Centenarian's death cuts link with WWI

New Zealand has lost its last living link to World War I with the death of a British centenarian who made the West Coast his home.

Former British Army cavalryman Victor Rudd, known as Bob, died in a Greymouth rest home on Sunday, aged 104. The British High Commission called it a "sad moment in history".

Mr Rudd, whose funeral will be held today, was believed to be the last person living in New Zealand who served in World War I.

The longest-surviving New Zealander who served in World War I, Bright Williams, died in Hastings in February, 2003, at 105. About 100,000 New Zealanders fought in the war.

Mr Rudd's lone representation brought him regular media attention, but his daughter, Valda Webb, said he took it in his stride. "To us, he was just dad. My very best friend."

Mr Rudd's death was greeted with sadness by the Returned Services Association and the High Commission. Fewer than 10 British World War I veterans remain.

"It signifies the end of an era and is a reminder to us all that the memory of this fine old soldier must never fade away," a commission spokesman said.

Although Mr Rudd never made it official, he always considered himself a New Zealander, having lived here since the early 1920s.

He returned once to England, at 86, to be reunited with his younger brother, Harold, but never considered going back there to live.

"He reckoned we didn't know how lucky we were out here," Mrs Webb said.

Born in London in 1901, Mr Rudd was raised in an orphanage and was a boot-making apprentice before lying about his age so he could join the Army. He served with the 9th Lancers cavalry regiment, despite never having ridden a horse before.

"If you fell off you had to go and chase the horse - you had to get it regardless. The horses were better fed than the men, he said."

Mr Rudd was part of the Allied occupying force in Germany.

"He had to dig graves and do a lot of the cleaning up. He was a great story teller. If anybody came to the house dad would hold the floor."

Mr Rudd loved chocolate, lots of sugar in his tea and smoking his pipe, and never had a doctor until near his death, but still lived a healthy life.

"He used to say he never had a headache, and we used to say to him that's because you give them to everyone else," Mrs Webb joked.

The RSA asked Mrs Webb what it could do to mark his death, but Mr Rudd "was never a great RSA man".

"The only thing I said I would like them to do is to play The Last Post. Just for an old soldier."