The Last Fighting Tommy
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £7.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Alan Howard
About this listen
After a rural childhood in Somerset, Harry left school in 1913 to become a plumber. Three years later, he was fighting in the mud and trenches during the Battle of Passchendaele. He saw a great many of his comrades die, and in one dreadful moment the shell that wounded him killed his three closest friends.
Harry vividly describes the terror and intensity of daily life in the trenches. The Second World War saw him in action on the home front as a fire-fighter during the bombing of Bath. Late in life, Harry achieved fame, meeting the Queen and taking part in the BBC documentary The Last Tommy, finally shaking hands with a German veteran of the artillery, and speaking out frankly to Prime Minister Tony Blair about the soldiers shot for cowardice in the First World War.
This is the story of an ordinary man's extraordinary life.
©2007 Richard van Emden (P)2008 Hachette AudioCritic reviews
"For Harry Patch, born in 1898 and wounded at Passchendaele, November 11 is just showbiz. He remembers September 22: the day his two best mates were killed. This really is living history."(The Guardian)
"We hear Harry's own husky measured voice in the introduction; the rest of his story is narrated by Alan Howard, who nicely recaptures his character."(The Times)
What listeners say about The Last Fighting Tommy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- lee hopkinson
- 26-01-21
moving
Read the book twice now listed for the first time. moving and wonderful. RIP Harry
Richard 👍
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gary stanton
- 15-04-23
moving
Really good book. Very moving. Thank you Harry for your service. A must read for any interested in WW 1
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Steve B
- 19-02-19
Not a story of war, but of an ordinary chap
Brilliant. Loved it. Worth every minute.
This isn't just about his time in the trenches, but is more about his life and how he came to find his way to the trenches of France in WW1. A great recollection that tells the story which might otherwise be forgotten. The "none war" bits of the story are equally compelling. It's got up's and down's as you'd expect, and is a highly recommended read/listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Richard
- 24-01-09
Haunting & Inspiring
A fantastic story from a truly fantastic man, highly recommended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- Tony
- 09-11-08
History in your own lifetime.
Made you appreciate what these young men went through not so very long ago.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Samantha
- 09-02-18
fantastic insight
really enjoyed listening to this book, dear old Harry Patch. It gives a great insight not just into his war service but also his life before and after the war. It is also a great snap shot of what life in general was like and how we lived 100 years ago.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Kevin
- 16-10-12
lovely book
this book made me think of the sacrifices the men of the wars made for us, really funny in places too !
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- barbara Douglas
- 06-08-17
Humbled
This book is a reminder of what our troops faced in order for us to have our freedom
Harry patch is a true icon I was very moved and so glad he told us his story I now want to study about the First World War it can teach us about life in general, the human tragedy is unthinkable
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- B. S. Cunliffe
- 11-08-17
Fascinating
Incredible piece of both social and Military history.
Well worth listening to whether you are interested in history or not.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr. Robert Denton
- 11-02-22
An amazing story
A Brilliant insight into a world we were fortunate not to be born into, an wonderful country life shattered by the first mechanised war
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!