Memories from the 'Great War' from the last of his kind (The Last Fighting Tommy - Harry Patch)

Member Name: markos9

Product:	The Last Fighting Tommy - Harry Patch
Date:	17/09/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tells the story in Harry's own words.

Disadvantages: None.

On the 25th July 2009, the knowledge of the horrors of trench warfare in the First World War passed from living memory into recorded history. Harry Patch "The Last Fighting Tommy" died peacefully in his sleep aged 111.

Fortunately, not all of his memories died with him as his story has been written down for those who were not witnesses to this 'Great' War, in his biography written by Richard Van Emden.

That Harry's tale is available to be read is all the more remarkable when it is realised that the book was written during his 109th year. Even more amazing is that Harry did not talk about the war, at all, until he was 100.

As one of many World War I veterans, Harry was left alone with his thoughts for many years. As the number of veterans reduced year by year, however, he came to public notice as one of the last. He finally agreed to tell his tale after many public appearances; attention that he did not seek, when he became "The Last Fighting Tommy".

For me, the book has three parts. The first concerns Harry's childhood, growing up in Edwardian England in Somerset. The second tells the tale of Harry's involvement in two world wars. The third part concerns his growing to a great age and his involvement as the last of a whole generation of soldiers.

The book is told using Harry's own words, recorded during many sessions by Richard Van Emden. Van Emden then spent a considerable amount of time researching Harry's life, adding names and places that Harry could not remember.

Van Emden adds, in a smaller typeface, important historical information about the time and place being discussed. This sets the background for the scene; Harry's words bring it to life.

--- Childhood ---

This section of the book is extremely light-hearted, full of the joys of a simple, innocent, country childhood. Some of the scrapes that Harry got into had me literally laughing out loud.

Harry tells of being told not to pick the pears from his father's orchard. When his father came to harvest the pears, however, he found that Harry had taken one bite out of the back of every pear he could reach! He remembers getting a good 'good hiding' for this stunt.

These chapters evoke scenes of endless Somerset summers, lush green fields, trees heavy with un-ripened fruit, and a group of lads unconcerned with 21st Century health and safety guidelines, having fun when and where they could.

Clearly, childhood was a happy time for Harry; with a loving if stern family, but all too soon, this charming section of the book ends.

--- Wars ---

The book takes on a much darker tone as Harry describes signing up at the age of 18, being sent for training and then shipping out to Ypres and the front line. The conditions Harry described were appalling, and made more chilling by the matter of fact delivery of his words.

Harry describes the mud, the noise, and the danger of his time in the trenches. He talks of being terrified but not showing it to avoid upsetting each other and states firmly that anyone who said that they weren't scared was a liar.

Harry describes the battle of Paschendaele in a very understated way, but the words evoke pictures of horror in the readers mind. Seventy thousand British soldiers died in this titanic battle, including some of Harry's friends. Harry himself was wounded and sent home.

Harry spent World War II as a fire-fighter, being just over fighting age. This role was incredibly dangerous. Harry talks of putting out fires whilst being attacked by enemy fighter aircraft. He also recalls finding out that his fire engine had been parked on top of an unexploded bomb!

Both of Harry's sons went to war, fortunately surviving. Harry lost lots of friends and family in the Second World War. He had no sympathy for the politicians who failed to stop the wars and was of the opinion that they should have been given guns and told to sort it out amongst themselves.

--- Growing old ---

This section of the book is tinged with great sadness. It is clear that whilst Harry had a full and interesting life, growing to a great age could be considered a curse. Harry, over the years watched everyone he ever knew, parents, siblings, wives, friends, and even children, die before him. When the book was written, everyone Harry knew from his childhood and early adulthood was dead.

As one of the last veterans, he visited the battlefields he fought in ninety years before. This was terribly upsetting for Harry, yet he did it again and again as he felt it was his duty to do so.

This book is a wonderful account of a fascinating character, told in his own words. In one small volume, I found myself laughing out loud, being horrified, and having to stop reading because I was too upset to continue.

Harry has gone now, along with the rest of his whole generation, and no living person can tell us what the 'Great War' was like. Reading the words of a survivor of these terrible times gives the reader a taste of what it must have been like, and hopefully a determination never to have to live through such times again.

The book is available from Amazon for £4.27 in paperback.

Summary: Fascinating, moving account of one man's long and interesting life.