Marcel Caux Dies, WW1 veteran aged 105 Options

[Le Paradis]

WWI veteran Marcel Caux dies aged 105
By Tony Stephens
August 23, 2004

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The man known to many Australians as Marcel Caux, one of the nation's last surviving veterans of World War I, and to a few as Harold Katte, died in Sydney late yesterday.

Rusty Priest, the former RSL president, said Mr Caux died peacefully at a Chatswood nursing home. The NSW Premier, Bob Carr, has offered a state funeral to Mr Caux's family.

An air of mystery surrounded Mr Caux to the end. He was unknown to most Australians until four years ago, when he suddenly emerged as a veteran of World War I. The Department of Veterans Affairs said he had wished to retain some anonymity until that time and had asked that the file containing his service records be kept private.

Veterans Affairs records show that a Harold Katte, born in 1899, served in France and returned to Australia in 1919. Records issued in the name of Marcel Caux describe the service of Harold Katte. His son, Marcus de Caux, knew his father as Harold Katte.

Mr Caux had scarcely talked about his war for 85 years. He had never attended an Anzac Day or Remembrance Day service. "I'd rather forget the whole bloody business," he had said.

However, his family and others asked him to tell his story. From that time he became a regular at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services. This year he was one of only two World War I survivors to join an Anzac Day march.

Mr Caux told how he had enlisted at 16 because he "didn't have anything else to do" telling authorities he was 18. He sailed to Egypt with the 17th Battalion and joined the 20th. Fighting on the Somme, he was wounded three times, including at Pozieres and at Villers-Bretonneux.

Distressed by his war memories, he destroyed all his records, including photographs. When he finally came out, the French Government awarded him the Legion of Honour.

Mr Caux took the opportunity to argue against Australia's involvement in the Iraq war. He felt "very sad" when Australian troops went off to Iraq, to yet another conflict. "It's so useless," he said. "Nothing is gained by it."

The four survivors of World War I are Gilbert Bennion, 105, of NSW, John Ross, 105, and William Allan, 104, both of Victoria, and Peter Casserly, 106, of Western Australia.

Last night the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Danna Vale, said Mr Caux and his peers had "helped define the young nation of Australia" by standing up and fighting for the things held dear by all "at a time of great uncertainty".

"It is a sad time as we farewell another fine man who served this nation so well."


source: http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/22/1093113062297.html


Remember Caux as a gentle man: son
August 23, 2004 - 9:45AM

One of Australia's longest surviving World War I veterans Marcel Caux should be remembered as a gentle man with a sense of humour, his son said.

Mr Caux, 105, spent his final hours having lunch with his son, Marcus Decaux, at his nursing home in Chatswood in Sydney's north before passing away about 5.30pm (AEST) on Sunday.

Born on March 1, 1899 he was just 16 when in September 1915 he lied about his age to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force in Sydney, to eventually fight with the 17th and 20th battalions on the Somme.

After returning in 1919 Mr Caux refused to attend Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemorations and remained silent on his experiences.

But in 2001 Mr Caux broke an 80-year silence and decided, after much coaxing from good mate and then NSW RSL president Rusty Priest, to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony in Sydney.

Mr Decaux said his father spoke of the waste and futility of war when he eventually talked about his experiences.

"I think in France it was pretty horrific, what I've heard, what he has only mentioned briefly to me, but I think it was hell," Mr Decaux told Sydney radio 2UE.

"He didn't speak about it until the French awarded him a Legion of Honour and then gradually bits and pieces came out.

"... as fewer and fewer veterans were left, I think we impressed upon him that maybe he should say something so in the end he did."

Mr Decaux said he wants his father to be remembered as a kind and loving man.

"He was a lovely man with a sense of humour, a gentle man who would do anything for anyone," he said.

NSW Premier Bob Carr has offered Mr Caux's family a state funeral to honour his life and his contributions to battle in Egypt, France and on the Western Front, where he was wounded three times.


source: http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/23/1093113105698.html


WWI vet to get state funeral
August 23, 2004 - 4:59PM

Flags will fly at half mast when a state funeral is held for one of Australia's longest-surviving World War I veterans, Marcel Caux, who his family say will be remembered as a gentleman and hero.

Mr Caux died on Sunday afternoon after spending his final hours with his son, Marcus de Caux, at his nursing home in Chatswood in Sydney's north.

Born on March 1, 1899, 16-year-old Caux lied about his age to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force in Sydney in September 1915, to eventually fight with the 17th and 20th battalions on the Somme.

Mr de Caux said the family had accepted an offer by NSW Premier Bob Carr for a state funeral to honour his father's life and contributions to battle in Egypt, France and on the Western Front, where he was wounded three times.

The funeral also would allow the public to pay their respects to the veteran, he said.

"He was one of a disappearing breed," Mr de Caux told AAP.

Final details of the state funeral were yet to be arranged, but it would likely take place this Friday or next Monday, he said.

Good friend and former NSW RSL president Rusty Priest would give one of the eulogies.

"Rusty had been to his birthday parties, Rusty had always been a friend and he knew him, so it won't be just some faceless person giving the eulogy," Mr de Caux said.

Mr Priest also was instrumental in convincing Mr Caux to break an 80-year-old silence on his wartime experiences and attend a Remembrance Day ceremony in Sydney in 2001.

"Up until recently he (Mr Caux) didn't really want to talk about (his military service)," Mr de Caux said.

"But in the last couple of years, when he saw the efforts of the RSL at Anzac Day he wanted to give a bit back and so broadened his horizons and spoke to a lot of school children."

Mr de Caux said he wanted his father to be remembered "as a gentleman with a great sense of humour and as a hero".

Both sides of federal politics paid tribute to the digger.

Veterans Affairs Minister Danna Vale said Mr Caux embodied the Anzac spirit.

"The actions of Mr Caux and his peers helped to define the young nation of Australia," she said.

Federal Labor leader Mark Latham said Mr Caux's death was a sad loss for the nation.

"This is someone who had a great reputation in the community, who served his country with bravery and distinction and, as with all the World War I veterans, we honour them."

Mr Caux is survived by his son Mr de Caux and grandson Christian, 15.

There are four surviving World War I diggers in Australia. They are Gilbert Bennion, 105, of NSW, Victorians John Ross, 105, and William Allan, 104, and Peter Casserly, 106, of Western Australia.

source: http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/23/1093113133903.html

[Jillybean]

Wow that was amazing. Thanks for posting that. It is sad to see someone pass on especially someone who fought to preserve freedoms. It is also sad that he didn't want to share his experiences but I can understand his reason. May God bless his family.

Jill

[Kiwiwriter]

I am saddened to hear of his loss, understanding of his desire to remain private, and glad he had such a good run. (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[BobFish]

He was at Pozieres? Wow. It's sad to hear of this guy passing on - but it's kinda fitting that he will have a state funeral.

It'll be strange, and saddening when the last of the WW1 vets goes, a part of history lost forever. I think there are 30 or so WW1 vets left in Britain.

[Jimmydoorknobs]

Seems only fitting he lived a long life and was healthy to the end.

[Lt PWF DCM]

It will be with great sadness when we see the last of that generation pass away. They have always seemed larger than life when I study and learn more about the soldiers of the Great War. It was such a turning point in history both militarily but also socially. They are the last link to an entirely different world. RIP Mr Caux.

Cheers,

Thomas

[Le Paradis]

Sydney farewells Marcel
August 27, 2004 - 11:45AM

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Mourners in Sydney today paid their final respects to Marcel Caux, one of Australia's most loved World War I veterans.

Mr Caux, who was 105 when he died on Sunday, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Sydney in September 1915 to eventually fight with the 17th and 20th Battalion on the Somme.

Representatives from the Caux family, military, Salvation Army and French embassy attended the service at Salvation Army Sydney Congress Hall.

Mr Caux's son Marcus de Caux and grandson Christian sat in the front row as former NSW RSL president Rusty Priest paid tribute to his good mate's bravery and honour.

Family friend Christopher Dagg said Mr Caux enjoyed home-brewed beer, the odd bet and riding in a red convertible.

"We're here today to say goodbye to not only a man who served this country so well but just as important to us here is the fact that we're saying goodbye to my mate's dad," Mr Dagg told the service.

"We're celebrating a life of 105 years."

NSW Premier Bob Carr and federal Veterans Affair Minister Danna Vale also paid tribute to Mr Caux.


(SOURCE: SMH )

[Le Paradis]

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Honoured for a role he tried to forget
By Stephen Gibbs
August 28, 2004

Marcel Caux tried to forget the war, but he always remembered France. She bestowed upon him the Legion of Honour, and he took from her a name.

He must also have remembered the only soldiers who had offered him comfort as a boy in the trenches amid the blood and fire of the Somme nearly 90 years ago.

For it was to the Salvation Army's red shield he returned yesterday, having somehow outlived millions of the men he fought with and against.

The state funeral was for Marcel Jacques Caux, but his family knew the veteran had been born Harold Katte, and family friend Christopher Dagg began his eulogy: "Marcel, or the man we all knew as Stan ... "

Marcel Caux survived the worst of World War I, then said nothing publicly about his experiences as he watched Australians go off to World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

When he finally came forward, he was one of 17 Australians still alive who had enlisted in the war to end all wars. When he died on Sunday, aged 105, there were four.

That earned Mr Caux tributes from the Governor-General, Mike Jeffery, delivered by Sir Nicholas Shehadie; and from the Prime Minister, John Howard, delivered by Danna Vale.

Mr Caux even spoke for himself in a short video that showed the Somme battlefields and the old soldier describing an "an eight-stone runt" fighting "huge Prussian guards ... 20-stone giants".

The French charge d'affaires to Australia, Pierre Seillan, said his nation wished to thank Mr Caux for his war service and, equally, by honouring France in choosing his name from the Caux region of Normandy.

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But it was the Premier, Bob Carr, who reminded the congregation in the Salvation Army's Sydney Congress Hall that "for 80 years, Marcel Caux tried to forget".

"While Anzacs in their thousands gathered each year at Martin Place, and sang the Recessional, and heard the Last Post, Marcel stayed home and tried not to let it enter his thoughts," Mr Carr said.

"His comrades turned up to glean what consolation there was in the wreaths and the bugles and the reunions. But Marcel stayed home. He didn't care for war."

Then, in 2001, three years after being awarded the Legion of Honour by the grateful citizens of France, "it was as if a dam broke in him. He spoke of war, and the folly of war, from then till now.

"We are grateful for this glimpse of a hero who rejected the cause for which he was acclaimed, who came with reluctance to the day of heroes, who lived so long, and tried to forget."

Outside the hall, a firing party on Elizabeth Street discharged three volleys, the Last Post was played, and Mr Caux's casket left for Northern Suburbs Crematorium on a gun carriage.



SOURCE: SMH )