Lazare Ponticelli
Lazare Ponticelli, the last surviving
French veteran of
World War I died on March 12, 2008. Born in
Italy, he moved to France when his father died, finding work as a chimney sweep, and lying about his age to enter the army when the Great War began. In 1915, when Italy entered the war, he was discharged and told that as an Italian citizen, he needed to fight with the Italian army. Consequently, he served with both the French and Italian armies in WWI. After the war, he returned to France, and became a citizen. When the
second World War broke out, he was too old for the army, so he fought with the Resistance.
Fast Facts:
- AKA: Lazarro Ponticelli
- Born: 1897
- Birthplace: Bettola, Italy
- Resided: a suburb of Paris, France
- Founded a stovemaking and pipework company
- Awarded: Croix de Guerre, Médaille Interalliée, Légion d'honneur.
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