THE IRON WAR HORSE

More than one-hundred- and-ten years after the First World War, for Remembrance Sunday, SPENCER VIGNES tells the story of one 'old soldier' from the conflict who, remarkably, is still very much with us

- SPENCER VIGNES

A veteran of the First and Second World Wars, the beautifully restored 5322 at Didcot Railway Centre

THE history books will tell you that Harry Patch, who died in 2009 at the grand old age of 111, was the last surviving combat soldier from the Great War of 1914 to 1918. There are some, however, who will say albeit with tongue planted firmly in cheek - that the last of the First World War's veterans is still very much with us, living out its well-earned retirement in a small corner of Oxfordshire.

It carries no name, only a number - 5322 - and consists of steel rather than flesh and blood. And quite how it managed to survive until now is something of a miracle.

Let us rewind to 1917. After three years of fighting, hostilities are ongoing in northern France with no immediate end in sight to the war between Britain and Germany along with their respective allies.

That April, a call went out from the coalition government to Britain's railway companies for steam locomotives to serve behind the lines on the Western Front, keeping the men and the materials of war flowing.

One of those companies, the Great Western Railway, set to work building 20 such locomotives at its giant factory in Swindon.