Background

John Lifford was born June 25, 1881 in Fredericton, New Brunswick to David Lifford and Ellen Hurley. According to documents obtained from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, David and Ellen married one another January 8, 1869 in Fredericton. Together, they would have four sons named John, Harry, David, and Joseph, as well as two daughters named Nellie and Elizabeth. Records also reveal that the family would have a residence in downtown Fredericton on Regent Street. Newspapers point out that John’s father, David, was a member of the Imperial Army with the 22nd Regiment and was active locally with the military while his mother, Ellen, worked in the home raising their six children. While few records exist to highlight John’s early life in Fredericton, there are a few details in newspapers revealing that he was working as a labourer and clerk in the area when he met Jennie Roberts. It is unclear how long John and Jennie knew one another prior to their marriage, however, together they would have two children prior to the war named Thomas Elwood and Francis Ernest. One other child would be born sometime during the war, as newspapers suggest that John and Jennie would have three children despite birth records only confirming two children prior to 1914. The family would live at 274 King Street.

When war broke out, all four sons would enlist for service, with John formally enlisting March 31, 1915 in Saint John, New Brunswick with the 55th Battalion. According to his attestation form, he was described as having blue eyes, dark brown hair, a medium complexion, while standing approximately five feet eight inches tall. David would serve with a British unit, while his other brothers, Harry and Joseph, would serve with Canadian units while overseas. He was approximately thirty-seven years old. Given the limited amount of time between enlisting and leaving to go over sees, it is possible that he may not have seen his family again before he left.

Wartime Experience

On June 19, 1915, Private John Lifford embarked from Levis, Quebec aboard the S.S. Corsican for England, arriving at Shorncliffe ten days later on June 29. Upon arrival, John would transfer to the 12th Battalion for training in England and then would be drafted to go to France as reinforcement with the 4th Battalion five months later. However, in the period of time leading up to him heading for the front, John’s record illustrates some difficulties he may have been having with military leadership. Although it was not uncommon, on two occasions he would be admonished, the first time being given 42 days detention, and then while in France he would be given 28 days detention for being improperly dressed and intoxication. It appears that being away from his family may have taken a toll on him, as were the experiences he was likely having while preparing to go to northern France and southern Belgium. Also, it is worth noting that he was in the same unit as his brother, Joseph, who had been invalidated home as a result of injuries sustained in the winter of 1915-1916.

Despite these few difficulties he was having early on in the war, John would have a good record for the remainder of his service as the 4th Battalion shifted towards the Ypres Salient. As the allies prepared for the Somme offensive that would begin in the summer of 1916, Private Lifford would be just north in Belgium with his Canadian unit as they prepared for attacks near Zillebeke and Hill 60 in June. While little is known of his exact movements months prior to his death, according to his circumstances of death record, John had been attached to the 1st Canadian Trench Mortar Battery June 9, 1916 in the trenches at Hill 60, when was instantly killed by the explosion of an enemy shell which burst close to him. In letters later written home by fellow mates in his unit, friends would express their grief in losing John and that they had “assisted in his burial service”. Less than one year after arriving, John would leave behind his wife and three young children, as well as his friends and extended family. He was thirty-eight years old.

Lest We Forget

Private John Lifford is honoured on the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, John is one of approximately 54, 896 names honoured for individuals who lost their lives during service in Belgium and who have no known grave.