Uni honours oldest veteran Henry, 112 (From Daily Echo)

Uni honours oldest veteran Henry, 112

8:40am Friday 22nd May 2009 in

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HE has lived through three centuries and the birth of his first great-great-great-grandchild.

As the oldest surviving veteran of the First World War he has become the public face of the British war veterans.

His longevity has been recognised with an array of honours from the French Legion d’Honneur to the freedom of his home town.

Today, 112-year-old Henry Allingham, believed to be the world’s second oldest man, is to get his first honorary doctorate – from Southampton Solent University. He will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering at Warsash Maritime Academy.

Mr Allingham, who has said he felt woefully under qualified during his career with no formal engineering qualifications, is said to be thrilled.

University vice-chancellor Professor Van Gore said: “We are delighted to be honouring Henry. As well as his service to Britain and its Allies during two world wars and beyond within the engineering field, Henry is the public face of war veterans and much-loved by all who meet him.”

Mr Allingham joined the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) in 1915 as an air mechanic supporting anti-submarine patrols. In 1917, he was posted to the Western Front to join 12 Squadron, a training unit, where the RNAS was involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, where nearly half a million servicemen were killed.

During the Second World War, Henry worked on a number of projects including developing an effective system that neutralised German magnetic mines.

Clapton-born Mr Allingham, who lived in his Eastbourne home until he was 110, has dedicated much of his time in recent years to giving talks to schoolchildren about his experiences.