A founder member of what was to become the Royal Air Force, Henry witnessed the Battle of Jutland as a member of the Royal Naval Air Service.
Like so many veterans of that terrible conflict, he did not speak of his experiences until much later in his life. Fortunately for the world, he was persuaded to begin telling his story, and the archives will carry it through to future generations.
Asked for the secret of his longevity, Henry once joked, "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women".
In a more serious moment he said, "How have I lived so long? I never worried. In the 20s there were millions of men out of work. You couldn't get a job anywhere. I wasn't worried. I'm not worried now."
There remain Claude Choules, 108, a British seaman who emigrated to Australia, and Harry Patch, the last survivor of the trenches. He is 111.
'I've never worried'...God that would be nice. He looked like a very content gentleman...
ReplyDeleteI've just got in from a long day out and saw this on the news. I think, and hope, he enjoyed the attention he got in the last few years.He was never sensational about what happened in WW1, but listening to him was always worthwhile.
ReplyDelete'I never worried' sounds like a something we should all aspire to
we owe that generation and those in the second world war such a lot. bless them.x
ReplyDeleteBless his sweet soul. And I thought Walter Cronkite lived to a ripe old age. He was only 92!
ReplyDeleteOh my, I can't say anything better then what has already been said....
ReplyDeleteRest in peace, dear veteran.
"cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women". well, at least i do my very best to fulfill the cigarette part.
ReplyDeletethanks god he changed his mind and told his story. always interesting to listen to people of his generation.
I think, and hope, he enjoyed the attention he got in the last few years.___________________
ReplyDeleteVince
UR choice movie at your place