[align=center]A/Lance-Corporal John Babcock
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Born on July 23, 1900, Mr. John Babcock grew up on a farm in Kingston, Ontario as part of a family that included 13 children. When he was quite young, his father died in a tree-cutting accident. Despite this devastating loss, Mr. Babcock went on to bravely serve his country in the First World War.
He was 15 years old when he joined the 146th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Sydenham (near Kingston), Ontario. A few months later, he arrived in England. He was transferred to reserve battalions and ended up with the Boys Battalion (also known as the "Young Soldier's Battalion") in 1917, waiting until he turned 18 to go to the front lines. The war ended first.
Mr. Babcock would later move to the United States, where he then served in the American Army from 1921 to 1924. Mr. Babcock married Dorothy (Dot) after his first wife, Elsie, passed away in the late 1970s.
Mr. Babcock and his wife Dorothy live in Spokane, Washington, where he still reads voraciously. He's also taken up flying lessons and became a pilot when he was 65 years old. In recent years, he completed his high school degree via correspondence courses and has taken local college courses. He can recite the alphabet backwards without hesitation and spell out his name in Morse code. Mr. Babcock is an avid traveller and takes daily walks to maintain his good health.
Interview with A/Lance-Corporal John Babcock
We sometimes hear about the terrible conditions during the First World War. Do you have happy or fond memories of the First World War?
It was a new experience and I looked forward to it. I remember walking up Princess St. in Kingston and my uncle saw me as I was walking with a group of recruits and his eyebrows went up and he was surprised to see me. I was slightly embarrassed as my long pants did not quite reach my ankles. His eyebrows went up and he nodded approval. I had both happy and unhappy memories after the Great War.
What is your most vivid memory of your time in the Canadian Expeditionary Force or in the Boys Battalion?
There were several memories. The Senior Non-coms and officers were all veterans who had served in France. Our Major had been gassed which caused him to speak in a very soft voice. He had won medals in France. About one third of the Young Soldiers Battalion I served in had fought in France. All the young boys were pretty wild at that age.
What was your reaction when you found out you wouldn't go to the front lines?
I was chagrined, I wasn't a "real" soldier.
What did your time in the military teach you? What is the most useful lesson military life taught you?
Discipline and honesty. You could leave your money lying on your bunk and no one would touch it. Stealing from a comrade was the lowest thing you could do. A young soldier in my group spent nine months in Wandsworth, a military prison, for stealing a dollar watch. I felt sorry for him. He came back and joined our unit and told of his experience in prison.
Do you take part in Memorial Day/Veterans' Day ceremonies? What do those mean to you?
Yes, I have gone to local schools on Veterans' Day and told of my experience in the military. It didn't mean as much to me as those who served in France.
Do you belong to any Veterans' associations? Do you keep in touch with other Veterans?
No, I did not join any veterans associations. I lost contact with all my Canadian fellow veterans. I was very bashful and failed to acknowledge a soldier I saw in the train station in Winnipeg who had served with me in the Young Soldiers Battalion in England. This was in 1920 and I had been working in the harvest fields in Saskatchewan.
Do you feel a special kinship with today's soldiers?
Yes, I understand what they go through in basic training and drilling. You are soon taught to obey orders.
I read that between you and your wife, you have 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. How would you react if any of your great-granchildren were to join the military or are any of your relatives in the military already?
Yes, I have a grandson who served four years in the U.S. Army and six months in Iraq. I would feel badly if he was called back as he has a good chance of getting killed.
What word of encouragement would you offer to today's youth already in the military or those thinking of joining?
It may become necessary for a young man or woman to join the military to defend their country. I hope countries think long and hard before engaging in war as many people get killed. What a waste...not to mention the relatives who are left to mourn.
Have you ever thought of writing your life story or have you already done that? I read somewhere that when you turned 100, you wrote a narrative of your life and your family printed it. Is this information correct? What was your family's reaction?
Yes, I wrote my autobiography and gave a copy to family and friends who all stated they enjoyed reading about my life.
Do you ever talk today to your family or friends of your experience in the military?
Sometimes, not often, they have all heard or read my life story.
When was the best time of your life, the best period of your life?
When I was in business and when my children were growing up.
What's your secret to longevity?
I think the intense physical training I received when I was 15 1/2 through 24 years of age when I served in the Canadian and U.S. Army.
Do you believe history keeps repeating itself?
Yes, I guess it does but hopefully one day we will get it right and not kill each other.
link
Last Soldier tells the story of Jack Babcock - the last surviving Canadian veteran of the First World War. As the last witness to the events surrounding the War, Mr. Babcock shares his memories and feelings of that uncertain time.
The story of John Babcock(the Last Soldier) is to be shown on the History Channel on Wednesday Nov 7 at 8:00 PM EST
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