The Resume

(June 17, 1898-July 25, 2009)
Born in Combe Down, England, United Kingdom
Wounded by shrapnel in the Battle of Passchendaele (September 22, 1917)
Last surviving British combat veteran of World War I
Received the French Legion of Honor (1998) and was named a Knight of the Order of Leopold by Belgium (2008)
Wrote the autobiography 'The Last Fighting Tommy' (2007)

Why he might be annoying:

He left school at 15 to train as a plumber.
He lost the 1939-45 Defense Medal he received at the end of World War II and did not receive a replacement until 2008.
For eight decades, he refused to talk about his wartime experiences or attend regimental reunions.
A brand of cider, Patch's Pride, was named after him.
His reign as Britain's oldest living man lasted just one week from the death of Henry Allingham to his own death.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a fireman during World War II.
He outlived two wives and two sons.
In the documentary 'World War I in Colour,' he commented, 'If any man tells you he went over the top and he wasn't scared, he's a damn liar.'
When he was 106, he met 108-year-old German veteran Charles Kuentz, exchanged gifts, and noted, 'I was a bit doubtful before meeting a German soldier. Herr Kuentz is a very nice gentleman, however. He is all for a united Europe and peace, and so am I.'
He donated royalties from his autobiography to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
During ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of Passchendaele, he said 'It's important that we remember the war dead on both sides. The Germans suffered the same as we did.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 22]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [June] (Ranked: 6171898)
• Fire Fighters
• I Did Not Graduate High School [N-S]
• I Died in 2009 (Ranked: 111)
• I Lived in Three Centuries
• I Lived to 100 (Ranked: 111)
• I Married in 1980
• I Outlived My Child
• Look at Me, I'm Thirsty
• Look at Me, I've Been Caught with Alcohol
• People who Have Similar Names on Am I Annoying (Ranked: 582)
• People with Tom, Dick or Harry in their Names
• Profiles 26251-26500 (Ranked: 26410)
• Served in World War I
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 20090725)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 107 Votes: 67.29% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 22 Votes: 95.45% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 24.00% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 44 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 163 Votes: 36.20% Annoying