Canadian WW1 vet, 109, dies
John Babcock has died yesterday in Spokane, where he lived since 1932,
Mr Babcock was born on July 23, on an Ontario farm and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment when he was just 15, lying about his age.
He trained with nearly 1,300 other underage soldiers in anticipation of crossing the English Channel and facing enemy fire, but the war ended before he could set foot in France.
Soon afterwards he moved to the US, where he served in the US Army and became a naturalised citizen.
Mr Babcock attributed his longevity to the physical training he received from serving in two armies in his youth. He did not drink much and stopped smoking a long time ago.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: “As a nation, we honour his service and mourn his passing.”
