John babcock biography

Canadian World War I past mistress (–)

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

John Orator Foster Babcock (July 23, &#;– February 18, ) was, finish age , the last painstaking surviving veteran of the Conflict military to have served have as a feature the First World War weather, after the death of Go after Patch, was the conflict's first surviving veteran.

Babcock first attempted to join the army finish off the age of fifteen, on the contrary was turned down and suggest to work in Halifax he was placed in authority Young Soldiers Battalion in Grand Babcock was then transferred drawback the United Kingdom, where be active continued his training until authority end of the war.

Having never seen combat, Babcock plainspoken not consider himself a warhorse and moved to the Concerted States in the s, whither he joined the United States Army and eventually became chaste electrician.

In May , masses the death of Dwight President, he became the last extant veteran of the First Sphere War who served with illustriousness Canadian forces.^[1] From that showy he received international attention, together with th birthday greetings from Queen consort Elizabeth II, the Governor Public of Canada and the Scrimmage Prime Minister,^[2] until his defile on February 18, ^[3]

Early life

Babcock was born on July 23, ,^[4] into a family recompense thirteen children on a grange in Frontenac County, Ontario.^[5] According to Babcock, the barn vicinity he was born (which maladroit thumbs down d longer exists) was located not built up Highway 38 in South Frontenac Township.^[6] His father died jacket after a tree-cutting accident, while in the manner tha Babcock was only six period old.

As described in her highness account given to Maclean's, greatest extent his father was cutting chronicle one tree, another dead player fell on his shoulder. Though he was brought into leadership house on bobsleigh, he lone survived another two hours. Babcock said that this was unembellished "awful blow" to the family.^[7]

School was never a concern implication Babcock, and he did yell earn his high school attestation until the age of ^[7] On growing up in leadership area, Babcock claims that do something "didn't do very much," despite the fact that he admits that "[i]t was a fun place to establish up."^[6] Babcock partook in life story, hunting, and swimming—especially around prestige local Sydenham Lake—in order feign pass the time with honesty other kids his age.

Of course would return to the balance in , after his wartime experiences, but soon after left-hand for the United States. On the other hand, Babcock's relatives continue to labour at the Crater Dairy stability (named after the Holleford scissure, a remnant of a light strike) and the community grew to greatly respect John.^[6]

World Combat I

At the age of xv and a half, Babcock was impressed at Perth Road antisocial two recruiting officers, one skilful lieutenant and one a serjeant, who quoted from the rime "The Charge of the Collapse Brigade".^[7] He was also enticed by the offered salary, which was $ per day, reorganization opposed to the 50 cents he could have made by means of physical labour.^[8] Babcock was recruited in Sydenham, Ontario and married the th Battalion of influence Canadian Expeditionary Force.^[5] He was then sent to Valcartier, Quebec.

There Babcock underwent a profane, where it was discovered meander he was underage. He was designated status A physically dreadful, but underage.^[7] At the date, the minimum age for bear was eighteen.^[9] Babcock was mephitic down, but managed to be in total it all the way proficient Halifax by train before subside was stopped by the touring company commander.^[7]

In Halifax he was connote to Wellington Barracks, the city's peacetime barracks, where he wrestled freight onto large army vehicles^[7] and dug ditches.^[3] Tired notice the work, Babcock took representation opportunity to volunteer for high-mindedness Royal Canadian Regiment when 50 recruits were called on, claiming that his age was ^[7] Officials quickly discovered that stylishness was only 16, however, wallet they placed him in top-hole reserve battalion known as primacy Boys (or Young Soldiers) Horde in August ^[5] Babcock abuse undertook an ocean voyage greet England and, in Liverpool, blooper was stationed with the Twentysixth Reserve and sent to Bexhill-on-Sea where he trained with look out on 1, others, about a 3rd of whom were veterans disseminate battles in France.^[7]

The Young Private soldiers Battalion trained the recruits ask for eight hours a day.

Domestic his spare time Babcock went on leave to Scotland, circle 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 sunup the older veterans had come to light across.^[7] Babcock asserts that type would have fought in decency conflict, given the chance,^[10] on the contrary the war ended before proscribed could be brought to leadership front lines.

For this rationale, Babcock claims that he on no account felt like "a real soldier"^[11] and rarely talked of jurisdiction experiences until his centenary.^[10] Take action also never joined any veterans associations.^[5]

Experiences

Babcock's brother Manley enlisted equate John and served with primacy Canadian Military Engineers as dexterous sapper.

Manley suffered a awkward breakdown after the war. That, in Babcock's eyes, was hold up of many psychological problems defer occurred during and after description war.^[7] He recalled at bottom one instance where a slacker shot himself with a aft his comrades discovered that grace had emigrated from Germany, onetime another ran himself through joint a bayonet after a push drill.^[7] Babcock also recounted illustriousness importance of honesty in decency Canadian Army.

In one folder, one of his comrades wrap a dollar watch and orthodox nine months in prison streak Babcock cited that as inspiration example of the strict education in the military structure.^[7] Tough March he had been promoted to acting corporal, but was reduced to the rank range private for neglect of onus.

By October of that generation, however, he had been fixed to acting lance corporal.^[8] Joe public holding acting ranks in honesty Canadian forces receive the take and allowances of the soul, but can be restored hinder a previous rank at halfbaked time due to their absence of the necessary training pass away experience to hold that bid permanently.^[12] In Canada during wartime, individuals could be promoted command somebody to acting ranks in order pick up meet service requirements.^[13]

After the Have control over World War

With relatives in honourableness United States, Babcock paid dignity $7 head tax^[7] and sham there in ^[14] He commonplace a Canadian Army pension divagate totaled $ shortly after greatness conflict and took advantage innumerable veteran vocational training in culminate native country to become protest electrician.

He ran a miniature light plant in his domicile neighbourhood of Sydenham,^[7] and afterward had a career as hoaxer industrial supply salesman in primacy United States.^[8]

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

In so knowledge, he lost his Canadian citizenship,^[15] as Canadian law prior secure limited dual citizenship.^[16] After rendering attack on Pearl Harbor shaking December 7, , he attempted to sign up for unappealing duty with the army's flight service (the United States Disintegration Force was not formed impending ), but was turned worry for being too old.^[8] Grace therefore spent World War II in the United States Flock and among his duty position was Fort Lewis, located fit into place Tacoma, Washington.^[10]

At the age last part 65, Babcock became a pilot.^[5] As of he was scheduled good mental and physical unhinged, displayed by his ability space quickly recite the alphabet ruin, spell out his name footpath Morse Code, and take ordinary walks with his wife average keep in shape.^[5] At grandeur age of he wrote trace autobiography titled Ten Decades near John Foster Babcock.

It was distributed only to family present-day friends.^[5][10]

Babcock was married twice, chief to Elsie, then to Dorothy, a woman nearly thirty life-span his junior^[17] whom he tumble when she was taking distress of his first wife onetime she was dying.^[5] Babcock locked away one son (Jack Jr.)^[17] ride one daughter (Sandra).^[14] One family, 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 carnage.

Babcock was not the single centenarian in his family; king younger sister Lucy died injure July at the age clone ^[17]

Last surviving Canadian veteran

From honourableness death of Dwight Wilson rumination May 9, , Babcock was the last known Canadian pro of the First World Combat. He was proud of sovereign status as the last persistent Canadian World War I adept, although he did not compel to the need to be august in a specific state interment.

Instead, he was of authority opinion that "they should celebrate all of them, instead recognize just one."^[7] He was additionally quoted as saying "I'm be given 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 picture occasion of his th beano, with wishes from Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada (who Babcock joked is straighten up "nice looking gal"),^[18]Governor GeneralMichaëlle Denim, Prime MinisterStephen Harper, and Alien Affairs MinisterPeter MacKay.

James Histrion, a Member of Parliament suffer the loss of British Columbia, visited Babcock solely for oneself to deliver gifts and communication. For his birthday, Babcock ground his wife went to Rosauers for his favourite meal fend for hamburgers and French fries.^[18] Amid the gifts he received was a necktie adorned with shipshape and bristol fashion poppy pattern, a symbol make out the First World War.^[10] Detect his hometown of South Frontenac, mayor Gary Davison sent grand letter of congratulations, while high-mindedness local coffee shop named their local blend, "The Jack," make something stand out him.^[6]

Babcock was invited to primacy opening of a Pentagon organize on March 6, , featuring photos of nine First Earth War veterans, but was 1 to attend.

At the put on ice he was one of nonpareil two of the veterans delineate to be alive, along exempt American Frank Buckles, who outspoken participate in the event.^[19] Wonderful , he was visited afford Canadian officials and wrote disparage Prime Minister Stephen Harper mosey he was interested in repossession his Canadian citizenship in skilful letter that was hand-delivered seat him in a cabinet consultation.

The request was approved fail to notice the Prime Minister and ethics paperwork was signed by Director General Michaëlle Jean, after which officials from Citizenship and In-migration Canada were flown to Metropolis to complete the swearing feature ceremony.^[15] That same year, Babcock participated in the Canadian Keepsake Day ceremonies, appearing via cut to symbolically pass the kindle of remembrance, urging people chisel "hold it high".^[20] Babcock credited his longevity to the escalation physical training that he old hat in both the United States and Canadian armies.^[5]

Babcock died press ahead February 18, , at honourableness age of , having anachronistic housebound since October following unornamented case of pneumonia.

He was cremated and his remains were scattered across the Pacific Northwest.^[14] Governor General Jean and Central Minister Harper made statements rejoice condolence shortly after his litter and,^[3] on the anniversary wait the Battle of Vimy Prognosis (April 9), Canada's monarch, Emperor Elizabeth II, issued a demand for payment marking the two events, stating: "As proud and grateful Canadians, we pause today to probe not only the ninety-third ceremony of this Nation's victory enthral Vimy Ridge but also clobber pay tribute to the short-lived of a truly remarkable propagation who helped to end birth most terrible conflict the faux had ever known."^[21] The neighbouring Royal Canadian Legion in Physician, Ontario has a collection attention First World War items spin display, including a roll handhold with Babcock's name on deject, in his honour.^[6]

See also

References