[Callum]

The world's last surviving First World War veteran has died - marking the end of an era in British history.

Florence Green, who joined the war effort in September 1918, when she was aged just 17, passed away in her sleep at a Norfolk care home just two weeks before her 111th birthday.

The great-grandmother, who lived through all but 400 days of the 20th century, signed up to the Women's Royal Air Force two months before the end of the First World War.

She was the last surviving person to have seen active service in the Great War following the death of British-born sailor Claude Choules in Australia last year.


Mrs Green, who was born in London, worked at Narborough Airfield and RAF Marham, Norfolk, as an Officer's Mess steward.

Florence spent her war days working 'all hours' serving officers their meals. And she would often spend time wandering the base simply 'admiring the pilots', she admitted..

Before her death she said: 'I enjoyed my time in the WRAF. There were plenty of people at the airfields where I worked and they were all very good company.

'I would work every hour God sent but I had dozens of friends on the base and we had a great deal of fun in our spare time. In many ways I had the time of my life.

'I met dozens of pilots and would go on dates. I had the opportunity to go up in one of the planes but I was scared of flying. It was a lovely experience and I'm very proud.'

In later life she lived with her daughter May, 90, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, but had moved into Briar House care home shortly before Christmas where she died on Saturday.

Her proud family today paid tribute to the veteran, describing her as 'a great woman'.

May said: 'She so nearly made it to her 111th birthday. It is very sad. We are grateful for all the nice tributes.'


Last May the only living male First World War combat veteran, British-born sailor Claude Choules, died in Australia at the age of 110.

Britain's last survivor of the First World War trenches Harry Patch - known as 'The Last Tommy' - died in July 2009 aged 111.


Florence celebrated her 110th birthday on February 19, last year with her daughter May, who was her full-time carer.

She is also survived by her son Bob, 86, who lives in Edinburgh, and four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was married to husband Walter, a railway porter in 1920, for 50 years until his death in 1970.

Sian Taylor, deputy manager of Briar House care home in King's Lynn, Norfolk, said Mrs Green 'always had a smile on her face.'

She said: 'Florence came to us on November 23 last year. She was a lovely, very well-mannered woman and she always had a smile on her face.

'She was immobile, but would talk about the old days to the carers and other residents who would visit her in her room.

'A carer took her some water at 5am on Saturday and sadly found she had died in her sleep.'


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End of an era for Britain. R.I.P. Florence