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And then there were none

By The Armorer on June 3, 2009 | | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (1)
The muster roll of  the AIF Diggers has had it's last name struck.  All of Australia's Great War veterans are now marching past the billabong, singing "Waltzing Matilda."  Or, more likely, raising tankards at Fiddler's Green.
CANBERRA (Reuters Life!) – The last remaining Australian to serve in World War One has died at the age of 110, Veterans' Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said on Wednesday.

John "Jack" Ross, who was also Australia's oldest man having turned 110 in March, died in his sleep early Wednesday morning at a nursing home in Bendigo in the state of Victoria.

 

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance - for the last of WWI ANZACs, Jack Ross.

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Testing Outbound Trackbacks with great posts. from Mudville Gazette on June 3, 2009 7:17 PM

Kiss my Gumbo thinks Mudville Rocks. I have to agree ;p BlackFive talks about our new sponsors (see left sidebar) The folks at This Ain't Hell have intercepted the following GM planning session held yesterday. Chuck Z tells us that PRAVDA, is warning A... Read More

8 Comments

By Boquisucio on June 3, 2009 9:57 AM
And then there were none.  Father Time inexorabily marches on.
 
By AW1 Tim on June 3, 2009 11:36 AM

  Lost my own Grandfather some years back. Eugene O'Keefe, Machine Gunner, Australian Army, France. The Great War.  Suffered throughout his life from the effects of poison gas, but soldiered on to raise a family, make a small fortune in the Tweed River District, and prove the strength of the Aussies isn't all bluster :)
 
By John of Argghhh! on June 3, 2009 11:46 AM
I guess we're officially old, Tim,   My paternal grandfather, 2nd Lieutenant John T. Donovan, Field Artillery, Natiional Army of the United States, was a WWI veteran, too. 
 
By AW1 Tim on June 4, 2009 7:17 AM
Sigh...

   What really kills me is listening to some of my son's friends.  Awhile back, one of them commented that he liked to visit with his grandfather and listen to him tell stories about being in Vietnam.  Grandfather. Vietnam. It is to weep.....

   MY grandfather was in WWI, and my father in WWII.

   I'm surprised I haven't been getting junk mail from the local retirement homes.....
 
By Argent on June 4, 2009 7:42 AM
Oh crap the last of some 417,000 Aussies that served.  RIP

Thanks for honouring him and through him all our ANZACs
 
By BillT on June 4, 2009 7:50 AM
Grandfather. Vietnam. It is to weep.....

*a-HEM*....

 
By Argent on June 4, 2009 9:43 AM
It's Ok Bill, we all know you're from well before the Spanish Inquisition

 
By AW1 Tim on June 4, 2009 12:08 PM

  Hey Bill! Does that kepi you wore at Gettysburg still fit?

  I know mine does   :)