Maurice Floquet, the oldest WWI veteran, died yesterday at the age of 111, one day before the celebrations of the 1918's armistice. Considered the oldest veteran in the world, his death leaves now France with only 4 WWI veterans (and maybe a little more, as the counting relies on the veterans associations's members registers).
He was mobilized in september 1914, at the age of 19, in the 26th infantry regiment (Bresse), he fought in the first battles on the Somme (battles of Morhange, Charmes, Léomont, Vitrimont, Grand Couronné, Capy-Dompierre, Fricourt, Bécourt castle, Fonquevilliers, Ypres and Flanders), where he received his first wounds. The regiment gained several citations in this short time. In 1915, he fought particularly in the Artois offensive and in the battle of Champagne where he was again wounded, losing one hear. His hospitalization lasted for a long time (2 trepanations) and made him unfit for combat, but not for duty: he finished the war in a weapon factory before being de-mobilized.
Mr. Floquet refused publicity and wished for discretion.
So, guys from everywhere; how are your WWI veterans?
Par St Michel vivent les Paras,
Pour que toujours vive la France...
Et pour qu'au nom de Dieu vive la Coloniale!
"Le fantassin se doit de calquer en tout son attitude sur le morpion, cet animal sublime qui meurt mais ne décroche jamais" (Maréchal Joffre)
111, wow. Imagine how long he would've lived if he didn't have shell shock and bullets wizzing past his head for four years.....
China actually joined the allied forces in early 1918, although only in paper. Strangely, according to the Treaty of Versailles, German territorys gained from the Qing dynasty were actually given to the Japanese, who remained neutral throughout......
actually, Japan was actually an Ally in WWI. China sent over 100,000 labourers that served in the front digging trenches and what not and their have been stories of some fighting the central powers when the allies were getting slaughtered in some engagements. Over 5000 Chinese lost their lives and their are cemetaries in France that have the remains of these adventurers- their is a book about the war experience in Chinese- can't remember the title.
Anonymous (Login notanonymous) Elite WAFF Vet Club
Re: Among the last ones.
November 18 2006, 1:41 AM
His lifespan saw the transformation of France from one of the world's greatest empires to a defenerate nation where the people France used to rule now rule the streets, and in the future everything else as well.
I wonder how he felt seeing France deluged with immigrants. He fought so hard to keep the German armies out of France only to see the infinitely worse Africans and Arabs swarm in-to stay permanently.
ingenting- that was before and during WWII. Chiang's adopted son Wei-Kuo was sent to Germany to serve in Hitler's panzer division in which he was a commander and served during the uniting of Germany and Austria and also participated in the drive into Polish territory during the opening days of WWII. this was during the height of German training of NRA divisions that numbered 80,000 strong.
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