A Pocket New Testament Bible with a leather exterior cover and string page marker, first page inscribed “Arthur W. Tisdale / London, Ont / June 1 1918 / From Mother”, several dried poppies are pressed between the pages, sticker for “Wendell Holmes Good Books and Stationary London, Can” on the interior cover, measuring 64mm (w) x 95mm (h), 612 pages, many pages folded and creased, mark on spine, very fine condition.
Canadian Red Cross Society Enrolment Book, belonging to Arthur Tisdale, dated November 4, 1943, records indicate nine entries between November 4, 1943 and May 3, 1945, slightly worn, fine condition.
Life Membership Document of the Grand Lodge, St. John Lodge, identifying Arthur W. Tisdale as a Life Member of St. Johns, No. 20 of London. An original paper document with embossed seal, slightly creased and a small tear along the left side, very fine condition.
Canadian Expeditionary Force Discharge Certificate, dated August 8 1919, composed of reinforced parchment, original ink and signatures, lightly creased, very fine condition.
Footnote: Arthur Walker Tisdale was born on July 3, 1897 in Paris, Ontario, Canada. He lived with his mother and siblings and worked as a bookkeeper and clerk. Tisdale was drafted in 1917 under the Military Service Act, and officially enlisted for the First World War on February 19, 1918, at the age of 20. He was assigned to the 63rd Depot Battery on February 23 of the same year. He was transferred overseas on March 30 from Halifax and arrived in England on April 19, 1918. On May 16, 1919, he was fined 20 days pay “for neglect to the prejudice of good order [and] when in charge of reg. mail belonging to CARD through negligence caused the loss of two Registered letters committed to his charge.”
He was discharged due to demobilization at the age of 22, with the rank of driver. The 1921 Canadian Census shows Tisdale living at home, 303 Egerton Street, with his mother and two siblings. He worked as a Salesman after the war. It does not appear he served in the Second World War, but he gave blood regularly between November 1943 to May 1945, as noted in his Red Cross Society Enrolment Book. In 1945, Tisdale became a life member of the St. Johns Grand Lodge, formally entering the freemason society.