110 yr old RFC pilot celebrating his birthday

[Balloon_Buster]

I heard on the radio this morning that an RFC pilot from WW I is celebrating his 110th birthday! He attributes his longevity to smoking, whiskey and wild women. Unfortunately I didn't catch the name. Anybody know about this fellow?

[MikeW]

You are probably referring to Henry Allingham, Not a pilot, not the RFC, and not 110.

Henry, who is 109, was a Royal Naval Air Service mechanic and later served with the RAF of course.

For the past two years he has placed a wreath on Air Services Memorial at St. Omer and fully intends to be there again this November.


Happy birthday Henry!

Mike

[Balloon_Buster]

Nope, they clearly said that he had turned 110. I'll have to google it and see if I can find anything.

[Balloon_Buster]

Ah, here we go! You had the name right. He turned 110 on June 6. This is what I heard on the radio-

Henry Allingham (born June 6, 1896) is one of the few surviving British veterans of World War I. He is also believed to be Britain's longest-lived member of the armed forces ever, and Britain's oldest living man. He is the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland as well as the last surviving founding member of the RAF. Allingham credits "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women — and a good sense of humour" for his longevity.

So you were right. Not a pilot, not the RFC. And indeed, Happy Birthday, sir!

[Ginger.]

The Raff did him a flypast in honour of his birthday.
http://www.itv.com/news/britain_943772.html

He can also be found on Wikipedia.
Happy Birthday!

Mary Brigid

[Executioner128]

Wow, a battle of Jutland survivor, any more survivors today?

I'd like to mention 16-year old boy Jack Cornwall, who, although deadly wounded kept on firing the gun on board of a British cruiser (don't remember the name), the youngest Jutland hero I think.

[Balloon_Buster]

I think that is wonderful. Unfortunately here in the States, WW I is not given the same status as WW II. In fact, they are finally overhauling the WW I monument in Washington, and the main reason it got funding is because it is close to the new WW II monument.

Happy Birthday to a spry centagenarian!

[CodyPaul]

Originally Posted by Executioner128

Wow, a battle of Jutland survivor, any more survivors today?.

For a list of all survivng WWI veterans

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...r-i&sbid=lc05a

[Graeme]

Executioner128:

Jack CORNWELL served aboard the light cruiser HMS Chester during the Jutland engagement.

Admiral Sir John Jellicoe commented upon the actions of both Rutland and Cornwell in his despatch:

"From a report from 'Galatea' at 2.25 p.m. it was evident that the enemy force was considerable, and not merely an isolated unit of light cruisers, so at 2.45 p.m. I ordered ' Engadine' (Lieutenant-Commander C. G. Robinson) to send up a seaplane and scout to N.N.E. This order was carried out very quickly, and by 3.8 p.m. a seaplane, with Flight Lieutenant F. J. Rutland, R.N., as pilot, and Assistant Paymaster G. S. Trewin, R.N., as observer, was well under way; her first reports of the enemy were received in ' Engadine' about 3.30 p.m. Owing to clouds it was necessary to fly very low, and in order to identify four enemy light cruisers the seaplane had to fly at a height of 900 feet within 3,000 yards of them, the light cruisers opening fire on her with every gun that would bear. This in no way interfered with the clarity of their reports, and both Flight Lieutenant Rutland and Assistant Paymaster Trewin are to be congratulated on their achievement, which indicates that seaplanes under such circumstances are of distinct value."

...

"As was to be expected, the behaviour of the ships' companies under the terrible conditions of a modern sea battle was magnificent without exception. The strain on their moral was a severe test of discipline and training. Officers and men were imbued with one thought, the desire to defeat the enemy. The fortitude of the wounded was admirable. A report from the Commanding Officer of 'Chester' gives a splendid instance of devotion to duty. Boy (1st class) John Travers Cornwell, of 'Chester,' was mortally wounded early in the action. He nevertheless remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders till the end of the action, with the gun's crew dead and wounded all round him. His age was under 16½ years. I regret that he has since died, but I recommend his case for special recognition in justice to his memory, and as an acknowledgment of the high example set by him."

Cornwell received a posthumous VC:

Admiralty,
15th September, 1916.

With reference to the Despatch of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, published in the London Gazette of Thursday, 6th July, 1916, the following awards have been approved in connection with the recommendations of the Commander-in-Chief for services rendered by Petty Officers and men of the Grand Fleet in the action in the North Sea on the 31st May 1st June, 1916.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the Victoria Cross to Boy, First Class, John Travers Cornwell, O.N. J.42563 (died 2nd June, 1916), for the conspicuous act of bravery specified below.

Mortally wounded early in the action, Boy, First Class, John Travers Cornwell remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders, until the end of the action, with the gun's crew dead and wounded all round him. His age was under sixteen and a half years.

A picture of his memorial can be seen here: http://www.seacadets.co.uk/vc/cornwell.htm

Graeme