Bedford Allen Stiles - Lest We Forget

Bedford Allen Stiles (or Styles) was born July 20, 1892 at Upper Nappan, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. His father was George Allen Stiles. Bedford worked as a locomotive fireman and was a member of the 102nd RMR, the local militia. There is much confusion around the spelling of his last name. He enlisted under the name Styles, but signed a declaration in October of 1917 declaring that his true name was Stiles.

 Bedford Stiles enlisted with the Second Contingent of Canadian Volunteers on November 10, 1914 at Victoria. His regimental number was 77689. He was 22 years old, single, 5’ 6” tall with dark brown hair and blue eyes. His religious affiliation was Methodist. He is mentioned in a letter from Camp Willows, Victoria as being part of a group of recruits who met up with some Revelstoke girls at a skating rink in Victoria.

 A letter from Hart Munro published in the Mail-Herald on January 20, 1915 mentioned that there were only two Revelstoke boys still in his Company: Stiles and Pavey, who were both stretcher-bearers.

 On March 11, 1916, Bedford was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery under fire. The citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry during an action; he assisted to carry wounded all day and night, under heavy fire, and only gave up when thoroughly exhausted and having been slightly wounded.”

 Bedford Stiles died November 7, 1917, probably during the battle of Passchendaele. He was 25 years old. At the time of his death he was a Lance Corporal serving with the 15th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario) Regiment. His body was never found or identified and his name is memorialized on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium.

 His name is inscribed as Stiles, Bedford on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques.