Last WW1 veteran dies, aged 110
Updated: 11:35, Thursday, 5 May 2011
Claude Choules, the final World War One combat veteran, has died aged 110 in Australia.
He was the last of more than 70m military personnel mobilised during the 1914-1918 conflict.
Blind and almost totally deaf, Mr Choules, nicknamed 'Chuckles', died at his hostel home in Perth overnight.
'I can confirm that he has passed away. His family said he passed away at midnight this morning,' said Australian Defence Force spokesman Gary Booth.
'He was a living part of history and with his death, it's gone. There is no more link with active service personnel.
'It's hard to imagine all the things he's seen in his life -- two World Wars, horse and cart to man on the moon.'
After American Frank Buckles died earlier this year, Mr Choules was declared the last known combat survivor of the Great War that left 37m soldiers dead or wounded.
The only other surviving veteran of World War One is said to be Britain's Florence Green, who served with the Royal Air Force in a non-combat role and is now aged 110.
Born in England, Mr Choules served with Britain's Royal Navy on board the HMS Impregnable in 1916 at the age of 15 and witnessed the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow after the war.
He moved to Australia after the war and was seconded to the Royal Australian Navy in 1926.
last ww1 combat veteran dies
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Originally Posted by Markas
