George Dudley, like many men of his generation, lied about his age in order to enlist. Dudley joined up on September 29, 1915, declaring his age to be “17 years 10 months.” In truth, he was still a few months away from turning 15.

Dudley was assigned to the 8th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade. His great nephew Jeff Mason says, “That a medical officer let him pass is a little more astonishing, seeing as his height on examination was a hobbit-like 4 feet 6 inches.” The doctor stated on his attestation record that Dudley would be “fit for Trumpeter.” Arriving in France in July 1916, Dudley was an ammunition driver for seven months, until his young age was discovered. Shipped back to England, he was eventually returned to Canada in May 1917 and discharged due to his young age. He later severed in the Canadian Army in the Second World War, where, Jeff Mason adds, “the only hurt he would have to show for both of his military adventures would be the end of his thumb cut off when it was slammed in a jeep door. George Dudley died in 1972, and is buried in Ottawa.

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