1. Early Life
Florence Green's early life was centered in London, where she was born and grew up with her family.
1.1. Birth and Family
Florence Beatrice Green was born Florence Beatrice Patterson on February 19, 1901, in Edmonton, Middlesex, a district of London, England. Her parents were Frederick and Sarah Patterson (née Neal).
2. World War I Service
Florence Green's military service took place during the final stages of World War I, where she joined the newly formed Women's Royal Air Force.
2.1. Women's Royal Air Force Service
On September 13, 1918, at the age of 17, Florence Green enlisted in the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF). Her service number was 22360. During her time in the WRAF, she served as an officers' mess steward, a non-combatant role. She was primarily based at RAF Marham and the Narborough airfield in Norfolk. Following the conclusion of the war, she was discharged from the Royal Air Force as a corporal in 1919.
3. Personal Life and Later Years
After her military service, Florence Green established a family and settled in King's Lynn, where she lived for the majority of her long life.
3.1. Marriage and Family
In 1920, Florence moved to King's Lynn, Norfolk. There, she married Walter Green (1893-1975), a railway worker who was also a veteran, having served in both World War I and World War II. Walter Green passed away in 1975, after 55 years of marriage. Together, they had three children: May (born in 1921), Bob (born in 1926), and June Evetts (born in 1935). By the time of her death, Florence Green had four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
3.2. Life in King's Lynn
Florence Green lived in King's Lynn for many decades, residing with her daughter May until November 2011. In her final months, she moved into a care home. She was known for her longevity in the local community. When once asked what it felt like to be 110, she famously replied, "Not much different to being 109."
4. Recognition as Last Survivor
Florence Green's advanced age led to her recognition as one of the oldest living people and eventually the last surviving veteran of World War I.
4.1. Oldest Living Veteran
In January 2010, Florence Green was publicly identified as the oldest living female veteran of the First World War. On February 19, 2011, she celebrated her 110th birthday, officially becoming a supercentenarian. At that time, she was one of only ten known living supercentenarians in the United Kingdom, all of whom were women. Her age was formally verified by the Gerontology Research Group on July 20, 2011, solidifying her status as an official supercentenarian.
4.2. Last Survivor of World War I
Following the death of Claude Choules, the last known combat veteran of World War I, on May 5, 2011, Florence Green became the last known living veteran of the First World War. Her status as the final survivor from the conflict garnered significant attention and confirmed her unique place in history.
5. Death
Florence Green died on February 4, 2012, at the age of 110, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, due to old age. At the time of her passing, she was the oldest resident of West Norfolk, the second-oldest person in Norfolk, and the sixth-oldest in the entire United Kingdom.
6. Legacy
Florence Green's extraordinary longevity and her unique status as the final surviving veteran of World War I have been commemorated in her local area.
6.1. Florence Fields Development
In January 2023, more than a decade after her death, a new housing development in Gaywood, Norfolk, was named Florence Fields in her honor. The development, comprising 226 houses and formerly known as Parkway, was announced by the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in collaboration with housing developer Lovell Partnerships Ltd. The name "Florence Fields" was chosen through a competition organized with King's Lynn Academy, a secondary school located adjacent to the development site.