War hero TA officer given Abbey honour

A Territorial Army major from Wolverhampton who risked her life to treat battlefield casualties during both Gulf wars has received a special invitation to Westminster Abbey to mark the death of Britain's last surviving First World War veteran.

Maj Sylvia Parkin, who earlier this month was appointed a deputy lieutenant of the West Midlands, is among selected members of the public who have been invited to the Armistice Day tribute to Harry Patch, which will also be attended by the Queen and Prince Philip.

Mr Patch, the last British Great War survivor, died in July at the age of 111.

Known as the Last Tommy, he fought in the battle of Passchendaele in 1917 in which more than 70,000 British troops died.

Major Parkin has served 22 years in the TA and is now a full-time regional director for SaBRE, a national campaign dedicated to gaining the support of firms for the Volunteer Reserve Forces.

The 64-year-old lives with husband Alan in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.

In 2002 she left her job as a health visitor in the city to start a three-year stint in the regular army as a nursing officer with the 202 Field Hospital (Volunteers), Birmingham, serving in the 2003 Iraq conflict.

Her grandfather William Gregory, a sergeant in the Coldstream Guards during the First World War, was her inspiration.

Sgt Gregory went into battle on August 13, 1914, just nine days after war was officially declared, among the troops known as the Old Contemptibles who were part of the regular army.

He was awarded the Mons Star, British Victory and War medals.

Maj Parkin said today: "When I returned from the first Gulf War in the 1980s I was invited to the ticker tape welcome home parade in New York. I carried a photograph of my grandfather in my pocket and I marched with pride because his example was always important to me."

Maj Parkin said she feels "honoured" to have been chosen to attend the Passing Of A Generation thanksgiving service on November 11.

The service will be broadcast by the BBC.