Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Canada's sole surviving WWI vet celebrates 107th birthday (also served in US Army post-WW1)
CP via 570 News website ^ | July 18, 2007 | James Stevenson

Posted on 07/18/2007 4:17:25 PM PDT by GMMAC

Canada's sole surviving WWI vet celebrates 107th birthday

By: James Stevenson
570 News (Kitchener, Ontario) July 18, 2007 - 17:52


SPOKANE, Wash. (CP) - Canada's last known surviving veteran of the First World War is celebrating his 107th birthday with a slice of cake and plenty of humble pie.

John (Jack) Babcock says the reason he's getting so much attention is not for what he accomplished in the war, but because he is the last one standing. Still, he says, he doesn't mind the visitors - particularly the female ones.

Surrounded by family and reporters at his home in Spokane, Wash., Babcock was presented Wednesday with letters of congratulation from Queen Elizabeth and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean.

"I am delighted to hear you are celebrating your 107th birthday. I send you my warmest congratulations on this happy occasion and good wishes for an enjoyable day," said the letter from the Queen.

Jean spoke of a "rich life filled with accomplishments" in her letter to Babcock.

"You can also reflect on the fact that your generation has seen tremendous and unprecedented changes, be they technological, scientific, political or social," she said.

"The success you have enjoyed, the contributions you have made to those around you and the knowledge you have gained are treasured gifts."

Babcock also received congratulations and a gift - a tie with red poppies - from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.


Canada's oldest living First World
War verteran and about to turn 107,
John (Jack) Babcock speaks about his
life from his home in Spokane,
Washington on Wednesday July 18.
(CP PHOTO/Larry MacDougal)

Babcock, whose actual birthday is July 23, was born in 1900 on an Ontario farm and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment when he was just 15 years old.

Lying about his age, he made it to England before his service record caught up with him and he was relegated to the Boys Batallion and not allowed to see action.

Babcock trained hard along with nearly 1,300 other underage soldiers in anticipation of crossing the English Channel and facing enemy fire, but the war ended before he could set foot in the trenches of France.

Soon after the war, he moved to the United States, where he served in the U.S. army and became a naturalized citizen. He has lived in Spokane in eastern Washington state since 1932.

Babcock became Canada's last known surviving First World War veteran after two others died earlier this year. Dwight Wilson, also diverted from the front lines because he was too young, died in May at the age of 106. Lloyd Clemett, 107, died in February. He had lied about his age so he could enlist, telling officers he was 18 when he was only 16.


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: babcock; canam; greatwar; veterans
Saw Mr. Babcock interviewed on TV tonight - what a marvelous, with it, humorous & modest old gentleman!
And, what a credit to both his generation and to all Vets of both our nations! God bless him & all who so honorably served!

1 posted on 07/18/2007 4:17:33 PM PDT by GMMAC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: fanfan; Pikamax; Former Proud Canadian; Great Dane; Alberta's Child; headsonpikes; Ryle; ...


2 posted on 07/18/2007 4:19:41 PM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

ping


3 posted on 07/18/2007 4:24:43 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC

God bless the dear old guy!


4 posted on 07/18/2007 4:26:00 PM PDT by ishabibble (ALL-AMERICAN INFIDEL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC

I understand that there are only three known American survivors of WWI.


5 posted on 07/18/2007 4:28:42 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nutmeg

bookmark


6 posted on 07/18/2007 4:31:59 PM PDT by nutmeg ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Hillary Clinton 6/28/04)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fiji Hill
Sad. I can’t even get my high school students to bring paper and pencils to class. These guys actually wanted to go to war for the good of their country, and to better the lives of those they left behind.
7 posted on 07/18/2007 5:26:12 PM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed less people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: goodwithagun; fanfan
"These guys actually wanted to go to war for the good of their country, and to better the lives of those they left behind."

The enlistment numbers related to Canadian service in 'The Great War' are almost unbelievable.
As example, Canadian WW1 casualties and America's Vietnam loses are more or less identical at roughly 60K. However aside from Canada suffering her loses over a considerably shorter time-frame, Canada's 1915 overall population was about 8 million while the U.S. had a population of just over 200 million in 1970.

Visit little villages in rural Canada today with populations under 1,000 & you'll often find Cenotaphs listing the names of 10-20 local boys alone lost in WW1.
8 posted on 07/18/2007 5:43:12 PM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC

Any German survivors still around?


9 posted on 07/18/2007 6:19:35 PM PDT by Age of Reason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC

The gentleman looks good for his age. Seems alert too.


10 posted on 07/18/2007 6:48:19 PM PDT by OldPossum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Age of Reason
Just one German remaining according to Wikipedia.
Also see "Surviving veterans of World War I" on Wikipedia; although it seems somewhat out-of-date.

Everything else I found via a quick search seems to confirm the above citations.
11 posted on 07/18/2007 6:53:49 PM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: OldPossum
Wish you could have heard the TV interview - lots of guys 3/4 (dare I say half?) of this marvelous old gentleman's age aren't nearly as alert.
Even claimed he goes out to lunch now & then & definitely still like the ladies.
I trust, when the time comes, he'll be accorded the full Military honors of both of our nations.
12 posted on 07/18/2007 7:01:00 PM PDT by GMMAC (Discover Canada governed by Conservatives: www.CanadianAlly.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: GMMAC

I am rather new to t internet and so I am not at all sure that I am doing this correctly but I hope that this gets to Mr. Babcock.

I have never met him but I am a great nephew of Mr Babcock, originally from Watertown N,Y. And I think that it is incredibly cool to be related to him. One of Mr. Babcock’s brothers is my paternal grand father. I never met him until I was in my twenties. It was odd. When I was quite young I thought that his son was my grandfather as he was older than either of his brothers, Butch and my father Paul, and when you are so young an older man living with your grandma is usually your grandpa. But realy Uncle Toogy was taking care of his mother. I figured this out eventually and only go on about it to explain that I was not ever that close to t family in that direction. I do remember Uncle Jack and Uncle Roger and I think there was a Keith but I am not sure. They were not my immediate uncles. Mostly I remember these men from when I met them in my twenties rather han when I was a child as well. I think that they might be brothers to John Babcock.

I am a bit of a history buff and from one of them we got a picture of a WW2 German jet hidden in t woods. This is also quite cool.

From Butch and my father I heard of my great uncle a few years ago. Over time most of t other WW1 veterans passed away until now, when I understand that there is only one left from America and my great uncle from Canada.

I have seen t Canadian History channel piece on him and have seen all these thing about him on t computer. If for no other reason I am happy about it as it is good indication that I may well have plenty of years ahead to look forward to.

I hope that he gets to see this and that if he would like for him to write me back.

Regardless, I am proud and glad to be related to him however distantly. And I hope that he has many more good years ahead of him.
sincerely/Paul Babcock Jr.


13 posted on 03/17/2009 8:51:18 PM PDT by paul bab
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson