Sussex MPs have vowed to “carry on the fight” to honour Henry Allingham despite the House of Commons’ summer recess.

Our Members of Parliament also believe the full public funeral for Mr Allingham, to be held in Brighton next week, is not enough.

They came out in support yesterday for The Argus’ Honour for Henry campaign.

On Monday, the day before the House of Commons broke for their summer break, Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, called on the Government to honour the First World War veteran, who died on Saturday.

He said he will continue campaigning for Mr Allingham to be given the recognition he deserves, despite Parliament not returning until October 1.

Mr Loughton said: “I will be writing to the Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth today asking him not to add insult to injury by delaying a posthumous honour any longer.

“Sadly I will only find out how many people have signed my motion in October but then the campaign will carry on.”

Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, called for an honour for Mr Allingham in February. He also said 'the fight will continue'.

He said: “He ought to have been recognised while he was alive. It's a great shame he wasn't. A posthumous award is more difficult but it's something we will be looking into.

“The fight will carry on in October.”

On Tuesday evening it was announced that Mr Allingham will receive a full public funeral with military honours at St Nicholas Church in Dyke Road, Brighton, but Mr Loughton believes a national ceremony is needed.

He said: “The local ceremony needs to be accompanied with some sort of national funeral or event as a way of giving everyone across the country the opportunity to pay their respects.”

Mr Allingham died at St Dunstan's care home for blind ex-service personnel in Ovingdean, Brighton.

Only last month the Guinness World Records confirmed he had become the world's oldest man after the death of Tomoji Tanabe aged 113.

The Ministry of Defence said his funeral would take place at midday on Thursday, but reminded members of the public wishing to pay their respects that space within the church would be limited.

A spokesman said: "The funeral will be attended by Mr Allingham's family, who will be travelling from America for the service, and by senior representatives of HM Government and the Armed Forces.

“The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force in particular will be represented, with regard to Mr Allingham's service record."

The Argus has relaunched our Honour for Henry campaign, urging the British Government to give Mr Allingham the recognition he deserves.

Fill in this coupon and send it back to us, or join the campaign through our website, theargus.co.uk We will continue, along with many other campaigners, to put pressure on the Government to give him a posthumous honour.