Remembrance events across Somerset were well attended this year, the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, writes Cllr Bill Revans.
This was in spite of damp weather.
I had the privilege of attending Bridgwater, Cheddar and Taunton events.
On the wreaths I lay I wrote this quote from Harry Patch: "Politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organising nothing better than legalised mass murder."
For those of you who have not heard of Harry, he was affectionately known as the 'Last Tommy' and became a symbol of a disappearing generation.
As the last surviving British soldier to have fought in the trenches of World War One, his story stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during one of history’s most devastating conflicts.
Patch’s remarkable longevity, candid reflections, and advocacy for peace have left an enduring legacy that continues to resonate with people across the United Kingdom and beyond.
This portrait of Harry was painted by renowned Somerset artist Bill Leychon, brother of our Somerset Council deputy leader, Cllr Liz Leychon.
Harry was Somerset born and bred.
When the First World War erupted in 1914, Patch was still too young to enlist.
Like many young men of his generation, he joined up as soon as he was eligible, entering service in 1916 with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.
He was deployed to the Western Front in 1917, serving as an assistant gunner in a Lewis gun team.
The Battle of Passchendaele, infamous for its mud, relentless shellfire, and appalling conditions, became the defining experience of his wartime service.
Harry was wounded by shrapnel in September 1917 and returned to Britain to recover.
The horrors he witnessed stayed with him for the rest of his life; he seldom spoke of them until his later years, reflecting the silent suffering of many veterans.
For much of his life, Harry was a private man.
It wasn’t until the 1990s, with the centenary of the First World War approaching and the number of surviving veterans dwindling, that he began to share his experiences publicly.
Harry’s humility and honesty captivated the nation.
Harry lived to the remarkable age of 111, passing away on July 25, 2009 in his care home in Wells.
In his final years, he was celebrated as a national treasure, meeting the Queen and other dignitaries, but he always maintained a humble perspective.
Harry used his platform to campaign for peace, urging future generations to remember the true cost of war.
In 2008, he published his memoir, The Last Fighting Tommy, offering a rare, first-hand account of life and death in the trenches.
His story has inspired countless books, documentaries, and commemorations.
The funeral held in his honour at Wells Cathedral was attended by thousands and broadcast to millions, with his coffin escorted by serving soldiers and a lone piper playing a lament.
Harry’s life reminds us that history is not just written in textbooks but lived through the experiences of ordinary people.
His message was clear: the true price of conflict is paid not only by soldiers but also by families and communities.
As we remember the fallen each year on Remembrance Day, Harry’s story compels us to strive for peace and understanding in our own time.
The passing of Harry marked the end of a living link to the trenches of the First World War.
Yet, his words and memories endure, urging us never to forget the lessons of the past.
Through the life of the last Tommy, we are reminded of the courage and humanity of all those who served - and the enduring hope for a world without war.
We are now seeing the last generations of those who fought in the Second World War reaching their twilight years.
As with Harry, we must capture their lessons of the importance of peace and remembrance.
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