Paul Antonio Métivier (July 6, 1900 – December 22, 2004) was one of the last surviving

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

veterans of

the First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He was born in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Government of Canada, Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is ...

Service

Metiver enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the age of 16, having told the recruiter he was 19. He served with the 4th Canadian Division Ammunition Column, delivering munitions by mule. He was awarded the

British War Medal The British War Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War. Two versions of the medal were produced. About 6.5 million were struck in si ...

and Victory Medal. During

the Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, his son Joseph Roland was killed in combat on August 17, 1942 while serving with 58 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force; he has no known grave.

Veteran

In later life, Metivier was awarded the French

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...

for his service in the First World War and a certificate of appreciation for his selfless contribution to the war effort, signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. For his military service he was awarded the British War and Victory medals and a Class A Service Badge. He became well known for his attendance at the

Remembrance Day Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in t ...

ceremony in Ottawa every November 11, despite his advanced age, regardless of the weather or even his own health. He was also involved with

Veterans Affairs Canada Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC; french: Anciens Combattants Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada with responsibility for pensions, benefits and services for war veterans, retired and still-serving members of the Canadian A ...

in the repatriation of Canada's Unknown Soldier from Vimy, France in 2000. He became the sole surviving veteran of World War I living in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

and, upon his death, one of only six veterans of the First World War still living in Canada. He was survived by four children, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. His wife Flore had died in 1992, after some 72 years of

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

. Paul Métivier Drive, a street running east to west between Woodroffe Avenue and Longfields, in Ottawa, Ontario was named in his honour.

References

External links

Globe and Mail Article on Paul Métivier November 5th 2002

CTV News article on Paul Métivier's Death

Veterans Affairs Canada link

French language biography

Toronto Star Obituary

CTV obituary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metivier, Paul 1900 births 2004 deaths Canadian Army soldiers Canadian centenarians Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers Men centenarians Military personnel from Montreal Recipients of the Legion of Honour