British World War I veteran Henry Allingham becomes the world's oldest man Photo: REUTERS
Air Mechanic First Class Allingham, at 113, has become the oldest man on the planet after Tomoji Tanabe, just a few months his elder, died in his sleep yesterday.
The oldest surviving member of the Armed Forces holds a clutch of honours, including the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Legion d'Honneur – the highest military honour awarded by France.
In his personal life, Mr Allingham was married to his late wife Dorothy for more than half a century and heads a dynasty which includes his great-great-great grandchild.
He once attributed his grand age to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women".
Born in London on June 6 1896, Mr Allingham's father died when he was a baby.
As a young man, he has said, he thought joining the war effort would be an adventure, not realising what it meant.
"War's stupid," he said. "Nobody wins. You might as well talk first, you have to talk last anyway."
He was initially persuaded to remain at home by his mother but in September 1915, after her death, he joined the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) and was sent to France, maintaining seaplanes.
Enthusiastic to play his part, pilots would take him flying and he would take the role of a spotter or a bomber.
He is now the last founder member of the RAF and the only remaining survivor of the infamous Battle of Jutland off the Danish coast in 1916.
He had a miraculous escape from his ship, the Kingfisher, when a German shell heading directly for it bounced over the top.
He has also described how he remained haunted by scenes from the third battle of Ypres.
"They would just stand there in two feet of water in mud-filled trenches, waiting to go forward," he once said.
"They knew what was coming. It was pathetic to see those men like that.
"In many ways I don't think they have ever got the admiration and respect they deserved."
He was also shot in the arm, commenting: "It's so long ago that the scar has gone."
In civilian life he went into the motor industry, eventually joining the design department at Ford before retiring in 1961.
Asked about his longevity, he said: "I don't know if there is a secret, but keeping within your capacity is vital.
"I've had two major breakdowns, one during the war and one after but both when I was trying to do the work of three men.
"The trick is to look after yourself and always know your limitations."
The oldest living person in the world is Gertrude Baines, 115, from Los Angeles, California, who was born on April 4 1894.
Florence Baldwin, from Leeds, West Yorks, just pips Mr Allingham to the title of oldest Briton with a nine-week age gap on him.