The Last WW1 Veteran: Frank Buckles and the End of an Era

Are There Any WW1 Veterans Still Alive?

The short answer is no. The last verified World War I veteran, Claude Stanley Choules, who served in the British Royal Navy and later the Royal Australian Navy, passed away on May 5, 2011, at the age of 110 . The last surviving American veteran, Frank Buckles, died on February 27, 2011 . With their passing, an entire generation of men and women who served in the “Great War” has faded into history, and their experiences now only survive in written records, photographs, and oral histories .

Quick Facts

The Last Veterans of World War I

The final years of the World War I generation were marked by the quiet passing of its last members. The year 2011 was particularly significant, as it saw the loss of both the last British-born combat veteran and the last American “Doughboy.”

The Last U.S. Veteran: Frank Buckles

Frank Buckles was the last surviving American veteran of World War I . He was born on February 1, 1901, in Missouri. At just 16 years old, he lied about his age to enlist in the Army in August 1917, after being rejected by the Marine Corps and Navy . He served as an ambulance driver and clerk in England and France, and during the occupation, he guarded German prisoners .

His life was intertwined with both world wars. During World War II, he was a civilian in Manila when the Japanese invaded and was held as a prisoner of war for over three years . In his final years, Buckles became a passionate advocate for a national World War I memorial in Washington, D.C. . He passed away peacefully at his home in West Virginia on February 27, 2011, at the age of 110 . In recognition of his unique status, he was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery on March 15, 2011, at the same site where the commander of the American Expeditionary Force, General John “Black Jack” Pershing, is buried .

The Last Combat Veteran: Claude Choules

Claude Stanley Choules, a British-born man who later moved to Australia, was the last known surviving combat veteran of World War I . He was born on March 3, 1901, and lied about his age to join the Royal Navy at just 14 years old . During the war, he saw action in the North Sea, and he famously witnessed the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919 .

He emigrated to Australia in 1926 and served with the Royal Australian Navy during World War II . He became the last remaining World War I combatant following the death of Frank Buckles . According to his son, Choules “hated war,” despite his long career in the navy . He passed away in a Perth nursing home on May 5, 2011, at the age of 110 .

Other Notable Last Survivors

• Florence Green: A British woman who served in the Women’s Royal Air Force in a non-combat role, she was the last surviving female World War I veteran. She died on February 4, 2012, at the age of 110 .

• Harry Patch: Known as the “Last Fighting Tommy,” he was the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the Western Front . He lived to be 111 years old and died in 2009.

• Henry Allingham: At the time of his death in 2009 at the age of 113, he was Europe’s oldest man and the last surviving founder member of the Royal Air Force .

The End of an Era

The passing of Frank Buckles in 2011 signified the end of a living connection to World War I for the United States. It was a moment that prompted national reflection. President Barack Obama ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of Buckles’ interment at Arlington National Cemetery to honor his service and the service of the 4.7 million other Americans who donned the uniform during that conflict .

The Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project played a crucial role in preserving the memories of this generation. Buckles himself sat for two interviews with the project, at the ages of 100 and 103, and donated original documents and photographs to ensure his story and those of his comrades would not be forgotten .

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many World War I veterans are still alive today?

None. The last known surviving World War I veteran was Claude Choules, who passed away in 2011. All other veterans of that war, including Frank Buckles, had died before that date .

2. Who was the last American World War I veteran?

Frank Woodruff Buckles, who died on February 27, 2011, at the age of 110 . He was the last of the 4.7 million Americans who served during the war .

3. Who was the last World War I veteran to see combat?

Claude Choules was the last known combat veteran from World War I. He served in the British Royal Navy and died in 2011 at the age of 110 .

4. Where is Frank Buckles buried?

Frank Buckles is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was given a burial with full military honors on March 15, 2011, and lies near the grave of General John J. Pershing .

5. What was the name of the last living “Doughboy”?

“Doughboy” was a nickname for American infantrymen during World War I. The last surviving Doughboy was Frank Buckles .

6. Who was the last British World War I veteran?

Identifying the definitive “last” British veteran is complex, as the final survivors were of British or Commonwealth nationality and died around the same time. Claude Choules (who was British-born but served in Australia) and Florence Green (who served in the Royal Air Force) are often considered the last .

7. How many US soldiers served in WW1?

More than 4.7 million Americans served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I .

8. Where can I learn more about WWI veterans?

You can research the collections of the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project at www.loc.gov/vets/, which includes interviews with Frank Buckles, or the National Archives for service records .

Key Takeaways

• No WWI veterans are alive today. The last known survivor, Claude Choules, died in 2011 .

• Frank Buckles was the last American veteran, passing away in February 2011 at age 110. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery .

• The year 2011 marked a pivotal end to the living history of the “Great War” .

• The legacy of these veterans is preserved in archives like the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project .

• Memorials like the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., stand as a permanent tribute to the service of the 4.7 million Americans and millions more worldwide who served .

Official Resources

• The National Archives: www.archives.gov (for researching military service records)

• Library of Congress Veterans History Project: www.loc.gov/vets/

• National World War I Memorial: www.ww1cc.org/memorial

• American Battle Monuments Commission: www.abmc.gov

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