Medic7922 Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Congratulations to Harry Patch who turned 107 young today, as most of you know Harry is on of the last survivors ot the Great War and lives in Somerset, It was noted on the local news that he received hes 7th Birthday card from the Queen I will raise a glass to him tonight, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john w. Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 So will I hic John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Happy Bithday, Harry! PAUL J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Harry Patch always seems to be the gentlest of men....I wonder what he was like with a rifle in his hands. Happy birthday Harry, and good health. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.r.f Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Harry Patch May I wish you a very happy birthday.GOD bless and keepyou. Cheers. john. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 And many many more!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace Bachelor Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 I remember Harry recounting a tale where he had a German soldier in his sights but chose to shoot him in the legs rather than kill him. A kind and compassionate man, happy birthday Harry. Rich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Best wishes from a fellow West Countryman. Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Evans Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 I've a glass of malt in front of me right now. Good health Harry. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 There is only really one drink to toast Harry with: Made last year as a tribute and only 106 bottles brewed. Oh, well. I'll make do with a pint of Bombardier. Cheers, Harry. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace Bachelor Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 This is the story of the German as recounted by Harry in 2001. "We got to the second line and four Germans stood up. They didn't get up to run away, they got up to fight. One of them came towards us and spotted that we were machine gunners. He couldn't have had any ammunition or he would have shot us, but came towards us with fixed bayonet instead. My right hand was free, I pulled my revolver out and shot him in the shoulder - I was a crack shot. "He dropped his rifle and he came over with the intention of, I suppose, kicking us. If he kicked the gun into the mud, it would have been useless. As he came towards us something came into my mind. I thought, when I joined the army they made me take an oath - to serve my king and country. But when Moses came down off Mount Sinai he brought down the commandment'Thou shalt do no murder'. That German coming towards me, I thought why should I murder him? He may have a mother, he may have brothers and sisters, he may be married, bringing up a young family, I can't kill him. And I didn't kill him: I shot him above the ankle and above the knee, and brought him down. He said something to me in German - I don't expect it was complimentary - but for him the war was over. He would be picked up by British stretcher-bearers, interrogated, sent to a concentration camp, and at the end of the war he would rejoin his family." (The Guardian 8th Nov 2001). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Furnell Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Merry Birthday,Mr Patch. Oh!,that i could do as much with my life,as you have done. Drinking Cider(West Country,so it says),as we speak,and he don't have no bubbles. God bless,and may you have many years to come,Sir. All the best. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will O'Brien Posted 17 June , 2005 Share Posted 17 June , 2005 Raising a glass to Harry tonight...............107 years young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 June , 2005 Share Posted 18 June , 2005 I will raise a glass to him tonight, <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I did. He did look well in the news item I saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ypres1418 Posted 18 June , 2005 Share Posted 18 June , 2005 I missed this last night but happy belated birthday harry, hope to see you again in ypres. Mandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 June , 2005 Share Posted 18 June , 2005 I missed this last night but happy belated birthday harry, <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They showed an extended item on our local ITV news. I would have missed it too, because I wasn't really watching and I was reading a book. But he has such a distinctive voice, remembered from his past documentary appearances, that I looked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essexboy68 Posted 19 June , 2005 Share Posted 19 June , 2005 Hello All Only just seen this thread (been a bit busy at work recently, & neglected the Forum), so I would like to take this chance to wish Harry a very happy belated birthday. Cheers Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilis11 Posted 20 June , 2005 Share Posted 20 June , 2005 I had the privilege to meet Harry in Belgium a few years back. A very fine gentleman. He gave me a few lessons on how to use a Lewis gun. "Never fire a second load from the same place!" Harry has proven he is right, 107 years! Congratulations Niels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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