The world’s last remaining World War I veteran, Claude Choules, will reach another milestone early next month when he turns 110.
But Mr Choules, who lives in a care facility at Salter Point, cares little for such details.
His son Adrian, 76, says his father, the oldest man in Australia, felt that more should be done to help younger Australians who were struggling.
“Not all that long ago, (Claude) said that our society spends too much on keeping old people like him alive,” Mr Choules said.
“He said, ‘They should clear us (elderly people) out of this place the care facility and they should put young people who haven’t got anywhere to live in here’.
“I think he’s probably right and I applaud him for saying it, in terms of being ready to let go. If he dies tonight I’ll be thankful on his behalf. I don’t care whether he gets to 110.”
His father had been beating the odds for years, Mr Choules said.
“There is an online betting organisation where you can bet on when well-known people are going to die, and if you look it up you’ll see Claude Choules among names like Bill Clinton,” he said.
“It’s a bit bizarre, but we just laugh about it because presumably my old man has cost a lot of people a lot of money over the years he’s tricked them all.”
Claude Choules was born in England on March 3, 1901, and served in Britain’s Royal Navy in Word War I and the Australian navy in World War II.
His daughter Anne Pow, 81, said his legacy would be the devotion he had shown to his family, passed on to the three children, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
“He’s been a rock to me and in times of trouble I could always go to him,” Ms Pow said. “If you needed money, he would give you his last penny.”
Ms Pow, who is organising a private family celebration for Mr Choules’ 110th birthday, said his longevity was the result of a healthy lifestyle.
“He didn’t have a car until he was 50, he rode a pushbike everywhere,” Ms Pow said.
Adrian Choules said his dad was blind and virtually deaf, but he could still acknowledge family visitors.
“When we used to tell him he’s the oldest man in Australia, he would just say, ‘Oh, am I?’. It was of no consequence,” Mr Choules said.
Oldest Man in Australia, World War 1 hero Claude Choules, to turn 110
The world’s last remaining World War I veteran, Claude Choules, will reach another milestone early next month when he turns 110.
But Mr Choules, who lives in a care facility at Salter Point, cares little for such details.
His son Adrian, 76, says his father, the oldest man in Australia, felt that more should be done to help younger Australians who were struggling.
“Not all that long ago, (Claude) said that our society spends too much on keeping old people like him alive,” Mr Choules said.
“He said, ‘They should clear us (elderly people) out of this place the care facility and they should put young people who haven’t got anywhere to live in here’.
“I think he’s probably right and I applaud him for saying it, in terms of being ready to let go. If he dies tonight I’ll be thankful on his behalf. I don’t care whether he gets to 110.”
His father had been beating the odds for years, Mr Choules said.
“There is an online betting organisation where you can bet on when well-known people are going to die, and if you look it up you’ll see Claude Choules among names like Bill Clinton,” he said.
“It’s a bit bizarre, but we just laugh about it because presumably my old man has cost a lot of people a lot of money over the years he’s tricked them all.”
Claude Choules was born in England on March 3, 1901, and served in Britain’s Royal Navy in Word War I and the Australian navy in World War II.
His daughter Anne Pow, 81, said his legacy would be the devotion he had shown to his family, passed on to the three children, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
“He’s been a rock to me and in times of trouble I could always go to him,” Ms Pow said. “If you needed money, he would give you his last penny.”
Ms Pow, who is organising a private family celebration for Mr Choules’ 110th birthday, said his longevity was the result of a healthy lifestyle.
“He didn’t have a car until he was 50, he rode a pushbike everywhere,” Ms Pow said.
Adrian Choules said his dad was blind and virtually deaf, but he could still acknowledge family visitors.
“When we used to tell him he’s the oldest man in Australia, he would just say, ‘Oh, am I?’. It was of no consequence,” Mr Choules said.
Source: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/world-war-1-hero-claude-choules-our-oldest-man-to-turn-110/story-e6frg12c-1226008666739
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