Last Voices of a Generation

by Esmerelda Weatherwax (Dec. 2008)

Henry Allingham at 112 is the oldest man in Europe. He was born in London in 1896 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service. He served in Britain and then in France and at the Battle of Jutland. When the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps in April 1918, he became a member of the new Royal Air Force. He is the last original member of the service to survive.

William (Bill) Stone is the youngest of the veterans. He was born in Devon in 1900 and joined the Royal Navy on his 18^th birthday and served as a stoker on the battlecruiser HMS Tiger. He remained in the navy after the war and became a chief stoker during the Second World War, where he helped in the evacuation of Dunkirk on board HMS Salamander. That ship was torpedoed twice.

I got a good spot in the front of the public area, pushed forward by two kind men who thought there was room for a little ‘un.

Large screens showed us some of the pre-recorded footage from the BBCTV broadcast and extracts from the diaries and memoirs of men and women who fought and their relatives were read.

We sang Eternal Father Strong to Save and out of the corner of my eye I could see the veteran’s party making their way out of the Ministry of Defence building. William Stone was escorted by Marine Mkhuseli Jones, Harry Patch was escorted by Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC and Henry Allingham was escorted by Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman.

The escorts are also worthy of mention.

Marine Mkhuseli Jones, known as Cousie to his friends is South African born and Welsh. He was awarded the Military Cross for several incidents of gallantry while serving in Afghanistan.

Flt Lt Michelle Goodman, from RAF Benson became the first woman to win the Distinguished Flying Cross for her bravery in Iraq during a particular operation flying her Merlin helicopter into Basra under fire to evacuate a wounded colleague.
They made their way to the Cenotaph and, with assistance, laid their wreaths. I couldn’t see what was happening but I found out later that Henry Allingham had attempted to walk from his chair to lay his wreath personally.

Big Ben struck 11 and the Royal Marine Buglers played the Last Post to begin 2 minutes silence.

After Reveille Harry Patch was expected to give the oration, and I know that he did so in September at the Menin gate but today I could only hear the voice of the Bishop to the Forces.

We will remember them.

And I doubt we will see their like again.

Preparations in Whitehall

The veterans make their way to the Cenotaph, led by a piper. Henry Allingham is in the foreground.

Members of the services watch Harry Patch present his wreath.

and Henry Allingham and other escorts make their way to Downing Street.

Poppies float in the fountains of Trafalgar Square.

 

 

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