Ramire Rosan (14 April 1895 – 24 May 2004) was the last World War I veteran from the

overseas departments and territories of France Overseas France (french: France d'outre-mer) consists of 13 French-administered territories outside Europe, mostly the remains of the French colonial empire that chose to remain a part of the French state under various statuses after decolon ...

. Grandson of a slave, he was born in

Morne-à-l'Eau Morne-à-l'Eau (''Monalô'' in creole) is a commune located in the department of Guadeloupe. Events In March or April each year since 1993, the town organises a crab festival which features crab races and many stalls selling crab-based dishes. ...

Guadeloupe Guadeloupe (; ; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Gwadloup, ) is an archipelago and overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the ...

, where he cultivated sugar cane. Mounted gendarmes came to pick him up and sent him immediately to a base,Jean-Pierre Biot, Marc Sich, Paris Match N°2840, 1914-1918 Hommage aux derniers poilus, '' Paris Match'', 23 to 29 October 2003. he was enlisted to the twenty-third regiment of the colonial infantry. In July 1916 he took part in the

Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme ( French: Bataille de la Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place bet ...

, where he was gassed. He received four medals, including, in 1996, the Légion d'honneur. He died in Guadeloupe in 2004, aged 109.

Distinctions

* Legion of Honour (1996) * Combatant's Cross *

1914–1918 Commemorative war medal (France) The 1914–1918 Commemorative war medal (french: "Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918") was awarded to soldiers and sailors for service in World War I. It was also awarded to civilians who met certain requirements. Created by Act of ...

1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal The 1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal (french: "Médaille Interalliée de la Victoire 1914–1918") was a French commemorative medal established on 20 July 1922. It was the French version of a common allied campaign medal where each allied ...

References

1895 births 2004 deaths French men centenarians French military personnel of World War I Knights of the Legion of Honour Guadeloupean soldiers {{Guadeloupe-bio-stub