Remember Canada's Last WWI Veteran

John Babcock, Canada's last First World War veteran, has died at age 109.

When John Babcock celebrated his 107th birthday in 2007, he received greetings from around the world. The Queen sent a letter of congratulations and Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave him a tie decorated with red poppies.

They were small tokens of appreciation for the man believed to be the last surviving Canadian veteran of the First World War.
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Almost 650,000 Canadians served, and more than 200,000 were killed or wounded, in the First World War. In many ways, the identity of the young country was forged on the bloody battlefields such as Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and the Somme. Babcock, born on an Ontario farm in 1900, enlisted to join the fray at the tender age of 16. He lied about his age to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Sydenham, Ont., and arrived in England a few months later.

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On Thursday night, Harper issued a statement in Ottawa mourning his death.

"As a nation, we honour his service and mourn his passing," Harper said. "The passing of Mr. Babcock marks the end of an era."

Babcock was the last link to the 650,000 Canadian men and women who served in the First World War, Harper noted.

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Farewell, John. I thank you and all the other men who fought for Canada in that war. You're gone, but not forgotten. May you rest in peace. God bless you.