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Oldest man lives in Britain

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The Associated Press

Published: June 20, 2009

LONDON - Guinness World Records said Friday that 113-year-old British World War I veteran Henry Allingham has become the world's oldest man.

The previous holder of the title, Tomoji Tanabe, died in his sleep in southern Japan on Friday at the age of 113.

"He died peacefully. His family members were with him," said Junko Nakao, a city official in Miyakonojo on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Tanabe died of heart failure, she said.

Tanabe was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest man when he was 111 years old.

Allingham, who gained the oldest man title on the death on Tanabe, is one of only two surviving World War I veterans in Britain and celebrated his 113th birthday June 6. He has been Britain's oldest man since January 2007.

Allingham joined the Royal Naval Air Service - precursor to the Royal Air Force - in 1915, and a year later took part in the Battle of Jutland, the war's largest naval battle. During World War II he worked on measures to counter magnetic mines.

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