The last first World War combat veteran, British-born Claude Choules, who died aged 110, was laid to rest today after a military funeral in the Australian port town of Fremantle.
Mr Choules, who died this month in a Perth nursing home, shunned military parades in his later years, but today more than 100 navy sailors formed a guard of honor for his casket.
During the church service, Mr Choules' casket, draped with the Australian White Ensign naval flag, flowers and a navy sailor's hat, was flanked by two portraits, one as a young sailor and another wearing a classic Australian "bush hat."
When the funeral service ended, the late Mr Choules was saluted by a 12 rifle volley, fired three times.
Mr Choules did not speak highly of war in his later life and was renowned for avoiding Anzac Day parades, Australia's major war memorial day, only marching if ordered.
In his eulogy, Mr Choules' son Adrian paid tribute to his father and recalled his "sailor's mouth" for swearing.
"Now is the time not to be sad, but to celebrate. It was a very long life and a very wonderful life," he said.
Mr Choules, nicknamed "Chuckles" by his comrades, was the last of more than 70 million military personnel who served during the first World War One.
Mr Choules was born in 1901 and signed up with the British Navy for the Great War at just 15 years of age, serving first onboard the HMS Impregnable.
He joined the battleship HMS Revenge in 1917 and witnessed the surrender of the German Fleet near Firth of Forth in Scotland in 1918.
After the war, he moved to Perth and joined the Australian Navy, working as a demolition officer at the Fremantle Harbor during the second World War, making him the last veteran who served in both World Wars.
While on board the passenger liner that took him to Australia, he met his future wife Ethel. They were married on December 3rd, 1926, and later settled in Western Australia.
His wife died in 2003 at the age of 98 after they had been married for 76 years, and he spent his final years in a nursing home.
The only other surviving World War I veteran is believed to be Britain's Florence Green, also 110, who served with the Royal Air Force in a non-combat role.
In 2009, Mr Choules published a book about his life, The Last of the Last.
He leaves behind three children, Daphne, Anne and Adrian, all aged in their 70s and 80s