The Last
On the 18th of February 2010, Master Corporal John H. F. Babcock, the last surviving Canadian veteran of the First World War, passed away at his home in Spokane, Washington. He was 109 years old.
With the passing of Mr. Babcock, there are now only 3 remaining WWI veterans in the world, two British and one American. In November 2006, Parliament voted unanimously to accord a state funeral for him as the last Canadian veteran of the war, but Babcock declined.
As a nation, we honour his service and mourn his passing. The passing of Mr. Babcock marks the end of an era.
His family mourns the passing of a great man. Canada mourns the passing of the generation that asserted our independence on the world stage and established our international reputation as an unwavering champion of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
-Prime Minister Stephen Harper
May he rest in peace.
