Léon Weil

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Léon Roger Weil (July 16, 1896 - June 6, 2006) was one of the last two surviving veterans of World War I of the battle of Val-de-Marne. He was almost 110 when he died at the Val-de-Grâce military hospital in Paris, France.

Joining the army when he was 20 years old, he was assigned to the fifth regiment of Chasseurs alpins (cinquième régiment de chasseurs alpins) in Alsace and took part in 1917 in the battle of Chemin des Dames. More than 150,000 people died during this battle. He was also a French Resistance fighter during World War II under the code name of Victor. After the war, he worked as a sales representative in the women's fashion industry. An avid fan of theatre and boxing (he was quite a good boxer in his younger days), he continued to swim until the age of 102.

At the time of his death he was one of the last seven surviving French veterans of World War I.

[edit] See also

• Veterans of the First World War who died in 2006

[edit] Reference

• The Star, Malaysia. Death of Leon Weil, 109, leaves France with six surviving veterans of World War I

[edit] External link

• Photo and details