A Second Chance
The age and physical requirements of the Forestry Corps were somewhat more relaxed than for the Infantry. Men were quick to sign up who were overage or who had been rejected by an Infantry medical review board. Militia units, also less stringent in their requirements, were another source of Forestry volunteers.
Of the 132 men mustered in Creston for the 230th Forestry Battalion, fifty-six were more than ten years over the average army age of 26.
Six had been previously rejected by the Infantry. One had already served overseas and been invalided out of the army.
Twenty-seven had served in the 107th East Kootenay Regiment of militia.