Henry Allingham (born June 6, 1896 in Clapham, London) is one of only 19 known surviving British veterans of World War I (although more are occasionally found) and is believed to be Britain's longest-lived soldier ever, aged 108.

He is the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland as well as the last surviving founding member of the Royal Air Force.

World War I

Henry wanted to join the war effort in August 1914 as a Despatch Rider, but his mother managed to persuade him to stay at home and look after her. However, after his mother died, Henry joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). He became formally rated as an Air Mechanic Second Class on September 21, 1915 and was posted to Chingford before completing his training.

After graduation, Henry joined the RNAS Air Station at Great Yarmouth. On April 13, 1916, King George VI inspected the Air Station and its aircraft. Henry was disappointed when the king turned and left just before he would have had his chance to speak to him! Henry also worked in Bacton, further up the coast, where night-flying was conducted.

In May 1916, he was ordered to join HMS Kingfisher, where he was still posted when the Battle of Jutland began. Although the trawler was not directly involved in the battle, Henry can still make a proper claim to be the last known survivor of that battle.

In September 1917, Henry, who had become an Air Mechanic First Class by now, was posted to the Western Front to join No. 12 Squadron (RNAS). This unit acted as a training squadron for other RNAS sqaudrons based on the Western Front. There is also some evidence that the squadron was involved in operations. When Henry arrived at Petit Synthe, both the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the RNAS were involved in the Ypres offensive.

On November 12, 1917, he was posted to the Aircraft Depot at Dunkirk, where he stayed for the rest of the war, on aircraft repair and recovery duties.

He transferred to the Royal Air Force when the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps were merged on April 1, 1918. At that time, he was ranked as a Rigger Aero, Aircraft Mechanic Second Class and was given a new service number - 208317. He is believed to be the last surviving founding member of the RAF.

Henry returned to the Home Establishment in February 1919 and was formally discharged from the RAF Reserve on April 16, 1919. After this, he joined Ford, where he worked until his retirement.

The Inter-War Period

Shortly after being discharged, Henry married Dorothy, whom he had met at Great Yarmouth. This marriage lasted 53 years and produced 2 daughters. Henry now has 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. All of these live in America.

World War II

During World War II, Henry was in a reserved occupation and worked on a number of different projects. The most significant of these was perhaps the effort to provide an effective counter-measure to the German magnetic mines. During his Christmas lunch in 1939, he was called away to help come up with a system that would neutralise the mines and open the port of Harwich. Nine days later, Henry returned after successfully completing this task.

After World War II

As the last surviving member of the British Air Services and the aforementioned last living founder member of the RAF, Henry was an honoured guest when the British Air Services Memorial was unveiled on September 11, 2004. The group of RAF technical trainees that joined him at this ceremony continue to visit Henry at his retirement home in Eastbourne, demonstrating the bond of respect that these men have for Henry, made even more remarkable since almost 90 years separate these young trainees from Mr. Allingham. During this time, Henry was given the Gold Medal of St-Omer, which marked the award of the Freedom of the Town.

Henry was one of four British WWI veterans who attended the ceremony at the Cenotaph in London to mark 90 years since Britain entered the First World War. The ceremony took place on August 4, 2004. He also attended Remembrance Day on November 11 2004.