Henry William Allingham
Henry William Allingham is Britain's last surviving World War I veteran. Born in 1896, he served in both the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force as a mechanic and rigger.
Fast Facts
- Born: June 6, 1896
- Birthplace: London, England
- Resides: Brighton
- Served: August, 1915–April, 1919
- Rank: Rigger Aero, Aircraft Mechanic Second Class
- Battles: Battle of Jutland
- Spouse: Dorothy Allingham (d. 1970)
- 2 children
- 6 grandchildren
- 12 great-grandchildren
- 13 great-great grandchildren
- Other Work: Ford Motor Company
Awards
- Freedom of the City of Eastbourne
- Freedom of the town of Saint-Omer
- Légion d'honneur
- British War Medal
- Victory Medalm1
- Gold Medal of Saint-Omer2
Life After the War
After the war, he was employed by the Ford Motor Company. As of March, 2008, he was the oldest man in Europe. On May 25, 2008, he was named one of the 20 oldest people in the world. All but one of his descendants live in the United States. Allingham still makes frequent public appearances as a representative of the World War I Veterans Association.
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