Canadian Paul 97 Posted March 4, 2006 .. and on that note, there are now 79 survivors allegedly alive: Alice Baker, last surviving female British WW1 veteran Well that's creepy. Just the other night, when I was perusing that link, I said to myself, wow, I can't believe that a woman who served in WWI is still alive. In that spirit: "Wow, I can't believe Harold Pinter is still alive." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Windsor 2,233 Posted March 4, 2006 More WW1 veterans found. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octopus of Odstock 2,186 Posted March 12, 2006 WW1 vets are down to 77 now. One of the more notable ones has died - Frank Steer, who was the highest-ranked survivor, died last week. No online obit, but the information comes from the same man who verifies the longetivity for the world records, so I'd say it was accurate. Profile of him below. Frank Steer Profiled [Moved from the Titanic thread - ff] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom 2,532 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Does that include free entry to nightclubs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom 2,532 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Does that include free entry to nightclubs? Only on Tuesday's when they do Bingo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Does that include free entry to nightclubs? Only on Tuesday's when they do Bingo What about Karaoke night? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom 2,532 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Does that include free entry to nightclubs? Only on Tuesday's when they do Bingo What about Karaoke night? I don't think it gets that exciting in Eastbourne Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Pardon my being a Canucklehead, but what does it mean to be given the freedom of a town? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom 2,532 Posted March 21, 2006 Henry Allingham is given freedom of Eastbourne Pardon my being a Canucklehead, but what does it mean to be given the freedom of a town? The possession of the rights and privileges of a freeman of the city; formerly often, and now occasionally, conferred on one not a resident, as a mark of honorary distinction for public services. I remember one person telling me that they were once listed as having the freedom of the City of London. When I looked up the priviliges, apparently they were permitted to lead their cattle over London Bridge Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 28, 2006 Henry Allingham is in hospital with Pneumonia, prevented him getting the freedom of Hastings yesterday. Maybe he's about to be set free forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lady Die 63 Posted March 28, 2006 I read somewhere a couple of days ago that Henry Allingham was in hospital, but is "expected to make a full recovery". Edit: here's a link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 28, 2006 He's 109, 'full recovery' here is a mind numbing concept. Can't see him being fit to fight Germans or have sex again. Presumably it means: one day he might be fit to go to the toilet on his own. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octopus of Odstock 2,186 Posted March 28, 2006 He's 109, 'full recovery' here is a mind numbing concept. Can't see him being fit to fight Germans or have sex again. Presumably it means: one day he might be fit to go to the toilet on his own. I think this man is indestructible. A lot of elderly people don't survive chest infections, hell, I've seen under 60's go for the same reason. 109 & "doing fine" I'm seriously considering taking him off my DDP 2007 "20", on which he remains at present. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 28, 2006 Nobody is indestructable. Think about Duncan Edwards - majestic Manchester United captain of the fifties. Famed for perfect timing, strength and positioning and reckoned to be unstoppable in full flow. It all went wrong when he got on a plane that took off at the wrong time, his positioning had him in a forward facing seat and his strength didn't match the impact on the runway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octopus of Odstock 2,186 Posted March 28, 2006 Indeed. But Henry Allingham is not due to fly to Munich any time soon... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 28, 2006 Aye, but - metaphorically speaking - he's in the departure lounge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted March 28, 2006 More WW1 veterans found. Can't be arsed to find where, but that's an old article that's already been posted. Henry Allingham is in hospital with Pneumonia, prevented him getting the freedom of Hastings yesterday. Maybe he's about to be set free forever. Maybe not. Apparentely stable and doing fine. Expected discharge in four days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted March 28, 2006 Wait... OK... so there's a Titanic Survivors thread, a WWI Veterans thread AND a Titanic Survivors VS. WWI Veterans thread? This is all so painful for my Spring Break-soaked mind first thing in the morning. Anyhow, to continue with the metaphor, I'd say he's in the departure lounge, but his flight might have just been delayed another year or two... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 28, 2006 another year or two... CP, the man is - like - 109!!! Put it this way, a while back my grandad turned 86, a few weeks later his razor broke. My dad bought him a new one. 'Why you giving me this?' asked my grandad, 'It's not me birthday or owt.' 'Aye,' sez my dad, 'but you're 86, it doesn't pay to hang around.' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 28, 2006 I think some mad French scientist is cloning WW1 veterans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octopus of Odstock 2,186 Posted March 28, 2006 Aye, but there's no reason why Allingham couldn't match Mercado del Toro for example age-wise. That would give our 'Enry another 5 years at least. Anyway, two more have died recently, including Gergely Andras Molnar, the last Hungarian veteran. (There's no news report in English, I'm afraid). The total is now 76. In terms of cloning veterans, I think Germany are. Every time their list goes under 8, they "magically" discover some more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,639 Posted March 29, 2006 They had less veterans to start with, that war was a score draw until it went into time added by which point we were seeing their lot off very quickly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted April 18, 2006 How to deal with the funeral of the last surviving British WWI veteran Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom 2,532 Posted April 19, 2006 How to deal with the funeral of the last surviving British WWI veteran I think it's a shame that they're suggesting a state funeral for the last one. Just think how you'd feel if you were the family of the 2nd to last one to die. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
