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| Oldest veteran gets French honour | Oldest veteran gets French honour |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Britain's oldest man and one of the last World War I veterans is to receive one of France's highest honours. | |
| Henry Allingham, who is 112 and lives in Sussex, will be awarded the Legion d'Honneur at the French Embassy in Knightsbridge, London, on Monday. | |
| He is already a Chevalier of the Legion D'Honneur and will be made the higher rank of officier at the ceremony. | He is already a Chevalier of the Legion D'Honneur and will be made the higher rank of officier at the ceremony. |
| Mr Allingham is the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force, formed in 1918. | Mr Allingham is the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force, formed in 1918. |
| He is also the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland in 1916. | He is also the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland in 1916. |
| Mr Allingham, who lives at St Dunstan's home for blind ex-servicemen, in Ovingdean, near Brighton, had a book he co-wrote about his life published in 2008. | Mr Allingham, who lives at St Dunstan's home for blind ex-servicemen, in Ovingdean, near Brighton, had a book he co-wrote about his life published in 2008. |
| Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802, the Legion d'Honneur is awarded for gallantry in action or 25 years' distinguished service in military or civilian life. | Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802, the Legion d'Honneur is awarded for gallantry in action or 25 years' distinguished service in military or civilian life. |
| It has five ranks: chevalier, officier, commandeur, grand officier and grand croix. | It has five ranks: chevalier, officier, commandeur, grand officier and grand croix. |