John Babcok turns 109!

By The Associated Press
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090723/national/cda_war_veteran


SPOKANE, Wash. - Canada's last known surviving veteran of The First World War celebrated his 109th birthday with a party on Thursday.

John Babcock received letters of greetings from the Queen, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with songs and well-wishes from about 40 family and friends.

A barbershop quartet sang 'O Canada" at the gathering in the restaurant of a Rosauer's grocery store, Babcock's favorite eatery. He ate his standard lunch of french fries with tartar sauce and coffee.

"It was a very jolly event," said Wendy Baldwin, of the Canadian consulate in Seattle.

Babcock was born in 1900 on an Ontario farm and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment when he was just 15 years old, lying about his age.

Babcock 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 after the war, he moved to the United States, where he served in the U.S. Army and became a naturalized citizen. He has lived in Spokane since 1932.

Babcock became Canada's last First World War veteran after two others died two years ago. More than 600,000 Canadians served in World War I and about 66,000 died.

The lone remaining U.S. veteran is Frank Buckles, 107, of Charles Town, W.Va., according the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Babcock, who draws some veterans benefits from the Canadian government because of hearing loss, has attributed his longevity to the physical training he received from serving in two armies in his youth. He doesn't drink much and stopped smoking a long time ago.

He remains married to his second wife and has a son, a daughter and numerous grandchildren.

Babcock, who grew up in Kingston, Ont., was born into a large family that scattered after his father died in a logging accident when the boy was six. He lived with relatives and did hard physical labor on a farm while receiving only a rudimentary education.

According to an autobiography he wrote for his 100th birthday, he enlisted in the Canadian Army just after New Year's Day in 1916. He was posted to several training camps. He was deemed too young for combat so he was given assignments in Canada.

While unloading military trucks in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he answered a call for volunteers to head to France. He lied about his age and got on a troop transport.

But it was discovered in England that he was only 16, and he was assigned to the so-called "Young Soldiers Battalion," who were held out of battle. Babcock ended up in Wales in 1918, but the war ended and Babcock shipped back to Canada.

He worked on farms and at 19 received vocational training in electrical wiring.

Seeking work, he paid a $7 tax to enter the U.S., taking various jobs. He joined the U.S. Army in 1921, even though he was not a citizen.

He tried to enlist in the U.S. military again in 1941, hoping to learn to fly. He didn't get in, but it was discovered he had never become a U.S. citizen. It wasn't until 1946 that he was naturalized.

John Babcock, Patriarch of the RCR Association

CEFSG Member Al Lloyd has just made us aware of the appointment of John Babcock as the "Regimental Patriarch" of the Royal Canadian Regiment Association. Apparently, this is the first time this appointment has been made in Canada. The appointment is symbolic and does not reflect any official standing.

The view the full article, please follow this link:
http://www.kingstonwhigstandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1190707

The article text:

Babcock earns special distinction: Canada's last living First World War veteran named regimental patriarch.

Posted By IAN ELLIOT WHIG-STANDARD STAFF WRITER

Jack Babcock is last, and now he has been honoured with a rare Canadian first.
Babcock, who was born in Holleford north of Kingston, is Canada's lone surviving First World War veteran. He recently became not just a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment Association - the regiment with which he served - but has been made the regimental patriarch.
Retired Maj. Hugh Conway of Jasper, Alta., travelled to Babcock's home in Spokane, Wash., to make the presentation. He believed it was the first time that honorary title had been bestowed on someone, not just in the regiment but in Canada.

"Patriarch means an honoured elder male leader, and that's what he is to the regiment," said Conway, who was accompanied by RCMP Const. Peter Lavalee of Jasper when he visited Babcock's home.

"The title is unique - it's never been used before by anyone."

Officials with National Defence's History and Heritage Directorate in Ottawa, which oversees honours and awards in the Canadian Forces, confirm that they are not aware of anyone else being named a patriarch, although they point out it is a symbolic appointment with no official standing in the hierarchy of Canadian awards and titles.

Babcock, who enlisted at age 15 and whose true age was found out before he made it to the trenches, trained in the RCR's reserves in England for two years and was waiting to turn 19 when the war ended.

His regimental affiliations were only confirmed a couple of years ago after historians reviewed his military records, and while Babcock has always downplayed his military service - as he never saw combat - Conway said the regiment wanted to recognize him.

Babcock was thrilled by the honour, the latest in a series of Canadian accolades that include regaining his citizenship after the personal intervention of Prime Minister Stephen Harper earlier this year.

"When I got to his house, I said, 'It's an honour to meet you, sir,' and he immediately shot back, 'Don't call me sir, I work for a living,' " recalled Conway.

The ceremony was low-key and after the formal presentation, the two accompanied Babcock to his favourite restaurant, where a small circle of friends helped celebrate.

Still sprightly at 108, over lunch Babcock recited poems he learned during the war and in the parking lot afterwards he belted out a few verses of O Canada.

"I hope I'm that sharp when I'm 75, let alone 108,"Conway said.

The Royal Canadian Regiment is one of the most self-effacing of all Canadian military units and has been historically reluctant to play up its achievements, but one of the members who pushed for recognition for Babcock was Jack O'Brien.

The retired RCR sergeant-major runs a farm on Kingston Mills Road and pushed for Babcock to receive some regimental acknowledgement at the unit's recent 125th anniversary reunion here.
"Patriarch means an honoured elder male leader, and that's what he is to the regiment," Conway explained.

"The regiment can only do what the family will allow," he said.

"However, we do not forget a Royal -once a Royal, always a Royal."

Parliament has authorized a rare state funeral to be offered to Babcock's family when he dies, but publicly Babcock has always demurred, saying that honour should have gone to someone who fought. RCMP Const. Peter Lavalee (standing, left) and retired Maj. Hugh Conway (right) of Jasper, Alta. travelled all the way to Spokane, Wash., to present veteran Jack Babcock with an unusual award. Babcock, Canada's last living First World War veteran, is now the regimental patriarch of the Royal Canadian Regiment.

John Babcock Regains Canadian Citizenship

The following was posted on the Canwst News Services on May 8, 2008.



First World War vet regains Canadian Citizenship
Tobin Dalrymple , Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, May 08, 2008

OTTAWA - It all started with a hand-written note to the prime minister, scrawled on a sheet of paper decorated with cartoon Teddy Bears and American flags. But on Thursday, Canada's last remaining First World War veteran, John Babcock, received an important gift: the restoration of his Canadian citizenship.

Babcock, 107, is the only remaining Canadian to have served in the Great War. But until this week, he was only a Canuck by birth - after the war, he moved to the United States, where he was eventually naturalized as a U.S. citizen. At the time, the U.S. did not allow "dual citizens" and he had to renounce his Canadian status.

Last month, Veteran Affairs Minister Greg Thompson visited Babcock near his home in Spokane, Wash., to present him with a Minister's Commendation - a special award recognizing the sacrifice and achievements of veterans and commendable service to the veteran community.


Canada's last known World War I veteran John Babcock (R) toasts to his health with Greg Thompson, Canada's Minister of Veterans Affairs, after receiving the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in Spokane, Washington, April 19, 2008.

During the minister's visit, Babcock told Thompson that he would like to be a bona fide Canadian citizen once more. Thompson suggested he write Prime Minister Stephen Harper a note. At the suggestion, Babcock's eyes "lit up," and he "grabbed a sheet of paper and penned the note right away," said Thompson.

"It was certainly something he was thinking about, that had been weighing on his mind," said Thompson of the soldier. "I think (Babcock) was thinking that it would be nice to leave this world the way he entered it."

The veteran, who served in 1917 in the Boys Battalion, a reserve brigade, kept his note to the prime minister short and simple:

"Dear PM," he wrote. "Could I have my Canadian citizenship restored? I would appreciate your help. Thank you, John Babcock."

After that, the Conservative MP delivered the letter to Harper personally during a cabinet meeting, he said. According to Thompson, the prime minister was "really taken" with it and acted on the request right away.

"I think everyone really focused on the fact that there was some level of urgency, given (Babcock's) age, and wanted to get it done as quickly as possible," said Thompson.

The vet became a Canadian again - officially - Thursday, after Governor General Michaelle Jean completed "all the necessary signatures," said Thompson, adding that officials will soon be flown down to meet Babcock near his home for a swearing in ceremony.

The newly minted Canadian started his life as an Ontario boy, growing up as one of 13 children on a farm in Kingston, Ont. Born on July 23, 1900, he was too young to join the forces in 1915, so he lied about his age to sign up with the 146th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Two years later, Babcock landed in England with the Boys Battalion. The war ended before he could join the front lines - something he has said is a great disappointment.

Babcock moved to the United States after the war and served in the U.S. army from 1921 to 1924. It was these circumstances that led to the removal of Babcock's original citizenship. Today, however, dual citizens are allowed in Canada and the U.S.

"I wouldn't call it an accident of history," said Thompson, "but he was caught up in a set of circumstances, and today we corrected it."

Veteran's Affairs Commendation for Babcock

The following story appeared on the CBC's national Website on April 19th, 2008

Canada's last WWI veteran, 107, gets award

Canada's minister of veterans affairs presented an award to the country's last surviving veteran of the First World War on Saturday.

John Babcock received a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation from Greg Thompson at a ceremony in Spokane, Wash., where he now lives.

Thompson called the 107-year-old an "ambassador for all those who served in the First World War," adding that veterans are critical to the remembrance and understanding of that period in history.

Babcock, a native of Kingston, Ont., joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the age of 15.

He was soon deployed to England, but was too young to serve on the front lines and never saw active service.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation is presented to individuals who have contributed to the care and well-being of veterans and to the remembrance of their contributions.

CEF WW1 Soldier John Babcock

With the passing of Lloyd Clemett on February 21, 2007 and Percy Dwight Wilson on May 9, 2007, John Babcock is the only surviving WW1 Veteran of the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) from the Great War.

Volunteer members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group, which includes researchers from around the world, teamed together to gather what information is available on the history of John Babcock. We have done so to honour his contribution to the CEF and to make this information readily available to others. Similar blogs exist for Lloyd Clemett and Dwight Wilson.

John Babcock's Attestation Papers show that he joined the 146th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on February 1, 1916. At that time, John's "apparent age" is reported as "18 years" however that same record notes that he was born July 23rd 1900 in Lober Township, Ontario. Obviously he was only 16, not 18. John noted that his next-of-kin was his mother "Mrs. T. J. Babcock" also located at Perth Road, Ontario.

The 146th Battalion was organized in Kingston Ontario starting on December 22, 1915 and was later broken up and absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion.

Veterans Affairs Canada hosts a news briefing and interview with A/Lance-Corporal John Babcock, from which many of the other sources draw their information.

• Biography
• Interview
• Picture

CEFSG Member Mike O'Leary ("RegimentalRogue") prepared a summary for the Royal Canadian Regiment, which he has kindly offered to John Babcock's blog:

835571 Acting Lance Corporal John Babcock

In the recent exchanges in the media concerning the last surviving veterans of the First World war, it was identified in a Globe and Mail article (11 Nov 2006) that one of these veterans, John Babcock, was a Royal Canadian.

Since the Regiment has not maintained a comprehensive roll of those soldiers who served with the Regiment in the Great War, it was necessary to confirm this statement by examining John Babcock’s CEF service records. Consequently, the service record of 835571 Acting Lance Corporal John Babcock was acquired by the Regimental Adjutant. The following is a brief summary of information from that file.

John Henry Foster Babcock attested for overseas service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 1 February 1916. He originally attested for the 146th Overseas Battalion, which was recruiting at Kingston, Ontario, at that time. Five foot, four and one-half inches in height, with blue eyes and fair hair, Babcock gave his date of birth as 23 July 1900. The medical examiner stated his “apparent age” at the time was 18 years and on 4 February 1916 he was pronounced firt for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force.

With his file annotated “Not to be sent overseas until 19 years of age”, John Babcock did not sail to England until October, 1916. On the 18th of October he arrived in England aboard the S.S. CALIFORNIA as a designated reinforcement for the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was taken on strength The R.C.R. & P.P.C.L.I. Depot at Caesar’s Camp effective the 13th October, 1917. This period of service with the R.C.R. & P.P.C.L.I. Depot, and being identified as a reinforcement for The RCR in France, confirms the John Babcock was, and remains, a Royal Canadian.

John Babcock was with the Depot until 1 January 1917 when he was transferred to the 7th Reserve Battalion, located at Seaford, near Newhaven on the southern coast of England. He was subsequently transferred to the 26th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott on 7 February 1917 and then was transferred again, this time to a “Boys”, or “Young Soldiers”, Battalion at Bexhill. Apparently throughout this period, Babcock’s youth was catching up to him and he continued to be transferred ‘away’ from front line service, at least until he was of age.

Serving in the Young Soldier’s battalion, John Babcock was promoted to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal (with pay) in September 1917, and then Acting Corporal (with pay) in October. In March 1918 he lost his stripes, being reduced to Private for “Neglect of Duty”, although he did regain a promotion to Acting Lance Corporal again in October 1918.

John Babcock was repatriated to Canada from the Young Soldier’s Battalion in November 1918. He arrived back in Canada aboard the S.S. AQUITANIA on 28 November 1918. His processing through the demobilization and release system lasted until his final discharge on 1 January 1919 at Kingston, Ontario.

At the age of 18 years, 7 months (in accordance with his Discharge Certificate), Acting Lance Corporal John Henry Foster Babcock returned to civilian life after 2 years and 11 months of service. Accepting the age recorded at Discharge as correct means that John Babcock attested for service at the age of 15 years, 8 months.

The following article was published by CP on CNews to commemerate the 107th birthday of John Babcock.

Oldest Canadian WWI vet turns 107
By JAMES STEVENSON


Canada's oldest living First World War verteran and about to turn 107, John (Jack) Babcock speaks about his life from his home in Spokane, Washington on Wednesday July 18. (CP PHOTO/Larry MacDougal)




SPOKANE, Wa. (CP) - Canada's last known surviving First World War veteran took a bite of his 107th birthday cake, read his card from the Queen and wondered what all the fuss was about.

Holding court from his livingroom couch in suburban Spokane, Wa., John (Jack) Babcock admitted Wednesday that the global attention lavished upon him had little to do with his war-time accomplishments. "I ate up a lot of good government rations," Babcock said with traditional Canadian humility despite the American twang in his voice.

But with the death of his brother-in-arms Dwight Wilson in May at 106, Babcock has indeed achieved something he never ever thought of until recently. He's the last soldier standing. Babcock now holds the title of the last known living Canadian to cross the Atlantic in uniform to fight for the Allies in the Great War. And with his official birthday approaching next Monday, July 23, now is as good a time as any to celebrate.

Babcock doesn't at all mind the attention and visitors - particularly females in short skirts - and he loves to tell old stories and sing long-forgotten war ditties. But he also realizes his newfound fame is fleeting. "I know I'm going to die some day, so what the hell. I try to live a good clean life and I have a good wife who helps me."

With a full head of frizzy white hair, a bright blue Hawaiian shirt and white shorts hanging off his bony frame, some imagination and time-yellowed photographs are required to picture Babcock in his young soldier prime. With little prompting, his mind drifts back more than a century to his early childhood on an Ontario farm, complete with vivid memories of wild cherry trees, snakes and foxes.

Born in 1900, Babcock was not even 16 years old when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment to go and fight the Germans in the muddy, bloody battlefields of Europe. Lying about his age, Babcock made it to England before his service record caught up with him and he was relegated to the Boys Batallion and not allowed to see action. He trained hard along with nearly 1,300 other under-age soldiers in anticipation of crossing the channel and facing enemy fire, but the war ended before he could set foot in the trenches of France.

The passage of 90 years have helped to smooth the edges of his utter disappointment in being a "tin soldier" who never saw the battlefield. But he still freely admits he'd have fought if he could have. "I think if I had a chance, I would have gone to France, taken my chances like the rest of them did. A lot of good men got killed."

Ten per cent of the roughly 600,000 Canadians who enlisted to fight in the First World War died on the battlefields of Europe - 170,000 more were wounded. The war ultimately claimed 15 million civilian and military lives on both sides of the conflict.

Along with a cluster of family, media and elected representatives all jostling for position near Babcock's couch Wednesday came letters of congratulations from Queen Elizabeth and a tie festooned with red poppies from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean praised his "rich life, filled with accomplishments, personal encounters, happiness and challenges." "As you take stock, you can also reflect on the fact that your generation has seen tremendous and unprecedented changes, be they technological, scientific, political or social."

Soon after the war he moved to the United States, serving in the U.S. Army and becoming a naturalized citizen. He has lived in Spokane, in eastern Washington State, since 1932. And despite his 107 years, he still likes to go to his favourite restaurant where he flirts with all the waitresses before ordering a burger and fries. His son, Jack Jr., said his father may now come across as a polite elderly gentleman with lots of stories to tell, but don't think for a second that he's not strong-willed. "He's humble and bashful about being the last guy and very realistic about it. But you don't do what he's done in his lifetime without getting a little self-assurance."

Along with outlasting all Canadian First World War servicemen, Babcock is also the last of 10 children who were raised on that southern Ontario farm. His baby sister Lucy died a week ago at the age of 102. His wife, Dot, says Babcock has taken his sister's death with an acceptance earned through his years. "Sometimes we all want to shelter older people from death," says Dot, who at 78 is nearly 30 years younger than her husband. "But they've seen so much of it through their life that actually they accept it better than we do."