Last week we lost Henry Allingham, and today the sad news comes of the death at 111 of Private Harry Patch. He was the last British soldier to survive the First World War – a veteran of Paschendale and Ypres. At his death he was the oldest man in Western Europe and the third oldest man in the world.

Iain Duncan Smith had campaigned for a state funeral service for the last British WWI survivor. This distinction, if it happens, would fall to Claude Choules, an ex-Royal Navy serviceman who is 108 and lives in Perth, Australia.

There were concerns that the family of that last survivor may not want such a public occasion but a national service to remember the enormous sacrifice of the generation that has now almostgone forever would be entirely appropriate. Even more meaningful would be a renewal of the national covenant that sees our troops properly equipped and veterans given the very best care.

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