Hi All: The original definition quoted of a WWI veteran was on "active duty by 11 November 1918", the Armistice date (from the American Secretary of Veterans' Affairs). I take that as meaning that provided they have joined (attested) and started service with the Army or Navy by 11-11-18 they qualify as a veteran. Veterans who joined in 1918 could still be in training, and being the youngest this could include many of those surviving. Thus the Canadian veterans quoted would be eligible even if they were found to be under age in Canada or Britain and discharged (?) Likewise the woman who was in the WRAF, which existed 1918-20, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Royal_Air_Force And soldiers who served in (say) Canada only on training or administrative duties would qualify, though they would usually be older than those who went overseas, hence less likely to be the last survivors. NB: France requires (from the Wikidepia reference) three months of "combat service", while Italy requires six months of "service". France offers the last veteran a State Funeral, though French veterans (like Canadian veterans) may not appreciate such a lottery! The distinctions about where soldiers served also affect eligibility for medals; a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force got to Britain, but because of sickness not to France, so received the British War Medal but not the Victory Medal Yours, John Wilson (New Zealand) > > > > The Secretary asks members of the general public who know of a surviving > > World War I veteran to contact VA. To qualify as a World War I veteran, > > someone must have been on active duty between April 6, 1917 and Nov. 11, > > 1918. VA is also looking for surviving Americans who served in the > > armed forces of allied nations. > > It is true that the Canadian Parliament unanimously voted for a State Funeral for the ;last surviving veteran, but however they have declined it.. A petition is being organised > The Wikipedia site quotes two surviving Canadian War veterans, one of whom is Gladys Powers of the WAAF. She did not serve in the WAAF, which was not formed until 1939. but served in the WAAC which was formed in 1917. However I do not think that she is recognised as a surviving veteran. The other was Percy Dwight Wilson who enlisted in 1916 at the age of 15 in 69th Battery C.F.A., and was shipped to France where his true age was discovered and he was returned to Canada. He later re-enlisted but again his true age was discovered and he was discharged > There is also John Babcock who at the age of 15 1/2 enlisted in 69th Battery C.F.A. He was shipped to England where his true age was discovered and he was transferred to the "Boy's Battalion" to await his coming of age but the war ended before that happened. There was another who died quite recently on 21 Feb 2007 Lloyd Clement enlisted in 1916 at the age of 16, He served in the 93rd and 109th Bn, and although in France by Jull 1917 did not serve in the front line. >