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List of surviving veterans of World War I

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.141.57.30 (talk) at 22:58, 21 April 2007 (→Living in France - 4 veterans). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The following is a list of known surviving veterans of the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918). The total number of personnel who participated in the war is unknown, but there were an estimated nine million military casualties during the war.

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

Puerto Rico resident Emiliano Mercado del Toro (21 August 1891 - 24 January 2007), who died aged 115, is the oldest recorded veteran, from any conflict, to have ever lived.

British veteran and 110-year-old Henry Allingham is currently the oldest living verified veteran.

Verified veterans of the First World War - 29 veterans

Living in Australia - 4 veterans

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Choules, Claude Stanley Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 British British Royal Navy Served from the age of 14; subsequently emigrated to Australia in 1920.[1]
Lucas, Sydney (Syd) Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 British British - 1st Sherwood Foresters Did not see action (was still in training when the war ended)[2]
Ross, John Campbell Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 Australian Australian Wireless operator and last Australian digger
Young, William (Will) Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 British Royal Flying Corps Served as a wireless operator on the Western Front. Moved to Australia after World War II[3]

Living in Canada - 2 veterans

Wikinews has related news:

The Canadian House of Commons has approved a state funeral for the last World War I veteran to die.[1] This is to honour the 600,000 Canadians that fought in that war.

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Powers, Gladys Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 Canadian British (first WAAF, then WRAF) Served as a barracks waitress, now lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and is the last known female veteran[2]
Wilson, Dwight (Percy) Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 Canadian Canadian Did not see action (was still in training), but is also a WWII veteran, and lives in Toronto[3][4]

Living in France - 4 veterans

The French government has approved a state funeral for the last official World War I French veteran to die.

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
de Cazenave, Louis Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 127 French French Currently 2nd-oldest man in France at 109 (oldest is non-veteran).[4]
Lagaurnadie, Louis Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 French French Excluded in French government lists as it only counts those with more than three months of combat service
Ponticelli, Lazarre Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 127 Italian French, Italian Born in Piacenza as "Lazzaro", moved to France in 1907, joined French Foreign Legion in 1914 at age 16, served in French army first and later in Italian army.[5]
Tuveri, Justin Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 127 Italian Italian Born in Sardinia as "Giustino", moved to France in 1939 and only served in Italian army.[6]

Living in Germany - 4 veterans

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Christmann, Rudolf Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 German German Second oldest living German man: resides in Frankenthal (Rheinland-Pfalz)[5]
Kästner, Erich Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 German German
Künstler, Franz Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 Hungary German Austria-Hungary Lives in Niederstetten (Baden-Württemberg). Last living soldier of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire; served at the Italian front.[6]
Remmert, Wilhelm Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 German German Oldest living German man

Living in Italy - 6 veterans

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Bertolami, Carmelo Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 Italian Italian Excluded from Italian government lists as it only counts those with six months of service. Called up in March 1917.
Borroni, Delfino Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 Italian Italian Signed up in January 1917. Lives in Milan.
Carta, Giovanni Antonio Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 Italian Italian Signed up in 1917. Later became an officer. Lives in Sardinia.
Chiarello, Francesco Domenico Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 Italian Italian Called up in 1918. Also fought in WW2. Lives in Umbria.
Costanzo, Pasquale Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 Italian Italian
Serioli, Battista Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 Italian Italian Excluded from Italian government lists as it only counts those with six months of service. Signed up in May 1918. Lives in Marasino.

Living in Poland - 2 veterans

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Kowalski, Józef Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 Polish Russian Resides in Tursk, near Sulęcin, and fought with the Bolsheviks at the end of WWI[7][8]
Wycech, Stanisław Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 122 Polish Polish Military Organisation Enlisted 1917. In 1918 was pacifying Germans, and in 1920 fought with Bolsheviks. Reached the rank of captain. Resides in Warsaw[9][10][11][12]

Living in the UK - 3 veterans

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Allingham, Henry Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 128 British British - RNAS (later RAF) Was granted the Freedom of Eastbourne in April 2006, and is the oldest European man[13][14]
Patch, Harry Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 British British - Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Last British soldier who fought in the trenches.[7]
Stone, William (Bill) Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 British British - Royal Navy Did not see action (was still in training), but is also a WWII veteran.[8]

Living in the USA - 4 veterans

Name DOB Age Nationality Force served Notes
Babcock, John F. Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 Canadian Canadian Completed basic training, but did not see action: was held back in reserves in England due to age; resides in Spokane, Washington
Buckles, Frank Woodruff Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 124 American USA-Army Last (US Veteran) to finish training, and serve overseas, Resides in Charles Town, West Virginia[15][16][17]
Coffey, J. Russell Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 126 American USA-Army Did not see action (was still in training); resides in North Baltimore, Ohio[18][19]
Landis, Harry Richard Error in Template:Date table sorting: days must be an integer between 1 and 31 125 American USA-Army Did not see action (was still in training); resides in Sun City Center, Florida

World War I-era veterans - 7 veterans

Listed here are those that joined the armed services after the Armistice date, 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 the US government, or served in a related conflict.

Living in Finland - 2 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Arvonen, Aarne Armas 1897 4 August Finnish Red Guards Served in the Finnish Civil War (1918)
Rönnback, Lennart 1905 21 May Finnish Swede White Guards Served in the Finnish Civil War (1918)

Living in the UK - 1 veteran

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Taggart, Robert (Bob) 1900 28 June British Royal Navy Enlisted just after the end of the war. Scotland's oldest man.

Living in the USA - 4 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Matthews, Floyd 'Skipper' 1903 3 February American US Navy Resides in Florence, Alabama; enlisted a month before the Treaty of Versailles, and so, was still in training [9] [10] [11] [12]
Munger, Stillman Hiram 1902 25 November American US Navy Resides in Ludlow, Massachusetts; enlisted in 1919[citation needed]
Peterson, Orin Manfred 1900 27 February American US Army (signed up for cavalry, did not serve overseas) Resides in Spokane, Washington; enlisted in 1919 (according to a letter from his nephew)
Rex, Robley H. 1901 4 May American USA Resides in Louisville, Kentucky; claims enlisted in 1918[20], but other sources cite 1919[21]

Unverified WWI veteran claims - 3 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. Veteran status has been claimed by the men in question, but they are currently unsupported by physical evidence or independent research.

Living in France - 1 veteran

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Name withheld 1899 ? French French Chose to remain anonymous [13], and cannot be fully verified without a name

Living in the USA - 2 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Lincoln, Jim 1898 21 June American USA Resides in Eugene, Oregon [14]
Olin, William 1904 28 August American USA Claims to have enlisted at age thirteen, resides in Chicago

World totals (39)

  • Verified claims of World War I and World War I Era: 36
    • World War I (Veterans who joined by Armistice Day): 29
      • Allies (including Italy): 24
      • Central Powers (including the Polish Military Organisation): 5
    • World War I Era (Veterans who joined after Armistice Day): 7
  • Unverified claims: 3

See also

Template:WWIVeteransDeathLists

References

  1. ^ "First World War veterans don't want state funeral". CBC News. 2007-01-02. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
  2. ^ "Only getting better at 107". Abbotsford Times. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  3. ^ Brian Gray (2006-11-02). "WWI Vet, 105, still singing". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  4. ^ "Dwight Wilson, 105". Globe and Mail. 2006-11-11. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  5. ^ http://rheinpfalz.de/ (January 2007).
  6. ^ Nadine Walzenbach (2006-09-11). "Franz Künstler - oldest castle guide". Fränkische Nachrichten. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  7. ^ "Pan Józef ma 107 lat i czuje się znakomicie" (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  8. ^ "02.02.2007 r. - 107 urodziny Józefa Kowalskiego" (in Polish). Dom Pomocy Społecznej w Tursku. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  9. ^ "STANISŁAW WYCECH" (in Polish). Serwis Informacyjny Urzędu Miasta i Gminy w Radzyminie. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  10. ^ "Wyjątkowy dzień" (PDF) (in Polish). Kombatant. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  11. ^ "Dwieście lat niech żyje nam" (in Polish). Wieści Podwarszawskie. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  12. ^ "Pogonił bolszewików" (in Polish). Gazeta.ie. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  13. ^ David Smith (2006-10-29). "Great War foes embrace as friends". The Observer. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  14. ^ Julie Mccaffrey (2006-10-30). "Old Enemies.. New Friends". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  15. ^ "Oldest Living Heroes Remembered". CBS News. 2006-11-11. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  16. ^ Paul Duggan (2006-11-12). "105-year-old a veteran's veteran". The News Tribune. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  17. ^ Dean Reynolds and Elizabeth Stuart (2006-12-02). "Last WWI Veterans Get Their Due". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  18. ^ David Giffels (2006-09-17). "WWI veteran, at 108, is one of the few". Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  19. ^ Mary McCarty (2007-04-06). "108 year old veteran recalls fallen comrades". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  20. ^ Ellen R. Stapleton (2003-11-09). "Ky.'s oldest veteran, 102, still devoted to service". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
  21. ^ "WWI Vets Gallery". CNN. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
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