'World's last' WWI veteran Florence Green dies aged 110

[MikeyT]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...orfolk-16929653

A woman thought to be the world's last known surviving service member of World War I has died aged 110.

Florence Green, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, served as a mess steward at RAF bases in Marham and Narborough.

She died in her sleep on Saturday night at Briar House care home, King's Lynn. Mrs Green had been due to celebrate her 111th birthday on 19 February.

The world's last known combat veteran of World War I, Claude Choules, died in Australia aged 110 in May 2011.

'Good time'

Sue Bray, administrator at Mrs Green's care home, said: "She really was a lovely lady. Everyone thought a lot of her. She will be sadly missed."

The 110-year-old had been at the home since the end of November. She previously lived in King's Lynn with her daughter May, whom Mrs Bray believes is aged in her 90s.

Born in London before moving to Norfolk, Mrs Green was 17 years old when she joined the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) on 13 September 1918 - two months before the armistice.

She left on 18 July 1919.

In 2010 Mrs Green's story emerged after a researcher uncovered her records.

Speaking to the BBC at the time, Mrs Green said she had served breakfast, lunch and tea and had got to know many different people during her service.

She added she "learned a lot of different things" and had a "good time" in the WRAF.

Mrs Green worked as a waitress on RAF bases in Norfolk

According to The National Archives, the WRAF was created to free up men for active service.

It said women had to undertake a variety of jobs and were used as drivers, mechanics, cooks and office clerks.

At first they were based in Britain, but later about 500 women served in France and Germany.

The WRAF was disbanded on 1 April 1920.

At the start of World War II, the Women's Auxiliary Air Force was formed and renamed the Women's Royal Air Force on 1 February 1949.

Mrs Green's funeral will be held at Mintlyn Crematorium, Bawsey, in Norfolk, on 16 February, her funeral directors confirmed.

[darko2k7]

R.I.P

[flowwolf]

God bless her and hope she had a good life, but hardly a first world war veteran ?

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

A great age to achieve. God bless you my dear.

R.I.P.

[acooling08]

God bless her and hope she had a good life, but hardly a first world war veteran ?

She was in active service during the last 2 months of the war so technically she is, although not in the same way the old boys who died in 2009 were.

[flowwolf]

In the canteen ?

[FoxesAreBlue]

In the canteen ?

Every team needs its back-room staff

[Reynard Bleu]

As someone of a certain age, both my grandfathers and two great uncles served during WW1, all survived remarkably. I was fortunate enough to know them all, although only as old age pensioners and me only as a child. They rarely spoke of the war, but when they did it was clear that the horrors of their time in combat and the appallling loss of life stayed with them throughout their lives and indeed shaped their lives in one way or another. Billed as the war to end all wars, it must have saddened them to know it was not.

My children have never known anyone old enough to have lived through that war, to them its pages in a history book, pretty much the same as Waterloo, Trafalger etc. I know this is how it is with all historical events, but it makes me feel very old and a little sad that there's no one left to tell of the futility and sacrifice of those times.

[OzFox]

As someone of a certain age, both my grandfathers and two great uncles served during WW1, all survived remarkably. I was fortunate enough to know them all, although only as old age pensioners and me only as a child. They rarely spoke of the war, but when they did it was clear that the horrors of their time in combat and the appallling loss of life stayed with them throughout their lives and indeed shaped their lives in one way or another. Billed as the war to end all wars, it must have saddened them to know it was not.

My children have never known anyone old enough to have lived through that war, to them its pages in a history book, pretty much the same as Waterloo, Trafalger etc. I know this is how it is with all historical events, but it makes me feel very old and a little sad that there's no one left to tell of the futility and sacrifice of those times.

Know what you mean. It's sad when there's nobody left to tell their stories first hand.

One of my grandads fought at the Somme. As a young kid I asked him excitedly (as you do) if he ever shot a German. He said he remembered firing his rifle at a soldier, and seeing the man fall, but that there was so much gunfire and shrapnel flying around he could never be sure if it was his bullet.

He made me feel very lucky not to have gone through something like that. I sometimes wonder how I would have coped in the same situation. Probably cowering in a trench shitting bricks, rather than following orders and going "over the top"