Oldest veteran of the Great War dies at 108

The Independent ^ | 22 July 2003 | Helen William

[yonif]

Britain's oldest surviving First World War veteran died yesterday aged 108. Jack Davis, who served with the 6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, "just peacefully drifted away" at a nursing home in Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, at 11.15am, said his son, Ken.

He only escaped the battle of the Somme in 1916 because he contracted trench fever. But the horrors of the trenches remained with Mr Davis throughout his life, his son said, adding: "He always expressed the opinion of how futile war can be. He used to say, 'So many soldiers go to their deaths in a war, and in many cases for what reason?' He really abhorred war."

Mr Davis was born on 1 March 1895 in Kentish Town in north London. As a steward at the National Liberal Club, he saw suffragettes chain themselves to the railings. He joined the Army aged 19.

Dennis Goodwin, chairman of the World War One Veterans Association, said: "He was determined and resilient. He fully believed in the support of comradeship. He was a favourite of all the other veterans and would give a burst of the old music hall songs. He had a resourcefulness, an enjoyment of life and positive outlook." The association has just 34 members left.

His wife, Vera, whom he married in 1918, died in 1976. Their other son, William, is also dead.

[ffusco]

Incredible. Born in the 19th century, lived through the 20th century and died in the 21st.

[Age of Reason]

So much has the world changed in the past hundred-years that the thought of someone with living memories of the world so long ago is nearly as astounding as having people among us with memories of the renaissance.

[Burkeman1]

My Grandfather actually served in WWI. He died in 1976. He was already 55 when my father was born. As my father tells it- he had nothing good to say about that war or the reasons we got in it.

[razorback-bert]

My grandfather was sheduled to go "over the top" on 12 Nov 1917.

[Squantos]

Wow !......108 years old. Bless his old heart. The history he has seen.....Wow !!

My Grampa was born in Colorado in 1897 and was a childhood friend of Mr Jack Dempsey. They worked the ranches in the Montrose area when they were just pups......I asked Grampa if he was the one who taught Dempsey to fight and he'd just grin.

Stay Safe !

[ffusco]

True. He lived from gas-light to the Hubble telescope. From Wright through Columbia, Einstein through Hawkings.

[graycamel]

Sometimes the best people to talk to are the old folks. They can tell war stories down to details, tell about life long ago, and the like. My former landlord told me that he fought in WWII in the Phillipines. He spoke of how the troops ran out of food until they found a building with no one around. They opened it and it was filled with canned pineapples, which they ate until they gorged themselves and vomited.

[truth_seeker]

My grandfather, born in 1896, served during WWI in France. Died 1978.

So put me on the list of folks that are PISSED OFF, at the ungrateful French.

When their juhadi citizens get carried away, and they call for our help, it might not get answered.

[lambo]

I prefer to think of his life as running from Sherlock Holmes to homies!

[fieldmarshaldj]

My grandfather served for the entirety of WW1 in the Royal British Army (in the middle-east theatre). Ran away from home at 16 (lying about his age), joining up in 1913 (he didn't know what was about to happen !). He, too, died in 1976 some months short of his 80th birthday. Alas, I was with him when he died (2 years old), but was too young (obviously) to discuss his war experiences with him... :-|

[yonif]

My grandpa served in WWII in the pacific theater. He was a staff sgt. and was at places such as Guadacanal. He is still alive today and is 83 years old. He has told me many stories and has written some up as well.

[yonif]

Imagine all the things he has seen. Rise of communism, fall of communism, 2 world wars, vietnam, korea, gulf war I and II, 9/11, AIDS, internet, computers, cars, too many to list!

[Fiddlstix]

[SkyPilot]

So much has the world changed in the past hundred-years that the thought of someone with living memories of the world so long ago is nearly as astounding as having people among us with memories of the renaissance.

Quote of the Day.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Fiddlestix.

[Age of Reason]

Nevermind those things.

More amazing would have been his memories of scenes like the following:

Lower Broadway, 1903: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?papr:16:./temp/~ammem_xt15::

[Age of Reason]

I just realized that movie was filmed within a block or so of the where the World Trade Center would later be built.