Australian funeral is held for last First World War combat veteran

The last known combat veteran of the First World War has been laid to rest at a funeral in Australia.

Claude Stanley Choules, who was born in Britain, died two weeks ago at the age of 110. During a funeral held in the Western Australia city of Fremantle yesterday, his loved ones remembered him as a remarkable man.

His son Adrian urged mourners not to be sad as his father had lived "a very long and very wonderful life".

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Mr Choules began training with the Royal Navy aged 14. In 1917, he joined the battleship HMS Revenge, from which he watched the 1918 surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, the main battle fleet of the German Navy during the war. He later joined the Royal Australian Navy.

He published his autobiography at the age of 108.

More than 100 navy sailors formed a guard of honour for his casket.

During the church service, Mr Choules' casket, draped with the Australian White Ensign naval flag, flowers and a navy sailor's hat, was flanked by two portraits, one as a young sailor and another wearing a classic Australian "bush hat".

When the service ended, he was saluted by a 12 rifle volley, fired three times.

In his eulogy, Adrian paid tribute to his father and recalled his "sailor's mouth" for swearing.

"Now is the time not to be sad, but to celebrate," he said.

Mr Choules, nicknamed "Chuckles" by his comrades, was the last of more than 70 million military personnel who served during the Great War to die.

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