Last combat war veteran of WWI passes away

[DarrenL]

Claude Choules

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13289607

[DispatchDragon]

At the passing of the day.


It seems remarkable - only yesterday that you saw them marching to the Cenotaph every November. I can even remember Survivors of the Boer War marching when I was very very young


Leif

[Garry Russell]

That's a thought

I remember a few years ago when they said it would probably be the last as those who were left were finding it increasingly difficult to attend...now they are all gone

[DispatchDragon]

Garry

The way I see it , my mother is 92 - she was a mere slip of a girl in 1939, so now they are also slipping away, our heroes are leaving us. and there seem to be few replacing them.

Leif

[DarrenL]

They mentioned a state funeral for the last combat veteran, but I really don't think any of them (whoever it would have been over the last few years) would want that. Claude had been living in Australia for many years, that's where his family is. So I don't think he will be buried in Westminster Abbey.

Only one WWI era veteran left now, non-combatant Florence Green WRAF who served as an officers mess steward at RAF Marham.




And something else to consider, there are many WWII veterans still with us but even the youngest of them will be at least 84.