 Jack Davis joined up in 1914, aged 19 |
Britain's oldest surviving First World War veteran, Jack Davis, formerly of the 6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, has died. The 108-year-old "peacefully drifted away" at a nursing home in Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, at 1115 BST on Sunday, said his son, Ken.
Mr Davis, who escaped the Battle of the Somme in 1916 because he contracted trench fever, was the oldest survivor of the war, said the World War One Veterans' Association.
His son said that his father always thought that war was futile.
"He always expressed the opinion of how futile war can be.
He used to say: 'So many soldiers go to their deaths in a war, and in many cases for what reason?' He really abhorred war."
'Positive' about life
Despite his age and increasing fragility, the wheelchair-bound Mr Davis was excited that in April he met the Prince of Wales, the commander-in-chief of his old regiment.
They met at the Kew Gardens reunion of the World War One Veterans Association, which now has just 34 members.
Mr Davis had been looking forward to meeting the Queen at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party this week.
His son said: "He never had any negative views and he was always positive about life.
"When I said he might meet the Queen he said: 'Yes, I will go as long as the weather is fine.'
"Sadly he did not make it."
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