Artikeln i The Guardian: Last veterans to tell their war stories
Källa: The Guardian, Sunday November 14, 2004Air mechanic Henry Allingham, 108 Aboard HMS Kingfisher during Jutland, then serviced and recovered planes in the Ypres and Somme salients. Recalls falling into a shell hole: 'It had rats, bodies, arms and legs.' Later a car salesman. Lives in Eastbourne.
Sgt Alfred Anderson, 108 Fought at the Somme with the Black Watch. Batman to Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon, brother of the future Queen Mother. Suffered shrapnel wounds to his neck and arms. Later a city council clerk. Lives in Alyth, Perthshire.
Pte George Charles, 104 Joined the Durham Light Infantry. Did not see combat. Worked as a chartered accountant and now lives in a nursing home in Halesworth, Suffolk. Traced by the First World War Veterans Association in the past year.
Pte Bert Clark, 104 Was called up after the German offensives of 1918. Later served in Ireland and India. Lives in a nursing home in Rushton. Traced in the past year.
Midshipman Kenneth Cummins, 104 Was torpedoed while aboard The Viceroy of India and was rescued from lifeboats. Later he had to retrieve nurses' bodies after a hospital ship was sunk. Lives in Great Bedwyn, Wilts.
Gunner William Elder, 107 Worked as a gardener, then in 1915 joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. Fought on the Somme and in the first and second battles of Ypres. Joined the Home Guard in the Second World War. Lives in Kettering.
Gunner Alfred Finnigan, 108 Joined the Royal Field Artillery, where he led a six-horse gun team. Lost all his friends in the war: his only injury was a horse bite. Lives in Whitland, Wales.
Pte George Hardy, 104 Enlisted in 1918 with 6th Enniskillen Dragoons but did not see combat. Crossed the Channel with the army of occupation. Lives in a nursing home in Porthcawl, Wales. Traced in the past year.
Cpl Harold Lawton, 105 Attached to the East Yorkshire regiment at Bethune. Was captured during German offensive of March 1918, spending the rest of the war as a PoW. Later dean of the arts faculty at Southampton University. Lives in Rutland.
Pte Fred Lloyd, 106 Tried to join the Sussex regiment, but was too small. Later conscripted to the Royal Field Artillery. Lost two brothers in the war. Later returned to his job as a gardener. Lives in Uckfield.
Pte Albert 'Smiler' Marshall, 107 The last man to draw a sword during a British cavalry charge. Trained with the Essex Yeomanry, where his sergeant nicknamed him 'Smiler'. Fought at Loos, Mons and Ypres. Trapped in a shell hole in no man's land, he sang the hymn: 'Nearer to thee, Lord.' Later a head gardener. Lives in Ashtead, Surrey.
Pte Harry Newcombe, 104 Joined the Sussex regiment in August 1918 and was still training when war ended. Joined the army of occupation and spent a year in Germany. Joined the GWR as dining room attendant. Lives in Worthing. Traced in the last year.
Pte Harry Patch, 106 Holds his own Armistice Day on 22 September to mark the day in 1917 when three friends were blown to pieces in front of him. Conscripted to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Returned to job as a plumber. Lives in Wells, Somerset.
Dispatch rider Ted Rayns, 105 Enlisted at 17 as a dispatch rider, taking messages from the Western Front to gun batteries. Present at the three battles of the Somme. Firefighter during the Second World War. Lives in Stafford. Traced in the past year.
Pte George Rice, 107 Joined the Durham Light Infantry at 17 and went to the front, but, owing to the need for skilled tradesmen, was drafted into munition manufacture in Birmingham. Called up again in 1918 in the Machinegun Corps. Later worked in car industry. Lives in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
Rigger William Roberts, 104 Signed up aged 15 after his father was killed at the Somme in 1916, joining the Royal Flying Corps. Worked as an aircraft fitter and claims to have flown with TE Lawrence. Later became a local authority transport manager. Lives in Jacksdale, Notts.
Chief petty officer stoker Bill Stone, 104 Enlisted on his 18th birthday. Saw the scuttled German fleet at Scapa Flow. Torpedoed twice in the Second World War and is believed to be the last man to have fought in both world wars. Lives in Oxford.
Navigator Charles Watson, 104 The last survivor to be shot down in the First World War. His plane crashed in front of French lines and he helped the injured pilot to safety. Later a draughtsman. Lives in Bromham, Beds.
Pte Cecil Withers, 106 Joined the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers and served in the second battle of the Somme. Wounded by shrapnel above his eye. Victim of British mustard gas which inadvertently went into British trench. Later worked for Prudential Insurance. Lives in Bexley, Kent.
Pte Charles Kuentz, 107 Only survivor who fought on both Eastern and Western Fronts, where he was engaged at the Somme and Ypres. Carried the rosary of his dead mother in his backpack. Lost a son in the Second World War. Later a postal inspector. Lives in Colmar, Alsace.