Harry Patch: Anti War Hero

Friday, 11 January 2013, 2:07 pm
Opinion: Heathcote Williams

Harry Patch: Anti War Hero

Private Harry Patch, aged 111, popularly known as ‘The Last Tommy’ through being the last soldier to survive WW1, was, in fact, an outspoken antiwar refusenik.

A warmongering UK Establishment would try to commandeer him and his memory in order to glorify their notion of “the good war” – as if Harry was just a poppy to put in their buttonholes – but Harry wouldn’t have it. He firmly believed that ‘Thou shalt not kill’ trumped all demands of ‘King and Country’ and said so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d26IVqVivE

Heathcote Williams

ENDS

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