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Remembrance

Henry Allingham: 1896-2009 WWI veteran

By Jennifer Drury

Photo:Henry Allingham's coffin arrives at St Nicholas'

Photo:Representatives of the Royal Navy and the RAF, followed by family members

Photo:HRH The Duchess of Gloucester is introduced by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mr Peter Field, to the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Ann Norman and her Consort Councillor Ken Norman.

Photo:The Royal party is led into the church by City Macebearer, Robert Robertson

Photo:Henry Allingham's daughter, Mrs Betty Hanklin (centre)

Photo:The coffin bearers were members of the Royal Navy and the RAF

Photo:Henry Allingham's medals were carried by his great-grandsons, who both serve with the United States Navy

Photo:Standards are lowered as a mark of respect

Photo:All branches of the Armed Services were represented at the funeral

Photo:The Vicar of Brighton, The Reverend Robert Chavner (right) and the Chaplain of St Dunstan's, The Reverend Martin Morgan lead the cortege out of the church

Photo:As the last post sounded there was a fly past by replica WWI aircraft

Photo:At a reception in the Royal Pavilion, Mr David Grey, Henry Allingham's grandson, expressed the family's thanks

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'Remembrance' page

Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Brighton today, Friday July 31st, to pay their last respects to 113 year old WW1 veteran Henry Allingham who died in his sleep at St Dunstan's in Ovingdean on July 18th. His funeral was presented with full military honours and attended by his extensive family, representatives of all the armed services and HRH the Duchess of Gloucester who is patron of the WW1 Veteran's Association.

Henry Allingham's down to earth response to the celebrity status he gained in his last years is perhaps best remembered in his own words:

"I have always said that it was the men in the trenches that suffered; it was the men in the trenches who in my view won the war. So I don't think I deserve all this attention. Other men did so much more than me. We owe them so much - they sacrificed their future so that we all might have one. I firmly believe that."

This page was added on 01/08/2009.