[quote][B]A woman thought to be the world's last known surviving service member of World War I has died aged 110.[/B]Florence Green, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, served as a mess steward at RAF bases in Marham and Narborough.
She died in her sleep on Saturday night at Briar House care home, King's Lynn. Mrs Green had been due to celebrate her 111th birthday on 19 February.
The world's last known combat veteran of World War I, Briton Claude Choules, died in Australia aged 110 in May 2011.
The last three World War I veterans living in the UK - Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch - all died in 2009.
[B]'Wonderful mother'[/B]Mrs Green leaves behind three children, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Her husband Walter - an army veteran who served in both world wars and a porter at King's Lynn station - died aged 82 in about 1975, one of her daughters said.
The 110-year-old had been at the care home since the end of November. She previously lived in King's Lynn with her daughter May, aged 90.
Mrs Green's other daughter June Evetts, 76, lives in Oundle, Northamptonshire, and her son Bob, 85, lives in Edinburgh.
Born in London before moving to Norfolk, Mrs Green was 17 years old when she joined the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) on 13 September 1918 - two months before the armistice.
[IMG]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/58364000/jpg/_58364471_58364470.jpg[/IMG]
[B]Mrs Green worked as a waitress on RAF bases in Norfolk[/B]
She left on 18 July 1919.
In 2010 Mrs Green's story emerged after a researcher uncovered her records.
Mrs Evetts said: "She was just the most wonderful mother you could ask for. No-one had a bad word to say about her."
She said her mother had rarely talked about her work with the WRAF as she "didn't like to blow her own trumpet", but added she was "proud of her service and loved the people she worked with".
"I'm ever so proud of her. It's such an achievement to be that last person," Mrs Evetts said.
After she left the WRAF, the mess steward married at the age of 19 and worked for much of her life at a hotel in King's Lynn.
In her spare time she was heavily involved with the Royal British Legion and knitted clothes and toys for children.
Mrs Evetts said her mother used to crochet blankets for children at the local Queen Elizabeth Hospital up until her 90s.
Sue Bray, administrator at Mrs Green's care home, said: "She really was a lovely lady. Everyone thought a lot of her. She will be sadly missed."
[B]'Good time'[/B]Speaking to the BBC in 2010, Mrs Green said she had served breakfast, lunch and tea in the WRAF and had got to know many different people during her service.
She added she "learned a lot of different things" and had a "good time" there.
According to The National Archives, the WRAF was created to free up men for active service.
It said women had to undertake a variety of jobs and were used as drivers, mechanics, cooks and office clerks.
At first they were based in Britain, but later about 500 women served in France and Germany.
The WRAF was disbanded on 1 April 1920.
At the start of World War II, the Women's Auxiliary Air Force was formed and renamed the Women's Royal Air Force on 1 February 1949.
Mrs Green's funeral will be held at Mintlyn Crematorium, Bawsey, in Norfolk, on 16 February, her funeral directors confirmed.[/quote]
[URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-16929653[/URL]
It's so chilling to hear the last of an era dies, like when the last survivor of Titanic died.
Just had two more years go to to hit the 100 year anniversary of the war starting
Wasn't there an article like this a few? months ago? Where the kid was 14 and lied about his age?
[QUOTE=EliteGuy;34589856]Wasn't there an article like this a few? months ago? Where the kid was 14 and lied about his age?[/QUOTE]
I think that was a specific country's last WWI vet, not the last one in the world.
I believe it was America's or Australia's.
[QUOTE=EliteGuy;34589856]Wasn't there an article like this a few? months ago? Where the kid was 14 and lied about his age?[/QUOTE]
That was probably the last combatant.
[QUOTE=GetBent;34589882]That was probably the last combatant.[/QUOTE]
It was a navy kid, if I remember correctly.
dat goatee
[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/58364000/jpg/_58364787_tv013939173.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34589870]I think that was a specific country's last WWI vet, not the last one in the world.
I believe it was America's or Australia's.[/QUOTE]Australia.
[QUOTE=NoDachi;34589931]dat goatee
[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/58364000/jpg/_58364787_tv013939173.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]I don't mean any disrespect, but eww.
So sad.
Just imagine, in 30 or so years, the same thing will be happening for WWII, which we can relate to a much higher degree considering having grandparents that served.
[QUOTE=Mr. Bleak;34589983]Just imagine, in 30 or so years, the same thing will be happening for WWII, which we can relate to a much higher degree considering having grandparents that served.[/QUOTE]
Cherish them as much as you can while you still can.
Nooooo!
[QUOTE=LunchboxOfDoom;34590001]Cherish them as much as you can while you still can.[/QUOTE]
Well, my great-uncle died of liver failure before I ever got to meet him, and he was the only one that served. Apparently he had all kinds of medals that got lost, and the army records building containing his information burned in the 1970s. My grandfather was a member of the national guard, but he died a few years ago.
So, I know what you mean.
Strange tought, there are many movies, and photos about world war 1 with trench fighting, machine guns, tanks, airplanes and stuff. The soldiers on these photos were the first soldiers who experienced warfare as it ( Somewhat ) continued to be until this day. Yet everyone on these photos has died.
[QUOTE=cheezey;34590231]Strange tought, there are many movies, and photos about world war 1 with trench fighting, machine guns, tanks, airplanes and stuff. The soldiers on these photos were the first soldiers who experienced warfare as it ( Somewhat ) continued to be until this day. Yet everyone on these photos has died.[/QUOTE]
There are times where you look at the photos and video footage that was recorded during the war, and you have to stop and think to yourself about how it's a miracle so many of the soldiers even managed to survive at all.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Cog9Zk3J4[/media]
[QUOTE=LunchboxOfDoom;34590469]There are times where you look at the photos and video footage that was recorded during the war, and you have to stop and think to yourself about how it's a miracle so many of the soldiers even managed to survive at all.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Cog9Zk3J4[/media][/QUOTE]
I feel the main reason the generals used such stupid life wasting tactics was mostly due to the transition from traditional line battles to modern combat with generals ordering their men to walk to the enemy trenches.
[QUOTE=EliteGuy;34589856]Wasn't there an article like this a few? months ago? Where the kid was 14 and lied about his age?[/QUOTE]
A lot of veterans have been dying these past few years, you probably remember the last combat veteran, or the last veteran from your country.
This is it though. Florence Green was the last veteran in the world from any part of any army. There are now no veterans of WWI left on this earth
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34590658]I feel the main reason the generals used such stupid life wasting tactics was mostly due to the transition from traditional line battles to modern combat with generals ordering their men to walk to the enemy trenches.[/QUOTE]
Plus a lot of commanding officers got their rank through family class more than merit and experience, which definitely got some men killed.
A Veteran of any good war is a bro is my eyes.
R.I.P.
EDIT:
Then again, all war is bad. Veterans are still hero's, though.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34590720]Plus a lot of commanding officers got their rank through family class more than merit and experience, which definitely got some men killed.[/QUOTE]
Wasn't that mostly fixed in Britain during the 19th century with the Cardwell reforms?
It always seemed in WW1 that the Germans were the more civilised side in that war (considering they executed the least of their own men in comparison to Britain and France)
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34590658]I feel the main reason the generals used such stupid life wasting tactics was mostly due to the transition from traditional line battles to modern combat with generals ordering their men to walk to the enemy trenches.[/QUOTE]
I don't think it's as simple as that.
It's not surprising that massive infantry combat devolved into that style of fighting with the introduction of the machinegun and increasingly lethal artillery.
If you didn't dig down, your armies would have been annihilated. Even if it did bring its own set of problems.
[QUOTE=J!NX;34590749]A Veteran of any good war is a bro is my eyes.
R.I.P.[/QUOTE]
"Good War" is a paradox
The worst thing about World War One is that everybody knew it was coming, and couldn't do anything to stop it.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34590752]Wasn't that mostly fixed in Britain during the 19th century with the Cardwell reforms?[/QUOTE]
Doesn't mean it was fixed everywhere else.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34590658]I feel the main reason the generals used such stupid life wasting tactics was mostly due to the transition from traditional line battles to modern combat with generals ordering their men to walk to the enemy trenches.[/QUOTE]
Indeed. The times were changing, and the military had to change with them in order to adapt.
There was a lot of confusion and disagreements over how best to utilize technology, as well, during the course of the war.
Like airplanes. Some theoreticians in France wanted to use them exclusively as extensions of the army and/or the navy; others thought they should be their own independent entities and work with both forces.
The German Empire saw a lot of this happening in their navy. There were people who wanted to use zeppelins as tools of reconnaissance, and others who wanted to use them as weapons; people who wanted to use submarines to attack shipping bound for Britain and damage the Royal Navy's blockade, others who wanted to use the surface fleet and simply use submarines as a means for supporting the surface fleet through reconnaissance.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34590752]Wasn't that mostly fixed in Britain during the 19th century with the Cardwell reforms?
It always seemed in WW1 that the Germans were the more civilised side in that war (considering they executed the least of their own men in comparison to Britain and France)[/QUOTE]
Even though the popularised chemical warfare?
Then again, they complained that the wounds inflicted by the British .303 constitutive as a war crime.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;34590752]Wasn't that mostly fixed in Britain during the 19th century with the Cardwell reforms?
It always seemed in WW1 that the Germans were the more civilised side in that war (considering they executed the least of their own men in comparison to Britain and France)[/QUOTE]
Yes, but it's hard to believe that the officer corps of even Britain isn't completely made up of those from merit and experience. Just as today, having money got you somewhere.
I have always felt that the German Empire really got unfairly kicked in the nuts, not just in the war, but in the history books ever since then.
But when I say officers being produced by the aristocracy, I'm basing this on all participating nations, including Austria-Hungary and Imperial Russia. Britain may not have had it so bad, but it's more likely the exception than the rule.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;34590806]The worst thing about World War One is that everybody knew it was coming, and couldn't do anything to stop it.[/QUOTE]
and WW2.
[QUOTE=NoDachi;34590772]I don't think it's as simple as that.
It's not surprising that massive infantry combat devolved into that style of fighting with the introduction of the machinegun and increasingly lethal artillery.
If you didn't dig down, your armies would have been annihilated. Even if it did bring its own set of problems.[/QUOTE]
Yeah but that's what I mean, the introduction of new technology somewhat clashed with traditional military tactics which is probably why it all ended up devolving into a war of attrition
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