From the Age.com.au, July 26, 2009.
Claude Choules, 108 (He has since died.)
Born Pershon, England in March 1901. Served in the Royal Navy on the HMS Impregnible at age 15 in 1916. In 1917 was on the battleship HMS Revenge and was at the surrender of the German fleet at the Firth of Forth near Scotland in 1918 which came ten days after the Armistice was signed. He was also at the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow
In 1926, he went to Australia with the Royal Navy and transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.
He served on the HMAS Canberra until 1931 when he was discharged from the service, but rejoined in 1932 as a torpedo and anti-submarine instructor in Freemantle.
In World War II, he disposed of the first German mine to wash ashore on Australia near Esperance on Western Australia's south coast.
--Cooter
Showing posts with label Claude Choules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Claude Choules. Show all posts
Monday, May 4, 2015
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Florence Green Dies: Last World War I Veteran
Actually, this happened February 4, 2012. Florence Green died at age 110, just 15 days before her 11th birthday and is thought to be the last living person to have served in the Great War (World War I). She was just 17 when she joined the WRAF (Women's Royal Air Force) and served as a mess steward (waitress) at RAF Marham and RAF Narborough bases.
I carefully followed the last survivng World War I veterans as they died. The last-known combat veteran, Claude Choules died in Australia in May 2011 at age 110. The last three veterans living in the UK were Harry Patch, Henry Allingham and Bill Stone who all died in 2009.
The last living World War I veteran in the United States was Frank Buckles. You can see what I wrote about these people by clicking on the labels of their names.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Bits O' History: HMAS Choules-- Pittsburgh's Bridge of Sighs
Some New News About Old Stuff.
1. HMAS CHOULES-- One of Australia's newest Navy ships is the HMAS (Her Majesty's Australian Ship) Choules, named after their last World War I veteran, Claude Choules who died in May 2011 at the age of 110. He served in World War I in the British Navy and World War II in the Australian Navy. I have written more on Mr. Choules, just hit the label.
2. PITTSBURGH'S BRIDGE OF SIGNS-- This comes from the Jan. 30, 2013 Shorpy Bridge of Sighs: 1903. And reads Pittsburgh "Named after the famous span in Venice (and it looks like that one) it was used to transport prisoners between the Alleghenny Courthouse and jail.
It is still there. The courthouse was built between 1883 and 1888. The jail remains as well,but now houses child support, custody and family law services.
When looking at the Shorpy pictures, always read the comments which give a lot more information. Plus, I like to blow up the pictures for a closer view.
Shorpy, One Great Site. --Cooter
1. HMAS CHOULES-- One of Australia's newest Navy ships is the HMAS (Her Majesty's Australian Ship) Choules, named after their last World War I veteran, Claude Choules who died in May 2011 at the age of 110. He served in World War I in the British Navy and World War II in the Australian Navy. I have written more on Mr. Choules, just hit the label.
2. PITTSBURGH'S BRIDGE OF SIGNS-- This comes from the Jan. 30, 2013 Shorpy Bridge of Sighs: 1903. And reads Pittsburgh "Named after the famous span in Venice (and it looks like that one) it was used to transport prisoners between the Alleghenny Courthouse and jail.
It is still there. The courthouse was built between 1883 and 1888. The jail remains as well,but now houses child support, custody and family law services.
When looking at the Shorpy pictures, always read the comments which give a lot more information. Plus, I like to blow up the pictures for a closer view.
Shorpy, One Great Site. --Cooter
Thursday, December 22, 2011
HMAS Choules (L-100) Ready for Service
From the December 22nd Adelaide (Aus) Herald Sun "Navy's new landing ship ready for action."
The HMAS Choules arrived in Sydney from Freemantle after being commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy December 13th. The 16,000 tons ship was acquired from Britain and is named for the last World War I veteran to have seen combat, Claude Choules who died in April at the age 110 who also served in World War II.
Its 158 member crew will be joining a task force along with the HMAS Tobruk, New Zealand Navy ship Canterbury and leased vessel Windermere to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief in the Pacific Ocean.
An Honor to Mr. Choules. --Cooter
The HMAS Choules arrived in Sydney from Freemantle after being commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy December 13th. The 16,000 tons ship was acquired from Britain and is named for the last World War I veteran to have seen combat, Claude Choules who died in April at the age 110 who also served in World War II.
Its 158 member crew will be joining a task force along with the HMAS Tobruk, New Zealand Navy ship Canterbury and leased vessel Windermere to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief in the Pacific Ocean.
An Honor to Mr. Choules. --Cooter
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Death of World War I's Last Combatant, Claude Choule-- Part 3: The Secret to Longevity
From the May 7th Sydney Morning Herald.
When asked how he attained such longevity, Mr. Choule replied, "Don't die." Definitely worthy of a Yogi Berra quote. No wonder he was nicknamed "Chuckles."
Mr. Choules did not even own a car until he was 50 and he bicycled everywhere before that. According to the Herald, his brothers served in the British Army. I have also read that they were in the Australian Army. Either way, they served at the disaster at Gallipoli and the Western Front. Brother Douglas was gassed and died a year later.
Dropping out of school at age 14, Choules lied about his age and joined the British Navy in 1915 where he received his initial training on the HMS Impregnable which was once a square-rugged 140 gun ship-of-the-line.
He also was in the military during World War II, this time for Australia. Besides being chief demolition officer for German mines, in 1942, with Japanese attack imminent on the port of , he was put in charge of preparing harbor facilities and oil tanks for destruction. He also planned to destroy any ships that couldn't escape with depth charges.
For three months during the Australian summer of 1943-1944, he was on the patrol vessel Kingbay to clear Broome Harbor of flying boat wrecks. Fifteen aircraft there being used to evacuate Dutch refugees were destroyed during a Japanese attack in March 1942 with heavy loss of life.
Quite a Man. --Cooter
When asked how he attained such longevity, Mr. Choule replied, "Don't die." Definitely worthy of a Yogi Berra quote. No wonder he was nicknamed "Chuckles."
Mr. Choules did not even own a car until he was 50 and he bicycled everywhere before that. According to the Herald, his brothers served in the British Army. I have also read that they were in the Australian Army. Either way, they served at the disaster at Gallipoli and the Western Front. Brother Douglas was gassed and died a year later.
Dropping out of school at age 14, Choules lied about his age and joined the British Navy in 1915 where he received his initial training on the HMS Impregnable which was once a square-rugged 140 gun ship-of-the-line.
He also was in the military during World War II, this time for Australia. Besides being chief demolition officer for German mines, in 1942, with Japanese attack imminent on the port of , he was put in charge of preparing harbor facilities and oil tanks for destruction. He also planned to destroy any ships that couldn't escape with depth charges.
For three months during the Australian summer of 1943-1944, he was on the patrol vessel Kingbay to clear Broome Harbor of flying boat wrecks. Fifteen aircraft there being used to evacuate Dutch refugees were destroyed during a Japanese attack in March 1942 with heavy loss of life.
Quite a Man. --Cooter
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Death of World War I's Last Combatant, Claude Choules
From the May 7th Victoria and Vancouver (Canada) Times Colonist.
Clausw Choules was born March 3, 1901, but went through life being called Charles.
At the outbreak of World War I, Mr. Choules tried to join te British Army as a boy bugler by lying about his age. Instead, in 1915, he was sent to a boys training ship, the HMS Impregnable.
His first assignment in the Royal Navy was October 1917 on the battleship HMS Revenge as a boy-seaman, first class. The revenge had fire more than 100 15-inch shells at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Choules' next assignment was the fast battleship HMS Valiant where he witnessed the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at Firth of Forth in November 1918. After the war, he joined the crew of the HMS Eagle, Britain's first purpose-built aircraft carrier.
Quite a Life, But More to Come. --DaCoot
Clausw Choules was born March 3, 1901, but went through life being called Charles.
At the outbreak of World War I, Mr. Choules tried to join te British Army as a boy bugler by lying about his age. Instead, in 1915, he was sent to a boys training ship, the HMS Impregnable.
His first assignment in the Royal Navy was October 1917 on the battleship HMS Revenge as a boy-seaman, first class. The revenge had fire more than 100 15-inch shells at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Choules' next assignment was the fast battleship HMS Valiant where he witnessed the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at Firth of Forth in November 1918. After the war, he joined the crew of the HMS Eagle, Britain's first purpose-built aircraft carrier.
Quite a Life, But More to Come. --DaCoot
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Last Three Surviving World War I Veterans
Besides Frank Buckles, two other certified World War veterans are still alive. Both served in the English military.
Unfortunately, in the last year, three British veterans have died, leaving just the two, a woman and a man.
Until recently, I did not see her name among the survivors, but now she is listed in Wikipedia.
Claude Stanley Choules, 109, lives in Australia and served in the Royal Navy.
Florence Beatrice Green, 109, still lives in England and was in the Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force Women.
I have been following the last World War I veterans for some time now and it is sad to see their end coming. Another part of our history gone forever.
To see the other post on the survivors, hit the World War I survivors tag.
An interesting article is at Wikipedia under List of Surviving Veterans of World War I.
It Will Be a Sad Day When These Great People Pass On. --Cooter
Unfortunately, in the last year, three British veterans have died, leaving just the two, a woman and a man.
Until recently, I did not see her name among the survivors, but now she is listed in Wikipedia.
Claude Stanley Choules, 109, lives in Australia and served in the Royal Navy.
Florence Beatrice Green, 109, still lives in England and was in the Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force Women.
I have been following the last World War I veterans for some time now and it is sad to see their end coming. Another part of our history gone forever.
To see the other post on the survivors, hit the World War I survivors tag.
An interesting article is at Wikipedia under List of Surviving Veterans of World War I.
It Will Be a Sad Day When These Great People Pass On. --Cooter
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