Britain’s oldest veteran, who is also the grandfather of Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham, has died at the age of 109. 

World War II veteran Harry Waddingham became the country’s oldest living veteran following the death of Donald Rose, 110, in July 2025. 

The Royal Navy Gunner was born in 1916 and began serving in the military at the age of 16 in 1932, rising through the ranks from able seaman to sub-lieutenant. 

The 109-year-old served in the Navy from the very first day of World War II until its last on May 8, 1945, working on six ships, and surviving the sinking of two

Last year at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, his famous granddaughter, Hannah Waddingham, paid a touching tribute to the brave veteran. 

The Royal Navy Association’s East Sussex Branch described him as ‘truly one of the last of our greatest generation’ in a moving tribute last Wednesday. 

‘He lived a long and full life, and he will be greatly missed. RIP Shipmate, your duty is done, we have the watch,’ they added. 

Most of his time during the war was spent on the Hunt Class destroyer HMS Mendip, a ship which he loved. 

But he was also twice torpedoed while serving on other ships, and hurled into the sea both times. 

World War II veteran Harry Waddingham (pictured) became the country’s oldest living veteran following the death of Donald Rose, 110, in July 2025

The Royal Navy Association’s East Sussex Branch announced his death last Wednesday describing him as ‘truly one of the last of our greatest generation’ (Pictured: His granddaughter Hannah Waddingham)

On one occasion, his vessel, HMS Wakeful, was struck by a torpedo launched from a German E-boat while trying to evacuate soldiers from Dunkirk beach. 

The ship was split into two parts, with the front end becoming instantly submerged in the water on May 29, 1940. 

Remembering the incident, Harry explained there were around 600 soldiers on board as well as around 200 crew members.   

‘Really, you never slept and my memory of those days was constant tiredness,’ he told The Sun.

‘And hardly being able to stand. But suddenly there was a bang and the ship went down.’

He said only those who were on the upper deck survived the German attack, with only one soldier as well as 25 of the ship’s crew, including Harry, surviving.  

And while he served on HMS Juno, it was struck by three bombs which split and sunk the vessel in under two minutes during its bid to evacuate soldiers from Crete. 

The brave war hero did not enjoy working on Juno and was only on the ship because he was a replacement for someone else. 

They were bombed by German and Italian aircrafts as they tried to ferry soldiers to Alexandria, Egypt, but luckily Harry was again positioned on the upper deck. 

‘It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but if the ship was going to sink, it was a good place to be,’ he said. 

He also worked on Russian and North Atlantic convoys, where he described how they ‘never got undressed’ as they could be called to station at any moment.  

‘Almost every night we saw ships being blown up,’ he added.

The Royal Navy Gunner was born in 1916 and began serving in the military at 16-years-old in 1932, rising through the ranks from able seaman to sub-lieutenant

The 109-year-old served in the Navy from the very first day of World War II until its last on May 8, 1945, working on six ships, and surviving the sinking of two

Mr Waddingham also worked aboard HMS Mendip in the North Sea, where he served as a member of a gun crew.  

He celebrated his 25th birthday on a destroyer’s mess deck with offers of rum while his shipmate made a remark that would remain with him for life

‘And my shipmate – my particular shipmate – said, “make the most of your 25th Harry because the way this going you may not see your 26th”. I remember that.’

His beaming pride for the Navy remained steadfast as he insisted the war would not have been won without it.  

‘Hitler was ready to invade. But after Dunkirk, we kept seven destroyer flotillas along the vulnerable coast.

‘Had Hitler attempted to invade, he may have had aerial supremacy but not at sea.’

Following the war, the 109-year-old was discharged with the rank of lieutenant and earned a marine physics degree. 

The veteran then became a school teacher before landing a role with the educational wing of the RAF and later retiring with a squadron leader rank. 

He also taught pupils at Archbishop Tenison’s School in Croydon, where he also oversaw cadets. 

He later resided in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, where he passed away.