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Topic: Canada's Oldest WW1 Vet is a Royal Canadian (Read 222 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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And he is coming home!
War vet 'thrilled' to be repatriated; Sydenham-raised Babcock will officially become a Canadian again today
Posted By Ian Elliot
The last living Canadian veteran of the First World War will become a Canadian citizen again this morning.
John Babcock, who was born in Sydenham in 1900 and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment in Kingston in 1915, will take the oath of citizenship in his Spokane, Wash., home today in front of Veterans' Affairs Minister Greg Thompson and Canadian immigration officials.
Babcock had to renounce his citizenship when he moved to the United States after the war and enlisted in that country's military. Laws of the time did not allow dual citizenship.
Babcock wrote a two-line letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in April that got him his citizenship back.
On a sheet of paper decorated with teddy bears and American flags he wrote: "Dear PM: Could I have my Canadian citizenship restored? I would appreciate your help. Thank you, John Babcock."
Babcock's wife, Dorothy, said her husband is "really thrilled to be a Canadian again."
"He was born in Sydenham, he grew up there, he's always thought of himself as a Canadian and he's so happy to be back in the fold."
Babcock is suffering from health complications and was only able to talk briefly with a reporter yesterday, but he expressed pleasure that he would once again be a Canadian.
His wife explained that Canadian officials first wanted them to travel to Canada for the ceremony, but when it was explained that Babcock's health would not allow him to do so, they agreed to visit them.
Thompson said last week that Babcock's health galvanized the government into action - the paperwork restoring his citizenship was fast-tracked through the bureaucracy and was signed by the governor-general personally on Thursday.
"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.
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He visited the Babcocks at their home last month 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.
It might be the only honour Babcock will accept from the government. He has repeatedly quashed the idea that he should get a state funeral similar to those given to the last remaining veterans of the First World War in other countries, such as France and Australia.
Since Babcock was found to be underage when he enlisted, he was kept out of the fighting ranks and was still in the Boys' Battalion behind the lines when the war ended.
He therefore doesn't consider himself a veteran and said in an interview with the Whig-Standard two years ago that he felt it would be a disservice to those who fought and died in the war if he were to be granted an honour usually reserved for former prime ministers and governors general.
He joked that all he did during the conflict was load trucks and eat a lot of perfectly good war rations and because he never fought, he did not consider himself a "real soldier."
A petition calling on the government to offer a state funeral to the family of the last veteran of the war was launched by the Dominion Institute in 2006 and attracted more than 100,000 signatures.
Ottawa subsequently vowed to mark the passing of the last veteran - which will be Babcock - with some kind of public ceremony even if they decline the offer of a state funeral.
Babcock became the last living veteran of the war when Dwight Wilson died last May in Toronto at age 106. Wilson also enlisted while underage - twice - and was in the Boys' Brigade when the war ended. Ten per cent of the 600,000 Canadians who enlisted to fight in the First World War died on the battlefields of Europe, and 170,000 more were wounded.
Babcock's wife said her husband was thrilled to be a Canadian again, especially just before his 108th birthday, which he will celebrate in July.
"It's so great," she said.
"It's a complete circle for him - he's back to where he was."
ielliot@thewhig.com
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Well, the little imp... sneaking in to active war service at age 15....doggone it Sir you had a lot of guts and gumption. May i .,her thank you for your service and dedication, and say , hip - hip -hooray.. that you will once again be an official Cabadian brother in arms....ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Doug Clarkson
Veteran 100+ Member
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Pro Patria
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Great Story, and I'm with you ranrad Hip - Hip - Hooray!!!
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Cornwallis 78 - 79, 1 RCR 79 - 84, Cyprus 84 - 85, 1 RCR: 85 - 89, Cyprus 89 - 90, 1 RCR 90 - 92, Kingston 92 - 94, 1 RCR 94,
Croatia 94 - 95, 1 RCR: 95 - 97, 3 RCR 97 - 98, Bosnia 98 - 99, 3 RCR 99, CFJSR Kingston 99 - 04, DAT Kingston 04 - 07, Retired: 07, Class "B" BCWO Assistant CFB Kingston 07 - Present
UNFICYP 2, UNPROFOR, NATO Former Yugo, CFPSM, QGJM, CD1
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