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Title: John Babcock
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John Babcock

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Jack Babcock

July 23, 1900(1900-07-23) ? February 18, 2010 (aged 109)

John Babcock in 1920

Nickname Jack

Place of birth Holleford, South Frontenac, Ontario, Canada

Allegiance Canada

United States

Service/branch Canadian Expeditionary Force

Years of service 1916?1918

Rank Acting Lance Corporal

Unit 146th Battalion

Young Soldiers Battalion

Battles/wars World War I

John Henry Foster "Jack" Babcock (July 23, 1900 ? February 18, 2010) was, at age 109, the last known surviving veteran of the Canadian military to have served in the First World War and, after the death of Harry Patch, he was the conflict's oldest surviving participant. Babcock first attempted to join the army at the age of fifteen, but was turned down and sent to work in Halifax until he was placed in the Young Soldiers Battalion in August 1917. Babcock was then transferred to Britain, where he continued his training until the end of the war.

Having never seen combat, Babcock never considered himself a veteran and moved to the United States in the 1920s, where he joined the United States Army and eventually became an electrician. In May 2007, following the death of Dwight Wilson, he became the last surviving veteran of the First World War who served with the Canadian forces.[1] From that point he received international attention, including 109th birthday greetings from Queen Elizabeth II, the Governor General of Canada and the Canadian Prime Minister,[2] until his death on February 18, 2010.[3]

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