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- Age 34
- Montreal, Canada
- Seen Feb 9, 2007
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae
On November 11, 2002, Canada found 13 WWI veterans but three more soldiers announced themselves which made it 16. Later on this year Archie Thompson also announced himself. Today, there is only 11 left from the 16 (17) last year. Those Canadians WWI veterans that died during the past 12 months include Henry Botterell, Myer Lewis, Charles Reaper, Harold Radford, and Archie Thompson. Botterell was the last WWI pilot of not only Canada but of all nations that used airplanes during WWI. Although he never became an air ace (for Canada, 5 kills or more) since he had only shot a German observation balloon and didn't even kill the man on it during his wartime, he is still considered to be a pilot.Lewis served not only Canada during WWI but he also served with the US Navy during WWII and died as a American citizen in California. Reaper was the last Vimy Ridge infantry soldier. Radford was the last Nova Scotia-born WWI veteran and died just 4 days ago.
Those who are still alive includes Cyril Martin, Harold Lewis, James Fraser, Paul Metivier,Iden Herbert Baldwin, Clare Laking, Lloyd Clemett, Peter Preet, Arthur Bennett Manson, William Duke Procter, Clifford Holliday. Three of them will be marching in the Remembrance Day parade today in Ottawa.
Today, there are only 6 Australian WWI veterans who are still living. Frank MacDonald was the lastest one to die on August 23 of this year at the age of 107.
In Britain, fewer than 50 veterans from WWI are estimated to be still living. The oldest British WWI veteran, Jack Davis, died on July 20, 2003. He was 108 and was suppose to meet the queen for the first time on the week that he died.
Belgian has only a few more Great War veterans, 2 to be exact. 104 year old Cyriel Barbary currently lives in United States and Emile Brichard currently lives in Belgium.
