Down, 20 miles (33 kilometers) northeast of Wells. Patch felt no urge to volunteer after war was declared in 1914, but two years later he was drafted into the army, and sent to France in the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He was part of a British offensive which began July 31, 1917, in the third battle of Ypres. It rained all but three days of the following month. Patch remembered the battlefield as "mud, mud and more mud mixed together with blood." Recalling a time when he went "over the top" into no man's land, Patch said: "All over the battlefield the wounded were lying down, English and German all asking for help. We weren't like the Good Samaritan in the Bible, we were the robbers who passed and left them. You couldn't help them." He was wounded on Sept. 22 in a shell blast which killed three members of his gun team. The offensive carried on until Nov. 6 when the British claimed victory, having advanced five miles (eight kilometers) in three months to capture what was left of the village of Passchendaele. There were nearly 600,000 dead and injured on the two sides. Working with historian Richard van Emden, Patch produced a book in 2007, "The Last Fighting Tommy," a reference to the nickname given to soldiers of that era. He donated the profits to purchase a lifeboat. Patch joined two other veterans — Henry Allingham and Bill Stone — on Nov. 11 at the national Remembrance service in London, all in wheelchairs. Allingham, 113, an air force veteran, died a week before Patch. Royal Navy veteran Stone, 108 and the last British veteran to serve in both World Wars, died Jan. 10. On the eve of Patch's funeral, the rock group Radiohead released a song, "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)," in tribute to Patch. The group said profits from downloads would go to the British Legion, the national veterans' organization. "I am the only one that got through, the others died where ever they fell," the song begins. __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand? -->

08-07-2009, 01:24 PM	#2
artabr Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Iberia, Louisiana Contributor Posts: 7,859	Re: God rest his soul We Are Diminished May God bless his soul. Art __________________ God and the soldier we like adore, In times of trouble, not before. When troubles ended and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier is slighted. Francis Quarles 1592 - 1644 __________________ When asked for my race, I answer CauCajun. Hope is not a plan, and not all change is good. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST! These hands are neither cold nor are they dead!! Last edited by artabr; 08-07-2009 at 07:30 PM..

08-07-2009, 02:22 PM	#3
Trouble 45-70 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NE Ar. W. of Black River Contributor Posts: 2,703	Re: God rest his soul British WW I soldiers, all present and accounted for Sir.

08-07-2009, 05:03 PM	#6
Brian48 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 133	Re: God rest his soul Wow. Rest easy sir.

08-07-2009, 05:11 PM	#7
Tom Militano Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jacksonville, AL Posts: 1,255	Re: God rest his soul Sounds like quite a man. I would have considered it an honor to shake his hand.

08-07-2009, 07:12 PM	#8
Charlie the sniper Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England, thats the USN aircraft carrier near europe. Posts: 751	Re: God rest his soul God rest Harry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7peT...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABSvq...eature=related __________________ Never Forget, the price paid for Freedom.

08-07-2009, 08:55 PM	#9
Artemus V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mass. Posts: 358	Re: God rest his soul I hope Mr. Patch is finally receiving the peace he deserves.That's an awful long time to rehash bad memories.

08-07-2009, 11:55 PM	#10
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,838	Re: God rest his soul May he R.I.P. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

08-09-2009, 06:15 AM	#11
The Rebel V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia Posts: 83	Re: God rest his soul "The Last Of An Era" ~ I Salute You Sir ~ Attached Images __________________ SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Last edited by The Rebel; 08-09-2009 at 06:17 AM..