Topic: CEF
Uncle Sam Claims Man Among Canadian Ranks
Jackson Says He's American—Joins British—Now Draft Boards Want Him
Spokane Daily Chronicle, Spokane, Washington, 26 September 1917
Is Daniel Roy Jackson an American or a Canadian?
This what members of the exemption board of local district No. 2 and officers of the British recruiting mission in Spokane would like to have settled.
On August 9 Jackson—ideal soldier material, being 28, single and without dependents—was examined before the board of local district No. 2, at which time, according to Chairman J.C. Argall, he declared he was born at Douglas, Wyoming.
He failed to respond to his draft call, however, and an investigation today revealed that on August 21 Jackson enlisted here with the British recruiting mission for service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, under the representation that he had been born in Calgary, Alberta.
"This case is a puzzler," today said Mr. Argall. "I presume that if it is found that Jackson is an American, as he told us he was, he is likely to be surrendered by the Canadian army officials to be drafted into the American army, but I am not sure.
"I am sending all my information in the matter to the adjutant general, whose office can unscramble the mix-up."
A Soldier of the CEF
As it turned out, Daniel Roy Jackson served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His entry in the Library and Archives Canada database of Soldiers of the First World War includes a link to the surviving pages of his service record.
Jackson served in France with the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion. he joined the battalion on 2 March 1918 and was attached to the 6th Canadian Light Trench Mortar Battery, to which he was formally transferred on 11 July 1918. Jackson returned to Canada and was discharged from the CEF at Quebec on 28 August 1918. He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service.
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