Shot dead at 10.59am... one minute before end of war

IT is now believed by some historians that American soldier Henry Gunther might actually be the last casualty – killed at 10.59am on November 11.

Reports at the time say he was involved in a surprise final charge against astonished Germans who knew the Armistice was imminent. They went ahead and shot him because they had not received orders to cease fire.

The last French soldier to be killed in action also knew peace was at hand, but Augustin Trebuchon, 40, a messenger, obeyed orders to join in a charge across the Meuse river in thick fog and died at 10.45am.

France was so embarrassed to have sent men into battle when a first accord had been signed at 5:30am that the date of 91 deaths in the rash action was recorded as November 10.