One of the Last WWI Vets Dies at 111

British man was one of the last surviving WWI veterans

(NEWSER) - Britain's oldest surviving veteran of World War I has died aged 113, the BBC reports. Henry Allingham, who became the world's oldest man after the death of a Japanese 113-year-old last month, passed away peacefully at a care home for veterans. Politicians and veterans' groups paid tribute to Allingham, who was highly active in keeping memories of the war alive and whose mind remained sharp until the end. More»

British WWI vet, 113, becomes oldest man with death of Japanese elder

(NEWSER) - British WWI veteran Henry Allingham learned yesterday that he is now the world's oldest man following the death of 113-year-old Tomoji Tanabe, the Independent reports. Tanabe eschewed alcohol and tobacco but Allingham, also 113, once quipped that his longevity was due to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women." The retired engineer lives in a home for ex-servicemen and has remained highly active in war commemorations. More»

Frank Buckles was final survivor of 5 million Americans who served

(NEWSER) - The last doughboy has died. Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, died peacefully of natural causes at his farm in West Virginia at age 110, the Washington Post reports. Buckles, who was born in Missouri in 1901, lied about his age to get into the military at 16 and served as an ambulance driver in France. In World War II, he spent three and a half years as a civilian prisoner of war in the Philippines after being captured by the Japanese. More»

Intelligence chief 'delighted' by discovery

(NEWSER) - More from the secret world of Britain's MI6: The spy agency apparently used semen as invisible ink during World War I. A new history claims that Chief Mansfield Cumming advised an intelligence officer that the substance makes "the best invisible ink," notes the Telegraph . Another staff member recalls Cumming's 'delight' at the discovery. More»

(NEWSER) - This year saw the passing of many notable people, from Paul Newman and Michael Crichton to William F. Buckley and designer Yves St. Laurent. Here are a few that made the lists of the NY Times and LA Times:

• Tim Russert (b. 1950)—TV journalist and 16-year host of Meet the Press.
• Charlton Heston (b. 1923)—star of Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments, and later NRA activist.
• George Carlin (b. 1937)—legendary rabble-rousing comedian.
• Heath Ledger (b. 1979)—rising star's credits include Brokeback Mountain; Oscar rumblings for Dark Knight.
• Steve Fossett (b. 1945)—billionaire adventurer missing since September 2007.
• Albert Hoffman (b. 1906)—research chemist who discovered LSD.