Harry Patch: The Last Surviving Witness of the Trenches

Harry Patch was the last surviving soldier who fought in the trenches during World War I. He was born in 1898 in Combe Down, Somerset, England. He joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1916 and was sent to the Western Front in 1917.

Patch fought in the Battle of Passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He was wounded in the leg and spent the rest of the war in hospital.

The Last Veteran: Harry Patch and the Legacy of War

by Peter Parker

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1024 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	339 pages

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After the war, Patch returned to England and worked as a plumber. He married in 1921 and had two children. He rarely spoke about his experiences in the war, but in his later years he became more open about them.

In 2005, Patch was awarded the Légion d'honneur, France's highest military honor. He was also made a Companion of Honour, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a British citizen.

Patch died in 2009 at the age of 111. He was the last surviving soldier who had fought in the trenches of World War I.

Patch's Views on War

Patch was a staunch opponent of war. He believed that war was a waste of life and that it should never be used as a means of solving problems.

In a 2007 interview, Patch said: "War is organized murder. It's a crime against humanity. It's a disgrace to civilization."

Patch also believed that it was important to remember the horrors of war so that future generations would not repeat the mistakes of the past.

In a 2008 interview, Patch said: "We must never forget the lessons of the Great War. We must never allow ourselves to be drawn into another such conflict."

The Legacy of Harry Patch

Harry Patch's legacy is one of peace and reconciliation. He was a powerful voice against war and he helped to raise awareness of the horrors of the trenches.

Patch's story is a reminder of the importance of peace and the need to avoid war at all costs.

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Further Reading

* [Harry Patch: The Last Tommy](https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Patch-Last-Tommy/dp/0307267275) by Richard van Emden * [War is Organized Murder: The Diary of Harry Patch](https://www.amazon.com/War-Organized-Murder-Diary-Harry/dp/0752453485) by Harry Patch * [The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Last British Soldier of the First World War](https://www.amazon.com/Last-Fighting-Tommy-Soldier-British/dp/1408705712) by Peter Barton

The Last Veteran: Harry Patch and the Legacy of War

by Peter Parker

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1024 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	339 pages

FREE