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.

Death of the Last World War I Veteran: Florence Green-- Part 2: The Great Flour Attack

The death of Mrs. Green brings her generation to an end. There are no more remaining men or women who served during the War to End All Wars as they called it.

Fortunately, she was identified as a World War I veteran before her death, but not by much. In 2009, a researcher was reading a Norfolk newspaper at the time Mrs. Green was turning 108. The article mentioned that she had served in the Great War. Research was done and her service records were found in the British Archives. She received official identification as a Great War veteran in Jan. 2010.

She was based at Narborough Airfield where she saw what was probably the most benign attack of any sort during the war. When news of the Armistice came November 11, 1918, RAF flyers from nearby Marhan Airfield flew over Narborough and "bombed" it with sacks of flour. The Narborough boys returned the favor, only they used bags of soot.

She also served seven months at RAF Marham.

After the war, she married Walter Green, a railroad worker. He died in 1970.


WOMEN'S ROYAL AIR FORCE (WRAF)

The original aim of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics to allow men to serve on the front lines. Soon, women were filling other jobs such as drivers and, in Mrs. Green's case, waitresses in the officers mess which used to be done by men.

Another Great Generation Leaves Us.

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

England's Oldest Surviving Veteran

From the Jan. 16th Mirror.co.uk.

Actually, he is a she, Florence Green, who is now 109. A researcher recently discovered her. She enlisted in the newly-formed Women's RAF at age 17, two months before the end of the war and worked as a waitress in the officer's mess.

She was stationed at RAF Markham and Narborough Airfield, both in Norfolk, England.

She was born February 19, 1901, and is the only survivor of the Great War living in the UK. The other survivor, Claude Choules, lives in Australia.

One of the Few World War I Veterans Left. --Cooter