... and then there were three.

gajinoz · Jan 28, 2005

The last WW1 veteran living in the state of New South Wales died recently. He was 106. There are only three left in Australia. An era passes.

Mike Hull · Jan 28, 2005

Yes! And, IIRC, there are only 10-11 left here. Even WWII vets are passing away in record numbers now.

Time certainly doesn't respect age, or experience. I hope they will always be remembered.

akivory · Jan 28, 2005

My father was a WW1 vet. He was a medic in the Royal Candian Army in France.I could never get him to tell me about it. I have his medals somewhere.
He was 65 wen I was born in 1954. It was kind of hard having a father that was so old but he was a true gentleman.

Don Luis · Jan 28, 2005

From the song by Eric Bogle:

And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all...

Luis

Roger Gregory · Jan 28, 2005

Sad news.

The number of "Old Contemptibles" who make it to the Cenotaph on 11th
November declines each year.

I also hope we remember them. Some of us try...

Roger

gajinoz · Jan 29, 2005

Roger Gregory said:
Sad news.

The number of "Old Contemptibles" who make it to the Cenotaph on 11th
November declines each year.

I also hope we remember them. Some of us try...

Roger

I don't know about in England but here in Oz, while the numbers of old soldiers in the ANZAC day parades gets smaller every year, the crowds watching get bigger and, interestingly, the number of young people seems to be growing. Encouraging signs.

Quiet Storm · Jan 29, 2005

If you know any WWII vets, talk to them. Ask them about what it was like (unless they're reluctant to share their experiences, of course). Soon enough, movies and books will be the only substitutes for first-hand information on that war. History students will still learn about WWII in the year 4000 - and thousands of them will spend lessons and quiet moments wondering what it was like, just like people today sometimes try to imagine what life in ancient Rome, Egypt or Greece looked like.

gajinoz · Jan 29, 2005

Quiet Storm said:
If you know any WWII vets, talk to them. Ask them about what it was like (unless they're reluctant to share their experiences, of course). Soon enough, movies and books will be the only substitutes for first-hand information on that war. History students will still learn about WWII in the year 4000 - and thousands of them will spend lessons and quiet moments wondering what it was like, just like people today sometimes try to imagine what life in ancient Rome, Egypt or Greece looked like.

If you ever get the chance to visit Oz, come to Canberra and spend a day in the National War Memorial. They have some exhibits in there that will give you a very good idea of what life was like for those guys. Some of it beggars belief that anyone could have survived at all.

Quiet Storm · Jan 29, 2005

gaj,
thanks for the tip. There are lots of similar sites here in Germany (and France), but museums are just not the same thing as talking to someone who's been there.

gajinoz · Jan 30, 2005

Quiet Storm said:
gaj,
thanks for the tip. There are lots of similar sites here in Germany (and France), but museums are just not the same thing as talking to someone who's been there.

I know what you mean. Way back in my younger days when I was first learning to fly there was an old guy who hung around in the bar and he'd talk to anyone who'd listen. Most didn't pay much attention to him but one day, after flying was over I got a beer and happened to sit next to him. Turns out he was a Spitfire pilot who fought in the battle of Britain. I think I sat there spellbound for at least 3 hours. Amazing!

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
-Churchill-

JD Mandrell · Jan 30, 2005

Last year I had the amazing honor of meeting Charles Chittiby, he is the last living Commanche Code Talker. Due to the movie Windtalker, most people know of the 60 or so Navajoe Code Talkers used in WW2 by the Marines in the Pacific theater, but less known are the 16 Commanche Code Talkers used in the European theater by the Army. All 16 went ashore at Normandy, and served valiantly throughout Europe. Mr. Chittiby is the last living one at 84.

Here is a picture I took.

He was very entertaining and explained how they had to adapt Commanche words and phrases for thing there were no words for. I don't remember the Commanche, but some of the funnier ones were.

Tank=Turtle
Bazooka=Stove Pipe Gun
Adolph Hitler=Crazy White Man.

It was a meeting I won't soon forget.

uncle Alan · Jan 31, 2005

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Mike Hull said:
Yes! And, IIRC, there are only 10-11 left here. Even WWII vets are passing away in record numbers now.

Time certainly doesn't respect age, or experience. I hope they will always be remembered.

Mike, my dad was in the Coast Guard during WW I when navy took it over & he was mm1c on a destroyer ,USS Downes for the duration.The Downes was sunk at Pearl after he retired.
I have his self-made dogtag and it is shaped much like the WW II & the Korean tags I wore. There is no serial #,just his name & home address on one side & his fingerprint etched on the other side. Has anyone seen anything like that ? Haven't been able to determine if dogtags were issued then.
Anyone know?
Uncle [ life still has

} Alan