Harry Patch

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Harry Patch, a DCLI veteran, served from 1916-1918. As a combat soldier, he fought in the Battle of Passchendaele with his regiment. He was part of a four-man Lewis gun team; unfortunately, only Harry survived an explosion that killed the rest of the crew and left him severely injured. Injured in 1917, Harry returned to Britain, briefly returning to battle in 1918. He would not serve as a soldier again, but he did work as a Fireman in Bristol during WWII. Later in life, having come to terms with his experiences, Harry became vocal about his anti-war views. Harry is most famous for being the last survivor of the trenches, living to be 111 years old. This bust on display at the museum is a resin cast of a bronze sculpture created by Alan Dun, who originally made it for Bath Abbey and later gave it to Harry, who donated it to the museum in appreciation.