Artifact #6:Attestation Paper of George Byron Cushing, July 23, 1918.

Citation:

Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, Attestation Paper of George Byron Cushing, July 23, 1918. Library and Archives Canada, Item ID number: 131216. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=pffww&IdNumber=131216&q=WWI&ecopy=074527a

Label:

An attestation paper was an information form that was used in official recruitment for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force during the First World War. The artifact above is an example of an attestation paper signed by a 20 year old man named George Byron Cushing. From the document we can see that Cushing was an electrical engineer who enlisted near the end of the war. Crushing notes his birthdate to be “May 31, 1918” which he likely wrote in error, but on the back side of the document confirms he is 20 years old. Crushing was most likely enlisted due to conscription for any man over the age of 20, as enforced by the Military Service Act of 1917. Crushing was also likely one of the 47,509 conscripts sent overseas to fight, and the timing of his enlistment would be around the time Canada would engage in the last 100 days of the war, where Canadian forces played a large role in securing the Western front.

Bibliography:

Preston, Richard. "Military Service Act" The Canadian Encyclopedia. Last modified June 30, 2022. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/military-service-act