AustLit

'Claude Choules was the last man alive to serve in a military capacity in both World Wars. He died recently at the age of 110.

'Claude was 16 and serving on HMS Revenge when he had his first taste of hostile action in November 1917. A year later, he witnessed Admiral Beatty accept the surrender of the German fleet.

'He migrated to Australia in 1926 and, during the Second World War, was responsible for the demolition of ports and other naval facilities in the event of a Japanese invasion.

'Written for his family when he was in his 80s, Claude's autobiography The last of the last is finally available to a wider readership. The engaging, often humorous tone of his memoirs reflects the amiable nature of a truly unique man.' (Publication summary)