Old Soldiers Never Die…
Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on November 28th, 2008 at 10:37 pm While surfing the net I noticed that Pierre Picault of France died on November 20th at the age of 109. That won’t mean anything to most people. However Mr. Picault was the last surviving French veteran of World War One. With his passing there are now only eight confirmed veterans of this war still living, world wide.
There were 10 at the beginning of this month.
The eight remaining veterans are all native speakers of English. The list includes one American (Frank Buckles), one Australian, one Canadian (“Jack” Babcock who is now a US citizen), and five veterans from the UK (on of whom currently lives in Australia). These eight surviving men range in age from 107 to 112.
There are also two more unverified veterans: one from the UK and one from Ukraine.
There are three others who joined after Armistice Day but before the Treaty or Versailles: One Finn, one Pole and one American.
Special honors and benefits will be accorded the last surviving veterans of the US, Canada, and the UK after their passing. According to Wikipedia:
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 WWI veteran. Similarly, on 21 November 2006, the Canadian House of Commons approved a state funeral for the last World War I veteran to have served in the Canadian forces to die. This will now go to John Babcock should he accept it. On 19 March 2008, Frank Buckles was approved for burial at Arlington National Cemetery Although John Campbell Ross is the last known Australian veteran, he did not see active service and the Australian state funeral was given for William Evan Allan on 25 October 2005. upon his eventual death.
For more information see Wikipedia’s list of surviving veterans of World War I.
The end of an era is soon at hand. I will try to update this blog as these honored veterans pass from this world and fade into history.
…Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?…
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Nice article. As a photographer that is traveling the globe documenting the last WWI vets I have some updates for you. John Babcock lives in Spokane but chose to become a Canadian again last year. While Wikipedia reports 8 veterans there is a lead on another anonymous French Veteran. Also, generally speaking Wikipedia only has accurate leads on the English and French Speaking Veterans and has missed several over the past year. Including 2 Jamaicans. Great post prayerfully these treasures will last much longer. Also, as acting President of the World War One Memorial Foundation (DC) please note that our Nation has no Memorial to WWI in our Capitol. There is pending legislation to do just that HR 6696. Please contact your congressperson to ask them to co sponsor this so that the WWI vets will finally receive their honor.
David
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