Plumbing training 'part of Harry Patch's life'
Plumbing training played a significant role in the life of Harry Patch, the man thought to be the last surviving British solider to have been involved in the western front and who passed away on July 25th at the age of 111.
His experiences with the profession began at the age of 15, when he was apprenticed to a plumber after leaving school.
Following the war, Mr Patch returned to plumbing and was involved in a number of projects, including a housing scheme in Shropshire and the 215-foot Wills Memorial Tower at Bristol University.
World War II saw three of his own employees called up to serve their country and Mr Patch moved to Somerset after seeing a job as a sanitary engineer at military camps advertised.
"Starting up again after the war, his business flourished and by the time he retired in 1963 aged 65 he had charge of ten plumbers and 18 fitters," the Telegraph notes.
