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War vet world’s oldest at 113
Friday 19th June 2009, 5:59PM BST.
Harry Patch
Great War veteran Henry Allingham became the world’s oldest man today after the death of the previous holder of the title in Japan, Guinness World Records said.
Mr Allingham, who is the last surviving founder member of the RAF, celebrated his 113th birthday on June 6. He lives at St Dunstan’s care home for blind ex-service personnel in Ovingdean, near Brighton.
Tomoji Tanabe, the world’s previous oldest man, died in his sleep at his home in southern Japan earlier today at the age of 113.
Mr Allingham, along with former Shropshire man Harry Patch, is one of only two surviving First World War veterans in the UK.
Mr Patch, of Wells, Somerset, who worked and lived in Telford, celebrated his 111th birthday on Tuesday.
Dennis Goodwin, a long-time friend of Mr Allingham, said of his friend’s new “honour”: “It’s staggering.”
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