World's oldest man Henry Allingham has died (From The Argus)

World's oldest man Henry Allingham has died

9:31am Saturday 18th July 2009 in

By Naomi Loomes »

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Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and the oldest surviving British serviceman from the First World War, has died at the age of 113.

He served with the Royal Naval Air Service during the Great War, before transferring to the Royal Air Force and serving at Ypres.

Tributes are pouring in for Mr Allingham who spent his final years being cared for at St Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, Brighton.

On Saturday, the care home confirmed he had died at at 3.10am that morning.

Click here for our special tribute section for Henry Allingham - and leave your tributes below.

St Dunstan's chief executive Robert Leader said: "Everybody at St Dunstan's is saddened by Henry's loss and our sympathy goes out to his family.

"He was very active right up to his final days, having recently celebrated his 113th birthday on HMS President surrounded by family.

"As well as possessing a great spirit of fun, he represented the last of a generation who gave a very great deal for us.

"Henry made many friends among the residents and staff at St Dunstan's. He was a great character and will be missed."

Click on play below to view archive footage of Henry Allingham at book signing on November 1, 2008 and during Armistice Day on November 11, 2008.

Mr Allingham gave the public a glimpse of his dry sense of humour when he attributed his longevity to: "Cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women."

His funeral will take place later this month at St Nicholas' Church in Brighton.

Henry and his wife of 53 years Dorothy moved to Eastbourne in 1960, she died ten years later in 1970.

Henry had two daughters but outlived both of them. He also had five grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.

His father died when he was 14 months old and he was brought up in London by his mother.

She encouraged him to join up as soon as war broke out in 1914.

When she died the following year he joined the Royal Naval Air Service in September 1915 before transferring to the RAF in April 1918 and was the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland.

His friend, Dennis Goodwin, said he was one of an "extremely unique and special generation of people".

He said: "Not only did they survive the most horrific war of humanity but they had a new life to begin afterwards in an era of depression, and they did it admirably.

"I'm one of the products of that generation and I think my generation and other generations afterwards should remember that; it's a legacy they should create and keep in their memories."

Mr Goodwin, who was a regular visitor to Mr Allingham at St Dunstan's, described him as "an exceptionally good friend".

He added: "He was almost a surrogate father to me, we shared life together."

Describing the last few months of his life, he said: "He wasn't in the best of health. He wasn't eating.

"He often said to me he'd love to eat something good and have a drink like the old times but his tastebuds had gone, and I think it really frustrated him."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I had the privilege of meeting Henry many times. He was a tremendous character, one of the last representatives of a generation of tremendous characters.

"My thoughts are with his family as they mourn his passing but celebrate his life."

Mr Allingham became the world's oldest man on June 20.

Guinness World Records confirmed his title after the previous holder, Tomoji Tanabe, died aged 113.

When asked in an interview what his motto for life would be, Mr Allingham said: "Be the best you can be"

Leave your tributes to Henry below or if you knew him call The Argus newsroom on 01273 544 547

Comments(28)

rayellerton says...
9:57am Sat 18 Jul 09

big respect...he was the same generation as my Nan (r.i.p) and last of the witnesses of one of the most horrific conflicts in history. we musnt forget the sacrifices of all those young men at that time, nor should we turn our backs on the present generation who are still serving their country and being killed.