With just days to go before her 111^th birthday, Florence Green has passed away in her sleep at a Norfolk care home on Saturday. Born on 19^th February 1901, she enrolled in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) in September 1918 aged 17 with just two months to go before Armistice Day. She is believed to be the world’s last surviving First World War veteran. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable era in British history.

The iconic poster image of the First World War by Alfred Leete 1882 - 1933

She had been the last surviving person to have seen active service in the First World War after the death of the British-born sailor Claude Choules, a combat veteran, in Australia last year.

Worked serving meals in the officers’ mess

Florence Beatrice Patterson went to work as a waitress in the officers’ mess at RAF Marham in Norfolk and also at Narborough Airfield. Mrs. Green in an interview in 2008 recalled her wartime service.

“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. 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 enjoyed my time in the WRAF. There were plenty of people at the airfields where I worked and they were all very good company.”

Latterly she lived with her daughter May, 90, in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, before moving into the Briar House care home just before Christmas.

Her proud family yesterday paid tribute to her describing her as ‘a great woman’.

Her story came to light after a British correspondent for the US-based Gerontology Research Group, Andrew Holmes traced her name using the National Archive. He found a service record on the National Archive for Florence Beatrice Patterson, Mrs Green’s maiden name.

Veterans did not necessarily fight in the trenches

Mr Holmes said: ‘It’s a common misconception that a veteran must be someone who saw action or fighting in the trenches.

‘A veteran is someone who served in one of the Armed forces, regardless of their role – a medic, an ambulance driver or a waitress – they all count.

‘Obviously the last surviving veterans of any war are likely to be the youngest and therefore would not have served long.’

‘I am saddened by her death. Florence was the sixth oldest person in the UK and the only remaining WW1 veteran in the world.’

Mrs Green, who worked for much of her life in a hotel in Kings Lynn, is survived by three children, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Her husband Walter was an army veteran who served in both world wars and also a porter at King’s Lynn station, died over 30 years ago aged 82.

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

Britain owes Florence Green and her generation a great deal. May their sacrifices never be forgotten.

First World War, First world War veteran, Florence Green News, People