Marg Liessens is a prolific contributor to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial site and others with her photographs of headstones and other images related to the remembrance of our armed forces. While researching Private Oliver Chester Ellis, reg. no. 189469 a visit to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial contained the photograph of Private Ellis. Of... Continue Reading →
The “Rawleigh Man”
Witley Camp. January 1918. It had just snowed 4 inches and Private Charles Arthur Reed (reg. no. 651593), formerly of Eden Grove, Ontario was responding to a letter from his mother. Letter dates 14 January 1918 from Private Reed to his mother, Isabella Ann (McNaugthon) Reed (1871-1953) His primary concern at the beginning of the... Continue Reading →
The McDermids/MacDermids of Glammis Ontario
In a letter written in the fall by Private Joseph Edgar McAfee, regimental number 651738 the news that Neil McDermid[i] late of Glamis [Glammis], Ontario was wounded made its way across the Atlantic to find its way into the Paisley Advocate as “news from the front.” In the letter, Private McAfee relates that a fellow... Continue Reading →
“Hale and Hearty”: Lucknow Ontario Veterans Return Home
100 years ago the Wingham Advance published an article about returning soldiers. In May 1919 just over a dozen veterans of the First World War from the Canadian and American Forces returned home. The articles that nearly all of them had been wounded but that they "...have recovered and are looking hale and hearty now."... Continue Reading →
Delinquent in Düren: The Tragedy of Private Sherman
Undated photograph. One of these men is Private Dauphin. Is the other Private Sherman? Source: Gathering Our Heroes "It was cold and dark. The two Canadian Privates from Chatham, Ontario stood on the rail platform momentarily and lit their cigarettes. Drawing deeply from the cigarettes the blew the smoke out and turned to walk up... Continue Reading →
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 