Category Archives: Harry Patch

I have followed some of the coverage of the burial today of Britain’s last surviving World War I veteran Harry Patch who died aged 111. It took place at Wells Cathedral in Somerset. I know this is going to open me up to criticism BUT…. is it just me or did the BBC play up the fact that Mr Patch became quite a vocal pacifist in the latter part of his life? I pay tribute to Harry Patch and he enjoyed the liberty to argue against war because millions of other served their country too, fighting and winning for the freedoms we all have today. The fact that Mr Patch believed that conflicts could be settled through negotiation and compromise, rather than war, fits perfectly into the narrative.