For years he was at Henry Allingham’s side, escorting him to schools and large events.

Now Dennis Goodwin has told how he plans to keep Mr Allingham’s memory alive.

The founder of the First World War Veterans' Association said the death of Mr Allingham had closed a chapter in his life.

He said: “I looked upon him as an ambassador who captured people's imagination with his memories of the First World War.

“Things are still progressing. We are still trying to keep alive the memory of the First World War and are actively pursuing some sort of legacy for the veterans, for the children and other generations, to get them involved.”

Mr Goodwin, 83, of Worthing, said it had been difficult since Mr Allingham died, although he had prepared himself for it.

He said: “I could see the condition he was in and I could see the end was nigh.

“I had taken Henry on lots of journeys but I said to him the day before he died, ‘You are on your own on this journey and you have got your guardian angel watching over you.

“‘He watched over you in the war and he will watch over you now.’ That's how I remember Henry.”

Mr Allingham died peacefully in his sleep, aged 113, on July 18 at St Dunstan's care home in Ovingdean, Brighton. He was one of the last surviving First World War veterans.

Mr Goodwin said that up and down the country there are lists of people who died during the First World War but there are no lists for the people who survived and returned home.

He said: “The dead from the First World War are well-respected, they are mourned each year.

“What we want to do is to try to keep the memories of the men who survived the war fresh and alive.”

He said that when Mr Allingham died, he believes the whole nation not only mourned him but also their own relatives who fought and died in wars.

He said: “Whenever I took him anywhere, I was amazed at the amount of people who came up and said my father, brother, uncle was in the war and they could see their relatives in Henry.

“It was expressed so well by the public, even in the youngsters. It was amazing.

“He certainly had a truly magnificent send off. It was a tribute to all those men and women who gave their lives.”

The Argus continues to campaign for the Government to give Mr Allingham the recognition he deserves.

You can support the campaign by filling in this coupon and sending it back to us, or join through our website, theargus.co.uk.