Seldon Thomas Parris was born October 9th, 1892 to parents Alexander Parris and Margaret Prevost. His father died when Seldon was a teenager.
On July 25th, 1916 he enlisted in Canada’s segregated No 2 Construction Bn and listed his occupation as labourer and his religion as Baptist. On March 28th, 1917 he boarded the SS Southland to go overseas and arrived in England on April 7th, 1917. Seldon deployed to France in the Jura region in May 1917 and served with the Forestry Corps. Seldon served in England, France and Belgium. In May 1919 Seldon boarded the Aquitannia ship to return to Canada. On June 2nd, 1919 he was formally discharged.
On June 29, 1920 he married Prince Edward Island born Loretta "Lottie" Shepherd, in Colchester, Nova Scotia. Seldon had six children, Grace Augusta Parris, Mildred Katherine Parris, June Priscilla Parris, Audrey May Parris, Harold Douglas and Second World War D-Day veteran Gerald Gladstone Parris.
Seldon died July 22, 1955, in Springhill, Nova Scotia, at age 59.
Three of Seldon’s grandchildren June, Chris and Gerry collective served over 55 years in the Canadian Forces from the 1980s onwards.
In 2016, Seldon and his cousin Joseph Parris appeared on the 2016 Canada Post commemorative stamp honouring No 2 Construction Battalion. His sisters Audrey and Mildred Paris helped unveil the No.2 stamp at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives in February 2016. Seldon’s British War Medal, Engineers Cap badge, Victory medal and Service pin were combined with the service medals of his son and granddaughter as part of a 100th Anniversary of No 2 Construction travelling exhibit. In July 2016 the medals were showcased at the Halifax Citadel and also showcased at Pictou, Nova Scotia by Seldon’s grandson Gerry Parris during the official ceremony.
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