Talk:Last surviving World War I veteran by country

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[edit] Missing countries

Some countries are missing (most were part of a other country in this time):

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Georgia
  • Greece
  • Indian Empire
  • Iraq
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Lithuania
  • Macedonia
  • Moldavian/Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • Palestine
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Syria
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Yemen

Somebody know anything of veterans of this countries? Have I forgotten a country? Can we sure that a country of this list never had WWI-Veterans?

B.t.w.: Doesn't it make sense to split last Czechoslovakia Veteran in to the last veteran from Czech Republic and the last from Slovakia? Statistician 20:16, 12 September 2007 (CET)

Why those four in capitals: explain? Extremely sexy 17:37, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

This are the countries with a larger number of solders Allies_of_World_War_I#Personnel_and_casualties_of_the_Allied_powers.
Btw.: In the Book "Der Aufstieg des Faschismus" (http://www.amazon.de/Aufstieg-Faschismus-Europa-Francis-Carsten/dp/B0000BQCB3/ref=sr_1_6/303-0180360-6785853?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189776970&sr=8-6) I found that in 1915 2.000 finish men came to Berlin and were trained to fought against russia als a special "Jägerbataillon" (hunter / ranger? bataillon).
Statistician 15:44, 14 September 2007 (CET)

There wasn't an Israel until 1948. It was the same thing as Palestine. Czolgolz (talk) 04:27, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Unreferenced entries

I've standardized the references and added the flags and links for all the countries. A number of the entries on this table are unreferenced but, I suspect, a little digging will turn up sources for most of them. I'll try and get on that a little later. Canadian Paul 16:47, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

The flags certainly add a bit of colour. As far as the references go, I looked for the ones on the biography pages if they had one. Alternatively I looked on the deaths pages. Amazingly none of Emiliano Mercado's references stated that he was the last Puerto Rican vet. I suppose it was taken for granted, so I used Ders des Ders.

The entries awaiting citations do so because they had references that showed they existed, served for whoever, and were centenarians, but not that they were the last of their country. Given all the John Ross arguments over on 'oldest living by country' I know you appreciate that reasoning. Captain celery 23:15, 9 August 2007 (UTC)Captain celery

Absolutely, and when I get some more time I'll look for some references myself. I'm not going to delete any of the entries, since I feel that listing the last surviving veterans is far more important than guessing who the oldest person in a country is, I just wanted to acknowledge which ones needed it. Very nice job on all of this, by the way. Canadian Paul 23:21, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Thanks very much. That makes it all worthwhile. I thought that the 'list of last notable events' was top heavy with veterans, and since they were mostly WW1, I moved them across. I see you've referenced Panculescu, which I was about to do, since I doubt the one who was alive in 98 is now. I think the others uncited are on probation for now. Some might not make it but we'll see. And I think it's OK to guess who the oldest people in countries are, as long as they're educated guesses. Captain celery 00:07, 10 August 2007 (UTC)Captain celery

For the reasons discussed here, maybe we should remove Robert Ruttledge? Or maybe add a note that he was the last known survivor? This might be construed as original research though... Cheers, CP 20:30, 17 August 2007 (UTC)

I don't really want to add notes because it's always possible that we are wrong. Who knew that Yakup Satar would turn up? Being a British 'subject', we have more of a handle on Ruttledge than on Jose Ladeira, so if one goes, then both should go. Captain celery 01:54, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

That's true, but I'm just thinking that we'll never find a source that says he was the last veteran from the Republic of Ireland... we have a source that says he's dead, but I don't even recall if it even mentioned he was a veteran. Cheers, CP 02:04, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
Herewith Robert Ruttledge's Irish Times obituary (link to free version attached [1]) which refers to his service in WWI. Details of WWI campaign medals awarded can be found in the National Archive under reference 372/17.
Walter Humphry's birth and death detals can be found at Ancestry.com (alas subsription now required)[2]with reference to his war service at a UK Department for Trade & Industry article[3] which I hope serves as citation enough. 81.129.154.142 23:09, 23 August 2007 (UTC)Bruce
The reason I didn't cite Humphreys is because the accesible reference didn't explicitly state that he was the last from Wales, and from the way you've put it, it doesn't seem like the Ancestry one does either, subscription or no. The offline source may do, but of course an internet link is preferable.
It's funny how Ruttledge's obituary focuses more on his ornithology, just like the Kark article is about his publishing. Good that they lived rich and varied lives, but WW1 service should be more of a talking point, especially in the 21st century. It's a bit pessimistic to say that we'll never find better citations but I accept the possibility.
Then again, I have used Ders des Ders despite it being French. At least that's easily translatable, unlike the Serbian reference that Paul added for Radovanovic. But that was the best one to be found so maybe we should accept inferior citations since they're better than nothing. Captain celery 22:23, 24 August 2007 (UTC)
I've cross-referenced the surviving UK veterans, then those who died in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 with the 1837-1983 Birth Index and Walter Humphrys is definitely the most recently deceased Welsh-born (in Cardiff) veteran to appear - unless, of course, there is another undiscovered Welsh veteran out there. His war campaign medal details are at the National Archive catalogue reference WO372/10. Humphrys died in London which may explain why his passing and status went unrecorded at the time.217.42.89.209 21:27, 28 August 2007 (UTC)Bruce
I don't doubt your research, but I wanted an online citation that would make it clear. If people have to go on to the National Archive then they're having to go to some of the trouble that you did. But as you say, his death wasn't noted so it may be the best we have. 84.13.159.181 23:46, 28 August 2007 (UTC)Captain celery
Not to mention that it's original research. Cheers, CP 02:01, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Move

I've moved this page from Last World War I veteran by country to Last surviving World War I veteran by country. I feel this is more descriptive and suits the article better. -- Floaterfluss (talk) (contribs) 17:11, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure that it adds anything, but if you think it does, it certainly doesn't take anything away, so it's fine with me. Captain celery 01:11, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Question about countries in the list

What does the country signify in the list? Is it where the person resides now, where they were born, where they lived at the time of the war, or some other possibility? Could someone who knows write a brief lead-in to the list to clarify? Thanks — Bellhalla (talk) 03:43, 7 February 2008 (UTC)