EASTBOURNE, England - A letter from the Queen and a fly-past by two Royal Air Force jets highlighted Britain's tribute to its oldest military veteran on his 110th birthday Tuesday.
Henry Allingham, who once attributed his longevity to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women," raised a glass of orange juice in salute as the two Tornado jets shot past the southern coast hotel where his family gathered to celebrate.
Treasury chief Gordon Brown travelled to Eastbourne carrying the Queen's "warm congratulations," and another letter from Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of the defence staff.
Allingham is one of six remaining First World War veterans still alive in Britain, Dennis Goodwin of the First World War Veterans' Association said. Three others live in Australia.
The next oldest veteran is Harry Patch, who lives in Wells in southern England. He turns 108 on June 16.
Allingham joined the Royal Naval Air Service in September 1915. As well as being the last founding member of the Royal Air Force, he is also the sole known survivor of the Battle of Jutland.
He said he never thought about reaching 110.
"I have just lived from day to day," he said. "I just have a good day and never think about what tomorrow will bring."
2 comments:
wonder where the wild wild wild women are...?
They were recoving in the old peoples home after Henry felt frisky last week
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