Background
Sifton was born in Wallacetown, Ontario and was a farmer when he enlisted in October 1914.
Sifton was born in Wallacetown, Ontario and was a farmer when he enlisted in October 1914.
On 9 April 1917 at Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France, during an attack on enemy trenches, Lance-Sergeant Sifton"s company was held up by machine-gun fire. During an attack on Vimy Ridge, "C" Company of the 18th Battalion was held up during its advance by German machine gunners who had survived the artillery barrage by taking refuge in concrete shelters. As the Canadians moved forward, the German machine guns swept the battlefield, causing heavy casualties.
Sifton saw the machine gun nest first.
He jumped up, rushed forward and leapt into the trench. He then charged into the German gun crew and knocked the gun over before turning on the gunners with his bayonet, killing each manitoba
More Canadians hurried forward, but not before a small German party moved down the trench towards Sifton. He used his bayonet and his rifle as a club to fight them off until help arrived.
Despite these efforts, Sifton was killed during the fighting.