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Originally Posted by Adrian Roberts  Sorry my first thread here is a rather depressing one, but I've been thinking about how just how few of the well-known heroes are left alive.
In the last few months we have lost Willie "Tirpitz" Tait, Sir Tasker Watkins VC, and Alex Henshaw among many others.
I do accept that anyone who put his or her life on the line in WW2 or any other time is a hero, but most stay anonymous. In twenty years the only ones left are likely to be a few privates, unknown during the war but who can still give a moving account of what they went through, as 108 year-old Harry Patch the last surviving WW1 Tommy is able to now. But there are some who become household names for being great leaders or fighter aces or for some individual act.
There are just seven VC recipients of WW2 still alive:
John Cruikshank (the only Air VC left)
Ian Fraser (the only Naval VC left)
Eric Wilson (who was awarded his VC in Somaliland in 1940 and is now 95)
Lachiman Gurung
Bhanbagta Gurung
Tulbahadur Pun
Edward Kenna
Apart from them, I believe Eric "Winkle" Brown and Peter Twiss are alive -both test pilots. The number of "The Few" is probably down to double figures, and I think just two from the Dams raid.
On the German side, Gunther Rall, third highest-scoring fighter pilot ever, is alive. In America, Chuck Yeager is still around.
Can anyone think of any others? |
Great list Adrian. I cannot think of any to add.