86 years after the Great War, hostilities end.Byline: GEOFFREY LAKEMAN TWO old soldiers make their peace with a handshake handshake - handshaking . Harry Patch Henry John Patch (born June 17, 1898 in Combe Down, a village in Somerset, England) is, at the age of 109, the second-oldest living man in the UK[1] and one of the last three surviving British veterans of the First World War still living in the country. , 106, one of the last surviving British First World War soldiers, met 108-year-old Charles Kuentz Charles Kuentz (February 18, 1897 - April 7, 2005) was one of the last German veterans of the First World War. He was born in the village of Ranspach in Alsace, then part of the German empire. , Germany's only known remaining veteran. Harry, of Wells, Somerset, and Charles, of Colmar, Alsace, fought at Ypres, Belgium. They met on Pilkem Ridge, overlooking the battlefield. "I was a little doubtful because you never forget, you know," said Harry. "But he is very nice and all for a united Europe and peace and so am I." -MEDAL records of British and Commonwealth soldiers in the First World War went online yesterday at DocumentsOnline.national archives.gov.uk CAPTION(S): SLAUGHTER: Pair fought at Ypres; PEACE: Harry, left, and Charles |
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