Last surviving WW1 veteran to receive state funeral

Federal politicians voted unanimously Nov. 21 in favour of holding a full state funeral when the last Canadian veteran of the First World War passes away.

The motion was brought forward by the NDP. Of the 619,636 Canadians who served in the First World War, three are still alive: Percy Dwight Wilson, 105, and Lloyd Clemett and John Babcock, both 106.

The concept was first proposed earlier this month by the Dominion Institute, which said a state funeral would help people to learn about the war. They collected 90,000 signatures in support of holding the state funerals.

Babcock told the Globe and Mail he'd rather not have a state funeral because he's lived in the United States most of his life, and never actually saw combat in the war. He was waiting to be deployed in England when the war ended.

Family members of the other two veterans were also unsure whether they'd accept the honour.