Campaigners are demanding that the government honour the death of Britain's final First World War veteran with a state funeral, the first since that of Sir Winston Churchill 40 years ago.
Conservative MPs have lined up with Simon Weston, the Falklands war veteran, and Andrew Motion, the Poet Laureate, to back a proposal for a national event of pomp and pageantry usually reserved for monarchs. It would be held for the burial of the last person to serve in the 1914-18 conflict but would symbolise the passing of an entire generation which endured the horrors of the battlefield.
There are believed to be only 11 surviving veterans of 'the war to end all wars', all born in the reign of Victoria. If a state funeral was awarded, Britain would be following the example of countries such as Australia, where in recent years the funerals of 1914-18 veterans have become state occasions attended by senior politicians and heads of the military services.
The original proposal by Laurence Robertson, a Tory MP, has now been put in writing to Tony Blair, and would require formal approval by the Queen. But while it has earned support in some quarters, the First World War Veterans Association said it would prefer its members to be celebrated while still alive.
Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury, said: 'It would give the country a chance to show its appreciation. It would be like a Remembrance Day parade, a commemoration of those who lost their lives and those who survived.'
The plan was endorsed by Simon Weston. 'It would be a very fitting tribute to all those who suffered through terrible, terrible times,' he said. 'All wars are nasty and horrible but this was a particularly terrible time in world history. A state funeral would be a wonderful gesture. One chap might be getting it, but all of them deserve it.'
There was also support from Andrew Motion, the Poet Laureate and editor of the anthology First World War Poems. He said: 'It's a good idea, provided that the service doesn't somehow dignify the poor old fellow to the point that the reality of war gets lost behind a glittering funereal facade. As long as it remains in touch with the actualities of war and is not pompous, it will be fine.'
Motion said he would consider writing a poem for the event. 'It's certainly something I'd be interested in writing about. Surprisingly quickly, the First World War has become the national wound, which wasn't the case when it ended: for many years, people did their best to forget it. Now we've changed and I think that's right.'
Liam Fox, the new shadow defence secretary, said: 'I will have to look at the questions relating to legality and precedent but I will consider it sympathetically. It's always a good thing to remind subsequent generations of the sacrifices that have been made on their behalf.'
But the death of the last First World War veteran is unlikely to be a clear-cut event. There is no official list of the old soldiers, and disagreement over whether the status of 'veteran' should be accorded to anyone who wore uniform or only those who saw action. The First World War Veterans Association has a list of 11 - three years ago it was 60 - but the total goes up as well as down when it learns of previously 'unknown' soldiers. The government is keen to avoid the embarrassment of organising a state funeral, only to discover another veteran is still alive.
Dennis Goodwin, secretary of the association, said: 'We've got enough for a football team at the moment so we'd sooner look for a fixture than what happens when we get to the last one. It's too early to talk about their demise. Instead let's keep trying to relay their experiences to future generations.'
Henry Allingham, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, who at 109 is the oldest known surviving veteran, and still attends commemorative events at home and abroad, was also unenthusiastic. Asked if he felt a state funeral was appropriate, the former air mechanic, who served at Ypres and Jutland, said simply: 'I don't know, I try not to think about it.'
Other critics argue the gesture has already been made: on 11 November 1920, the Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey to symbolise all those who had died for their country, but whose place of death was not known.
A spokeswoman for the British Legion said: 'While others contest the most appropriate way to mark the passing of the last First World War veteran, the Legion believes that the wishes of the veteran, and his family, should carry the highest rank.
'Many of the survivors of that generation possess a quiet dignity about their lives; they may not wish for their death to be a public event. As a nation perhaps we can learn from this: let's not devalue the tremendous sacrifices of our First World War veterans and their fallen comrades by counting them off, one by one. They fought with the kind of integrity and courage and honour that this country will never forget, and their legacy will live on.'
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: 'We feel it's vital to honour such an important generation. There are a number of issues. How do we know it's the last veteran? How do you define a veteran? We are extremely grateful for the sacrifices they made and want to say thank you in an appropriate way.'