Clayton Carman (AKA Jack Carr) - Lest We Forget

Jack Carr (also known as Clayton Carman) was born September 16, 1896 at Cheney, Washington State, USA. He was the son of James Joseph Carman. Mr. Carman was a buttermaker who established the Revelstoke Creamery in Revelstoke in July of 1916 in the building at Fourth Street and Victoria that currently houses Jim’s Refrigeration.

 Jack Carr enlisted on April 16, 1917 at New Westminster, B.C. He gave his occupation as farmer. He was 20 years old, single, 6’ ½” tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He gave his religious affiliation as Methodist. The medical examiner noted that he had numerous small scars all over his body.

 Jack Carr died on October 16, 1918 in England from the effects of pneumonia. He was 22 years old.  At the time of his death he was a Private in the Canadian Forestry Corps but he never saw active service. He is buried at the Seaford Cemetery, Sussex, United Kingdom. His regimental number was 2035162.

From the Revelstoke Review:  October 1918:

“Clayton Carman Dies in England

            A wire was received on Monday that Clayton Carman, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Carman, of this city, had died in England from the effects of lobar-pneumonia, on the 16th inst., aged 22 years. Pte. “Jack” Carman enlisted a year ago with the 204th Battalion, and went overseas last Christmas. He went into training and was ready to go over to France with his unit, but took sick, which proved to be a rather lengthy one, having sustained a third relapse, the latter one proving fatal. Mr. and Mrs. Carman have the sympathy of their many friends in Revelstoke in the loss of their son.”

 Because Clayton Carman preferred to be called Jack Carr this created numerous difficulties in trying to locate information about him. The Courthouse plaque and the Cenotaph both have Carman, Clayton as his name, but he was listed as Jack Carr in the official records.