or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
55 used & new from £0.99
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Veteran of the Great War
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Veteran of the Great War (Hardcover)

by Henry Allingham (Author), Dennis Goodwin (Contributor)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
RRP: £17.99
Price: £10.58 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £7.41 (41%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, February 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
29 new from £9.49 26 used from £0.99
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback £7.99 £4.17 58 used & new from £1.37

Frequently Bought Together

Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Veteran of the Great War + The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Only Surviving Veteran of the Trenches + The Soldier's War: The Great War Through Veterans' Eyes
Total RRP: £34.97
Price For All Three: £21.01

Show availability and delivery details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Only Surviving Veteran of the Trenches

The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Only Surviving Veteran of the Trenches

by Harry Patch
4.6 out of 5 stars (60)  £4.44
The Soldier's War: The Great War Through Veterans' Eyes

The Soldier's War: The Great War Through Veterans' Eyes

by Richard Van Emden
4.8 out of 5 stars (12)  £5.99
The Last Veteran: Harry Patch and the Legacy of War

The Last Veteran: Harry Patch and the Legacy of War

by Peter Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £8.36
Britain's Last Tommies

Britain's Last Tommies

by Richard Van Emden
4.2 out of 5 stars (4)  £6.99
Forgotten Voices of the Somme: The Most Devastating Battle of the Great War in the Words of Those Who Survived

Forgotten Voices of the Somme: The Most Devastating Battle of the Great War in the Words of Those Who Survived

by Joshua Levine
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)  £5.03
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; 1st ed. edition (2 Oct 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1845964160
  • ISBN-13: 978-1845964160
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.8 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 57,130 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #7 in  Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > Henry V
    #28 in  Books > Biography > War & Espionage > World War I
    #50 in  Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > 1901 Onwards

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description

Henry Allingham is the last British serviceman alive to have volunteered for active duty in the First World War and is one of very few people who can directly recall the horror of that conflict. In Kitchener's Last Volunteer, he vividly recaptures how life was lived in the Edwardian era and how it was altered irrevocably by the slaughter of millions of young men in the Great War, and by the subsequent coming of the modern age. Henry is unique in that he saw action on land, sea and in the air with the British Naval Air Service. He was present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 with the British Grand Fleet and went on to serve on the Western Front. He befriended several of the young pilots who would lose their lives, and he himself suffered the privations of the front line under fire. In recent years, Henry was given the opportunity to tell his remarkable story to a wider audience through a BBC documentary, and he has since become a hero to many, meeting royalty and bestowed many honours such as the Legion d'honneur - France's highest accolade. This is the touching story of an ordinary man's extraordinary life - one who has outlived six monarchs and twenty-one prime ministers, and who represents a last link to a vital point in our nation's history.

About the Author

Henry Allingham was born on 6 June 1896 in Clapton. He makes regular public appearances to educate modern generations about the war and was recently bestowed a Pride of Britain award. Dennis Goodwin MBE is the founder of The World War One Veterans Association and has helped over 200 veterans make pilgrimages back to the battlefields of France and Flanders.

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(5)
(3)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Agree with these tags?

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Veteran of the Great War
82% buy the item featured on this page:
Kitchener's Last Volunteer: The Life of Henry Allingham, the Oldest Veteran of the Great War 4.8 out of 5 stars (20)
£10.58
The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Only Surviving Veteran of the Trenches
13% buy
The Last Fighting Tommy: The Life of Harry Patch, the Only Surviving Veteran of the Trenches 4.6 out of 5 stars (60)
£4.44
The Last Veteran: Harry Patch and the Legacy of War
2% buy
The Last Veteran: Harry Patch and the Legacy of War 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£8.36
The Soldier's War: The Great War Through Veterans' Eyes
2% buy
The Soldier's War: The Great War Through Veterans' Eyes 4.8 out of 5 stars (12)
£5.99
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
64 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
By Pedros (England) - See all my reviews
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A privilege to read, and a joy too, 1 Oct 2008
By Angus Konstam (Edinburgh, Scotland) - See all my reviews
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!

Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.

The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.

The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.

I can't recommend this book too highly.



Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
By Archy (ALTRINCHAM, Cheshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great WW1 must read!
This book is a fantastic read. Very interesting and the style is very easy to read. Good if you enjoy reading about personal experiences of WW1. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. A. Davies-Griffith

5.0 out of 5 stars Personal war story
Very well written, a remarkable man with a most interesting and fascinating story. We should never forget our brave men!
Published 4 months ago by Y. R. A. Portlock

4.0 out of 5 stars window on the past
I read with delight the personal story of Henry Alliingham, the last veteran of the 1st World War. He was an ordinary 'bloke' with a mundane life after war, who only discovered... Read more
Published 4 months ago by jacqueline dawne

5.0 out of 5 stars Captured just in time - a voice from a remarkable past
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Dennis Goodwin has made a fine job of telling the story of Henry Allingham - particularly impressive given that he is not a career journalist. Read more
Published 5 months ago by A. I. McCulloch

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant!
I am still in the process of reading this book, but begrudge putting it down. Absolutely brilliant. Well written. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Domino.

5.0 out of 5 stars henry allingham
this book was very good value for money, fantastic quality, no damage and fast delivery, very happy with purchase
Published 5 months ago by Ms. C. L. Flynn

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellant read
once i started reading this book it was very hard to put down .I can recomend it to anyone who is interested in the war years
Published 5 months ago by M. Robinson

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful account of an optimistic life despite his experiences
A marvellous and moving account of this wonderful and yet also ordinary man. I bought this book on 18 July, the day he died aged 113 years and about six weeks, it having been on... Read more
Published 6 months ago by John Hopper

5.0 out of 5 stars A truely moving read
I finished reading this marvellous book a week before Mr Allingham passed away. This man gave to much to so many, he will not be forgotton by all the school children is spoke to,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading for anyone Interested in a bygone age
What was it about that generation that fought in The Great War? Henry Allingham was not the stereotypical Englishman from that period but one can imagine that his character with... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Anthony Styles

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject























i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.