WWI Veteran's Life Celebrated

The life and times of Henry Allingham, the last-but-one UK-based World War I veteran, has been celebrated in a poignant funeral ceremony.

As well as a fly-past by five replica 1914-18 period aircraft over Brighton in honour of the British hero, UK Government and military representatives attended the service as the former soldier's coffin was carried by members of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Mr Allingham lived long enough to become the world's oldest man and right up to his death, aged 113, he still attended dozens of military commemorations every year.

His status as one of the last survivors ensured he was always in demand - and talking to young people about the horrors of war gave him a sense of purpose in his final years.

The funeral today was at St Nicholas' Church in Brighton where the Rev Martin Morgan told the congregation: "The world is certainly a better place today because he has been part of it, and countless, countless people have been enriched because in some way he touched their lives."

The funeral procession paused briefly as two military buglers from the Royal Marines sounded the Last Post.

This was followed by a one-minute silence and the Reveille. The procession then slowly made its way away from the church as the bells began to toll 113 times to mark every year of Mr Allingham's life.

The awaiting crowd broke into spontaneous applause and looked skywards as five replica First World War aircraft flew overhead.

Just a week after Mr Allingham's death, Harry Patch, the last British veteran also passed away.

After that, PM Gordon Brown proposed there should be a national memorial service for all those who fought in the First World War.

(BMcC/KMcA)