Salute to one of the few (From Western Telegraph)

Salute to one of the few

WORLD War One veteran Alfred Finnegan, who is approaching his 108th birthday, is now among the remaining few of the conflict's dwindling number of survivors.

Only 23 Britons who fought in the Great War are now alive. Mr Finnegan, of Llanglydwen, near Whitland, already with the title of the oldest man in Wales, is the third senior.

He has recently appeared on the BBC Wales programme Weston's Great War, presented by Falklands hero Simon Weston, where he spoke of his contempt for the conflict and quoted poetry by Siegfried Sassoon.

"Alfred is quite aware that it is 90 years since the start of the First World War," said his niece, Kathy Page. "But he won't say much about it, as he lost so many of his friends and was so sad about the horses who also died."

Mr Finnegan was the lead driver in a six-horse gun team and survived the war without injury, save a bite from a horse.

Although rather deaf and not able to read as much as he would like, Mr Finnegan is in good health. He recently spent a week in Park House Court Nursing Home in Tenby, and enjoyed the care and attention so much that he has been back as a day visitor.

Added Mrs Page: "He can be a bit cantankerous sometimes, but that's his privilege. He's a marvellous old gentleman really, and we're very proud of him."