He’s getting quite a party!
And here was me assuming all the WW1 vets were dead now, clearly far from the case.
I’m about 35 miles away from one as we speak. Frank Buckles served in France.
He was also working for a shipping company when WWII broke out, and was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines. He spent three years in a prison camp.
Remarkable guy. He’s 107 years old.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Allingham, and many more! 
CNN called him the oldest man in Britain, but the oldest WWI vet in the world, not just in Britain.
Salute!
Not only is he remarkable for what he’s seen and done, but he’s been a zombie, now, for 100 years:
Here’s hoping for many more zombie birthday celebrations for Mr. Allingham!
Sadly, all our vets have now passed on (from The Great War). Very shortly, it will fade from human memory.
Apparently, according to Wiki, not quite all.
Unless he’s recently passed on and Wiki hasn’t caught up.
Ooops- my apology. I was thinking of the survivors of Gallipoli.
No disrespect to Mr. Ross intended, but I don’t think he really counts as a “WWI Veteran” in the sense that he never got anywhere near combat during the First World War (He never left Australia).
Oldest living Australian WWI Serviceman? Yes, without a doubt. Oldest living Australian WWI Veteran? I must respectfully disagree, and agree with Cicero’s assertation that all of them have, sadly, passed on.
WWI is already considered “Ancient History” by most people, and for most people in Australia under about 50 the only things they know about WWI involve Gallipoli, the Red Baron, and maybe Lawrence of Arabia. (You might also get some mention of Biggles, but since he’s a fictional character he doesn’t count, I’m afraid).
Sadly, I am not sure that a lot know much about Lawrence of Arabia. (And his weird ideas as well). And the Boer War- good grief!
Perhaps Mr. Ross may not be accepted as a veteran in your country, Martini Enfield, but over here, I attended a funeral of an NZ World War II veteran a couple of years ago who just served in Fiji – also, nowhere near combat. He merited the Last Post, and was considered a veteran. Mr Ross is your last World War I survivor who served, any rate.
I think they all deserve recognition for even volunteering. I would not be that brave. Well, I probably would at the age- but anyway.
Fiji is outside New Zealand, the last time I checked. It might not have been anywhere near combat, but I think it does count more than not leaving NZ (or Australia) at all. FWIW, my Grandfather served there during WWII as a carpenter.
Please don’t think for a moment that I’m denigrating Mr. Ross’- or any other member of the Armed Forces, for that matter- service record. It’s still more military service than I have, and I have a tremendous amount of respect them for that. But to me, “Veteran” implies being on active service overseas or involved directly in the fighting. Being stationed in Australia during WWI is still service, and honourable service which deserves recognition and respect from all of us. But using the term “Veteran” to me, at least, implies that Mr. Ross was in a Trench on the Western Front or fighting the Turks in Palestine or something like that.
The fact he was a wireless operator in Australia during the last year of WWI does not make his service less valuable or less deserving of respect than that of everyone else who answered the Empire’s call during that time, but I don’t think he is a WWI Veteran in quite the same way that someone who flew Sopwith Camels over the Western Front or ousted the Germans from New Guinea is.
YRMV, of course, and I respect that. Evidently I’ve touched a nerve and I apologise; It was not my intention to cause offence.
FWIW, I have dual Australian/New Zealand citizenship, so New Zealand does count as “My Country”. Well, not as much as it used to since I left there some years ago, but I do seem to find myself back there visiting family more often than I’d really like. 
No worries, I hadn’t forgotten you’re an ex-pat. Just referred to “your country” as you reside in Aussie these days. Still proud to have you on the list as a former Kiwi resident!
I like to tell people I’ve improved the IQ of both countries. 
It makes me feel old- your grandfather served in Fiji in WW2? Mine served in the Boer War.
Shakes walking stick.
OK, so maybe the guy didn’t get trenchfoot and sing carols–he still signed up (or was drafted)–he still was willing to serve. It’s not his “fault” that the military sent him elsewhere to do other stuff.
I count him as a vet. He served.
And no one remembers WWI these days, really. Hell, the Gulf War is ancient history to some folks…
Now there’s a war that hardly anyone seems to know anything about. You’ll get a few “Breaker Morant” references from people, but if you start talking about Winston Churchill’s adventures or the armoured trains or the Siege of Ladysmith most people’s eyes glaze over…
I think it’s high time someone made a Boer War film, to be honest. One that doesn’t involve Breaker Morant. Maybe we can hit the Film Commission up for some money?