born in vienna, ontario, he signed up as a 15-year-old boy in 1916. when asked about his actual age, he told the recruiting officer 16, but that was good enough for the canadian army, with its soaring casualty rates for each meager yard of territory won and lost. on the two-week voyage crossing the north atlantic to england, he entertained the other troops on the rms "grampian" liner with his wonderful singing voice.