The passing of Harry Patch at the extraordinarily great age of 111 has struck a chord with the entire nation.

There was something about this man's indomitable spirit which was inspirational.

Here was a humble soul, born into a modest background, who, through his longevity, became our last tangible link to the horrors of World War One's trench warfare.

Harry Patch was little more than a boy when he witnessed the carnage of that conflict.

Those horrors remained with him throughout the rest of his life and, in these latter years when society at large began to acknowledge his remarkable presence, Harry took the chance to expound his views on man's inhumanity to man.

War, he concluded, was never, ever worth the loss of one life, let alone millions.

The fact this assertion came from someone who had not shirked from "doing their bit" when the call came to defend his country made it especially relevant.

As "The Last Tommy" Harry Patch met the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles.

On Remembrance Day last November he laid a wreath on behalf of the Army at the annual Cenotaph ceremony in London.

His life was celebrated in works of art, music and poetry, too.

In a week or so, Harry Patch will be laid to rest in the family grave near Bath after a service in Wells Cathedral.

Thousands are expected to gather to pay homage to him.

And rightly so.

Here in Bristol, the university where he had already been awarded an honorary degree is considering naming one of its buildings in his memory.

Wells, where he lived in a care home, afforded him the freedom of their city.

And the French and Belgian nations gave him some of their highest honours.

Curious, then, and rather sad, too, to reflect that in his lifetime our own nation, so quick to hand out honours to those far less worthy, chose to pass up on the opportunity of recognising Harry Patch, The Last Tommy.