Claude Choules
Encyclopedia
Claude Stanley Choules (ˈʃuːlz; 3 March 1901 5 May 2011) was the last World War I
combat veteran
, and was the last military witness to the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
. He was also the last veteran to have served in both world war
s, and the last seaman
from the First World War. At the time of his death, he was also the third oldest verified military veteran in the world and the oldest known living man in Australia. He was the seventh-oldest living man in the world. Choules became the oldest man born in the United Kingdom following the death of Stanley Lucas on 21 June 2010. Choules died in Perth, Western Australia
, at the age of 110.
, Worcestershire
, on 3 March 1901 and raised in nearby Wyre Piddle
. The son of Harry and Madeline (née Winn), Claude was one of seven children, although two died in early childhood. The surviving siblings were Douglas, Leslie, Phyllis, and Gwendoline. His mother left home when Claude was five, returning to the stage as an actress, and he and his older brothers were raised by his father. His older sister Phyllis lived with the family of a paternal uncle, while his younger sister Gwendoline was adopted by the family of a paternal aunt. Both Claude and his older brothers went to Pershore National Boys' School (see national school
), though Douglas (born 1893) and Leslie (born 1894) emigrated to Western Australia in 1911.
Choules was 13 at the start of World War I
, and the family received letters from Leslie and Douglas who had joined the Australian Imperial Force
and landed at Anzac Cove and fought during the Gallipoli Campaign. Choules was able to leave school when he turned 14, at which point he attempted to enlist in the army as a bugler boy but was rejected as too young. Choules' father then arranged for him to train to join the navy instead, and in April 1915, at age 14, he joined the nautical training ship TS Mercury
.
This training ship was moored on the River Hamble
, near Southampton, Hampshire, and had a dormitory ship called HMS President that had previously been . The commander of the Mercury training site was the cricketer C. B. Fry, and Choules' time there included trips to Netley Hospital
as part of the Mercurys dancing team. The examinations taken by Choules following his training on the Mercury qualified him to attend the Advanced Class on the naval training ship HMS Impregnable situated at the Devonport naval base
in Plymouth. Choules transferred there in October 1916, for what was to be the final stage of his training before joining the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet.
, which was the flagship
of the First Battle Squadron
and stationed at Scapa Flow
in the Orkney Islands. While serving aboard it, Choules saw action against a German zeppelin
, and witnessed the surrender of the German Imperial Navy
at the Firth of Forth
in 1918, ten days after the Armistice
, as well as witnessing the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
.
In 1926, along with 11 other Royal Navy senior sailors, Choules travelled to Australia on loan as an instructor at Flinders Naval Depot. He travelled on the SS Diogenes on a 6-week voyage from London to Melbourne, and it was on this voyage that he met his future wife Ethel Wildgoose who was travelling to Australia to carry out work for the Victoria League. Choules decided to transfer permanently to the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN) after sampling and agreeing with the Australian way of life. In fact, he was only two days younger than the RAN, which was established on 1 March 1901.
He took his discharge from the RAN in 1931, but remained in the reserves and rejoined the RAN in 1932 as a Chief Petty Officer
Torpedo and Anti Submarine Instructor. He never once returned to England after leaving.
During the Second World War, Choules was the Acting Torpedo Officer based at Fremantle, Western Australia, and also served as the Chief Demolition Officer on the western side of the Australian continent. He was tasked with sabotaging Fremantle harbours and related oil storage tanks in the event of a Japanese invasion. Choules was also responsible for dealing with the first German mine to wash up on Australian soil during the war, near Esperance, Western Australia
.
Choules remained in the RAN after the Second World War and transferred to the Naval Dockyard Police (NDP) to allow him to remain in service until 1956, as retirement from the RAN for ratings in those days was at age 50, while personnel could serve until 55 years old in the NDP.
, because he was against the glorification of war. His autobiography The Last of the Last was published in 2009.
In late April 2010, Choules' daughter Daphne Choules-Edinger reported that his health was declining and he could no longer give interviews. He was almost totally blind and deaf. He celebrated his 110th birthday
in March 2011. In the final years of his life, he resided at Gracewood Hostel in Salter Point
, a suburb of Perth
.
Claude Choules appeared in the BBC
documentaries The Last Tommy (2005) and Harry Patch
– The Last Tommy (2009). After his eventual death, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
stated "Mr Choules and his generation made a sacrifice for our freedom and liberty we will never forget".
, state Opposition Leader Eric Ripper
and federal Defence Minister Stephen Smith
, who gave a reading during the service. Choules's son Adrian gave the eulogy.
On 13 August 2011 it was announced by the Chief of Navy
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs
that the former British Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Largs Bay
would be named HMAS Choules, following its acquisition by the Royal Australian Navy.
, as he had served more than four years in the Australian Defence Force
after 3 September 1945. He was also awarded the British War Medal
1914–18, the Victory Medal 1914–18
, the War Medal 1939–45
, the Australia Service Medal 1939–45, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
, the Centenary Medal
and the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Clasp.
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World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
combat veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
, and was the last military witness to the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
The scuttling of the German fleet took place at the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow, in Scotland, after the end of the First World War. The High Seas Fleet had been interned there under the terms of the Armistice whilst negotiations took place over the fate of the ships...
. He was also the last veteran to have served in both world war
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s, and the last seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
from the First World War. At the time of his death, he was also the third oldest verified military veteran in the world and the oldest known living man in Australia. He was the seventh-oldest living man in the world. Choules became the oldest man born in the United Kingdom following the death of Stanley Lucas on 21 June 2010. Choules died in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, at the age of 110.
Early life and naval training
Claude Choules was born in PershorePershore
Pershore is a market town in Worcestershire, England, on the banks of the River Avon. Pershore is in the Wychavon district and is part of the West Worcestershire parliamentary constituency. At the 2001 census the population was 7,304...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, on 3 March 1901 and raised in nearby Wyre Piddle
Wyre Piddle
Wyre Piddle is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England. It is on the River Avon, near where that river is joined by the Piddle Brook - between Evesham and Pershore...
. The son of Harry and Madeline (née Winn), Claude was one of seven children, although two died in early childhood. The surviving siblings were Douglas, Leslie, Phyllis, and Gwendoline. His mother left home when Claude was five, returning to the stage as an actress, and he and his older brothers were raised by his father. His older sister Phyllis lived with the family of a paternal uncle, while his younger sister Gwendoline was adopted by the family of a paternal aunt. Both Claude and his older brothers went to Pershore National Boys' School (see national school
National school (England and Wales)
A national school was a school founded in 19th century England and Wales by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education.These schools provided elementary education, in accordance with the teaching of the Church of England, to the children of the poor.Together with the less numerous...
), though Douglas (born 1893) and Leslie (born 1894) emigrated to Western Australia in 1911.
Choules was 13 at the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the family received letters from Leslie and Douglas who had joined the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
and landed at Anzac Cove and fought during the Gallipoli Campaign. Choules was able to leave school when he turned 14, at which point he attempted to enlist in the army as a bugler boy but was rejected as too young. Choules' father then arranged for him to train to join the navy instead, and in April 1915, at age 14, he joined the nautical training ship TS Mercury
TS Mercury
The Training Ship Mercury, or the TS Mercury, was a shore-based naval training establishment at Hamble in Hampshire.-History:The T S Mercury was one of a number of similar, mostly static training ships located round the coasts of Britain and founded during the Victorian period to provide boy...
.
This training ship was moored on the River Hamble
River Hamble
The River Hamble is a river in Hampshire, England. It rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for some 7.5 miles through Botley, Bursledon and Swanwick before entering Southampton Water near Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash....
, near Southampton, Hampshire, and had a dormitory ship called HMS President that had previously been . The commander of the Mercury training site was the cricketer C. B. Fry, and Choules' time there included trips to Netley Hospital
Netley Hospital
The Royal Victoria Hospital, or Netley Hospital was a large military hospital in Netley, near Southampton, Hampshire, England. Construction started in 1856 at the suggestion of Queen Victoria but its design caused some controversy, chiefly from Florence Nightingale. Often visited by Queen Victoria,...
as part of the Mercurys dancing team. The examinations taken by Choules following his training on the Mercury qualified him to attend the Advanced Class on the naval training ship HMS Impregnable situated at the Devonport naval base
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
in Plymouth. Choules transferred there in October 1916, for what was to be the final stage of his training before joining the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet.
Military service
In 1917, Choules joined the battleshipBattleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, which was the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the First Battle Squadron
1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)
The British 1st Battle Squadron was a squadron of battleships, initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet, renamed the Grand Fleet during World War I...
and stationed at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
in the Orkney Islands. While serving aboard it, Choules saw action against a German zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
, and witnessed the surrender of the German Imperial Navy
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
at the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
in 1918, ten days after the Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
, as well as witnessing the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
The scuttling of the German fleet took place at the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow, in Scotland, after the end of the First World War. The High Seas Fleet had been interned there under the terms of the Armistice whilst negotiations took place over the fate of the ships...
.
In 1926, along with 11 other Royal Navy senior sailors, Choules travelled to Australia on loan as an instructor at Flinders Naval Depot. He travelled on the SS Diogenes on a 6-week voyage from London to Melbourne, and it was on this voyage that he met his future wife Ethel Wildgoose who was travelling to Australia to carry out work for the Victoria League. Choules decided to transfer permanently to the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN) after sampling and agreeing with the Australian way of life. In fact, he was only two days younger than the RAN, which was established on 1 March 1901.
He took his discharge from the RAN in 1931, but remained in the reserves and rejoined the RAN in 1932 as a Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
Torpedo and Anti Submarine Instructor. He never once returned to England after leaving.
During the Second World War, Choules was the Acting Torpedo Officer based at Fremantle, Western Australia, and also served as the Chief Demolition Officer on the western side of the Australian continent. He was tasked with sabotaging Fremantle harbours and related oil storage tanks in the event of a Japanese invasion. Choules was also responsible for dealing with the first German mine to wash up on Australian soil during the war, near Esperance, Western Australia
Esperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
.
Choules remained in the RAN after the Second World War and transferred to the Naval Dockyard Police (NDP) to allow him to remain in service until 1956, as retirement from the RAN for ratings in those days was at age 50, while personnel could serve until 55 years old in the NDP.
Later life
Choules and his wife Ethel were married for 80 years, until her death at age 98. Choules shunned celebrations of the ArmisticeArmistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
, because he was against the glorification of war. His autobiography The Last of the Last was published in 2009.
In late April 2010, Choules' daughter Daphne Choules-Edinger reported that his health was declining and he could no longer give interviews. He was almost totally blind and deaf. He celebrated his 110th birthday
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
in March 2011. In the final years of his life, he resided at Gracewood Hostel in Salter Point
Salter Point, Western Australia
Salter Point is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located in the City of South Perth local government area.Around 1880, Samuel August Salter worked as a sawyer and timber contractor on the peninsula...
, a suburb of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
Claude Choules appeared in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentaries The Last Tommy (2005) and Harry Patch
Harry Patch
Henry John "Harry" Patch , known in his latter years as "the Last Fighting Tommy", was a British supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in Europe, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War...
– The Last Tommy (2009). After his eventual death, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
stated "Mr Choules and his generation made a sacrifice for our freedom and liberty we will never forget".
Death and funeral
Choules died on 5 May 2011. He was survived by 3 children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was given a naval funeral in Fremantle, Western Australia on 20 May 2011. Guests included the West Australian Premier Colin BarnettColin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
, state Opposition Leader Eric Ripper
Eric Ripper
Eric Stephen Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a...
and federal Defence Minister Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith (Australian politician)
Stephen Francis Smith , is the Australian Minister for Defence. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1993, representing the Division of Perth, Western Australia....
, who gave a reading during the service. Choules's son Adrian gave the eulogy.
On 13 August 2011 it was announced by the Chief of Navy
Chief of Navy (Australia)
The Chief of Navy is the most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy, responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of Defence...
Vice Admiral Ray Griggs
Ray Griggs (admiral)
Vice Admiral Raymond James "Ray" Griggs AM, CSC, RAN is a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy and has been the Chief of Navy since 7 June 2011.-Early career:...
that the former British Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
Largs Bay
RFA Largs Bay (L3006)
RFA Largs Bay is a Bay class landing ship dock that served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary from 2006 to 2011. The vessel was built by Swan Hunter in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. She was named after Largs Bay in Ayrshire, Scotland, and entered service in 2006...
would be named HMAS Choules, following its acquisition by the Royal Australian Navy.
Awards
In 2009, Choules became the oldest recipient of the Australian Defence MedalAustralian Defence Medal
The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service...
, as he had served more than four years in the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
after 3 September 1945. He was also awarded the British War Medal
British War Medal
The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
1914–18, the Victory Medal 1914–18
Victory Medal (United Kingdom)
The Victory Medal is a campaign medal - of which the basic design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA in accordance with decisions as taken at the Inter-Allied Peace Conference at...
, the War Medal 1939–45
War Medal 1939–1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea...
, the Australia Service Medal 1939–45, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
, the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
and the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with Clasp.
| |
British War Medal British War Medal The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918... |
|
| |
Victory Medal 1914–18 Victory Medal (United Kingdom) The Victory Medal is a campaign medal - of which the basic design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA in accordance with decisions as taken at the Inter-Allied Peace Conference at... |
|
| War Medal 1939–45 War Medal 1939–1945 The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea... |
||
| |
Australia Service Medal 1939–45 | |
| Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to... |
1953 | |
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Centenary Medal Centenary Medal The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government... |
2001 |
| |
Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
2006 |
| Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Long Service and Good Conduct Medal The Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is a medal awarded by the British Government to members of the British Armed Forces who have completed 15 years of reckonable service.-British Army:... |
with clasp to denote 30 years service |
See also
- List of verified supercentenarians who died in 2011
- List of veterans of World War I who died in 2009–11
- List of Australian supercentenarians