Videos tagged with RNAS

Put through paces by the Royal Marines

Henry Allingham was born in 1896 and, at the time he gave this interview, the World's Oldest man. After his mother died Henry enlisted with the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service). He became formally rated as an Air Mechanic Second Class on 21 September 1915, and was posted to Chingford before completing his training at Sheerness. Here he talks a little about being put through his paces by the Royal Marines, and in particular is referring to a Corporal Lewis who was known to instill harsh discipline and made them do marching military drills. Henry didn't take kindly to this and didn't see the point in the drills - he just wanted to get on with the job and that the 'square-bashing' was pointless. Henry died a few weeks after this interview on the 18th July 2009.

• Zoe Timmers
• RNAS first world war henry allingham royal marines world war one