Britain's 'last fighting Tommy', Harry Patch, laid to rest

[Eztoez]

I watched his funeral on YT and admit to shedding a tear. God Bless. 

[barnett682]

God Bless you Harry Patch!!

[1finch2finch]

The cathedral chorister singing at 1:35 is Folasade-Nelleke Lapido, then Head Chorister at Wells. Lovely performance by this young lady, and an absolutely wonderful choice of song by Mr Patch's family. What a tribute to him.

[ViewerNumber13]

You must have "Balls of steel" to jump out of the trenches and charge a the enemy while getting covered by a shower of led. WWI was the last war where humans showed at least some honor and respect to the enemy.

[moominpic]

@ViewerNumber13 I know what you mean, but the desert war of WW2 saw some amazing acts of honour and respect.

[ViewerNumber13]

@moominpic Could you tell me more about those facts? If you have time of course. :]

[moominpic]

@ViewerNumber13 I don't have sources to hand but from what I've read there was an unwritten agreement not to open fire on tank crews abandoning their tanks, refusal by Rommel to execute allied Special Forces or Jewish POWs (despite direct orders) and numerous cases of holding fire, helping injured enemy soldiers etc.

[WhyYouJelly]

blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of god

[ubrsole137]

I'd love to know who that one person who disliked this was. How they could dishonour a great man like this is outrageous. God Bless you Harry

[DJsharp707]

im american and god BLESS YA HARRY!

[LiRockz]

No, he didn't: Henry John is his Christian name...

[richyloike]

oh right,i didnt know that,thanks

[Mygalej]

Thank you Harry Patch

[RuyGuyDog]

I thank you Mr. Harry patch you are a great man thank you for serving.

thanks from CANADA

[HindiaBelanda]

I'am from the Netherlands and I had some years ago the honour to meet Harry Patch personally and to shake his hand. This meeting have made much impression on me. In the moments that I stood for him I was impressed by his love & kindness. When I heard of his death I was very sad and I want to not to go out to my business. I hope that Harry Patch may live in perpetuity. I will never forget him. I hope that the UK & the world will take his message of peace and love serious Kind regards from Holland

[ziggybea]

i live opposite his grandkids and great grandkids, the patches. rip mr patch, you were and are loved dearly

[ryhorn100]

I give all respect and gratitude to Harry Patch and all those before him who gave their lives to defend Britain from a fate worse than death. All British WWI veterans now rest in Heaven as they deserve.

Hail to the victorious dead!!!

[moominpic]

There is still one veteran left (navy), living in Australia.

[ryhorn100]

You said he's living in Australia. Is he British or Australian?

[moominpic]

He might now have Australian citizenship (I think he moved there in 1920's) but he served with British Forces as a brit citizen.

[mrfanlogan]

@moominpic yes but harry is the last man who fought in the trenches which was undoubtably the worst place to be.

[moominpic]

@mrfanlogan That was never in doubt, the point is at the time of writing there was at least one more veteran alive.

[ann2shoes]

Amen to that.

[69Mozzer69]

didn't expect to feel as moved as I do by the passing of the last Tommy - he only spoke about it once he reached 100 years old and realised that direct voices from his generation were about to pass into history. Very inspiring.

[kirastus]

As a foreigner who landed on these shores over 10 years ago, I love Britain as much as a person can love a country, perhaps more than the country whence I came. Over the years though... it is now a rather different Britain from the one I found and fell in love with over a decade ago. But I have faith...

[BessyBumblebee]

We WILL remember them!

God Bless you Harry! xo

[bluejacketbugler]

Just so proud to have been part of the congregation,to witness a piece of our history Harry Patch and Tommy Atkins at one with the ages,May all Rest in Peace.

[allwasforanapple]

'For the way we live today'. Britain is in meltdown - with millions of people pouring scorn on the Monarchy, the Establishment added to the fact that the Church of England is almost immoral. Britain has changed so much since Harry fought in the Great War. England : RIP

[dogbadgolfer]

perhaps it is worth "pouring scorn" on the monarchy when the monarch has been the figurehead for one of the most hideous and destructive empires over the past 300 years. Anyway, any system with monarch is inherently undemocratic, so it is healthy for the democracy and freedom of any society to criticise the monarchy.

[allwasforanapple]

I completely disagree.

[dogbadgolfer]

So you believe we shouldn't dismantle the British monarchy? For a start, we will never achieve a secularist British government without getting rid of the whole institution.

I understand the monarchy doesn't do much harm to the world today (it is the American empire the poor now have to worry about most), but such an act would send a message that we regret the evils of colonialism and slavery, not that we reminisce about them, as many people do.

[maggiethefox]

Are you looking to get killed?

[creamtt]

What these guy's fought and died for has now been betrayed by this marxist government.

[dogbadgolfer]

pardon me?

[allwasforanapple]

Bishop abd Dean being disrespecful wearing wrong attire. Why a choir girl rather than a Cathedral Chorister. Actually, what is his connection with Wells Cathedral?

[bellface92]

@allwasforanapple i know her and she is actually a chorister at wells cathedral

[RustiSwordz]

Thankyou Mr Patch to you and your comrades in arms.

May history remember you with reverence and respect.