List of last living war veterans
Encyclopedia
This a chronological list of the last surviving veterans from each war or conflict. The listed wars span from the 17th century to the beginning of World War II
.
English Civil War
War of the Polish Succession
Russo-Turkish War
Jacobite rising
French and Indian War
French Revolution
Napoleonic Wars
War of 1812
Rebellions of 1837
Most cases are questionable, though it should be remembered that many Confederate records were destroyed or lost to history. Unlike the U.S. military archives, the Confederate records had no official archive system after the war. However, for most of the cases investigated, the ages of the claimants alone were enough to prove their claim was false. Williams was generally acknowledged as the "last Confederate veteran" in 1950s newspapers. However, in September 1959 an exposé by The New York Times revealed that he was in fact born in 1854 in Itawamba County, Mississippi
, and not 1842 as claimed. Still, since Salling and all the other claimants were dead, Williams was celebrated as the last Confederate veteran after his death on 20 December 1959.
Salling's own status is disputed. In 1991, William Marvel examined the claims of Salling and several other "last Civil War veterans" for a piece in the Civil War history magazine Blue & Gray. Marvel found census data that indicated Salling was born in 1858, not 1846. Although in 1900 Salling supplied a birthdate of March 1858, he appears to have been born around 1856, still too late to have served in the Confederate Army. The 1860 census lists him as 4 years old, and the 1870 census as 14. William Lundy is listed as 1 year old on the 1860 census, and from 1870 until 1930 he gave census marshals ages that reflected birthdates as early as 1853 and as late as 1860. He did not push his birthdate back to the 1840s until he applied for a Confederate pension from the state of Florida. In the same piece, Marvel confirmed Woolson's claim to be the last surviving Union veteran and asserted that Woolson was the last genuine Civil War veteran on either side. However, Marvel did not present research establishing who, among the several other Confederate claims from the 1950s, some of which appear to be genuine, was the real last Confederate veteran.
January Uprising
Indian Wars
Paris Commune
Spanish-American War
Boer War
Mexican Revolution
World War I
October Revolution
Finnish Civil War
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
Polish-Ukrainian War
Irish War of Independence
Silesian Uprisings
Turkish War of Independence
Nanchang Uprising
Brazilian Revolution of 1930
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early modern period
These cases, particularly with respect to the ages claimed by the veterans, cannot be verified.- Anton Grolekofsky (1671/1672–1785) — PolishPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
soldier who lived in Sweden. Claimed to have fought in the Nine Years' War, Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743) and Polish-Swedish War.
- Andreas Nielsen (1660–1782) — NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
soldier. Claimed to be the last Scanian WarScanian WarThe Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
veteran, and says he had a long military career and had seen many battles.
- Jacob Christiansen Drakenberg (1626–1772) — Norwegian sailor. Claimed to have fought for Frederick III of DenmarkFrederick III of DenmarkFrederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
in the Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658) and again from 1675–1681 in the Scanian War.
English Civil WarEnglish Civil WarThe English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
- William Hiseland (1620–1732) — Wiltshire native. Fought for royalistsCavalierCavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
in this war, Williamite War in IrelandWilliamite war in IrelandThe Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
and War of the Spanish SuccessionWar of the Spanish SuccessionThe War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. Last survivor of Battle of EdgehillBattle of EdgehillThe Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
. Retired with rank of sergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. For 80-year service to the king, he became one of the earliest admitted to Royal Hospital ChelseaRoyal Hospital ChelseaThe Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age, located in the Chelsea region of central London, now the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a true hospital in the original sense of the word,...
.
War of the Polish SuccessionWar of the Polish SuccessionThe War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
- Jean ThurelJean ThurelJean Thurel was a fusilier of the French Army with an extraordinarily long career that spanned over 90 years of service in the Touraine Regiment...
(1699–1807) — Died in France. Served in War of the Austrian SuccessionWar of the Austrian SuccessionThe War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, Seven Years' WarSeven Years' WarThe Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
and American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Known as "oldest soldier of Europe."
War of the Austrian Succession
- Jean Thurel (1699–1807) — Died in France. Served in War of the Polish Succession, Seven Years' War and American Revolutionary War. Known as "oldest soldier of Europe."
Russo-Turkish WarRusso-Turkish WarRusso-Turkish War may refer to one of the following conflicts between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire:*Russo-Turkish War *Russo-Turkish War *Russo-Turkish War *Pruth River Campaign...
- Petro KalnyshevskyPetro KalnyshevskyKalnyshevsky Petro was the last Koshovyi Otaman of the Zaporozhian Host, serving in 1762 and from 1765 to 1775. Kalnyshevsky was the Hero in the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774 and was honoured with a gold medal with brilliants for courage.Being the leader of the Zaporozhian Host, Kalnyshevsky...
(1691–1803) — Last Zaporozhian HostZaporozhian HostThe Zaporozhian Cossacks or simply Zaporozhians were Ukrainian Cossacks who lived beyond the rapids of the Dnieper river, the land also known as the Great Meadow in Central Ukraine...
. Last known living veteran of Great Northern WarGreat Northern WarThe Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
. Fought in 1735–1739 and 1768–1774 Russo-Turkish Wars (by which time he was an AtamanAtamanAtaman was a commander title of the Ukrainian People's Army, Cossack, and haidamak leaders, who were in essence the Cossacks...
).
Jacobite risingJacobite risingThe Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
- George BrowneGeorge Browne (soldier)George Browne, Count von Browne in the nobility of the Holy Roman empire was an Irish soldier of fortune who became field-marshal in the Russian service....
(1698–1792) — IrishIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
nobleman. Supported Old PretenderJames Francis Edward StuartJames Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
. Later became mercenary in RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n army.
Seven Years' War
- Johann Heinrich Behrens (1735–1844) — Died in Germany.
- Paul François de Quelen de la VauguyonPaul François de Quelen de la VauguyonPaul François de Quelen de La Vauguyon or Paul François de Quélen de Stuer de Caussade, duc de La Vauguyon was a French nobleman. He was governor of Cognac, after having been involved in the last campaigns of the Seven Years' War...
(1746–1828) —Died in France. - Henry Luttrell, 2nd Earl of CarhamptonHenry Luttrell, 2nd Earl of CarhamptonGeneral Henry Lawes Luttrell, 2nd Earl of Carhampton PC was a politician and soldier.-Military career:Educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, Luttrell was commissioned into the 48th Regiment of Foot in 1757. In 1762, during the Seven Years' War, he became Deputy Adjutant-General...
(1743–1821) — Died in Britain.
French and Indian WarFrench and Indian WarThe French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
- Jonathan Benjamin (1738–1841) — Also fought in American Revolutionary War. Settled in Granville, Ohio in 1802.
- Robert Abercromby of AirthreyRobert Abercromby of AirthreyGeneral Sir Robert Abercromby GCB , the youngest brother of Sir Ralph Abercromby, was a general in the army, a knight of the Bath, and at one period the governor of Bombay and commander-in-chief of the British forces in India.-Military career:...
(1740–1827) — Died in Britain. - Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de LotbinièreMichel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de LotbinièreColonel The Hon. Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbinière , de jure 2nd Marquis de Lotbinière...
(1748–1822) — Died in France.
American Revolutionary War
- Daniel BakemanDaniel F. BakemanDaniel Frederick Bakeman may have been the last surviving veteran of the War for American Independence . He is buried in Sandusky Cemetery, Freedom, New York....
(1759–1869) — Alleged veteran. Awarded pension via Congress, though no support of service has been located. - John GrayJohn Gray (American Revolutionary War)John Gray was one of the candidates for last surviving U.S. veteran of the American Revolutionary War. He was advertised as such by journalist James Dazell and as of 1876 was believed by the Pension Office of the U.S...
(1764–1868) — Last verifiable veteran although period of service was too short for him for pension qualification. - Samuel Downing (1764–1867)
- Lemuel CookLemuel CookLemuel Cook was one of the last verifiable surviving veterans of the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut to Henry Cook and his wife Hannah Benham. Enlisting in the Continental Army at the age of sixteen, Cook fought at Brandywine and in the Virginia campaign,...
(1759–1866) — Last official veteran; honorable discharge signed by George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
French RevolutionFrench RevolutionThe French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
- Nicolas SavinNicolas SavinJean-Baptiste Nicolas Savin was a French soldier and supercentenarian. He was the last survivor of the French Revolutionary Wars of 1792-1802 and the last French officer of the Napoleonic Wars.-Military career:...
(1768–1894) — Enlisted in 2nd Regiment of Hussars in 1798. 1768 figure proclaims he was approximately 126 at time of death. Later served under Napoleon and was awarded the Legion d'HonneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.
Napoleonic WarsNapoleonic WarsThe Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
- Jean Adrin (1797–1902) — Last FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
veteran. In 1912 there were three Polish men who claimed to have fought at BorodinoBorodinoBorodino is a rural locality in Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located west of Mozhaysk.The village is famous as the location of the Battle of Borodino, which occurred in what is now known as the "Borodino Battlefield" . The State Borodino War and History Museum and Reserve is...
, but it is unlikely they were real veterans due to lack of documentation and age ranges relatively high from 120 to 133. - Geert Adriaans BoomgaardGeert Adriaans BoomgaardGeert Adriaans Boomgaard is accepted by most demographic scholars as the first validated supercentenarian case on record...
(1788–1899) — Last DutchNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
veteran and Europe's oldest man at the time of his death. He fought for FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the 33ème Régiment Léger. - Louis Victor Baillot (1793–1898) — French veteran. Last Battle of WaterlooBattle of WaterlooThe Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
veteran. Saw action at siege of HamburgSiege of HamburgThe city of Hamburg was one of the most powerful fortresses east of the Rhine. After being freed from Napoleonic rule by advancing Cossacks and other following allied troops it was once more occupied by Marshal Davout's French XIII Corps on 28 May 1813, at the height of the campaign for Germany in...
. - Pedro Martinez (1789–1898) — Last Battle of TrafalgarBattle of TrafalgarThe Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
veteran. Served in SpanishSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
navy on San Juan NepomucenoSpanish ship San Juan NepomucenoSan Juan Nepomuceno was a Spanish ship of the line launched in 1765 from the royal shipyard in Guarnizo . Like many 18th Century Spanish warships she was named after a saint...
. - Leonard Meesters (1796–1896) — Last BelgianBelgiansBelgians are people originating from the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe.-Etymology:Belgians are a relatively "new" people...
veteran. Fought for Napoleon. - Josephine Mazurkewicz (1794–1896) — Last female veteran. Assistant surgeon in Napoleon's army. Later partook in Crimean WarCrimean WarThe Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. - Sir Provo WallisProvo WallisAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Perry Wallis, GCB was a Royal Navy officer and naval war hero. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was 100 years old when he died....
(1791–1892) — Canada. - Morris Shea (1795–1892) — 73rd Foot — Last ScottishScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
veteran. - Joseph Sutherland (1789–1890) — Last English veteran. Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Last British survivor of Trafalgar.
War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
- Hiram CronkHiram CronkHiram Cronk was the last surviving veteran of the War of 1812 at the time of his death.Born in Frankfort, New York, Cronk enlisted with his father and two brothers on August 4, 1814. He served with the New York Volunteers in the defense of Sackett's Harbor, and was discharged November 16, 1814....
(1800–1905) — United States Army. - Sir Provo WallisProvo WallisAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Perry Wallis, GCB was a Royal Navy officer and naval war hero. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was 100 years old when he died....
(1791–1892) — Canadian Army. Royal Navy. Napoleonic veteran.
Texas War of Independence
- Alfonso SteeleAlfonso SteeleAlfonso Steele was the last remaining survivor of the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution.-Life:...
(1817–1911) — Last veteran of Battle of San JacintoBattle of San JacintoThe Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
. - James L Allen (1815–1901) — TexanTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
courier at AlamoAlamoThe Battle of the Alamo was a battle fought during the Texas Revolution.Alamo may also refer to:-Places:*Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas*Alamo, California*Alamo, Georgia*Alamo Township, Michigan*Alamo, Nevada*Alamo, New Mexico...
.
Rebellions of 1837Rebellions of 1837The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
- François X. MatthieuFrançois X. MatthieuFrançois X. Matthieu was a French Canadian settler of the Oregon Country who was one of the people involved in forming the provisional government of what would become the U.S. state of Oregon...
(1818–1914) — Parti Patriote. - Douglas LabalmondièreDouglas LabalmondièreLieutenant-Colonel Douglas William Parish Labalmondière CB was the first Assistant Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police and acted as Commissioner for three months in 1868–1869....
(1815–1893) — Upper Canada RebelsRepublic of CanadaThe Republic of Canada was a declared government proclaimed by William Lyon Mackenzie on December 13, 1837. The self proclaimed government was established on Navy Island in the Niagara River in the latter days of the Upper Canada Rebellion after Mackenzie and 200 of his followers retreated from...
.
Mexican-American War
- Owen Thomas EdgarOwen Thomas EdgarOwen Thomas Edgar was, according to data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the longest surviving U.S. veteran of the Mexican-American War....
(1831–1929) — United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Crimean War
- Yves Prigent (1833–1938) — French sailor.
- Charles Nathan (1834–1934) — Last French soldier. Saw action in Italy, Syria, Mexico and Franco-Prussian WarFranco-Prussian WarThe Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. - Edwin HughesEdwin HughesTroop Sergeant Major Edwin Hughes, known as 'Balaclava Ned', was the last survivor of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War of 1854–56. He was born in Wrexham, Wales on 12 December 1830, and died in Blackpool on 18 May 1927, aged 96...
(1830–1927) — Last survivor of Charge of the Light BrigadeCharge of the Light BrigadeThe Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
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Confederate
| Name | Claimed birth date | Believed birth date | Death date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Crump Pleasant Crump Pleasant Riggs Crump is the last verifiable veteran who fought for the Confederacy soldier during the American Civil War. Although he was survived by several other claimants in the 1950s, such as Thomas Riddle, William Lundy, John B. Salling and Walter Williams), historical research has... |
23 December 1847 | 31 December 1951 | Verified | |
| Felix M. Witkoski Felix M. Witkoski Felix M. Witkoski is a spurious candidate for the last surviving Confederate Veteran. He claimed that in 1862 he was turned back as too young by a Texas regiment, but walked to Montgomery, Alabama and successfully enlisted as a water boy in the 53rd Alabama Infantry... |
5 January 1850 | October 1854 | 3 February 1952 | Debunked |
| Thomas Edwin Ross | 19 July 1850 | 27 March 1952 | Unknown | |
| Richard William Cumpston | 23 May 1841 | 5 September 1952 | No evidence | |
| William Loudermilk | 23 October 1848 | 18 September 1952 | No evidence | |
| William Jordan Bush | 10 July 1845 | July 1846 | 11 November 1952 | Probable |
| Arnold Murray | 10 June 1846 | 1854/1855 | 26 November 1952 | Debunked |
| William Townsend | 12 April 1846 | 22 February 1953 | Possible | |
| William Albert Kinney | 10 February 1843 | 10 February 1861 | 23 June 1953 | Debunked |
| Thomas Riddle | 16 April 1846 | 2 April 1954 | No evidence | |
| William Lundy William Lundy William Lundy was a claimant of the last living Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, having claimed to have served with the Alabama Home Guard in 1865.-Biography:... |
18 January 1848 | May 1860 | 1 September 1957 | Debunked |
| John B. Salling John B. Salling John B. Salling claimed to be the second-oldest surviving Confederate Veteran of the American Civil War, though his claim of being born in 1846 has since been debunked... |
15 May 1846 | 15 May 1856 | 16 March 1959 | Debunked |
| Walter Williams | 14 November 1842 | 14 November 1854 | 19 December 1959 | Debunked |
Most cases are questionable, though it should be remembered that many Confederate records were destroyed or lost to history. Unlike the U.S. military archives, the Confederate records had no official archive system after the war. However, for most of the cases investigated, the ages of the claimants alone were enough to prove their claim was false. Williams was generally acknowledged as the "last Confederate veteran" in 1950s newspapers. However, in September 1959 an exposé by The New York Times revealed that he was in fact born in 1854 in Itawamba County, Mississippi
Itawamba County, Mississippi
In 2000, there were 8,773 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and...
, and not 1842 as claimed. Still, since Salling and all the other claimants were dead, Williams was celebrated as the last Confederate veteran after his death on 20 December 1959.
Salling's own status is disputed. In 1991, William Marvel examined the claims of Salling and several other "last Civil War veterans" for a piece in the Civil War history magazine Blue & Gray. Marvel found census data that indicated Salling was born in 1858, not 1846. Although in 1900 Salling supplied a birthdate of March 1858, he appears to have been born around 1856, still too late to have served in the Confederate Army. The 1860 census lists him as 4 years old, and the 1870 census as 14. William Lundy is listed as 1 year old on the 1860 census, and from 1870 until 1930 he gave census marshals ages that reflected birthdates as early as 1853 and as late as 1860. He did not push his birthdate back to the 1840s until he applied for a Confederate pension from the state of Florida. In the same piece, Marvel confirmed Woolson's claim to be the last surviving Union veteran and asserted that Woolson was the last genuine Civil War veteran on either side. However, Marvel did not present research establishing who, among the several other Confederate claims from the 1950s, some of which appear to be genuine, was the real last Confederate veteran.
January UprisingJanuary UprisingThe January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
- Antoni Suss (1844–1946) — Penultimate veteran.
- Feliks Bartczuk (1846–1946) — Last veteran.
Indian WarsIndian WarsAmerican Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
- Fredrak Fraske (1872–1973)
- John DawJohn DawJohn Daw was the last surviving U.S. Army Indian Scout veteran that had served in the Indian Wars at the time of his death. He was a Navajo Indian given the Navajo name at birth...
(1870–1965) - Dewey Beard (1857–1955) — Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the AmericasThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
from Lakota tribe. Last survivor of Battle of the Little Big Horn. Also fought at Wounded KneeWounded Knee MassacreThe Wounded Knee Massacre happened on December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, USA. On the day before, a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Samuel M...
.
Franco-Prussian War
- Seraphin Pruvost (1849–1955) — Last French veteran.
- Karl Glöckner (1845–1953) — Last GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
veteran.
Paris CommuneParis CommuneThe Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution...
- Adrien Lejeune (1847–1942) — Last Communard.
- Emile Chausse (1850–1941) — Left army and joined the communards in 1870.
- Antonin Desfarges (1851–1941) — Last Communard député.
Zulu War
- Charles Wallace Warden (d. 1953) — Transferred to First Foot in 1874.
- Frank BourneFrank BourneLieutenant-Colonel Frank Edward Bourne OBE DCM was a decorated British soldier who participated in the defence of Rorke's Drift during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. He was also the last known survivor of the battle.-Early life:...
(1854–1945) — Last survivor of Rorke's DriftRorke's DriftThe Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was a battle in the Anglo-Zulu War. The defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, immediately followed the British Army's defeat at the Battle of...
.
Spanish-American WarSpanish-American WarThe Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
- Jones MorganJones MorganJones Morgan is said to be an African-American soldier who served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He ran away from home and sneaked into the army at age 15. The ostensible last surviving US veteran of the war, Morgan served as a cook and a horse wrangler in the 10th Regiment...
(1882–1993) - Nathan E. CookNathan E. CookNathan Edward Cook was a sailor in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War. He was recognized as the longest surviving U.S. veteran of that war . Cook retired from the U.S...
(1885–1992)
Boer WarBoer WarThe Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
- George Frederick IvesGeorge Frederick Ives-External links:*...
(1881–1993) — British army. Later emigrated to Canada.
Potemkin Mutiny
- Ivan Beshoff (1885–1987) — Sailor on Russian battleshipBattleshipA battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
PotemkinRussian battleship PotemkinThe Potemkin was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. The ship was made famous by the Battleship Potemkin uprising, a rebellion of the crew against their oppressive officers in June 1905...
. Fled to Ireland and opened fish and chipsFish and chipsFish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
shop.
Mexican RevolutionMexican RevolutionThe Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
- Guillermo Flores Reyes (1898–present) — Claimant.
- John Redhawk (1898–present) — Claimant.
- Juan Carlos Caballero VegaJuan Carlos Caballero VegaJuan Carlos Caballero Vega was a Mexican revolutionary. Caballero worked as the personal driver and chauffeur for Mexican Revolutionary general Pancho Villa for more than two years.-References:...
(1900–2010) — Pancho VillaPancho VillaJosé Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
's driver. - Feliciano Mejia (1899–2008) — Last living member of Emiliano ZapataEmiliano ZapataEmiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
's Ejército Libertador del Sur. - Antonio Gómez Delgado (1900–2007) — Last living member of Pancho Villa's División del NorteDivision del NorteThe División del Norte was an armed faction formed by Madero and initially led by General Jose Gonzales Salas following the call to arms from Francisco Madero at the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. After Salas committed suicide following his defeat at the hands of Pascual Orozco at the...
- Teodoro Garcia (1889–1999) — Last Federal soldier.
World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
- Florence GreenFlorence GreenFlorence Beatrice Green is the last known living veteran of the First World War. She was a member of the Women's Royal Air Force.-Biography:...
(1901–present) — Served as waitress in Women's Royal Air ForceWomen's Royal Air ForceThe Women's Royal Air Force was a women's branch of the Royal Air Force which existed in two separate incarnations.The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men...
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October RevolutionOctober RevolutionThe October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
- Boris Gudz (1902–2006) — Red ArmyRed ArmyThe Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. Also fought in Russian Civil WarRussian Civil WarThe Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
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Finnish Civil WarFinnish Civil WarThe Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
- Lauri NurminenLauri NurminenLauri Nurminen was the last known White Guard and the last known veteran from the Finnish Civil War- Biography :...
(1906–2009) — White GuardWhite Guard (Finland)The White Guard was a voluntary militia that emerged victorious over the socialist Red Guard as part of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918...
s. - Aarne Arvonen (1897–2009) – Red GuardsRed Guards (Finland)The Red Guards formed the army of Red Finland during the Finnish Civil War in 1918. The combined strength of the Red Guard was about 30,000 at the beginning of the Civil War, and peaked at 90,000-120,000 during the course of the conflict....
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Russian Civil War
- Boris Gudz (1902–2006) — Red Army. Also fought in October Revolution.
- Nikolai Fyodorov (1901–2003) — White Army.
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
- Jan Rzepa (1899–2005) — Last Polish fighter.
German Revolution of 1918–19
- Helmut FinkHelmut FinkHelmut Fink was the last known German Revolution veteran and the last German WWI-Era veteran in the world. As a teenager, he served in the Freikorps during the German Revolution 1918-1919. After his service he became a professional Flautist...
(1901–2009) — FreikorpsFreikorpsFreikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
. - William SeegersWilliam SeegersWilliam Alfred Seegers was, at age 106, one of the last two known remaining veterans of the First World War to have served in the German forces and California's last known World War I veteran....
(1900–2007) — German armyGerman ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
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Polish-Ukrainian WarPolish-Ukrainian WarThe Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
- Major Aleksander Sałacki (1904–2008) — Last surviving Lwów EagletLwów EagletsLwów Eaglets is a term of affection applied to the Polish teenagers who defended the city of Lviv in Eastern Galicia, during the Polish-Ukrainian War .-Background:...
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Estonian War of Independence
- Ants Ilus (1901–2006) — Died in Estonia.
- Karl Jaanus (1899–2000) – Last surviving Cross of Liberty recipient awarded during war.
Irish War of IndependenceIrish War of IndependenceThe Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
- Dan KeatingDan KeatingDaniel "Dan" Keating was a life-long Irish republican and patron of Republican Sinn Féin. At the time of death he was Ireland's oldest man and the last surviving veteran of the Irish War of Independence.-Early life:...
(1902–2007) — Irish Republican ArmyIrish Republican ArmyThe Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
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Silesian UprisingsSilesian UprisingsThe Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed uprisings of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919–1921, against German rule; the resistance hoped to break away from Germany in order to join the Second Polish Republic, which had been established in the wake of World War I...
- Wilhelm MeiselWilhelm Meisel (Silesian Uprisings veteran)Wilhelm Meisel was the last veteran of the Silesian Uprisings, He joined up to the Polish Army in 1919 at the age of 15 and served during the Silesian Uprisings from 1919 until it ended in 1921...
(1904–2009) — Last survivor.
Turkish War of IndependenceTurkish War of IndependenceThe Turkish War of Independence was a war of independence waged by Turkish nationalists against the Allies, after the country was partitioned by the Allies following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I...
- Mustafa Şekip BirgölMustafa Sekip BirgölMustafa Şekip Birgöl , a retired Turkish colonel, was the last veteran of the Turkish War of Independence .-Biography:...
(1903–2008) — Died in Turkey.
Northern Expedition
- Sun YuanliangSun YuanliangSun Yuanliang was a Chinese military general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China. Sun was the last surviving member of the first graduating class of the Whampoa Military Academy, as well as the last surviving army-level commander of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
(1904–2007) — National Revolutionary ArmyNational Revolutionary ArmyThe National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
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Nanchang UprisingNanchang UprisingThe Nanchang Uprising was the first major Kuomintang-Communist engagement of the Chinese Civil War, in order to counter the anti-communist purges by the Nationalist Party of China....
- Xiao KeXiao KeXiao Ke was a general in the People's Liberation Army of China, former vice chairman of the CPPCC, as well as principal of the University of Military and Politics.-Early life:Xiao was born in Jiahe County, Hunan Province of China....
(1907–2008) — Last CommunistCommunismCommunism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
officer.
Brazilian Revolution of 1930Brazilian Revolution of 1930The Revolution of 1930 was a movement that overthrew President Washington Luís and installed Getúlio Vargas as Provisional President.-See also:*Revolutions of Brazil*History of Brazil...
- Waldemar Levy CardosoWaldemar Levy CardosoWaldemar Levy Cardoso was the last living Field Marshal of the Brazilian Army. He was of Jewish Algerian-Moroccan descent and was born on Rua Evaristo da Veiga in Rio de Janeiro. Cardoso graduated from military college at the top of his class in late 1918, making him a World War I-era veteran...
(1900–2009) — Brazilian armyBrazilian ArmyThe Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
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