World's oldest man, British WWI veteran dies

LONDON -- Henry Allingham, one of the last surviving veterans of World War I and the world's oldest man, died Saturday. He was 113.

Allingham's longtime friend Dennis Goodwin said he died in his sleep at St. Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, near Brighton on England's south coast.

"It's the end of a era -- a very special and unique generation," Goodwin said. "The British people owe them a great deal of gratitude."

Allingham was one of only two surviving serviceman from World War I in Britain. The other is Harry Patch, who served in the trenches during the conflict. There are no surviving French veterans. The last remaining American veteran is Frank Woodruff Buckles of Charles Town, W.Va.

Allingham joined the Royal Naval Air Service -- precursor to the Royal Air Force -- in 1915, and a year later took part in the Battle of Jutland, the war's largest naval battle. During World War II he worked on measures to counter magnetic mines.

He co-wrote an autobiography, "Kitchener's Last Volunteer," -- a reference to Britain's war secretary who rallied men to the cause -- and was made an officer of France's Legion of Honor.

Allingham spent the last years of his life reminding others of the 9 million soldiers killed in the conflict, anxious that people should remember their sacrifice.

"I want everyone to know," he said in November, "They died for us."