List of last surviving World War I veterans explained

This is a list of the last known surviving veterans of the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918) who lived to 1999 or later, along with the last known veterans for countries that participated in the war. Veterans are defined as people who were members of the armed forces of the combatant nations during the conflict, although some states use other definitions.

Florence Green, a British citizen who served in the Allied armed forces as a Royal Air Force (WRAF) service member, is generally considered to have been the last verified veteran of the war at her death on 4 February 2012, aged 110.[1] The last combat veteran was Claude Choules, who served in the British Royal Navy (and later the Royal Australian Navy) and died 5 May 2011, aged 110.[2] The last veteran who served in the trenches was Harry Patch (British Army), who died on 25 July 2009, aged 111. The last Central Powers veteran, Franz Künstler of Austria-Hungary, died on 27 May 2008 at the age of 107.

The total number of participating personnel is estimated by the Encyclopædia Britannica at 65,038,810. There were approximately 9,750,000 military deaths during the conflict.

Last surviving veterans of each country

CountryVeteranDeath datedata-sort-type="number"Age
Senekerim Arakelian[3] style=text-align:right9 September 2000style=text-align:right98 years
AustraliaJohn Campbell Ross[4] style=text-align:right3 June 2009style=text-align:right110 years
August Bischof[5] style=text-align:right4 March 2006style=text-align:right105 years
BelgiumCyriel Barbarystyle=text-align:right16 September 2004style=text-align:right105 years
BrazilWaldemar Levy Cardosostyle=text-align:right13 May 2009style=text-align:right108 years
CanadaJohn Babcock[6] style=text-align:right18 February 2010style=text-align:right109 years
Zhu Guisheng[7] style=text-align:right5 March 2002style=text-align:right106 years
Alois Vocásek[8] style=text-align:right9 August 2003style=text-align:right107 years
Denmarkstyle=text-align:leftLorenz Gram[9] style=text-align:right26 December 2004105 years
FrancePierre Picault[10] style=text-align:right20 November 2008style=text-align:right109 years
Erich Kästner[11] style=text-align:right1 January 2008style=text-align:right107 years
data-sort-value="Hungary"Franz Künstler[12] style=text-align:right27 May 2008style=text-align:right107 years
Robert Francis Ruttledgestyle=text-align:right12 January 2002style=text-align:right102 years
Delfino Borroni[13] style=text-align:right26 October 2008style=text-align:right110 years
Yasuichi Sasaki[14] style=text-align:right26 July 2006style=text-align:right108 years
Danilo Dajković[15] style=text-align:right14 September 1993style=text-align:right98 years
New ZealandBright Williams[16] style=text-align:right13 February 2003style=text-align:right106 years
Wallace Pike[17] style=text-align:right11 April 1999style=text-align:right99 years
Yakup Satar[18] style=text-align:right2 April 2008style=text-align:right110 years
PolandStanisław Wycech[19] style=text-align:right12 January 2008style=text-align:right105 years
RomaniaGheorghe Pănculescu[20] style=text-align:right9 January 2007style=text-align:right103 years
Mikhail Krichevsky[21] [22] style=text-align:right26 December 2008style=text-align:right111 years
Aleksa Radovanović[23] style=text-align:right22 June 2004style=text-align:right103 years
SiamYod Sangrungruang[24] style=text-align:right9 October 2003style=text-align:right106 years
Norman Kark[25] [26] style=text-align:right30 March 2000style=text-align:right102 years
Florence Green[27] style=text-align:right4 February 2012style=text-align:right110 years
Frank Buckles[28] style=text-align:right27 February 2011style=text-align:right110 years

The last surviving veteran from the Colony of Jamaica was Stanley Stair[29] (d. 2008) and from British Guyana was Gershom Browne[30] (d. 2000). Thomas Shaw (d. 2002) was the last veteran from Ireland,[31] and Alfred Anderson (d. 2005) was the last from Scotland.[32]

Notes

Veterans by country of service – 9 veterans who lived to 2009 or later

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 World War I veteran from the United Kingdom. On 11 November 2009, despite the survival to that date of Claude Choules and Florence Green, the commemoration was held following the death of Harry Patch.[33] On 21 November 2006, the House of Commons of Canada approved a state funeral for the last World War I veteran to have served in the Canadian forces,[34] but this was declined by John Babcock.

Country servedNameBornDiedNotes
John Campbell Ross (110)Last Australian digger and the last veteran of any status to serve Australia in the conflict. Joined in early 1918 as wireless operator, but did not see action. Served in Home Guard in World War II. Australia's oldest person. Lived in Bendigo, Victoria.[35] [36] [37] [38]
CanadaJohn Babcock (109)Last Canadian veteran. Declined state funeral. Joined in 1916. Served first in 146th, CEF, then transferred to Boys Battalion. Completed training in UK but did not see action due to age. Moved to US in 1924. Lived in Spokane, Washington.[39] [40] [41] [42]
Henry Allingham6 June 189618 July 2009 (113)Last airman. Served in the 12 Squadron RNAS (later RAF). Joined in 1915 as mechanic. Last veteran of the Battle of Jutland. World's oldest man and oldest ever British man. Oldest veteran ever to see action. Lived in Brighton, Sussex.[43] [44] [45]
Claude Choules (110)Last living combatant of World War I.[46] Last seaman. Last veteran who served in both World Wars. Last male veteran. Joined in 1916. Last witness to the German Naval surrender. Moved to Australia in 1926 and served with Royal Australian Navy in World War II. Lived in Perth, Western Australia.[47] [48] [49]
Florence Green (110)Last female veteran and last officially recognized veteran. Worked as a waitress in the Royal Air Force; the Women's Royal Air Force.[50] Lived in North Lynn, Norfolk. Not recognized as a veteran until 2008.[51]
Netherwood Hughes (108)Called up to the 51st Manchester Regiment in mid 1918 as truck driver. Did not see action as he was still in training. Lived in Accrington, Lancashire.[52] [53]
Harry Patch17 June 189825 July 2009 (111)Last Tommy. Served in the British Army under the 7th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Last veteran to serve in trenches and to be wounded in action. Called up in 1916. Last survivor of Battle of Passchendaele. Fireman in World War II. Europe's oldest man upon death. Lived in Wells, Somerset.[54] [55] [56] [57]
Bill Stone (108)Joined Royal Navy in 1918. Did not see action as he was still in training, but was also a World War II veteran. Lived in Reading, Berkshire at the time of his death.[58] [59]
Frank Buckles (110)United States Army 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment. Last American veteran. Joined in 1917. Ambulance driver near Western Front. Held prisoner in World War II as a civilian. Lived in Charles Town, West Virginia.[60] [61]

Unverified World War I veterans – 4 possible veterans who lived to 2009 or later

Listed here are the possible veterans who were not verified as a World War I veteran.

Country servedNameBornDiedNotes
Sante Dal Santo8 September 190226 February 2009 (106)Claimed to have joined up in 1916 at the age of 14 as a "Digger" digging trenches and tunnels. Also served in World War II. Lived in Montecchio Precalcino.[63] [64]
Carlo Dozzi25 January 190130 May 2009 (108)Claimed to have joined up in 1917 at the age of 16 as a "Digger" digging trenches and tunnels. Also served in World War II. Lived in Maniago.[65]
Harry Futcher27 May 2010 (106)Claimed to have joined up in 1918 at the age of 14 as a bandsman in the British Army serving in Egypt during the First World War. Lived in Dorset, England.[66] [67]
Douglas Edward "Doug" Terrey26 June 2010 (107)Claimed to have joined up in 1917 as bicycle courier delivering messages in the Southampton Military District. Served in Home Guard in World War II. Lived in Southampton, Hampshire.[68] [69]

World War I era veterans – 8 veterans who lived to 2009 or later

Listed here are those that joined the armed services after the Armistice date, but before the Treaty of Versailles was signed, 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 World War I-era veterans by the press or by their respective governments, or served in a related conflict.

Country servedNameBornDiedNotes
Waldemar Levy Cardoso13 May 2009 (108)Last Brazilian World War I-Era veteran, served in the Brazilian Army, joining in late 1918 but did not see action. Lieutenant Colonel in World War II. Last living Brazilian field marshal. Later lived in Rio de Janeiro.[70] [71]
Finnish Socialist Workers' RepublicAarne Arvonen (111)Last Red Guard veteran from the Finnish Civil War. Oldest Nordic person and Finland's oldest ever man. Last living Finn born in the 19th century. Lived in Järvenpää.[72] [73] [74]
Lauri Nurminen (102)Last White Guard and possibly last Finnish Civil War veteran. Served in Ernst Linders Satakunta army group. Lived in Valkeakoski, Finland.[75]
FranceFélix Maximilian Rostaing (109)French World War I-Era veteran, served in the Franco-Turkish War. Re-enlisted in 1928 and served in China, Mali and Morocco. Lived in Capbreton, France.[76]
Helmut Fink (108)Last German Revolution veteran and last German World War I-era veteran, served in the Freikorps during the German Revolution of 1918-1919. Lived in Germany.
PolandJózef Kowalski (113)Last World War I-era veteran, fought in the Polish Soviet War between 1919-21.
PolandWilhelm Meisel (105)Last Silesian Uprisings veteran, joined up in 1919 at the age of 15 and served for the Polish Army during the Silesian uprising until it ended in 1921. Lived in Poland.
Robley Rex (107)Last American World War I-era veteran, joined 5th Infantry Division in May 1919. Later moved to 28th Infantry. Served in Intelligence Unit. Lived in Louisville, Kentucky.[77] [78] [79]

Totals – 21 veterans who lived to 2009 or later

See also

Notes and References

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  3. Web site: Montebello hosts exhibit commemorating 98th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. 2013-04-11. 2015-07-03. Juliette Funes.
  4. Web site: Australia's oldest man and Digger Jack Ross dies aged 110. 3 June 2009 . The Age. 2011-02-15.
  5. Web site: Autriche. fr. Ders Des Ders. 2010-11-20.
  6. Web site: ..John Babcock, Last Canadian World War I Veteran, Dies at 109. The New York Times. 2010-02-24. 2010-11-20. Goldstein. Richard.
  7. Book: O'Neill, Mark. The Chinese Labour Corps . Penguin Books . March 3, 2014 . UK .
  8. News: Velinger. Jan. Oldest Czech legionnaire was never able to clear tarnished reputation. Radio Praha. 14 August 2003. 22 September 2016.
  9. Web site: 2015-05-18 . jv.dk – Lokale nyheder – Haderslev – Sidste veteran var hædersgæst . 2023-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081853/http://www.jv.dk/artikel/103705:Haderslev--Sidste-veteran-var-haedersgaest . 18 May 2015 .
  10. Web site: france. fr. Ders Des Ders. 2010-11-20.
  11. Web site: Germany's 'last' WWI veteran dies. BBC. January 2008. 2010-11-20.
  12. Web site: Franz Künstler, Veteran of 2 Wars, Dies at 107. The New York Times. 2008-05-30. 2010-11-21.
  13. Web site: Delfino Borroni: Italy's last surviving veteran of the First World War . The Times . 2008-10-30 . 2010-11-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202105357/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24557283-12377,00.html . 2009-02-02 . dead .
  14. News: 15 September 2004. 佐々木安一さん106歳. ja. Yasuichi Sasaki 106 years old. Sunday Yamaguchi. dead. 5 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181206105350/http://sunyama.soreccha.jp/e304713.html. 2018-12-06.
  15. Web site: http://www.spc.rs/eng/petnaestogodisnjica_upokojenja_mitropolita_crnogorskoprimorskog_g_danila_18951993. sr:Петнаестогодишњица упокојења Митрополита црногорско-приморског Г. Данила (1895–1993). sr. Serbian Orthodox Church. 12 September 2008. 6 July 2013. 26 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120824/http://www.spc.rs/eng/petnaestogodisnjica_upokojenja_mitropolita_crnogorskoprimorskog_g_danila_18951993. dead.
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  17. Web site: Last of Newfoundland's WW1 vets passes away. CBC. 19 April 1999. 4 November 2010.
  18. Web site: Yakup Satar. The Times. 3 April 2008. 21 November 2010.
  19. Web site: Poland's WWI veteran Stanislaw passes away. Oman Tribune. 4 November 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110715001857/http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=news&id=19774&heading=Europe. 15 July 2011.
  20. Web site: ROUMANIE. fr. Ders Des Ders. 2010-11-21.
  21. Web site: http://novosti.dn.ua/details/58826/. ru:Последний в мире ветеран Первой мировой живет в Донецке (фото). ru. Интернет-газета Донбасса. 2008-02-22. 2010-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20110723025437/http://novosti.dn.ua/details/58826/. 2011-07-23. dead.
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  28. Web site: Last living U.S. World War I veteran dies. CNN. 2011-02-28. 2011-02-28. Courson. Paul.
  29. Web site: Last Caribbean veteran of first world war dies at 105 . The Guardian . 2003-03-03 . 2022-09-15.
  30. Web site: First World War Service and Sacrifice; Gershom Browne, (1898-2000). BlackHistoryMonth.org. 2022-07-25. 2022-09-15.
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  32. Web site: Evening Telegraph: News . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125131400/http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2005/11/21/story7762177t0.shtm . 25 November 2005 .
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  34. Web site: First World War veterans don't want state funeral . 2007-01-02. 2007-02-05 . CBC News.
  35. News: Last Aussie digger to fight in WWI dies . The Age . 2007-05-30 . 2005-10-18.
  36. Web site: Oldest Digger celebrates turning 109 . news.com.au . 2008-11-06 . Turnbull. Jeff. 2008-03-11.
  37. News: Australia's oldest man Jack Ross dies aged 110 . theage.com.au . 2009-06-03 . 2009-06-03.
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  39. Web site: Oldest Canadian World War I veteran dies. https://archive.today/20130210054630/http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12009482. dead. 2013-02-10. WKOW. 2010-02-18. 2010-02-19.
  40. Web site: Canada's last WW I veteran dies. CBC News. 2010-02-19. 2010-02-19.
  41. Web site: Last World War I vet Babcock dies at 109. The Kingston Whig Standard. 2010-02-19. 2010-02-19. Elliot. Ian. https://web.archive.org/web/20100220175649/http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2455993. 20 February 2010. dead.
  42. News: John Babcock, 108; Canada's last known veteran of WWI. The Boston Globe. 2010-02-20. 2010-04-01. Geranios. Nicholas K.
  43. News: Great War foes embrace as friends . 2007-01-22 . 2006-10-29 . David. Smith . The Observer.
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  45. News: Oldest WWI veteran dies aged 113 . 2009-07-18. BBC News. 2009-07-18.
  46. Choules, Claude The Last of the Last Mainstream Publishing pg 11 (introduction) & pg 61
  47. Web site: Veteran, 107, is last man to serve in both world wars. Worcester News. 2009-01-21. 2008-11-08. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090124191348/http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/3830105.Veteran__107__is_last_man_to_serve_in_both_world_wars/. 24 January 2009.
  48. Web site: 500 km by bike to demolish Albany . Navy News . 2007-07-06 . Booth . Gary . 2002-05-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071211164526/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/05_13_02/story09.htm . 11 December 2007 .
  49. News: Claude Choules says WWI was 'boring'. Agence France-Presse. 27 July 2009. The Australian. 2009-08-02. "Mr Choules was informed by his 80-year-old daughter Anne Pow over the weekend that the death of 111-year-old Harry Patch, Britain's last soldier who fought in the Great War's infamous trenches, had made him the country's sole survivor.". https://archive.today/20120525150744/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25841206-12377,00.html. 25 May 2012. dead.
  50. News: Last WWI combat veteran Claude Choules dies aged 110. 5 May 2011. BBC News. 7 February 2012.
  51. News: Norfolk first world war veteran dies aged 110. 7 February 2012. Eastern Daily Press. 7 February 2012. 3 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161003211923/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk_first_world_war_veteran_dies_aged_110_1_1201358. dead.
  52. Web site: Old Ned's still in top gear for his 108th milestone. Accrington Observer. 2008-06-20. 2008-08-14. Kenyon . Lisa.
  53. News: 'New' First World War veteran comes to light through internet. The Telegraph. 2008-11-20. 2008-12-01. Bingham. John.
  54. Web site: WWI veteran celebrates 108 years. 2007-01-22. 2006-10-30 . BBC Online News.
  55. Web site: Veteran, 109, revisits WWI trench. 2007-07-29. 2007-07-29. BBC Online News.
  56. Book: Patch, Harry. van Emden, Richard . Richard van Emden . The Last Fighting Tommy. Bloomsbury. 2007. London. 978-0-7475-9115-3.
  57. News: WWI veteran Patch dies aged 111. 25 July 2009. news.bbc.co.uk.
  58. Web site: Stone. Bill. Bill Stone (Royal Navy sailor). Naval and Other Memories of William Frederick Stone. H.M.S. Hood Association. 2009-01-11. 2009-01-11.
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  75. Web site: The last freedom fighter buried with pine sword. Valkeakoski Sanomat. 2010-04-08. 2009-03-05. Olli. Koikkalainen. 20 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720194213/http://www.valkeakoskensanomat.fi/cs/Satellite?c=AMArticle_C&childpagename=VKS_newssite%2FAMLayout&cid=1194614509450&p=1194615932343&pagename=VKSWrapper. dead.
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  78. Web site: Honouring Robley Rex. 2009-01-21. 2008-05-12. Senator McConnell, Mitch. Govtrack.
  79. Web site: Robley Rex, WWI-era vet, dies at age 107 . https://archive.today/20130120045812/http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090428/NEWS01/904290364 . dead . 20 January 2013 . 2009-04-29 . 2009-04-28 . Shafer, Sheldon S. . Burba, Paula . amp . The Courier Journal .

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