Fernand Goux | |
Birth: | 31 December 1899 Sceaux-du-Gatinais, Centre-Val de Loire, France |
Death: | 9 November 2008 Ile-de-France, France |
Age: | 108 years, 314 days |
Country: | FRA |
Centenarian |
Fernand Goux (31 December 1899 – 9 November 2008) was a French centenarian, who at age 108, was the last documented French World War I veteran.
Biography[]
Born in Sceaux-du-Gâtinais, Loiret, he was called up for service on 19 April 1918. Goux was deployed behind the front lines with the 85th Infantry Regiment, supplying the troops and burying the dead. On 3 November 1918, he was sent to the front line with the 82nd Infantry Regiment for the last week of the war. This makes him one of two remaining Western Front trench veterans, along with Englishman Harry Patch, and one of three overall, including Italian Delfino Borroni, who fought on the Alpine Front. However the French government does not recognize Goux as a poilu as he fought less than the requisite three months. The last official veteran thus remains Italian-born Lazare Ponticelli, who was buried with state honours on 17 March 2008, with Louis de Cazenave the last recognized native Frenchman to have served. After the war Goux worked as a farmer and he lived in the Île-de-France region until he died.
See also[]
References[]
- Fernand Goux and Pierre Picault last 2 French veterans
- Le dernier Poilu de 14-18 n'est pas mort ladepeche.fr, 19 June 2008
- Fernand Goux (31-12-1899 / 9-11-2008, 108 ans) Dersdesders, 17 November 2008