Henry Allingham

Henry Allingham
Allingham at age 110 in 2006
Birth nameHenry William Allingham
Born(1896-06-06)6 June 1896
Clapton, London, England
Died(2009-07-18)18 July 2009
(aged 113 years, 42 days)
Ovingdean, East Sussex, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
 Royal Air Force
Years of serviceAugust 1915 – 16 April 1919
RankRigger Aero, Aircraft Mechanic First Class
UnitRoyal Naval Air Service, RNAS Great Yarmouth
No. 12 Squadron RNAS
Aircraft Depot, Dunkirk
Battles / wars
AwardsFreedom of the town of Eastbourne
Freedom of the Town of Saint-Omer
Freeman of Brighton and Hove[1]
Officer Légion d'honneur
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gold Medal of Saint-Omer
Spouse(s)
Dorothy Cator
​
​
(m. 1918; died 1970)​
Children2
Other workFord Motor Company

Henry William Allingham (6 June 1896 – 18 July 2009) was an English supercentenarian. He is the longest-lived man ever recorded from the United Kingdom, a First World War veteran, and, for one month, the verified oldest living man in the world. He is also the second-oldest military veteran ever, and at the time of his death was the 12th-verified oldest man of all time.

Allingham was the oldest-ever surviving member of any of the British Armed Forces, and one of the last surviving veterans of the First World War. He was the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland, the last-surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), and the last-surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force (RAF).[2][3] In 2001, he became the face of the First World War veterans' association and made frequent public appearances to ensure that awareness of the sacrifices of the First World War was not lost to modern generations.[4][5] He received many honours and awards for his First World War service and, towards the end of his life, his longevity.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ "Hero Henry Allingham "honoured" to be given freedom of Brighton and Hove". The Argus (Brighton). 30 April 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Britain's oldest war veterans meet Service chiefs at the Ministry of Defence". Ministry of Defence. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007.
  3. ^ "Brew for the Few Launch". Royal Air Forces Association. 17 September 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference scratchcard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference sixty was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Omer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference thefleet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).