the death of william evan allan in october 2005 left ross as the last australian digger from world war i. however claude choules, a world war i veteran who served for britain, lived in western australia. ross became australia's oldest man at the age of 108, on 12 june 2007, upon the death of frank scarrabelotti. following the death of 112 year old e. beatrice riley, he was verified as the oldest person in australia.