Soldiers of the First World War

[Danno]

For anyone that has known someone that served in WW1, here is where you can see their scaned sign-up forms:

http://www.archives.ca/02/02010602_e.html

Here is my great grandfather‘s form:

http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc012/549706a.gif

Cheers,

Danno

 

[max flinch]

Thank you for that, Danno. Before he passed away, my father gave me a pocket flask that belonged to my Grandad, whom I never met. I‘m looking at his enrolment form now, and I‘m kinda speechless. Thanks.

 

[Danno]

Glad I could help.

 

[Danno]

Bump!

 

[maggiemagooo]

Hey i just happened to read this posting.. i know its old.. but .. oh well.. you asked a question and i see it wasn't answered for you.  According to some info i gathered while reading the achival website, the C.E.F. did draft in 1917.. so if Danno's grandfather did join up in 1917 or after .. he could've been  drafted. My grandfather joined up in 1917, but he was a volunteer..(his papers also said attestation on the top like your grandfather's did Baker) he joined at an earlier date but was discharged due to the military finding out he was underage.

 

[Michael OLeary]

For soldiers of the First World War who were called up (drafted) under the Military Service Act, 1917, their attestation paper will be this form:

http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc006/378997a.gif

 

[geo]

didn't we use the term "conscript" and not "draftee"?

Well.............
here's one for my granddad going off to war at the ripe old age of 34: http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc002/289317a.gif

and again at the riper old age of 36:  http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc002/289339a.gif

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Draft was used in this sense " The drawing off, detachment, or selection of a party from a larger body for some special (spec. military) duty or purpose". The use of draft to mean conscription is an Americanism.

 

[Michael OLeary]

"Drafted" may now be considered an Americanism, but the form used (M.F.W. 133) is titled:

PARTICULARS OF RECRUIT
DRAFTED UNDER MILITARY SERVICE ACT, 1917.​

 

[proudnurse]

That is really something! I just put in my Great/Great Uncle (on my Mom's side, it would have been my Grandfathers Uncle) And my Grandpa was actually named after him. And I got to view his form too! Thanks I will have to share that with my Grandma, since my Grandfather is no longer with us. She will appreciate that.

~Rebecca~

http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gat2/099993a.gif

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

"Drafted" may now be considered an Americanism, but the form used (M.F.W. 133) is titled:

PARTICULARS OF RECRUIT
DRAFTED UNDER MILITARY SERVICE ACT, 1917.​

This is a semantic argument in both senses but I'll just say that I think draft had a broad meaning in that there were drafts before 1917 but not the Draft. Need to see contemporary writings to get a true sense of usage but it was the Conscription Crises not the Draft Crises.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919, The Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War; by Colonel G.W.L. Nicholson, CD, Army Historical Section, 1962

Accordingly, in January 1918, a policy was adopted which saw volunteers continuing to be attested on the usual C.E.F. Attestation Paper (M.F.W. 23) and the introduction of a new form, Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act, 1917 (M.F.W. 133, for use in the case of draftees. (pp. 351)

Canada's Sons and Great Britian in the World War, Col. George C. Nasmith; 1919

The total number of men enlisted in Canada from the beginning of the war to November 15, 1918, was595, 441. ...

Drafted or reporting voluntarily after the Military Service Act camd into force - 83,355 (pp. 522)

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Point conceded.