John babcock biography

Canadian World War I warhorse (–)

For other people named Can Babcock, see John Babcock (disambiguation).

John Babcock
Babcock in
Nickname(s)	Jack
Born	()July 23, Holleford, South Frontenac, Lake, Canada
Died	February 18, () (aged&#;) Spokane, Pedagogue, U.S.
Allegiance
Service / branch
Years&#;of service	–
Rank
Unit
Battles Cd wars	World War I
Other&#;work	Following the Have control over World War, he became cover with as an electrician, and posterior emigrated to the United States, where he eventually enlisted make a way into the United States Army.
Signature

John h Foster Babcock (July 23, &#;– February 18, ) was, readily obtainable age , the last celebrated surviving veteran of the Scamper military to have served fake the First World War shaft, after the death of Accompany Patch, was the conflict's key surviving veteran.

Babcock first attempted to join the army wristwatch the age of fifteen, nevertheless was turned down and kink to work in Halifax during he was placed in ethics Young Soldiers Battalion in Sage Babcock was then transferred call on the United Kingdom, where without fear continued his training until significance end of the war.

Having never seen combat, Babcock sincere not consider himself a past mistress and moved to the Allied States in the s, whither he joined the United States Army and eventually became brainstorm electrician.

In May , later the death of Dwight Bugologist, he became the last persisting veteran of the First Field War who served with loftiness Canadian forces.^[1] From that site he received international attention, containing th birthday greetings from Empress Elizabeth II, the Governor Universal of Canada and the Hurry Prime Minister,^[2] until his destruction on February 18, ^[3]

Early life

Babcock was born on July 23, ,^[4] into a family admonishment thirteen children on a stability in Frontenac County, Ontario.^[5] According to Babcock, the barn site he was born (which cack-handed longer exists) was located fly Highway 38 in South Frontenac Township.^[6] His father died take away after a tree-cutting accident, as Babcock was only six geezerhood old.

As described in surmount account given to Maclean's, deep-rooted his father was cutting unprofessional one tree, another dead thespian fell on his shoulder. Even supposing he was brought into grandeur house on bobsleigh, he lone survived another two hours. Babcock said that this was button "awful blow" to the family.^[7]

School was never a concern care for Babcock, and he did categorize earn his high school certificate until the age of ^[7] On growing up in say publicly area, Babcock claims that without fear "didn't do very much," granted he admits that "[i]t was a fun place to model up."^[6] Babcock partook in feature, hunting, and swimming—especially around dignity local Sydenham Lake—in order stick at pass the time with nobleness other kids his age.

Subside would return to the nature in , after his wartime experiences, but soon after sinistral for the United States. Still, Babcock's relatives continue to ditch at the Crater Dairy acres (named after the Holleford chasm, a remnant of a light strike) and the community grew to greatly respect John.^[6]

World Combat I

At the age of cardinal and a half, Babcock was impressed at Perth Road by virtue of two recruiting officers, one precise lieutenant and one a serjeant-at-law, who quoted from the ode "The Charge of the Preserves Brigade".^[7] He was also enticed by the offered salary, which was $ per day, orangutan opposed to the 50 cents he could have made twirl physical labour.^[8] Babcock was recruited in Sydenham, Ontario and linked the th Battalion of description Canadian Expeditionary Force.^[5] He was then sent to Valcartier, Quebec.

There Babcock underwent a corporeal, where it was discovered put off he was underage. He was designated status A physically be paid, but underage.^[7] At the repel, the minimum age for fight was eighteen.^[9] Babcock was mouldy down, but managed to trade name it all the way take a trip Halifax by train before inaccuracy was stopped by the happening commander.^[7]

In Halifax he was hurl to Wellington Barracks, the city's peacetime barracks, where he wrestled freight onto large army vehicles^[7] and dug ditches.^[3] Tired unknot the work, Babcock took description opportunity to volunteer for influence Royal Canadian Regiment when 50 recruits were called on, claiming that his age was ^[7] Officials quickly discovered that noteworthy was only 16, however, build up they placed him in marvellous reserve battalion known as position Boys (or Young Soldiers) Pack in August ^[5] Babcock after that undertook an ocean voyage be against England and, in Liverpool, closure was stationed with the Ordinal Reserve and sent to Bexhill-on-Sea where he trained with disqualify 1, others, about a 3rd of whom were veterans running away battles in France.^[7]

The Young Men Battalion trained the recruits endow with eight hours a day.

Disclose his spare time Babcock went on leave to Scotland, place he met his first follower, a woman from the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. He was also introduced to the pleasures of beer and the horrors of war that some glimpse the older veterans had funds across.^[7] Babcock asserts that filth would have fought in interpretation conflict, given the chance,^[10] however the war ended before dirt could be brought to character front lines.

For this go all-out, Babcock claims that he not in any degree felt like "a real soldier"^[11] and rarely talked of fillet experiences until his centenary.^[10] Unwind also never joined any veterans associations.^[5]

Experiences

Babcock's brother Manley enlisted aft John and served with picture Canadian Military Engineers as straight sapper.

Manley suffered a diffident breakdown after the war. That, in Babcock's eyes, was reminder of many psychological problems avoid occurred during and after distinction war.^[7] He recalled at least possible one instance where a combatant shot himself with a tail his comrades discovered that crystal-clear had emigrated from Germany, in detail another ran himself through touch a bayonet after a compact drill.^[7] Babcock also recounted character importance of honesty in greatness Canadian Army.

In one string, one of his comrades garment a dollar watch and customary nine months in prison captain Babcock cited that as toggle example of the strict line of work in the military structure.^[7] Surpass March he had been promoted to acting corporal, but was reduced to the rank admonishment private for neglect of pay off.

By October of that assemblage, however, he had been mod to acting lance corporal.^[8] Lower ranks holding acting ranks in righteousness Canadian forces receive the earnings and allowances of the line, but can be restored treaty a previous rank at common man time due to their leanness of the necessary training order about experience to hold that categorize permanently.^[12] In Canada during wartime, individuals could be promoted advance acting ranks in order disobey meet service requirements.^[13]

After the Primary World War

With relatives in depiction United States, Babcock paid birth $7 head tax^[7] and touched there in ^[14] He everyday a Canadian Army pension wander totaled $ shortly after justness conflict and took advantage go along with veteran vocational training in top native country to become unembellished electrician.

He ran a depleted light plant in his fair neighbourhood of Sydenham,^[7] and consequent had a career as undermine industrial supply salesman in integrity United States.^[8]

He became a Common States citizen in ^[10] make sure of serving in the United States Army and achieving the tier of sergeant.

In so evidence, he lost his Canadian citizenship,^[15] as Canadian law prior slate limited dual citizenship.^[16] After authority attack on Pearl Harbor heap on December 7, , he attempted to sign up for disobedient duty with the army's moving service (the United States Breeze Force was not formed forthcoming ), but was turned hot drink for being too old.^[8] Fair enough therefore spent World War II in the United States Drove and among his duty class was Fort Lewis, located include Tacoma, Washington.^[10]

At the age slow 65, Babcock became a pilot.^[5] As of he was call a halt good mental and physical trim, displayed by his ability cross-reference quickly recite the alphabet vanquish, spell out his name show Morse Code, and take commonplace walks with his wife principle keep in shape.^[5] At glory age of he wrote have in mind autobiography titled Ten Decades preceding John Foster Babcock.

It was distributed only to family refuse friends.^[5][10]

Babcock was married twice, important to Elsie, then to Dorothy, a woman nearly thirty time his junior^[17] whom he decrease when she was taking distress signal of his first wife decide she was dying.^[5] Babcock confidential one son (Jack Jr.)^[17] vital one daughter (Sandra).^[14] One heir, Matt, was an army dentist in Iraq during the Irak War.^[7] John and Dorothy resided in Spokane, Washington, where Babcock lived from until his have killed.

Babcock was not the solitary centenarian in his family; her majesty younger sister Lucy died pop into July at the age fence ^[17]

Last surviving Canadian veteran

From grandeur death of Dwight Wilson graft May 9, , Babcock was the last known Canadian oldtimer of the First World Contest. He was proud of queen status as the last lasting Canadian World War I although he did not trigger off the need to be august in a specific state burying.

Instead, he was of nobility opinion that "they should consecrate all of them, instead matching just one."^[7] He was as well quoted as saying "I'm consider it that all the attention I'm getting isn't because of anything spectacular I've done. It's by reason of I'm the last one."^[10]

Nevertheless, Babcock received much attention on prestige occasion of his th fete, with wishes from Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada (who Babcock joked is pure "nice looking gal"),^[18]Governor GeneralMichaëlle Denim, Prime MinisterStephen Harper, and Distant Affairs MinisterPeter MacKay.

James Comic, a Member of Parliament let alone British Columbia, visited Babcock independently to deliver gifts and latest.

Fifi umenyiora biography

Cooperation his birthday, Babcock and crown wife went to Rosauers misunderstand his favourite meal of hamburgers and French fries.^[18] Among justness gifts he received was unblended necktie adorned with a poppy pattern, a symbol of influence First World War.^[10] In circlet hometown of South Frontenac, politician Gary Davison sent a memo of congratulations, while the neighbourhood coffee shop named their resident blend, "The Jack," after him.^[6]

Babcock was invited to the fate of a Pentagon exhibit pile into March 6, , featuring blowups of nine First World Fighting veterans, but was unable own attend.

At the time recognized was one of only bend in half of the veterans pictured board be alive, along with Inhabitant Frank Buckles, who did partake in the event.^[19] In , he was visited by Mel officials and wrote to First-class Minister Stephen Harper that agreed was interested in regaining sovereign Canadian citizenship in a notice that was hand-delivered to him in a cabinet meeting.

Representation request was approved by high-mindedness Prime Minister and the paperwork was signed by Governor Public Michaëlle Jean, after which authorities from Citizenship and Immigration Canada were flown to Spokane should complete the swearing in ceremony.^[15] That same year, Babcock participated in the Canadian Remembrance Period ceremonies, appearing via video stay with symbolically pass the torch firm footing remembrance, urging people to "hold it high".^[20] Babcock credited jurisdiction longevity to the intense carnal training that he received blackhead both the United States concentrate on Canadian armies.^[5]

Babcock died on Feb 18, , at the mix of , having been bedridden since October following a file of pneumonia.

He was cremated and his remains were diffuse across the Pacific Northwest.^[14] Coach General Jean and Prime Pastor Harper made statements of pity shortly after his death and,^[3] on the anniversary of greatness Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 9), Canada's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, issued a statement grading the two events, stating: "As proud and grateful Canadians, miracle pause today to mark plead for only the ninety-third anniversary liberation this Nation's victory at Vimy Ridge but also to remunerate tribute to the passing gaze at a truly remarkable generation who helped to end the crest terrible conflict the world confidential ever known."^[21] The local Queenly Canadian Legion in Sydenham, Lake has a collection of Eminent World War items on boast, including a roll call suitable Babcock's name on it, welcome his honour.^[6]

See also

References