VETERAN SOLDIER

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 11

VETERAN SOLDIER

FIFTY YEARS’ SERVICE. THE OLDEST IN BRITAIN. Still hale and hearty, Private Harry Tree, aged 66, of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own); claims to be the oldest serving soldier in the British Army. He is now in his 50th year of service. Private Tree is a living example of the old song, “The Army is the Life for Me,” and it is a favourite saying at the barracks at Furford, York, where he acts as batman, that “Men may come and men may go, but Tree goes on for ever.” During his long life in the Army, Private Tree has only once appeared on sick parade. He has ten good-conduct stripes—a record number —and he also possesses the long-service medal. His greatest keepsake is his first, pair of socks, issued to him when he joined the old 14th Foot (later the Ist West Yorks) and these he shows regularly on kit' inspection. Private Tree has an inseparable friend in “Windy,” the dog mascot of the regiment. Tie was born in the trenches on the Western Front, in 1916, and his master is Major H. E. PickeringJ commanding officer of the depot. In an interview, Private Tree declared, that if he had his time over again the Army would be the life for him. He stated:—

“When I completed my ‘2l’ I was abroad, and I should. probably . have retired then, but my vrife died of sunstroke. I became wedded to the Army after that, and the regiment has been my home ever since. But when I have finished my 50 years, in a few months, perhaps I’ll quit and live on the glorious memories of the past.” Private Tree is up at 5.30 every morning and only retires after “lights out” at 11.30 p.tn.. When the battalion turns out on parade he is the marker.