Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

The Yorkshire Post report is here:
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArt ... ID=1321914

According to the British Columbia Founder’s Day report in The Old Blue, their senior member Douglas Brodie (PeB 14-18) celebrated his 103rd birthday in October.

sport! wrote:I read the other day that there are 4 British men left who fought in the First World War (all aged about 108 ish).

Is there any record of the oldest living Old Blue I wonder?

One of them died yesterday, piece in the paper today.

a Navy veteran.

Doctor Smellcroft wrote:The <i>Yorkshire Post</i> report is here:
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArt ... ID=1321914

According to the British Columbia Founder’s Day report in <I>The Old Blue</I>, their senior member <b>Douglas Brodie (PB 14-18)</b> celebrated his 103rd birthday in October.

Thanks for the Yorkshire post link. I have contacted them since they printed a photo of Mayne holding a copy of a photo of himself as a grecian, but they haven't replied.
According to my Old Blue, Philip Mayne was a sprightly 105 so maybe he wins in the ancient stakes.

englishangel wrote:

sport! wrote:I read the other day that there are 4 British men left who fought in the First World War (all aged about 108 ish).

Is there any record of the oldest living Old Blue I wonder?

One of them died yesterday, piece in the paper today.

a Navy veteran.

Just looked him up and not our OB. He was Nicholas Swarbrick and curiously his son recalled, "What he didn't know about the drains and the sewers in the district wasn't worth knowing," but at the end of the article it says "He never married."
Not the normal thing you admit in the Daily Telegraph. Times are obviously changing.

jhopgood wrote:

englishangel wrote:

sport! wrote:I read the other day that there are 4 British men left who fought in the First World War (all aged about 108 ish).

Is there any record of the oldest living Old Blue I wonder?

One of them died yesterday, piece in the paper today.

a Navy veteran.

Just looked him up and not our OB. He was Nicholas Swarbrick and curiously his son recalled, "What he didn't know about the drains and the sewers in the district wasn't worth knowing," but at the end of the article it says "He never married."
Not the normal thing you admit in the Daily Telegraph. Times are obviously changing.

"He never married" is usually a coded message, isn't it?

jhopgood wrote:Just received a cutting from the Yorkshire Post which shows 2 of the WWI veterans meeting for the first time ever.
One of them is Philip Mayne, OB.
It also mentions that if he survives to be the last WWI to die, he may be buried in state, in memory of all his fallen colleagues.

The possibility of a state funeral is a hotly debated subject in some circles - I tend to wonder whether a non-combattant should receive the honour anyway.

[that's non-combattant as in one who never did a tour of duty, stretcher bearers, chaplains, nurses etc. on the front line would surely qualify)

sport! wrote:

jhopgood wrote:Just received a cutting from the Yorkshire Post which shows 2 of the WWI veterans meeting for the first time ever.
One of them is Philip Mayne, OB.
It also mentions that if he survives to be the last WWI to die, he may be buried in state, in memory of all his fallen colleagues.

The possibility of a state funeral is a hotly debated subject in some circles - I tend to wonder whether a non-combattant should receive the honour anyway.

Also, I thought The Unknown Soldier was buried in honour of his fallen comrades.

Richard Ruck wrote:Also, I thought The Unknown Soldier was buried in honour of his fallen comrades.

I think that's why there's much debate. Of course, the Unknown soldier could be DNA tested now..........