Private Arthur Shelford
|
Regimental Number: |
707221 | Survived War: |
Yes |
Force: |
Army | Regiment: |
Canadian Infantry |
Battalion: |
103rd Battalion | Company: |
|
Place of Birth: |
Enenley, North Hants, | Country: |
|
Next of Kin: |
Charles Shelford [father], Enenley, Brackley,North Hants, England | Address at Enlistment: |
Wistaria P.O., B.C. |
Date of Birth: |
July 29, 1885 | Trade or Calling: |
Farmer |
Marital Status: |
Single | Prior Military Experience: |
No |
Place of Enlistment: |
Hazelton, British Columbia | Date of Enlistment: |
July 1, 1916 |
Age at enlistment: |
31 | Height: |
6 Feet 1 Inches |
Chest: |
41 Inches | Expansion: |
5 Inches |
Religion: |
Church of England | Enlisted or Conscripted: |
Enlisted |
Saw service in: |
Unknown | ||
Cause of Death: |
Survived | Battle Died/Wounded: |
Wounded, Sep 2, 1918, Arras |
Date of Death: |
April 7, 1979 | Age at Death: |
94 |
Buried at: |
Cremated | Plot: |
|
Commemorated: |
|||
Prisoner of war: |
No | Interned: |
|
Gender: |
Male | Ethnic Origin: |
Not Specified |
| LAC Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1Box 8840-52 |
| Research Notes |
| 103rd Battalion Nominal Roll |
| Rank | Regiment | Unit | Company |
| Private | Canadian Infantry | 103rd Battalion |
Pioneer Days in BC, Vol. two: ...by the spring of 1916 I decided to enlist and with [Norman] Allan Blackwell, the youngest son of a neighbour, walked 45 miles to Houston in a day. Since there was no train we continued 30 miles along the track to Telkwa and caught the train to Hazelton. Allan passed his examination without trouble but when I came before Dr Wrinch he wanted to turn me down because of flat feet. I asked him what that implied, 'Why, you can't march.' 'I may not be able to march, but I walked 45 miles to Houston over a rough, muddy road in 25 hours and I will take an 80 pound pack on my back and walk up the Bulkley Valley against any man you like to choose." Editor's note: During his military service, Shelford rose from private to Company Sergeant-major and took part in several of the bloodiest battles, including Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and Arras. He was wounded September 2, 1918, in the shoulder. He spent the winter of 1918-19 in various English hospitals and met a nurse whom he eventually married. He left for Canada early in April, 1919. [His friend Blackwell [323512] was killed near Mons six days before the war ended.] |