Fly-past to honour oldest Great War hero

A FLY-PAST of replica planes was marking the funeral of the world's oldest man and one of the last British survivors of the First World War today.

Henry Allingham, who served in the Royal Navy and the RAF, was being laid to rest with full military honours at a service at St Nicholas's Church in Brighton. Guests include incoming Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Commander in Chief Fleet of the Royal Navy Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, veterans' minister Kevan Jones, and the Duchess of Gloucester.

Mr Allingham, the world's oldest man, died in his sleep on 18 July aged 113 at St Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, from where his funeral cortege starts today.

Two Royal Marines buglers were to sound the Last Post, before a fly-past of five replica First World War aircraft: SE5A biplanes, a Sopwith Pup and Sopwith Triplane.

Dennis Goodwin, First World War Veterans' Association founder, said: "I have been to many veterans' funerals but this is most special because it coincides with the end of an era."

Born in Clapton in June 1896, Mr Allingham joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915. In his later years he became an ambassador for his generation. In the foreword to Mr Allingham's autobiography, Kitchener's Last Volunteer, Prince Charles hailed him as "one of our nation's historic treasures".