Posted on 06/05/2008 11:59:19 PM PDT by Deo volente
Henry Allingham, who was born in London on 6 June 1896, is also the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force - formed 90 years ago...
Now partially deaf and almost blind, Mr Allingham, who was born in Clapham, London, now lives at St Dunstan's home for blind ex-servicemen, in Ovingdean. His life has spanned six monarchs and has taken in 21 prime ministers. Mr Allingham is the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland in 1916, and also fought at the Somme and Ypres where he was bombed and shelled. He joined the Royal Air Force when it was formed from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the Army's Flying Corps in 1918.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
“His many medals and honours include the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Legion D’Honneur - the highest military accolade awarded by France.
He has joked that the secret to his longevity is “cigarettes, whisky and wild women”.
Amazing. Oh, I mean his life!
God bless you Mr. Allingham.
Old soldiers never die.
I really like this guy.
What an amazing life!! Last living survivor of the Battle of Jutland, just wow.
re: “cigarettes, whisky and wild women”
Now I see my problem, I’ve only been enjoying the whisky and wild women. /s
[really just kidding, cigarettes never had any appeal for me]
What an amazing life!! Last living survivor of the Battle of Jutland, just wow.
re: “cigarettes, whisky and wild women”
Now I see my problem, I’ve only been enjoying the whisky and wild women. /s
[really just kidding, cigarettes never had any appeal for me]
What an amazing life!! Last living survivor of the Battle of Jutland, just wow.
re: “cigarettes, whisky and wild women”
Now I see my problem, I’ve only been enjoying the whisky and wild women. /s
[really just kidding, cigarettes never had any appeal for me]
apologies, don’t know why the multi-post happened
Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild Wild Women
Cigarettes, whiskey and wild wild women
They’ll drive you crazy, they’ll drive you insane;
Cigarettes, whiskey and wild wild women
They’ll drive you crazy, they’ll drive you insane;
Once I was happy and had a good wife
I had enough money to last me for life
Then I met with a gal and we went on a spree
She taught me smokin’ and drinkin’ whiskee
(CHORUS)
Cigarettes are a blight on the whole human race
A man is a monkey with one in his face;
Take warning dear friend, take warning dear brother
A fire’s on one end, a fools on the t’other.
(CHORUS)
And now good people, I’m broken with age
The lines on my face make a well written page
I’m weavin’ this story — how sadly but true
On women and whiskey and what they can do
(CHORUS)
Write on the cross at the head of my grave
For women and whiskey here lies a poor slave.
Take warnin’ poor stranger, take warnin’ dear friend
In wide clear letters this tale of my end.
(CHORUS)
FR’s been behaving strangely lately. The other day I couldn’t post anything at all for a few hours.
God Bless him!
Thanks for supplying a link to the video, UB.
Happy birthday to Mr. Allingham.
Pretty tough, though, to have lived through the death of your spouse, your children, and all your contemporaries - in a sense you are “the last man on earth”.
Beautiful picture!
Another one of Obama’s Great Uncles.
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