World War I navy veteran turns 110
Source: Agencies |
March 4, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ONE of the last two known veterans of World War I celebrated his 110th birthday yesterday with at least three generations of family and a contingent of navy officers in dress uniform. His daughter said he didn't want a fuss.
Claude "Chuckles" Choules, who sneaked into the British navy in 1915 aged just 14, has lived quietly in Australia for more than 80 years, though his longevity has brought him closer to history with the passing of each comrade who fought the war that was meant to end all others.
"I don't know that he's overwhelmed by it," said daughter Anne Pow, who was busy yesterday organizing the party at Choules' nursing home in Perth. "He just takes it pretty much as, "It is what it is."
Choules' three children and some of his 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren gathered for the party, along with the commander and other personnel from HMAS Stirling, the Australian naval base in Perth, who come in their dress whites.
Choules was born in Worchester, England, in 1901, and World War I was raging when he began training with the British Royal Navy. In 1917, he joined the battleship HMS Revenge, from which he watched the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, the main battle fleet of the German Navy then.
He stayed in the military for 41 years, transferring to the Royal Australian Navy in the 1920s and working on clearing mines during World War II.
Choules and Briton Florence Green became the last known surviving service members from World War I after the death of American Frank Buckles on Sunday, according to the Order of the First World War, a US group that tracks veterans.
Claude "Chuckles" Choules, who sneaked into the British navy in 1915 aged just 14, has lived quietly in Australia for more than 80 years, though his longevity has brought him closer to history with the passing of each comrade who fought the war that was meant to end all others.
"I don't know that he's overwhelmed by it," said daughter Anne Pow, who was busy yesterday organizing the party at Choules' nursing home in Perth. "He just takes it pretty much as, "It is what it is."
Choules' three children and some of his 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren gathered for the party, along with the commander and other personnel from HMAS Stirling, the Australian naval base in Perth, who come in their dress whites.
Choules was born in Worchester, England, in 1901, and World War I was raging when he began training with the British Royal Navy. In 1917, he joined the battleship HMS Revenge, from which he watched the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, the main battle fleet of the German Navy then.
He stayed in the military for 41 years, transferring to the Royal Australian Navy in the 1920s and working on clearing mines during World War II.
Choules and Briton Florence Green became the last known surviving service members from World War I after the death of American Frank Buckles on Sunday, according to the Order of the First World War, a US group that tracks veterans.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
