Our Last Canadian WWI Soldier?

rlaughton · 13-05-2008, 02:32 AM

But is he really a Canadian?

CEF WW1 Soldier John Babcock

International posts welcome to John's blog - what does the international community think about John Babcock? American or Canadian? WW1 Veteran or not? Did you have to "fight" to gain this recognition or just grow old?

Kyt · 13-05-2008, 02:49 AM

1) Veteran? Yes. Like many from both wars, where one was deployed, or even whether one was conscripted into a non-military unit (e.g. The Bevan Boys or Merchant Navy) should not negate the fact that they served.

2) American or Canadian? Hmmm, that is tricky but one could argue that the fact that he was born in Canada and served as a Canadian before changing his nationality makes him a Canadian veteran. One could also argue that many Commonwealth personnel served outside their own national forces but are still recognised by their country of origin/birth. For example, Australians, Canadians and South Africans who served in the RAF rather than in their own air forces.