June 19, 2009 3:32 PM
- Text
WW1 Vet Becomes World's Oldest Man
(AP)
Guinness World Records said Friday that 113-year-old British World War I veteran Henry Allingham has become the world's oldest man.
The previous holder of the title, Tomoji Tanabe, died in his sleep in southern Japan earlier Friday at the age of 113.
Allingham is one of only two surviving World War I veterans in Britain and celebrated his 113th birthday June 6. He has been Britain's oldest man since January 2007.
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said the last Englishman to hold the title of world's oldest man was Frederick Butterfield, who died in March 1974 at the age of 110.
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.
Allingham joined activities involving other war veterans after he met Dennis Goodwin, an independent inspector for residential care homes who organized trips for veterans who wanted to return to the continent where they had fought.
Goodwin encouraged Allingham to share his experiences. He soon became one of the nation's most outspoken veterans and has long encouraged everyone to remember the sacrifices of those who died.
He co-wrote an autobiography with Goodwin, "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.
He and his late wife, Dorothy, had two children. He has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.
The previous holder of the title, Tomoji Tanabe, died in his sleep in southern Japan earlier Friday at the age of 113.
Allingham is one of only two surviving World War I veterans in Britain and celebrated his 113th birthday June 6. He has been Britain's oldest man since January 2007.
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said the last Englishman to hold the title of world's oldest man was Frederick Butterfield, who died in March 1974 at the age of 110.
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.
Allingham joined activities involving other war veterans after he met Dennis Goodwin, an independent inspector for residential care homes who organized trips for veterans who wanted to return to the continent where they had fought.
Goodwin encouraged Allingham to share his experiences. He soon became one of the nation's most outspoken veterans and has long encouraged everyone to remember the sacrifices of those who died.
He co-wrote an autobiography with Goodwin, "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.
He and his late wife, Dorothy, had two children. He has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.
Popular Now in World
- Iran allegedly cuts off Internet access
- Pakistani fishermen reel in 40-foot whale shark
- Iran: We can attack U.S. interests "anywhere"
- Syria rebels bloodied, battered, but defiant
- "Voluptuous" Ukrainian nurse abandons Qaddafi
- Booze and bikinis in a new Egypt
- Girl with Two Heads Born in Philippines
- Cockpit error sent 737 into Pacific nose dive
- Israel To U.S.: Don't Delay Iraq Attack
- 23 women convicted of child pornography in Sweden
- GlobalPost: Qaddafi apparently sodomized
- Stephen Hawking: Heaven is "a fairy story"
- 130 Doctors Without Borders staff go missing
- Syria's Christians stand by Assad
- Greek Cruise Ship Sinks
- Costa Concordia wreck seen from space
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Yes sir! Fashion Week trends going military
- Rag & Bone show: From Brit roots to Asia
- Gerhard Richter retrospective opens in Berlin
- State senator, wife attacked at western NY casino
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
on CBS News
