Henry Allingham
Henry William Allingham (6 June 1896 – 18 July 2009) was an English supercentenarian. He is the longest-lived man ever recorded from the United Kingdom, a First World War veteran, and, for one month, the verified oldest living man in the world. He is also the second-oldest military veteran ever, and at the time of his death was the 12th-verified oldest man of all time.
Henry Allingham | |
|---|---|
Allingham at age 110 in 2006 | |
| Birth name | Henry William Allingham |
| Born | 6 June 1896 Clapton, County of London, England |
| Died | 18 July 2009 (aged 113 years, 42 days) Ovingdean, East Sussex, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | August 1915 – 16 April 1919 |
| Rank | Rigger Aero, Aircraft Mechanic First Class |
| Unit | Royal Naval Air Service, RNAS Great Yarmouth No. 12 Squadron RNAS Aircraft Depot, Dunkirk |
| Battles/wars | First World War
|
| Awards | Freedom of the town of Eastbourne Freedom of the Town of Saint-Omer Freeman of Brighton and Hove Officer Légion d'honneur British War Medal Victory Medal Gold Medal of Saint-Omer |
| Spouse(s) |
Dorothy Cator
(m. 1918; died 1970) |
| Children | 2 |
| Other work | Ford Motor Company |
Allingham was the oldest-ever surviving member of any of the British Armed Forces, and one of the last surviving veterans of the First World War. He was the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland, the last-surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), and the last-surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 2001, he became the face of the First World War veterans' association and made frequent public appearances to ensure that awareness of the sacrifices of the First World War was not lost to modern generations. He received many honours and awards for his First World War service and, towards the end of his life, his longevity.