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List of surviving veterans of World War I

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The following is a list of known surviving veterans of the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918). The total number of personnel who participated in the war is unknown, but there were an estimated nine million military casualties during the war.

Veterans, for the purposes of this list, have been agreed to be those that were members of the armed forces of one of the nations involved in the war, up to and including the date of the German armistice that ended the war on 11 November 1918. Other WWI-era veterans are listed separately. This policy may vary from the policy in actual use in some countries.

Puerto Rico resident Emiliano Mercado del Toro, born 21 August 1891, is believed to be the oldest surviving veteran, and is, since 19 November 2004, the world's oldest verified living man. In addition, since 11 December 2006, he is the world's oldest verified living person.

Verified veterans of the First World War - 46 veterans

Living in Australia - 4 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Choules, Claude Stanley 1901 3 March British British Royal Navy Subsequently emigrated to Australia
Lucas, Sydney (Syd) 1900 21 September British British - 1st Sherwood Foresters Did not see action (was still in training when the war ended)
Ross, John Campbell 1899 11 March Australian Australian Wireless operator and last Australian digger
Young, William (Will) 1900 4 January British British Royal Flying Corps Moved to Australia after World War II

Living in Canada - 3 veterans

The Canadian House of Commons has approved a state funeral for the last World War I veteran to die. This is to honour the 600,000 Canadians that fought in that war.

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Clemett, Victor Lloyd 1899 10 December Canadian Canadian Lives in Toronto
Powers, Gladys 1899 10 May Canadian British Lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia
Wilson, Dwight (Percy) 1901 26 February Canadian Canadian Lives in Toronto

Living in France - 6 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Brunier, Charles 1901 31 May French French Excluded in French government lists as it only counts those who served in France (i.e. Western front). Brunier served in Syria (vs. Ottoman Empire)
De Cazenave, Louis 1897 16 October French French Currently 2nd-oldest man in France at 109 (oldest is non-veteran)
Grelaud, Jean 1898 26 October French French
Lagaurnadie, Louis 1899 17 June French French Excluded in French government lists as it only counts those with more than three months of combat service.
Ponticelli, Lazarre 1897 7 December Italian French, Italian Born in Piacenza as "Lazzaro". Moved to France in 1907. Joined French Foreign Legion in 1914 at age 16. Served in French army first, later in Italian army.
Tuveri, Justin 1898 15 May Italian Italian Born in Sardinia as "Giustino". Moved to France in 1939. Only served in Italian army.
  • The French government has approved a state funeral for the last World War I French veteran to die

Living in Germany - 9 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Christmann, Rudolf 1900 10 January German German
Kaiser, Albin 1899 12 December German German
Kästner, Erich 1900 10 March German German
Klöpper, Hans 1900 10 August German German
Künstler, Franz 1900 24 July German Austria-Hungary
Meier, Robert 1897 10 March German Served in German Infantry from 1915 Oldest living German man. Veteran of the Somme, Reims and Saint Quentin. Was wounded at Chemin des Dames. Also a WWII veteran.
Seim, Rudolf 1899 31 January German German 2nd oldest living German man.
Solveen, Hermann 1899 20 February German German
Velten, Wilhelm 1899 2 September German German

Living in Italy - 7 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Agazzi, Alberto 1899 30 January Italian Italian
Bertolami, Carmelo 1900 8 December Italian Italian Excluded from Italian government lists as it only counts those with more than six months of service.
Borroni, Delfino 1898 23 August Italian Italian
Carta, Giovanni Antonio 1899 28 December Italian Italian
Chiarello, Francesco Domenico 1898 5 November Italian Italian
Costanzo, Pasquale 1899 21 May Italian Italian
Serioli, Battista 1900 26 November Italian Italian Excluded from Italian government lists as it only counts those with more than six months of service.

Living in Poland - 3 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Kosa, Jozef 1900 27 September Polish German Resides in Sierakowice, and Polish name is Jozefa Kosa. Enlisted in 1917.
Soliński, Stanisław 1900 11 February Polish Russian Resides in Draganowa (Poland).
Wycech, Stanisław 1902 11 November Polish ? (officer) Enlisted at 15 years of age in 1917 and stayed in army, eventually reaching the rank of captain. Also known as Stanisław Wycechu in native language.

Living in the UK - 4 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Allingham, Henry 1896 6 June British British - RNAS (later RAF) Was granted Freedom of Eastbourne in April 2006. Oldest European man.
Mayne, Philip 1899 26 November British British - Royal Engineers Last living British officer of WWI
Patch, Harry 1898 17 June British British - Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Stone, William (Bill) 1900 23 September British British - Royal Navy Did not see action (was still in training), but is also a WWII veteran

Living in the USA - 10 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Babcock, John F. 1900 23 July Canadian Canadian Resides in Spokane, Washington
Brown, Lloyd 1901 7 October American USA-Navy Resides in Charlotte Hall, Maryland
Buckles, Frank Woodruff 1901 1 February American USA-Army Resides in Charles Town, West Virginia
Coffey, J. Russell 1898 1 September American USA-Army Resides in North Baltimore, Ohio
Landis, Harry Richard 1899 12 December American USA-Army Resides in Tampa Bay, Florida
Mercado del Toro, Emiliano 1891 21 August Puerto Rican USA Resides in Puerto Rico, world's oldest living person
Pierro, Antonio 1896 22 February Italo-American USA Born in Italy as Antonio, a USA national, who resides in Swampscott, Massachusetts
Ramsey, Howard Verne 1898 2 April American USA-Army Resides in Portland, Oregon
Wagner, Albert F. (Jud) 1899 5 September American USA-Marines Resides in Smith Center, Kansas
Winters, Charlotte 1897 10 November American USA-Navy Resides in Boonsboro, Maryland

World War I-era veterans - 4 veterans

Listed here are those that joined the armed services after the Armistice date, or where there is debate on their join-date, but are considered WWI-era vets by the press or the US government.

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Munger, Stillman Hiram 1902 25 November American US Navy Resides in Ludlow, Massachusetts; enlisted 1919
Peterson, Orin Manfred 1900 27 February American USA-Army (signed up for cavalry, did not serve overseas) Resides in Spokane, Washington
Rex, Robley H. 1901 4 May American USA Resides in Louisville, Kentucky; claims enlisted 1918 ; other sources cite 1919
Starkey, Maurice 1901 3 December American USA-Navy submariner Resides in Royersford, Pennsylvania; claims enlisted 1918 ; other sources mention July 1919

Unvalidated WWI veteran claims - 6 veterans

These are claims that were included in the press, but have not been verified by a government-sanctioned body or actual records located. To be a 'claim', there must be at least a citation.

Living in France - 3 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Name withheld 1899 ? French French Chose to remain anonymous Cannot be fully verified without a name

Living in Poland - 1 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Parniak, Pawel 1890? 27 February Polish Austria-Hungary DOB claim is not authenticated

* "Polish nationality" refers to ethnic Poles at the outbreak of war in 1914, since Poland as a state regained its independence only in 1919, this as a result of the Versailles Peace Treaty

Living in Romania - 1 veteran

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Pănculescu, Gheorghe 1903 26 March Romanian Romanian Resides in Turnu Măgurele? Enlisted at 15 years of age in 1918 and remained in army, eventually reaching the rank of general.

Living in the UK - 1 veteran

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Bolaise, Violet 1901 ? British British Start date of service awaiting verification (see the talk page for further information)

Living in the USA - 2 veterans

Name DOB Nationality Force Served Notes
Lincoln, Jim 1898 ? June American USA Resides in Oregon
Olin, William 1904 28 August American USA Claims to have enlisted at age thirteen, resides in Illinois


World totals

  • Verified claims of World War I and World War I Era: 50
    • World War I (Veterans who joined by Armistice Day): 46
      • Allies (including Italy): 35
      • Central Powers: 11
    • World War I Era (Veterans who joined after Armistice Day): 4
  • Unverified claims: 6

See also

References

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