Lauri Nurminen | |
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Birth: | 9 September 1906 Russian Empire (now Finland) |
Death: | 20 February 2009 Valkeakoski, Pirkanmaa, Finland |
Age: | 102 years, 164 days |
Country: | ![]() |
Centenarian |
Lauri Nurminen (9 September 1906 – 20 February 2009) was a Finnish centenarian who was the last known White Guard and the last known surviving veteran from the Finnish Civil War.
Biography[]
Lauri Nurminen was born in Russian Empire (now Finland) on 9 September 1906. He served in the White Guard in the Finnish Civil War just after the war broke out in 1918, when he was 11 years old. Nurminen was the first to receive Colonel Ernst Linder's troops at Nokia. Linder made Nurminen a transmitter, and in this role Nurminen served in Nokia's protection team. In the confusing situation of the battles in Kalevankangas, Nurminen was among the people of Lapua, where he was until the conquest of Tampere. His brother Eino died on April 3 in the Battle of Sorinahti.
Nurminen also took part in the Winter War and the Continuation War. In military terms, he was a midget. After the war, he became a forest technician and paper mill manager.
Nurminen died in Valkeakoski, Pirkanmaa, Finland on 20 February 2009 at the age of 102 years 164 days. Aarne Arvonen was believed to be the last Finnish Civil War veteran at his death until Nurminen was found and verified as a veteran in 2010, nearly one year after his death. At the time of his death, he was the last Finnish Civil War veteran of the conflict.
References[]
- Lauri Nurminen 102 - vuotta
- Valkeakosken Sanomat: Viimeinen vapaussoturi haudataan havumiekan kera Valkeakosken Sanomat, 5 March 2009