Name: John Selvage Rank: Private Service Number: 67295 Service: 25th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Forces Date of Birth: May 23, 1893 Place of Birth: Yarmouth, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: November 15, 1917 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia Address at Enlistment: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 24 Occupation: Laborer Religion: Roman Catholic Marital Status: Single Next of Kin: James Selvage (Father), Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Date of Death: December 12, 1960 Age: 67 Cemetery: Chegoggin Cemetery, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia John was the son of James Selvage (1862-1942) and Martha Mattie ‘Matilda’ (Muise) Selvage, and the husband of Florence Lillian (Allen) Selvage (1905-1965). His siblings were Eliza Selvage, Arthur Selvage, Albert Selvage, Sarah Selvage, Amelia Selvage, Annie Selvage, James S Selvage (1896-1954), Walter Selvage (1898-1974) and Alfred Selvage. John’s wife Florence was born in Pembroke, Yarmouth Co.; the daughter of Norman Allen and Grace (Archer) Allen. John and Florence had four daughters - Jacqueline (Selvage) Hansen, Norma (Selvage) Tempesta, Mary (Selvage) Coyne, and Christena (Selvage) France. John had previously enrolled in Yarmouth with the Militia before his active enlistment in WWI. He served with the 25th Battalion, and his WWI record included service in Canada, England and France. After the war, a local Yarmouth teach Lillian Amiro (sister of WWI casualty Landry Louis Amiro) taught at the South end school in Yarmouth, NS, for more than 35 years. It was she who told the story of John Selvage, who became a school janitor. She would tell the story, “He was overseas and saw the King when he came to inspect them. Now, it is quite an honour to see one’s King.” John’s two brothers James and Walter both enlisted and served during WWI. James was born May 24, 1896, and was employed as a male nurse before the war and had served with the Militia. He enlisted December 19, 1916 (Service No. 2005015), in Halifax with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, and served in Canada, England and France. He was discharged at demobilization at Halifax on July 17, 1919. Walter was born August 8, 1898, and worked as a teamster pre-war. He enlisted June 15, 1915 (Service No. 415609), in Aldershot, Kings Co., NS, and served with the 40th and 25th Battalions in Canada, England, France and Belgium. He was wounded in his right arm on September 17, 1916, and discharged March 30, 1919, with influenza at demobilization at Halifax. Walter later became a Sergeant Major

Sources: Library and Archives Canada findagrave - John Selvage findagrave - Walter Selvage