Harry Patch
English soldier and supercentenarian (1898–2009) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the composer, see Harry Partch.
Henry John Patch (17 June 1898 – 25 July 2009), dubbed in his later years "the Last Fighting Tommy", was an English supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in Europe, and the last surviving trench combat soldier of the First World War from any country.[1] Patch was not the longest-surviving soldier of the First World War, but he was the fifth-longest-surviving veteran of any sort from the First World War, behind British veterans Claude Choules and Florence Green, Frank Buckles of the United States and John Babcock of Canada.[2] At the time of his death, aged 111 years and 38 days, Patch was the third-oldest man in the world, behind Walter Breuning and Jiroemon Kimura.
Quick Facts Birth name, Born ...
Harry Patch | |
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Birth name | Henry John Patch |
Born | (1898-06-17)17 June 1898 Combe Down, Somerset, England |
Died | (2009-07-25)25 July 2009 (aged 111 years, 38 days) Wells, Somerset, England |
Buried | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1916–1918 |
Rank | Lance corporal Private (after demotion) |
Service number | 29295 |
Unit | Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | See medals |
Spouse(s) |
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Children | 2 |
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