WWI veteran dies at 106

Rod_Filan · 27 November 2005, 07:05 PM

Last Canadian World War I veteran to have seen action, having fought on the front line. Not an airman, but he was probably the last Canadian to have seen planes flying at the front.

R.I.P. Pvt. Clare Laking

http://tinyurl.com/85utt

28 November 2005, 11:17 AM

Hi.
Thanks for this information.
Rest in peace.

Peteroz

Yeoman · 28 November 2005, 12:48 PM

Hello Rod
Thanks for letting us know.
Damn shame. An era has now almost past.
This and Mr Anderson passing away last week at 109, the last of the old contemptables.

Rest in peace Mr Laking.

ww1 ace · 28 November 2005, 02:22 PM

Pretty soon, there won't be any left!

GASML · 30 November 2005, 05:40 AM

Sad to hear that their numbers become still fewer. RIP.

Does anyone know whether here are any RFC/RNAS, French, Imperial German or American flyers still alive today?

Laspalmas · 7 December 2005, 07:41 AM

Unfortunately, the last WW1 pilot (of all countries involved) died in 2003. He was a canadian, flew Camels and had 1 victory, I believe.

"Henry Botterell, the last of Canada's World War I fighter pilots, has died. He was 106. . .
He was one of the estimated 15 remaining Canadian veterans of World War I, and the Department of Veteran Affairs considered him the last fighter pilot from the 1914-1918 conflict.
Botterell may indeed have been the last surviving pilot of any nation to have seen action in the Great War."

Here is another link, he flew Camels and a Snipe
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/botterell.htm
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serie...botterell.html

7 December 2005, 09:58 AM

And the last world war I ace was

Cecil Lewis who died in 1997.

Peteroz