Purslowe Funerals was honoured to be chosen to arrange and conduct the funeral for Claude Stanley Choules. A remarkable man, prior to his death Claude was the last living person to have served in World War I.
The 110 year old was farewelled at a moving naval ceremony, quietly marking the end of an era.
The service was held at St John’s Church in Fremantle, with guests including WA Premier Colin Barnett, Opposition leader Eric Ripper and Defence Minister Stephen Smith. Mr Choules joined Britain’s Royal Navy at the age of 14 and served in WWI and witnessed the surrender of the German Imperial Navy in 1918 while serving aboard HMS Revenge. In 1926, he was seconded to the Australian Navy, and eventually become a torpedo and antisubmarine instructor.
Mr Choules remained in the RAN after the war, spending his final working years in the Naval Dockyard Police before joining the crayfishing industry, at Safety Bay south of Perth. Mr Choules released an autobiography in 2009 entitled The Last of the Last, depicting his childhood and move to Australia, as well as his times at war. In it, he puts his long life down to his loving wife and family. Ethel, Claude’s wife passed away aged 98 in 2003, shortly after she and Claude had celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary. Mr Choules has two daughters and a son, 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.