Were there max. age limits for Canadian Exp. Force WW1

Question

Arthur Thomas Castell was the illegitimate son of Emily Castell b 1887.

His mother married a Harry Herbert in 1891.

In 1904 as Arthur Castell he emigrated to Canada where his uncle (also Arthur had settled)

At his death he was  called Arthur Castell Herbert. His Find a grave memorial includes an obit mentioning his war service in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167026035/arthur-castell-herbert

I think this is his attestation but the year of birth is said to be 1893. It's not unusual to find someone adding on a couple of years to join up but he's taken off 6 years.

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=455557

Comments

have you found his birth record?  That would be the main criterion to resolve the issue.  And did there exist an Arthur Castell Herbert, born to the couple after their marriage?

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Yes both birth reg and baptism. No other Arthur born to the couple after marriage. No Arthur Herberts born 1891-3 with mother's maiden name Castell or in the right area. None on the census(.  I've no doubt this is the same man. )Even at his marriage in 1916, he gave his correct age of 30.

 The change of name is understandable not so much  the age. In 1921, with his age correctly written he was living next door to his uncle.

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enlistment records may not have been totally accurate, he may have given day / month for his birth and given his age as other than it would be, or else the clerc doing the enlistment mis-heard.  

As for his enlistment in a Scottish regiment, he probably didn't have much choice where he enlisted, and I doubt that the regiments were being picky about place of origin. 

Answer 1

"Most Canadian soldiers were between the ages of 18 and 45, as per regulations, but thousands served who were younger or older, lying about their birth date to enlist.  The oldest recorded member of the CEF was 80, while the youngest was ten. The average age of the Canadian soldier was 26."

https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/people/in-uniform/tommy-canuck-the-infantry-soldier/#:~:text=Most%20Canadian%20soldiers%20were%20between,their%20birth%20date%20to%20enlist.

See also, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/the-canadian-great-war-soldier

Comments

Thanks, maybe he was worried that he'd be too old, or perhaps it was just a clerical error.

Answer 2

I doubt they would have rejected him for being born in 1887, but he may have thought otherwise. I'm sure you're right that that's his record.

Comments

Maybe you're right. Or maybe it's just a clerical error. (Also, I find even more odd that a man from Northamptonshire ended up in a Scottish regiment.)

Answer 3

here is a Canadian soldier that lied about his age to enlist in WWI , said he was younger than he was

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Graham-17733