Centenarian centurion

[Duncan Head]

So the Guardian today has a book review about ageing (bear with me, the relevance will come clear...) noting among other things that there are far fewer centenarians around than popularly thought, due to inadequate records and various forms of fraud. Then Ancient Warfare 107 pops through the letterbox, containing an article about a Roman centurion whose tombstone, in Wales, claims he died at the age of 100.

Hmmm. I reckon he was long dead and the family faked it to keep drawing his pension 

[Imperial Dave]

Wouldn't be the first 

[Mick Hession]

When the old age pension was introduced in Ireland claimants, in the absence of documentation proving their eligibility, were asked if they remembered "the Big Wind", a catastrophic storm in 1839. I'm sure that a truthful answer was universally given...

[Imperial Dave]

 

[stevenneate]

I'm sure you're right Duncan. Think of all the Later Roman officers drawing pay for a full complement.