claude stanley choules (; 3 march 1901 – 5 may 2011) was an english-born military serviceman from perth, western australia who at the time of his death was the oldest combat veteran of the first world war from england, having served with the royal navy from 1915 until 1926. after having emigrated to australia he served with the royal australian navy, from 1926 until 1956, as a chief petty officer and was a naturalised australian citizen. he was the last surviving military witness to the scuttling of the german fleet in scapa flow in 1919 and the last surviving veteran to have served in both world wars. at the time of his death, he was the third-oldest verified military veteran in the world and the oldest known living man in australia. he was the seventh-oldest living man in the world. choules became the oldest man born in the united kingdom following the death of stanley lucas on 21 june 2010. choules died at the age of 110 years and 63 days. he had been the oldest british-born man; following his death, that honour went to reverend reginald dean. in december 2011, the landing ship was named after him, only the second royal australian navy vessel named after a sailor.