WWI veteran is world’s oldest man

GREAT WAR veteran Henry Allingham has become the world’s oldest man following the death of the previous holder of the title in Japan, Guinness World Records said.

Allingham, one of only two surviving First World War veterans in Britain and the last surviving founder member of the RAF, celebrated his 113th birthday on June 6.

He lives at St Dunstan’s care home for blind ex-service personnel in Ovingdean, near Brighton.

Tomoji Tanabe, the world’s previous oldest man, died in his sleep at his home in southern Japan earlier yesterday at the age of 113.

It has already been a remarkable year for Allingham, who is the sole survivor of the 1916 Battle of Jutland.

In March he received an upgraded Legion d’Honneur from the French ambassador in London and was madethe first honorary lifetime member of the Royal Naval Association (RNA).

Allingham, whose life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs, has five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.

A spokesman for St Dunstan’s said Allingham had lived at the care home since January 2005 due to his loss of sight.

A spokeswoman said later that Allingham had been told he is now the oldest man in the world, but he had returned to bed after breakfast.

Dennis Goodwin, a long-time friend of Allingham and a founder of the First World War Veterans’ Association, said: “It’s staggering. I was with him just yesterday and ironically enough we were talking about him popping his clogs.”