TORONTO — Dwight Wilson, one of the last two Canadian veterans of World War I, died Wednesday in Toronto, officials said. He was 106.
Wilson's death leaves one known surviving Canadian veteran of the war -- 106-year-old John Babcock of Spokane, Wash.
Born Feb. 26, 1901, in Vienna, Ontario, Wilson enlisted in 1916 at age 15 after telling the army he was older. When he arrived in England, his true age was discovered and he was sent back to Canada without entering combat.
He managed to reenlist in 1917, but four months later he was discharged again because of his age.
Wilson was one of more than 600,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who fought in World War I. About 66,000 died. He tried to enlist in the Canadian armed forces at the start of World War II but was told he was too old.
He worked for Bell Canada for 47 years and sang semi-professionally. He spent his final years at the veterans residence at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.
