Thursday - February 18, 2010
Taps
The Prime Minister’s Office says Canada’s last known First World War veteran, John Babcock, has died at age 109.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement in Ottawa Thursday night announcing Babcock’s death.
“As a nation, we honour his service and mourn his passing,” Harper said. “The passing of Mr. Babcock marks the end of an era.”
Babcock was the last link to the 650,000 Canadian men and women who served in the First World War, Harper noted.
“His family mourns the passing of a great man. Canada mourns the passing of the generation that asserted our independence on the world stage and established our international reputation as an unwavering champion of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”
Babcock joined the military at age 16, but because of his age wasn’t allowed on the front lines.
This news was just released 20 minutes ago. I think 2010 will be the last year for all of these old gents. There are only a very few left the world over, 3 or 4 I think.
Rest in peace old soldier.
From Wiki:
John Henry Foster “Jack” Babcock (July 23, 1900 – February 18, 2010) was, at age 109, the last known surviving veteran of the Canadian military to have served in the First World War and, since the death of Harry Patch, the conflict’s oldest surviving participant. Babcock first attempted to join the army at the age of fifteen, but was turned down and sent to work in Halifax until he was placed in the Young Soldiers Battalion in August 1917. Babcock was then transferred to Britain, where he continued his training until the end of the war.
Having never seen combat, Babcock never considered himself a veteran and moved to the United States in the 1920s, where he joined the United States Army and eventually became an electrician. In May 2007, following the death of Dwight Wilson, he became the last surviving veteran of the First World War who served with the Canadian forces.[1] From that point he received international attention, including 109th birthday greetings from the Queen of Canada, the Governor General of Canada and the Canadian Prime Minister[2] until his death on February 18, 2010.
Posted by Drew458
on 02/18/2010 at 08:52 PM
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