WWI veterans Harry Patch and Henry Allingham Officiers de la Légion d’Honneur
At a ceremony on Monday, 16 March 2009 in the Résidence de France (Kensington Palace Gardens in London), Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, French Ambassador to the UK, promoted Henry Allingham to the rank of Officier de la Légion d’Honneur. At the age of 112, Henry Allingham is the oldest World War I veteran and last surviving member of the Royal Naval Air Service and surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force. He fought in the battle of Jutland and Ypres offensive.
Over the past few decades Mr Allingham has devoted great effort to passing on to young people the duty to remember those who fought in the Great War.
On Monday, 9 March 2009, the French Ambassador went to Wells in Somerset to promote Harry Patch to the rank of Officier de la Légion d’Honneur. The ceremony took place in Fletcher House, the care home where Mr Patch lives.
The 110 year-old Harry Patch served in France and Flanders and is one of the last three surviving British WWI veterans. Promoting him to the rank of Officier de la Légion d’Honneur, the Ambassador emphasized that France wanted, through him, to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of WWI combatants.
By honouring Harry Patch and Henry Allingham, France salutes their efforts to promote reconciliation and peace in Europe, and celebrates with them the brotherhood of arms which has sealed the common destiny of France and the United Kingdom.
Last updated: 16.03.2009