Why would an Englishman be in the Canadian Army?

[philipsearching]

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website has:

Sergeant 464687 BECKWITH, Maurice Frederick, 47th Bn. Canadian Infantry
Died Between 21/08/1917 and 25/08/1917  Aged 22
M M
Son of William and Mary Beckwith, of 45, Western Rd., Wolverton, Bucks, England.
Vimy memorial, Pas de Calais

I have confirmed the CWGC details from the GRO and the 1901 and 1911 censuses (birth reg Mar qtr 1895 Newport Pagnell, Maurice was living with parents and siblings on both censuses).

I can't see an obvious reason why this man would be in the Canadian Army.  His family were local to Buckinghamshire.  The only Maurice Beckwith I found travelling to Canada was aged 34 with wife Susan aged 26 - they arrived in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1912 (which gives him a birth year of c1878).

QUESTIONS:
1) Could Maurice age 17 have travelled to Canada and given his age as 34?
2) Could Maurice have joined the British Army and been transferred to the Canadian Army (perhaps to replace losses at Verdun)?
3) If not, then what? 

Can anyone enlighten me?

[*Sandra*]

Have you seen the Canadian Attestation Papers for Maurice Frederick Beckwith  (this one was single) born 24 December 1894 - ?  45 pages - slow to load but can be worth while.

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B0578-S056

Sandra

[MaureeninNY]

You've probably seen this:
https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/people/in-uniform/

And of course the full record of M BECKWITH is at:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mdz/

Maureen

[MaureeninNY]

 

LOL! Different time zone?

Mo

[*Sandra*]

His brother was given as next of kin (page 31) William Beckwith living in Vancouver.

Death cert for brother in Vancouver 2-10-1959

http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a4a0e675-5ac4-46f6-89da-1384dd8d7270

Sandra

[polarbear]

Looks like his brother may have preceeded him to Canada and he may have joined him there, although I can't see a passenger listing for Maurice at the moment. Then the war broke out and he joined up. (added: but see note below)

A Form 30A (in 1920) for the brother William Herbert gives his arrival in Canada as 29 Apr 1911. He gives his mother Mary as next of kin in England 45 Western Road Wolverhampton Bucks. This is the same address as Maurice gives for his mother on his Attestation form.

PB

Added: looks like Maurice may actually have arrived with William and William's wife Florence. He is on the passenger manifest with them (although there appears to be a line through part of his entry, IMHO it is more likely related to something else).

[philipsearching]

Have you seen the Canadian Attestation Papers for Maurice Frederick Beckwith  (this one was single) born 24 December 1894 - ?  45 pages - slow to load but can be worth while.

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B0578-S056

Sandra

Yay, yippee! 
I only have one ancestor who passed briefly through Canada, so I hadn't needed to look at the websiite - so I hadn't realised there was so much on it.  That's him - and the service record gives all the answers I need.

Off I go to write it up neatly and submit Maurice's biog to the War Memorial website.

(bounces off like a happy bunny.....)

[*Sandra*]

Delighted it had a "hoppy ending"

Sandra