Who is the last WW I vet still alive?

M

Mike Marra

New member
Hello, Mike here from Ramstein, Germany. Does anyone know if there are any WW I veterans still alive? I recently heard there were about a dozen left in France and they were all being tracked so France would know who the last one was still living. Can anyone provide me any information on this? I am not sure if there are any living American WW I vets left alive. Thanks - Mike
 
Hi Mike,

There are four members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) still alive as of 25 Feb 2006. However, none served in France.

The last CEF soldier to serve in France died Saturday, November 26. 2005. The National Flag of Canada was flown at half-mast on the Peace Tower on the Parliament building in Ottawa from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, November 30, 2005, in honour of the passing of Mr. Charles Clarence Laking age 106.

Charles Clarence Laking enlisted in 1917 in Guelph, Ontario at the age of 18 against his minister father's wishes. He served two years in France as a signaler, stringing wire for field telephones along the trenches. His duties included trips to the front line to observe where shells landed and then telephone the information to gunners at the rear. In 1918, he was hit by shrapnel and suffered a small flesh wound of the head, and was in a first-aid station when the war ended.

He died 26 November 2005 at age 106 in Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital. He was the last Canadian living who saw action in World War I

Tony
 
Thanks Tony, incredible story! Thanks so much for the great information. It just seems to me that few are paying attention to the passing of a magnificent generation. I am hoping the media or perhaps our governments will acknowledge the WW I generation and honor their service. Again, thanks Tony! Mike
 
Unfortunately I don't recall all the details, nor do I remember his name, but I saw an article last Veteran's Day about a town somewhere here in the USA that had some reenactors dressed as WW1 soldiers lined up to lead the town's parade when they found out there was a living vet right there. He ended being made the grand marshal of the parade. If I recall correctly the old guy still did "volunteer work" at the veteran's hospital!
 
Mike, what a great story! I wish our Veterans Administration would do something useful like ID our WW I vets for us to honor! Appreciate the great story! Mike Marra
 
One of the last ones, Ferdinand Gilson, passed away last Sunday in France at 107. You can read is story on the web on Le Monde.fr. Go to "actualites", then to "carnet". There should be less than 10 left in France...
Bruno
 
Wow, Thanks Bruno - it is good to see France is keeping track of them. I have heard they are going to have a national day of mourning for them when the last one passes away soon. I live in Europe and was hoping to attend it - will keep my eyes open for it. Thanks for the link to the story! Regards, Mike
 
Mike, I read today that 2 more Frenchmen are claiming that they fought at the end of WW1, which is being verified. As you say, the last survivor will have kind of national funerals, as was recently decided by the government.
Bruno
 
Bruno, that is really interesting! No doubt these folks are authentic. However, there is a tendency in France to claim they all fought in the "resistance" in WW II in my personal experience with many! Well, that is great - I will try to watch this as well. To me, it is absolutely amazing there are still people alive who fought in WW I, which is sort of a hobby of ours and seems so very long ago! Bruno, where are you getting all this great info on the vets? I really appreciate it and hope I can find more about the aging vets of the Great War! Mike
 
I saw an article on this subject today in Le Monde online. They must have been engaged in the conflict for at least 3 months to be considered as vets. This is why there are verifications going on... Anyway, there are between 5 and 7 WW1 survivors known in France today.
Good luck in your search,
Bruno
 
It is said when you read numbers like that . Veterabs affairs is not positive on the number but the number mentioned above is the best count they have.
A few years ago When Canada sent what it thought were it's last vets to France ,it missed a friend . Mr Fred West MM and Bar ,at the time was physicaly not bad for 100 yrs.
But not long khow and they will al be gone.
Maek G.
 
WWI aircraftswoman dies aged 107

Alice Baker lived in her own home until she was 104
One of the last surviving women to have served in World War I has died in Norfolk aged 107.
Alice Baker, born in Costessey near Norwich in 1898, joined the Royal Flying Corps at the age of 18 and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftswoman.

During the war Mrs Baker served as a "doper" in Dover, which involved daubing the canvas wings of biplanes with a lacquer to make them waterproof.

She died in her sleep at her Ditchingham care home last Monday.

Max Arthur, a writer who specialises in first-hand recollections of historical events said her job in the Royal Flying Corps - forerunner of the RAF - was one of the many women had to do during the war.

"Women did so much during in WWI - it's almost a forgotten area, and an area that should not be forgotten.

Alice Baker served as a doper in Dover with the Royal Flying Corps

"We should be giving great reverence to this lady and giving her a tremendous funeral and send-off."

After the war, Mrs Baker became a nurse at St Andrew's Hospital in Thorpe before marrying Stanley, a police officer.

Their son Leslie served as a bomber pilot in World War II.

An ardent Chelsea Football Club supporter, she enjoyed the odd tot of brandy and was very much involved in village life in Hempnall, near Wymondham.

In 1993 at the age of 94, Mrs Baker was invited to stand next to the Queen as she cut the cake at RAF Marham during the 75th birthday celebrations of the RAF.

She was honoured with two surprise flypasts by RAF Coltishall squadrons - one to mark her 100th birthday and the other last July for her 107th birthday.


Alice married Stanley, a police officer, after becoming a nurse

Speaking on BBC Radio Norfolk in 1999, Mrs Baker remembered the first bike she had as a child.

"We never had tyres like we did today and the roads were not even - they used to have stones put on them," she said.

"I think a lot has changed, and not all for the better."

Mrs Baker lived in her own home in Hempnall with the support of family and friends until she was 104, when she moved into All Hallow's Hospital in Ditchingham.

Her funeral will take place on Thursday at Hempnall Parish Church.

Otto ( of course, the article is not mine )
alice2020gn.jpg
alice2030ma.jpg

alice2017gx.jpg
 
Great post Otto,
The contributions the women made are often overlooked. can you imagine what it was like t stand by the Queen and be introduced as a doper, that must have been an inspiration to a lot of young people. It is amazing how the languages change.
Gus
 
A ww1 Vet that lives in Oshawa Ontario Canada Turned 105 . He made it to France and was discovered to be 15 or16 and sent back to Canada.
He served in the reserves in Canada in WW2 the Perth Regiment .
Mark
 
...more about Mrs Alice Baker.
Otto

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED03%20Mar%202006%2020%3A25%3A19%3A470
 
It is a good article Otto . I had to send the link to a couple friends who read and collect women's effort's during the war.
Mark
 
James and my Grandfather, James LeRoy was a US Marine on his way over to the Great War on a cruise liner. The war ended right before he got to Paris. He came home safe but I will never forget as a child talking to his friends who were disabled from poison gas.

I was given a WWI medal from Mr. Robards, my grandfather's friend who lived across the street from him. I think my brother James still has it for safe keeping.
 
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