After the war broke out, Alf volunteered for the army. He signed up in Regina, trained in Regina, Calgary and Suffield before shipping off to England.

The training at Suffield was actually a series of tests the army did to analyze the effects of nerve gas on soldiers. The objective was to see how well soldiers could withstand the poisonous gases. After those events, Alf shipped out to England in about 1942. He suffered from breathing problems for the rest of his life. It was the major reason for Alf and Anne selling the farm in 1972.

While in England and before he was injured, Alf visited his grandparents in Chertsey, Sussex.

Alf's maternal grandmother had passed in 1934. His grandfather lived in Melita Cottage in Chertsey. The woman in the photos is called Rose and may be his daughter, therefore a sister of Alf's mother Grace.

Alf's paternal grandparents also lived in Chertsey.

While training in England, Alf was involved in a training accident where a grenade went off near him. He broke one leg and severely damaged the muscles on that leg. He was in a Canadian Army Hospital in England for nine months.

Alf eventually shipped home on the Red Cross ship Lady Nelson. He would walk with a slight limp for the rest of his life.