Nov 07, 2018 harry patch is now a national icon, the last surviving british combat soldier of the first world war until he died aged 111 years, 1 month, 1 week and 1 day. In october 1916, two years into the first world war, he was conscripted into the british army and reported for duty at a barracks. Harry patch, britains last surviving soldier of the great. He appears in the 1901 census as a twoyearold boy along with his stonemason father william john patch, mother elizabeth ann nee morris, and older brothers george frederick and william thomas at a house called. Harry patch was born in the village of combe down, near bath, somerset, england. In his last years he lived in a nursing home in wells where he died on 25 july 2009 from natural causes, he was 111 years old. The book is harry patch s recall of his life from 1898 up to 2006 with interjections by richard van emden. Harry patch simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jun 05, 2010 harry patch, born june 17, 1898, was the last british soldier alive to have fought in the trenches of the first world war. The last fighting tommy tells the story of harry patch, the longest surviving veteran of the trenches.
The book, published in 2007 the topic and subject of mr. Now at the age of a 109, the world is hugely different place from that of his birth and through longevity alone he has become the final. Henry harry patch, the son of a stonemason, was born in bath, on 17th june 1898. Lance corporal henry john harry patch imperial war museums. Escher, rene magritte, bertolt brecht, george gershwin and many more.
Jul 25, 2009 harry was born in somerset in 1898 the youngest of three brothers. Michaels churchyard, monkton combe, bath and north east somerset unitary authority, somerset, england. Jul 25, 2009 henry john patch was born at combe down, a small village near bath, on 17 june, 1898 in the twilight of the victorian age. Orin harold harry patch 18491897 find a grave memorial. Patch was born in the village of combe down, near bath in. Harry patch born on june 17, 1898, in combe down near bath in somerset, is the last witness, the last living voice of that era.
Harry patch, the last of britains army veterans of world. Henry john patch 17 june 1898 25 july 2009, dubbed in his later years the last fighting. Jul 25, 2010 born in southwest england in 1898, patch was a teenage apprentice plumber when he was called up for military service in 1916. He appears in the 1901 census as a twoyearold boy along with his stonemason father william john patch 18631945, mother elizabeth ann nee morris 18571951 and older brothers george frederick 18881983 and william thomas 18941981 at a house called fonthill. Jul 25, 2009 harry patch, the last surviving soldier to have fought in the mudsoaked battle of passchendaele in 1917, has died at the age of 111.
He was christened henry john patch and named after his uncle harry who. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. Great western railway hst honours last survivor of the. Harry was born in somerset in 1898 the youngest of three brothers. London harry patch, the last british survivor of the fighting in the trenches on the western front where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from britain and its colonies were killed in world war i. Harry patch, britains last survivor of the trenches of world war i, has died at the age of 111.
He was christened henry john patch and named after his uncle harry who was a professional gardener in westonsupermare. They lived in a semidetached house where there was room for his parents, their three sons and a staff of butler, cook and housemaid. Also, harry patch was one of the last five survivors worldwide. Harry patch, britains oldest man and last survivor of. He was christened henry john patch and named after his uncle harry who was a. Harry patch celebrates his 111th birthday in june 2009 at his somerset care home. Funeral service in wells cathedral the funeral and interment of harry patch took place on thursday 6th august 2009. Harry patch, the last of britains army veterans of world war. Last tommy harry patch is found two years after it. Harry patch was born on june 17, 1898 in combe down, bath, somerset, england as henry john patch. Harry patch rip the last tommy born 17 june 1898 died 25 july 2009.
Charles was born on june 18 1832, in worcester, worcester, massachusetts, usa. Never spoke about the war until he turned a 100 years old. Biography of harry patch excerpt henry john harry patch 17 june 1898 25 july 2009 known as the last fighting tommy was a british supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in europe, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the first world war. I was fifteen when i left, but i continued to study afterwards. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Harry patch was born at coombe down near bath on 17 th june 1898. First world war hero harry patch tells story he couldnt. Harry patch was born in combe down near bath, somerset, in 1898. Harry patch, britains oldest man and last survivor of first. Born in southwest england in 1898, patch was a teenage apprentice plumber when he was called up for military service in 1916. Orin patch was born in hardin county, ohio, august 7, 1849. Harry said it was just the most depressing place on earth, hell. Private harry patch duke of cornwalls light infantry. Jul 26, 2009 london harry patch, the last british survivor of the fighting in the trenches on the western front where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from britain and its colonies were killed in world war i.
Jan 20, 2020 harry patch was born in combe down near bath, somerset, in 1898. The life of harry patch, last veteran of the trenches, 18982009 centenary anniversary ed. The parents of the deceased moved to this county when he was quite young, where he grew up to manhood. Henry john harry patch 17 june 1898 25 july 2009 harry was born in the village of combe down, near bath, somerset, england. Jul 25, 2009 harry patch, britains last survivor of the trenches of world war i, has died at the age of 111. Harry patch was the last british soldier alive to have fought in world war i and, for a time, was the oldest man in europe.
He appears in the 1901 census as a twoyearold boy along. Astrology and natal chart of harry patch, born on 18980617. Harry patch was born in united kingdom on 17th june 1898. His father was a master stonemason, a trade which required great skill and experience, and was consequently well paid. The life of harry patch, last veteran of the trenches, 1898 2009 centenary anniversary ed. People featured on this list, include political leaders, soldiers, poets and directors born in 1898. At eighteen i sat for the registered plumbers certificate. After the war, he returned to plumbing, got married and raised a family, although he didnt talk about his war experiences for more than 80 years. Jul 25, 2009 harry patch was born on 17 june 1898 in combe down, near bath in somerset. Harry patch first world war veteran obituary world news. Harry patch was born in combe down, which is a village suburb of bath, england.
He left school at 15 and became an apprentice plumber but within a year came the outbreak of the great war. Harry patch first world war veteran obituary world. This laconic, deeply sensitive man who throughout his life retained his gentle west country accent, was born in 1898. Harry patch was born on 17 june 1898 in combe down, near bath in somerset. Harry was a native of the west country, born in combe down, near bath, in 1898 the son of a stonemason. He left school at 15 to learn his trade as a plumber. Harry patch was the last surviving combat soldier of the world war i from any country. Lewis, misao okawa, jack haley, george gershwin and many more.
Harry patch historical records and family trees myheritage. In october 1916, two years into the first world war, he was conscripted into the. The life of harry patch, last veteran of the trenches, 18982009 9781408855607. At the age of twenty years he was united in marriage to alice j. Emden adds some detail and historical perspective to patch s recollections of his time in the ypres salient in france. Henry john harry patch 18982009 find a grave memorial. After his training, he was sent to the trenches as a machine gunner.
Poet andrew motion wrote a poem in his honor titled the five acts of harry patch. As part of the centenary commemoration of the first world war, great western railway named 43172 harry patch the last survivor of the trenches, the longest surviving soldier of the great war at bristol temple meads on november 6. Discover the most famous people born in 1898 including enzo ferrari, c. Patchs older brother was in the royal engineers and took part in the early stages of the first world war. Born the youngest of three brothers in the somerset village of combe down in 1898, he put his longevity down to a lifetime of clean living. Patch was born near bath, and became an apprentice plumber until world war 1 broke out. Biography he was the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the first world war.
Harry patch, the last surviving soldier to have fought in the mudsoaked battle of passchendaele in 1917, has died at the age of 111. Jul 25, 2009 harry patch celebrates his 111th birthday in june 2009 at his somerset care home. Born in the village of combe down near bath on 17 june 1898, patch was an apprentice plumber when he was conscripted to fight at 18. Harry patch was born on month day 1869, at birth place, iowa, to charles newell patch and elizabeth catherine patch born smith.
He was born at combe down, near bath, in june 1898, and was called up in october 1916, serving as a private in the duke of cornwalls light infantry. He died just seven days after the death of henry allingham, aged 1, who had been the only other remaining britishresident first world war veteran. Born on 17 june 1898 as henry john in combe down somerset, patch was conscripted to the army and served with the 7th service battalion of the duke of. Patch was the verified thirdoldest man in the world, the. From his vivid memories of an edwardian childhood, the horror of the great war and fighting in the mud during the battle of passchendaele, working on the home front in the. World war 1 in colour self self born 1898 self duke of cornwalls light infantry, born 1898 self veteran of ww i 2003. The life of harry patch, last veteran of the trenches, 18982009, p.
710 1514 326 577 1310 936 809 1278 36 152 1468 1129 579 32 209 1251 761 728 1535 566 1194 1628 1343 1501 1458 397 1288 362 1454 1515 1002 488 660 534 198 650 1236 668 322 705 434 1273 333 736