Nathaniel James Lebans (Slim) enlisted at Edmonton, Alberta on the 13^nd of February 1917. The story in the family is that he tried to enlist with the Canadian Army but was rejected so he enlisted with the British Royal Engineers and is recorded as a “Sapper”, which is what the Engineers call their soldiers. His brother Peter and his sister Glorina served, her as a nurse. His cousins Percy and William John Lebans also registered to service in Europe. The family were from Blackville, New Brunswick.

At the end of the war Nathaniel was awarded the Victoria Metal and the British War Metal.

Nathaniel Lebans circa 1905