I was with my friend the other day and we got to talking about one of our favorites bands: Radiohead. It turns out, they have not released a new song since In Rainbows. (Feels like forever but it was just 2005) But recently, they have recorded a new song: Harry Patch. This song is in memory of the 111 year-old Britain who was the last survivor of The Great War. (WWI) He lived exactly 111 years, 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day. He has written a book Titled, "The Last Fighting Tommy" which I plan on buying. He had bottled up his emotions until he turned 100. In which a reporter asked for an interview, and Patch just agreed to do it.. I sat wondering to myself what this man had seen in his many many many years of living.. Thousands of his friends and enemies perish before his very eyes. He had 3 wives, and 2 children, all who passed away before him. "Any one of them could have been me. Millions of men came to fight in this war and I find it incredible that I am the only one left." was one of his feelings about the war, he also said that war was, "calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings" and said that "war isn't worth one life." Of course he has many memories of what war looked like, and here is an example: "We came across a lad from A company. He was ripped open from his shoulder to his waist by shrapnel and lying in a pool of blood. When we got to him, he said: 'Shoot me'. He was beyond human help and, before we could draw a revolver, he was dead. And the final word he uttered was 'Mother.' I remember that lad in particular. It's an image that has haunted me all my life, seared into my mind." He died on July 25. Patch's funeral was held in Wells Cathedral on Thursday 6 August 2009. At 11:00am, the bells of Wells Cathedral were rung 111 times to mark each year of his life. A quarter peal of Grandsire Caters was also rung, half muffled, quarter-peals were also rung in Bristol and at several other churches around the country. His coffin travelled from his home, Fletcher House, to the cathedral where the service commenced at noon. The theme of the service was “Peace and Reconciliation" and in addition to pallbearers from The Rifles (the successor regiment to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry), Patch's coffin was accompanied by two private soldiers from each of the armies of Belgium, France and Germany.
So with that, rest in peace Harry Patch, and let the burden of war, age, pain, and heartbreak be lifted off your shoulders..
