Claude Choules

Claude Choules was the longest living man to have served in a military capacity in both world wars. In November 1917, he had his first taste of hostile action on the HMS Revenge in the North Sea. He was 16 years old. A year later, he witnessed Admiral Beatty accept the surrender of the German fleet, and in 1919 he witnessed the Germans scuttling their ships at Scapa Flow. During the Second World War served in the Royal Australian Navy, and was responsible for naval demolition for Western Australia.

Claude was born on 3 March 1901 in Pershore, Worcestershire, and emigrated to Australia in 1926. He passed away at the age of 110 on 5 May 2011.