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Last surviving service member of World War I passes away

Last surviving service member of World War I passes away

THE last known surviving service member of the First World War has passed away in England.

Florence Green was only days away from celebrating her 111th. birthday. She died in her sleep at a care home in King’s Lynn.

Mrs. Green, whose maiden name was Florence Patterson, had joined the Women’s Royal Air Force in September 1918 when she was 17-years-old. Two months later the armistice was declared.

During her time in the WRAF, Mrs. Green served as a mess stewart at RAF bases in Marham and Narborough.

After her war service, Mrs. Green returned to civilian life and lived for the rest of her life in King’s Lynn.

Her position as one of the last surviving service members from WWI was only recognised in 2010 when a researcher came across her records in the national archives.

The last three combat veterans living in the U.K. — Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch — all passed away in 2009. The last known World War I combat veteran, British-born Claude Choules, died in Australia in May 2011 aged 110.

Mrs. Green is believed to be have been the last veteran anywhere out of the millions who served in the conflict.

 

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