List of surviving veterans of World War I

The following is a list of known surviving veterans of World War I (WWI) (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918). The total number of participating personnel is estimated by the Encyclopedia Britannica at 65,038,810. There were approximately 9,750,103 military casualties during the conflict.

Veterans, for this purpose, are defined as people who were members of the armed forces of one of the combatant nations up to and including the date of the Armistice. Other WWI-era veterans are listed separately. This policy may vary from the policy in actual use in some countries.

112-year-old Briton Henry Allingham, born 6 June 1896, is currently the oldest living verified WWI veteran. Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico (21 August 1891 – 24 January 2007), who died aged 115, is the oldest authenticated veteran, from any conflict, to have ever lived. On 27 May 2008, the last Central Powers' veteran, Franz Künstler of Austria-Hungary, died at age 107.

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Verified veterans of World War I—8 veterans

On 27 June 2006, the British Government approved a National Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey to take place after the death of the last known WWI veteran.[1] Similarly, on 21 November 2006, the Canadian House of Commons approved a state funeral for the last WWI veteran to have served in the Canadian forces to die.[2] This will now go to John Babcock should he accept it. On 19 March 2008, Frank Buckles was approved for burial at Arlington National Cemetery upon his eventual death.[3] Although John Campbell Ross is the last known Australian veteran, he did not see active service and the Australian state funeral was given for William Evan Allan on 25 October 2005.[4]

Residence Name Date of Birth Age Nationality Force served Notes
Flag of Australia.svg Australia Choules, Claude Stanley 01901-03-03 3 March 1901 108 English Flag of the United Kingdom Royal Navy Joined up in 1916. Last witness to the scuttling of the fleet. Moved to Australia in 1926 and served with Australian Navy in WWII. Lives in Perth, Western Australia.[5][6]
Flag of Australia.svg Australia Ross, John Campbell (Jack) 01899-03-11 11 March 1899 110 Australian Flag of Australia Australian Army 1st AIF Last Australian digger. Joined up in 1918 as wireless operator[7] but did not see action. Served in Home Guard in WWII. Australia's oldest man. Lives in Bendigo, Victoria.[8]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Allingham, Henry William 01896-06-06 6 June 1896 113 English Flag of the United Kingdom 12 Squadron RNAS (later RAF) Last airman. Joined up in 1915. Last witness to Battle of Jutland and Battle of the Somme. Europe's oldest man and oldest ever Englishman. Lives in Brighton, Sussex.[9][10]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Hughes, Netherwood (Ned) 01900-06-12 12 June 1900 109 English Flag of the United Kingdom British Army 51st Manchester Regiment Called up in 1918. Did not see action (was still in training). Lives in Accrington, Lancashire.[11][12]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Patch, Henry John (Harry) 01898-06-17 17 June 1898 111 English Flag of the United Kingdom British Army
7th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Called up in 1917. Last veteran to serve in the trenches and last to be wounded in action. Last survivor of Battle of Passchendaele. Fireman in WWII. Lives in Wells, Somerset.[13][14][15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Stone, William Frederick (Bill) 01900-09-23 23 September 1900 109 English Flag of the United Kingdom Royal Navy Joined up in 1918. Did not see action (was still in training), but is also WWII veteran. Lives in Reading, Berkshire.[16][17]
Flag of the United States.svg United States Babcock, John Henry Foster (Jack) 01900-07-23 23 July 1900 109 Canadian First 146th, CEF, then Boys Battalion Last Canadian veteran. Joined up in 1916. Completed training, but did not see action (held back in Britain due to age). Moved to US in 1924 and lives in Spokane, Washington.[18][19]
Flag of the United States.svg United States Buckles, Frank Woodruff 01901-02-01 1 February 1901 108 American Flag of the United States United States Army 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment Last US doughboy. Joined up in 1917. Drove ambulance near Western Front. Held prisoner in WWII. Lives in Charles Town, West Virginia.[20][21]

Unverified World War I veteran claims—2 veterans

These are claims that were included in the press, but have not been verified by a government-sanctioned body or actual records located. To be a claim there must be at least a citation.

Residence Name Date of Birth Age Nationality Force served Notes
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine Krichevsky, Mikhail Efimovich 01897-02-25 25 February 1897 112 Ukrainian Flag of Russia Russian Army Claimed to have joined up in June 1917. Sent to Austro-Hungarian front in October 1917. After October Revolution returned home. Lives in Donetsk.[22][23]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Terrey, Douglas (Doug) 01903-06-27 27 June 1903 106 English Flag of the United Kingdom British Army Ordnance Corps Claimed to have joined up in 1917 as despatch rider. Served in Home Guard in WWII. Lives in Southampton, Hampshire.[24][25]

World War I-era veterans—3 veterans

Listed here are those who joined the armed services after the Armistice date, but before the Treaty of Versailles; or where there is debate on their join-date; or whose military service is sometimes viewed as outside the scope of WWI, but are considered WWI-era vets by the press or by their respective governments; or who served in a related conflict.

Residence Name Date of Birth Age Nationality Force served Notes
Flag of Finland.svg Finland Arvonen, Aarne Armas (Arska) 01897-08-04 4 August 1897 112 Finnish Red flag.svg Red Guards Last Finnish Civil War veteran. Finland's oldest ever man and last Finn born in 1890s. Lives in Järvenpää.[26][27]
Flag of Poland.svg Poland Kowalski, Józef 01900-02-02 2 February 1900 109 Polish Flag of Poland Polish Army 22nd Regiment Ułanów Last Polish-Soviet War veteran. Took part in September Campaign in WWII and later held in concentration camp. Poland's oldest man. Lives in Tursk, near Sulęcin.[28][29]
Flag of the United States.svg United States Rex, Robley H. 01901-05-04 4 May 1901 108 American Flag of the United States United States Army First 5th, then 28th Infantry Lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Claims to have enlisted in 1918, but other sources cite 1919.[30][31]

World totals—13 veterans

See also

References

  1. "Last WWI veteran to be honoured". BBC News (2006-06-27). Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
  2. "First World War veterans don't want state funeral". CBC News (2007-01-02). Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  3. "Arlington Cemetery makes historic exception for World War I veteran". Salem News (2008-04-08). Retrieved on 2008-08-01.
  4. "William Evan Allan: life of a boy sailor". Navy News (2005-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-08-03.
  5. "World War I Veteran at UWA Art Show Opening". UWA Public Affairs (2006-02-08). Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  6. Booth, Gary (2002-05-13). "500 km by bike to demolish Albany". Navy News. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  7. "Last Aussie digger to fight in WWI dies". The Age (2005-10-18). Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  8. Turnbull, Jeff (2008-03-11). "Oldest Digger celebrates turning 109". news.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-11-06.
  9. Smith, David (2006-10-29). "Great War foes embrace as friends". The Observer. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  10. Mccaffrey, Julie (2006-10-30). "Old Enemies.. New Friends". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  11. Kenyon, Lisa (2008-06-20). "Old Ned's still in top gear for his 108th milestone". Accrington Observer. Retrieved on 2008-08-14.
  12. Bingham, John (2008-11-20). "'New' First World War veteran comes to light through internet". The Telegraph. Retrieved on 2008-12-01.
  13. "WWI veteran celebrates 108 years". BBC Online News (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  14. "Veteran, 109, revisits WWI trench". BBC Online News (2007-07-29). Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
  15. Patch, Harry; van Emden, Richard (2007). The Last Fighting Tommy. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-0-7475-9115-3. 
  16. "Profile of William Frederick Stone". HMS Newfoundland Association. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  17. Hamilton, George (2008-09-08). "World War One survivor collapses". Oxford Mail. Retrieved on 2008-11-16.
  18. "Lest We Forget". CBC News (2006-11-06). Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  19. "Canada's last WW1 vet gets his citizenship back", CBC News (2008-05-09). 
  20. "Oldest Living Heroes Remembered". CBS News (2006-11-11). Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  21. Dean Reynolds and Elizabeth Stuart (2006-12-02). "Last WWI Veterans Get Their Due". ABC News. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  22. "Последний в мире ветеран Первой мировой живет в Донецке" (2008-02-22). Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
  23. Sopova, Alice (04-11-04). "Старейший житель Донецка М.Е.КРИЧЕВСКИЙ: "Я работал на Махно"". Retrieved on 18-11-08.
  24. "Army remembers old soldier Doug". Southern Daily Echo (2003-06-27). Retrieved on 2008-10-02.
  25. "105th birthday - Mr Douglas Terrey". Marchwood Parish Council (28-09-08). Retrieved on 18-11-08.
  26. Seppälä, Anu (1999-12-24). "Arska, entering his third century and NOT “growing old gracefully”". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  27. Kauppinen, Perttu (2002-08-06). "At age 105, Aarne Arvonen still knows how to enjoy life". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  28. "Pan Józef ma 107 lat i czuje się znakomicie" (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. Retrieved on 2007-03-16.
  29. "Niech żyje 200 lat!" (in Polish). Radio Zachód S.A.. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  30. Stapleton, Ellen R. (2003-11-09). "Ky.'s oldest veteran, 102, still devoted to service". The Enquirer. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  31. Associated Press. "WWI Vets Gallery". CNN. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.

External links