Elbert Clive Trafford - Lest We Forget

Elbert Clive Trafford was born March 14, 1878 at Sanford, Orange Co. Florida, USA. He was the son of Edward and Anna Trafford and adopted son of Mrs. Julia Simpson of Arrowhead. He was adopted by Mrs. Simpson when he was around 23 years old. By 1916 he had lived with the Simpson family for 15 years. He worked as a lumberman in the Arrowhead area. The 1911 census showed him living with five other boarders at a Hall’s Landing lumber camp.

 Elbert Trafford signed his enlistment papers July 6, 1915 at Vernon. His regimental number was 443331. He was 37 years old, 5’ 9” tall with dark hair and grey eyes. He had an interesting distinguishing mark: a bullet wound on his right arm. His religious affiliation was Presbyterian. In the summer of 1915 the local newspaper reported that there was only one unmarried male of military age living in Arrowhead. All the rest had joined up.

Elbert Trafford left Halifax on November 22, 1915 on the HMT Saxonia, arriving in Plymouth, England on December 21, 1915.

 Elbert Trafford died October 14, 1916 during the battle of the Somme. He was 38 years old. At the time of his death he was a Corporal serving with the 54th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario) Regiment. He is buried at the Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

 The Revelstoke Review of November 16, 1916 carried this item on the death of Elbert Trafford:

 “Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Simpson of Arrowhead have just received word from military authorities at Ottawa concerning the death of Corporal Elbert C. Trafford, who died of wounds on October 14th, "somewhere in France." Before his death he wrote a farewell message on an envelope and handed it to the men who went to pick him up. The message read: "Goodbye all; my back feels shot off." - Elbert.  This message was sent by his officer commanding, Major Lee, to Mrs. Simpson.  The deceased lived for 15 years with Mr. & Mrs. Simpson at Arrowhead, and who are sincerely mourning his loss.”

 The name of Elbert Trafford is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques under the Arrowhead listing.