Private Arthur Shelford

Private (Army).

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.]