Terry Denham Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 This story from the BBC website seems to suggest that this gentleman is a surviving WW1 veteran who has not appeared on any list of those still alive as far as I can see. Does anyone have any information? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7172925.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Terry, Nice find. I saw this story myself on the TV and took it for granted he was a "known" veteran. I wonder if his family know about his service. It's possible that he has kept mum about those difficult times. I wish him well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Is it possible that the BBC meant WWII? He would only have been 12 in 1918. Were there still powder monkeys in the RN then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil996 Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 He would have been only 12 or 13 at the end of WW1 and 8 or 9 at the beginning! I've heard of people enlisting while underage but not that young! Other websites that report this story say he was a surgeon-commander on HMS Invincilbe in World War 2 - therefore aged 32/33 at the outbreak and 38/39 at the end. Much more reasonable. The BBC claim is either a misprint or written by someone who is not very good at sums. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 8 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2008 WW2 sounds more reasonable. I thought it unlikely that such a sprightly 'survivor' could have missed everbody's notice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 NZ papers say he was a Surgeon Commander (Dentistry). Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 He was described as a "World War 2" veteran when interviewed on a news channel (can't remember which) at the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 The other websites that I've looked at call him a WWII veteran or else simply an ex RN Surgeon Commander. Another point that from the BBC article is that there wasn't an HMS Invincible from the sinking of the battle cruiser at Jutland until the construction of the Falkland veteran aircraft carrier in the late 70s so a 102 year old couldn't have served on a ship of that name. The only website that I can find that names a ship is the Daily Mail, which says that he served on the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable in WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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