Allegiance France Unit 83rd Artillery Name Pierre Picault Service/branch French Army | Years of service 1918–1920 Battles/wars World War I Battles and wars World War I | |
Born 27 February 1899
Bou, Loiret, France ( 1899-02-27 ) Died November 20, 2008, Bou, France | ||
Pierre Picault (27 February 1899 – 20 November 2008) was, at age 109, France's last surviving French veteran of World War I and eldest man. He became the last French World War I veteran following the death of 108-year-old Fernand Goux on 9 November 2008.
Biography
Picault joined up on 15 April 1918 and became a 2nd class gunner. He served with the French army 83rd artillery. Picault is not recognized by the French government as being an "official" veteran of WWI — he served in the trenches for less than three months, six months being the government's official benchmark.
Picault also served with the 85th RAL on 5 December 1918, the 20th Squadron of the 1st Arvil Train in 1919, and the 19th Squadron Train on 9 February 1920.
Picault died on 20 November 2008 in Bou, Loiret. He had resided there all of his life until his death.