Today 14 years ago, on July 25, 2009, the last soldier veteran of the First World War passed away - Harry Patch - The "Last Fighting Tommy".
Today 14 years ago, on July 25, 2009, the last soldier veteran of the First World War passed away - Harry Patch - The "Last Fighting Tommy". Henry John "Harry" Patch was born on June 17, 1898 near Somerset, England. In 1913 he left school and became an apprentice plumber. In October 1916, aged 18, Patch was conscripted into the British Army. He served in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in a Lewis Gun section. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in the winter of 1916/1917. Patch arrived in France in June 1917 and soon saw action in the Battle of Passchendaele. On September 22, 1917, he was injured in the groin when a shell exploded near him and some comrades, killing 3 of them. Patch later established September 22 as his personal Remembrance Day. He also said he didn't remember the 3 killed comrades' faces, only their names. He was sent back to England in December 1917 to recover from his wounds and was still there when the war ended on November 11, 1...