Members of the Great War Society attend the funeral at Wells Cathedral in England. Carl de Souza / AFP/Getty ImagesBritain Says Goodbye To Harry Patch, The Last Of Its World War I Soldiers -- L.A. Times
The tribute to Patch, who died two weeks ago at age 111, reflects the emotional grip that the 'war to end all wars' still holds on the nation.
Reporting from Wells, England -- The cathedral bells pealed for an entire hour, tolling not just one man's death but the passing of an era.
Harry Patch was 111 when he died two weeks ago, and his body was laid to rest Thursday after a memorial service here in the medieval city of Wells, in southwestern England.
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More News On The Last Soldier
Britain farewells last survivor of WWI trenches -- The Age
Last Fighting Tommy's burial 'marks passing of generation' -- Toronto Star
Harry Patch: the Last Tommy -- The Telegraph
The final armistice: Patch laid to rest by former foes -- The Independent
Farewell to Harry, last veteran of the war to end all wars -- Belfast Telegraph
Last 'living link' to First World War put to rest -- National Post
Britain honors last WWI Army veteran -- CNN
Thousands turn out for funeral of last WWI trench soldier -- AFP
Harry Patch’s victory was to die in his bed -- Times Online opinion
Harry Patch was a hero, not a celebrity: can we no longer bury soldiers with proper dignity? -- The Telegraph opinion
In pictures: Last Tommy's funeral -- BBC
My Comment: I have been wanting to do this post for the past few days .... but other news got in the way.
But in my free time I could not help but think of all the men and women that I grew up with who experienced both World Wars .... and who always took the time to explain (absent the horrors of course) to a young boy (little old me) their experiences in those wars.
My grandfather who fought on the Eastern Front in the First World War, and who had to then flee to the Ukraine with his young wife when the Russian revolution broke out. My father's experiences of fighting on the Russian front in the Second World War .... and the horrors of that conflict.
Their friends .... my grandfather and father .... they are all gone now. And like Harry Patch .... a man who was just a regular man and soldier, they will always be missed.