The Last Great War Veteran - Update II

Lets have a state funeral for the last WWI vet. But Layton must be excluded.

I don't think we should be glamorizing war. Any soldier who has ever died fighting for our freedom is a terrorist. I know this to be true because Jack Layton told me. (Sarcasm off)

Is there anyone more disgusting than Jack Layton? This guy reminds me of the sleaziest caricature of a used car salesman I have ever seen.

I am still in awe of men who gave up their lives to fight for the freedom of this and other countries. I think that a state funeral is the least that this country can do.

I'm glad that Kate posted David Anderson's response to my e-mail to him on this subject. The e-mail response from Anderson speaks for itself. It is apparent that our current Federal Government is fully appreciative of the significance of the ultimate passing of these last three great Canadian Warriors. I didn't want anyone looking in on this blog to have the mistaken impression that the one who regularly contributes on this site under the name "Bob" is the same Bob that sent Kate this e-mail from David Anderson. But then, probably none of you, given the context of the subject, made that assumption.

WWI wasn't fought for our freedom. It was fought for the greater glory, power, dominion, and profits of those who ruled the British Empire. Or one of the other empires involved, depending on whose side you fought for. It would be entirely appropriate to mourn the millions of people who died, on one side or the other, in WWI but I gather that isn't what Jack Layton has in mind. I agree. It's disgusting.

WW I was,nt realy settled in 1918 and it would lead to WW II and remember the LUSITANIAN and WW I was started by one man who died in 1918 the year that WW I ended

Neither this CP item, nor audio clips on local radio indicate Layton has given credit where it is due - to the folks at the Dominion Institute whose petition started the ball rolling.

Neither does the letter from MP David Anderson. Yeah, I know, that's different. Just like it was different when the Conservatives voted against the NDP's Veterans First Motion last week.

Always the petty leftist huh McClelland?...

Those old boys at over 100 have more spine than any combination of you, most other liberals and/or Jack Laytons greasy hordes.

You would think that the left would be happy there was a "war to end all wars" after all , it gave rise to their most favourite mass murdering ideology...

War and killing are bad..except when they are done in the name of the "people" right?

Betcha just can't wait to get our boys over to Darfur, where they have a better chance of dying for you..there's a cause that makes the left happy.

[sar off]

Hey, David Anderson? Let's drop the "Canada's New Government" garbage, 'kay? It's lame. Everyone knows it's lame.

"Hey, David Anderson? Let's drop the "Canada's New Government" garbage, 'kay? It's lame. Everyone knows it's lame."

No, our last government was lame. A lame duck. Thus why they felt the need to register my shotgun.

Yup, WW1 was a clash of empires for all those silly imperialistic reasons but it doesn't alter the fact one iota that these men deserve to be honoured and remembered for all time.

There is something greater than any reason for any war. It is that men and women from all walks of life stand up and say "This is worth dying for, this is more important than me, than my life."

If we are ever reduced to the level where nothing is worth more than our own miserable existence the human race will be done for.

My favorite book (including "Vimy") about Canada's military effort in WW1 was written by John Swettenham; "To Seize the Victory: The Canadian Corps in World War One". God love those Iron Men! What they did between 1914 and 1918 did one heck of a lot more to define the nation of Canada than we'll ever be able to know. By the end of the war, Canadian soldiers had gained the respect of ALL fighting forces in those trenches; the citizen colonial army of Canada EARNED it. Frankly, they were FEARED by the German army.

I say, sign the petition... and Layton and company should can the politics. For once. He really cares about those vets? Not a chance. They're being used as a political football.
The pols should leave it all to the Canadian Armed Forces... and get the hell out of the limelight. No speeches. No front-and-centre photo ops. Let the Generals handle it; that is befitting.

Always the petty leftist huh McClelland?...--Kursk

Lets have a state funeral for the last WWI vet. But Layton must be excluded.--Peter

You rubes make it too easy.

2 of the fellows are 106. the other is 105. how old were they at most in the Great War, being born in 1900 and 1901? do the math.

my gawd, artillery shells raining down for months on end. mud deep enough to drown you and still they persevered.

if we DONT have that state funeral I will make sure those responsible are REMINDED many many times.

Nobody is reading Robert's Blog. He has lots of time to troll.

Veterans First Motion; politics by a group of smarmy politicians for some perceived political gain... and that's that.

Again I say, leave the vets out of politics. They're WAY, WAY above that kind of balony.

www.collectionscanada.ca
(Library and Archives Canada).
Click "Browse Selected Topics".
Scroll down; click "War and Military".
Click "Soldiers of the First World War 1914-1918"
Click "Search the Database".
Type in a name of some soldier you might know of from WW1; Percy Dwight Wilson, for example.
Submit query.
There he is; a little "AA" icon appears to the left of his name, his "Attestation paper"; click on it. Click "Front of Form" icon. Expand the form... there is Percy's signature, as well as all his pertinent information regarding his enlistment that day, July 11TH, 1916.

"Jack Layton is proposing ... a state funeral for the last surviving WWI veteran!"
Last surviving? I say we wait until he dies before the state funeral.

How about a state funeral for Jack. Tomorrow.

Uh, state funerals are for people that deserve them. Jack Lie-a-ton, doesn't.

This is just more evidence that
1. he would govern from the opinion polls and
2. Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but he's doing it to look like he supports the troops. When in fact, his actions have proven he does not.

btw qwerty - none of the current survivors served in the trenches.

"How about a state funeral for Jack. Tomorrow."

I'd prefer a stake funeral for him, right through his vampire socialist life sucking heart so he could never come back to infect anyone with his crap.

Honouring our Veterans is a time honoured tradition, However Bandwagon Jack shows no respect at all by using this for political motives only, An Idea that was not created by him or the NDP

I read this book years ago,
Generals Die in Bed
Author ?
it was WWI story, I misplaced the book & have been trying to find another for a long time. Now Layton & Co. are no Generals by all means but part of the title certainly fits.

I agree with most here...but I'd really like to hit Jack Layton with a pop-quiz about WWI. How many served?, How many died?, how many wounded?, how did it start?, who declared war on whom?, where are most of our men resting?, etc. I'd hazard a guess that, like most socialists, he wouldn't have a clue. The very thought of this little creep espousing the beliefs harboured by the same socialist dregs who were calling poppy-bearers 'war-mongers' two weeks ago makes me want to vomit.

As Bazoo pointed out,the ???always entertaining McClelland has lots of time to troll,and leave comments on other blogs,seeing as his own is being ignored.I used to check it out on occasion just to see how low he could go,but it has become such a joke,not worth my time anymore.I also noted,that he only gets the same weirdo commentators,thet can only rant and swear,and provide very little"meat"on any topic!Ignore him..and maybe he will just go away!
As for Layton,he sullies the memory of all our vets,with this latest grandstand.It is always about jack..or is it jack-sh*t

"There is something greater than any reason for any war. It is that men and women from all walks of life stand up and say "This is worth dying for, this is more important than me, than my life."

If we are ever reduced to the level where nothing is worth more than our own miserable existence the human race will be done for."

So it really doesn't matter what you fight for. We should just celebrate people's willingness to kill and die for something. I agree that there is something heroic and important about the willingness to die for something. But there is something tragic about willingness to kill and die for an unworthy or even evil cause. There's something tragic and evil about ordinary people being convinced to kill each other when what is really at stake is power and profit for a few. It matters what the cause is. It matters what people kill and die for. It matters who does the dying and who reaps the benefits. It matters what is true and what is a lie. Your argument would justify a state funeral for the last nazi soldier. I feel great pity for the last nazi soldier. But a state funeral celebrating his willingness to die for something would not be appropriate.

So what other great ideas are out there from the general public that taliban jack will steal as his own. Next Nov 11th, Canada needs to have a huge memorial service, with all the trimmings, dedicated to all fallen canadian soldiers of all
wars. Re Darfur, will taliban jack support the troops who will die there, in a larger number than in Afganistan. Will their deaths be more noble. I say no troops to Darfur, as the plan comes from the UN and I don't trust that deal.

All comments aside about Canada's braying Jack ass, I have what I think is a very interesting question. Has Jackass even signed this petition? And if so, when?

I answered my own question. I searched nhim out and he signed it yesterday I believe based on his comment

"There are 3 remaining veterans of the First World War. They are the only living link to that horrific war that took over 60,000 Canadian lives and has forever left its stamp on Canadian history. That is why today I announced that the NDP will seek unanimous consent in the House of Commons when it returns next week, to call for a state funeral for the last surviving World War One veteran. I call"

Self serving self righteous son of a b-----

They are worthy of the honour of a 'state funeral'...but is there any plan to celebrate now..honour them while they are still alive. I would love to see them.

One way to honour them...keep Layton away from them!!!

I wonder if this is where Jerk! "came up" with the idea?
http://tinyurl.com/yedkk4
Nothing like a poll showing that 79% of the respondents want a State Funeral to focus his attention, eh?

Thanks to Joe B for publishing the link to collectionscanada.ca

I found my grandfather's Attestation Papers. Since he died when my father was five, none of our family really knew him. I have his dog tags and cap badge. The attestation papers are a nice addition.

Thanks ever so much

I found those of my grandfather's older brother, as well. He arrived in France on Nov.10, 1918!

http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc012/536916a.gif

Here's some Canadian history for you. Try looking up Arthur Goodmurphy at that Collections Canada website. He grew up at 1157 Retallack Street, Regina. Then have a look for George Lawrence Price. Price died in Goodmurphy's arms, by the hand of a German sniper, at 2 minutes to 11, November 11TH, 1918... the last documented casualty of the Great War.

Thanks for that, Joe. A brutal end for a brutal war. Interestingly, the VA website states that he was killed at Mons, Belgium. A Great Uncle of mine (incredibly, I had no fewer than six Great Uncles serve with the CEF) was there as well on Nov 11, 1918. Here's a couple of links for Pvt. Price:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=894901

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lawrence_Price