In The News

Last veteran of the First World War passes away

Last veteran of the First World War passes away

The death has taken place in Australia of Claude Choules who was the last known combat veteran of the World War I. He was 110.

Mr. Choules was born in Worcestershire in March 1901. When the First World War began Mr. Choules’ elder brothers went off to fight.

He tried to join the Army but was rejected on the grounds of his young age.

Undeterred, he lied about his age and joined the Navy.

He served aboard HMS Revenge and saw action in the North Sea.

At the end of the conflict Mr. Choules witnessed the surrender of the German Imperial fleet and was also present when the fleet was scuttled at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys.

In the 1920 he was posted as an instructor to Australia. On the voyage there he met his future wife, Ethel. They were to be married for 76 years.

Mr. Choules transferred to the Australian Navy and set up home in Perth.

During World War II, Chief Petty Officer Choules was a senior demolition officer with responsibility for the western half of Australia. He would have been responsible for destroying key harbour installations in the event of an invasion by Japanese forces.

After his Navy service Mr. Choules spent some years in the Naval Dockyard Police.

In 2009 his autobiography, The Last of the Last, was published.

 

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