Speaker: Professor Amy Smith-Milne Venue: Guelph Civic Museum This talk by Amy Smith-Milne was an excellent pre-cursor to helping someone understand the perspectives towards the men who suffered from shell shock during World War 1. The work of doctors during the Victorian era would influence the treatment of mental illness during this war. Using the... Continue Reading →
Lecture Series in Brantford Ontario
Last year I had the pleasure to attend several of these lectures. They were very topical and of value to anyone interested in World War 1 from the Canadian perspective. Full details in the image below.
GWCA First Lecture – Canada’s First World War and the Politics of The Past
GWCA First Lecture -Canada's First World War and the Politics of The Past by Jon Weier Jon Weier is a Western University of Western Ontario PHD candidate working on a dissertation National and Religious identities in the Canadian, American and British YMCAs During the First World War was the speaker for the night. An unusual... Continue Reading →
2017 History Symposium in London Ontario
Be advised that there is a history symposium being held in London, Ontario on February 25, 2017. The symposium has a movie event on the Friday before the seminars. The event is being held at the Delta London Armories by Marriott. Cost: $60 for the seminar (lunch not included) and $60 for the dinner. Web... Continue Reading →
Review of Somme Presentation at Laurie Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies
‘Ghastly and Gruelling’: Canada’s Ignored Campaign on the Somme, 1916 by William F. Stewart William F. Stewart is the author of "The Embattled General: Sir Richard Turner and the First World War" and a historian with a particular interest in the Canadian Expeditionary Force's involvement at the Somme in the late summer and fall of... Continue Reading →
Site of Interest: Saltwood Compendium, Odds, Queries and Curiosities
The author of this site contacted me looking for assistance in research he is doing: "I live close to West Sandling Camp and have been carrying out research on the practice trenches dug by C.E.F. I have recently found the trenches and their location, although now filled in for one hundred years. I consider them... Continue Reading →
Highlands East’s Veterans of the Great War Web Site
During a search for information on a soldier entered into the blog I happened upon a site entitled Highlands East's Veterans of the Great War. As the site relates: 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. In the County of Haliburton, where Col. Sam Hughes was our Member of Parliament... Continue Reading →
11th Annual Windsor Military Studies Conference
A 2 day conference being held February 5th and 6th in Windsor, Ontario, Canada will cover a series of lecture topics and also offer the opportunity to witness the French Government honour 5 Canadian World War II veterans with the National Order of the Legion of Honour for their service in that conflict. The lecture... Continue Reading →
Blog of Note: PATRIOTS, CROOKS AND SAFETY-FIRSTERS: Colonels of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Doing research on Lieutenant Colonel William Frederick Richard Hart-McHarg I happened on this site. Matt Barrett is a historian, animator and caricaturist who also maintains a blog specializing in the colonels of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The site is well laid out and organized with a lot of content. Each colonel has a short biography... Continue Reading →
Tank Battle at Iwuy: More Information
An amazing piece of work about the battle at Iwuy involving the possible last use by the Germans of the A7V. I recommend reading this article for a more detailed analysis of the battle. This post was instigated by Michel Lespagnol, a resident of Iwuy who is working to commemorate the battle. Below is a... Continue Reading →
100th Anniversary of Royal Canadian Dental Corp
"Many of them had never seen a dentist before..." Click on link and scroll to 11 minutes and 15 seconds to listen to the story. Click on this link to listen to information regarding the Canadian War Museum's exhibit. More: Canadian Dental Association Page R.C.D.C. History Overview Trench Mouth
The Vixen and the Virgin on CBC Ideas
Listen here... Mati Hari and Edith Cavell where both iconic figures in First World War history. Last night CBC Radio 1 had an interesting documentary about these women and their place in history. Specifically the documentary dealt with the women behind the myth. Strongly recommended...
New Research Sources from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Please see full article here. The Regimental Rouge web site (one of the best sources for tips and ideas for research) has a comprehensive article about some of the changes to the CWGC site in regards to research resources. It is important to note the following disclaimer from the CWGC: CWGC Disclaimer This collection of... Continue Reading →
The Regimetal System of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces
Christopher J. Harvie's excellent blog has a wealth of information and a recent post helps us understand the Canadian Expeditionary Force's Regimental System. “In Canada, the regiment is a formation of one or more units; existing almost exclusively for reasons of heritage, the continuance of battle honours and esprit de corps." Source: Link to Blog As an example,... Continue Reading →
Illustrated War News, February 9, 1916 at Wartime Canada
Wartime Canada is a site that is going go be a good resource for those interested in the Canadian perspective and experience during the Great War. Their About pages gives a good summary of their objectives: "Wartime Canada was envisioned as a way to make the visual heritage of the nation at war freely available... Continue Reading →
10 Facts about WWI Trenches
A good overview of trenches in World War 1.
In two of my novels, I created scenes set in WWI trenches. To make them as realistic as possible I needed to understand trench layouts and the nomenclature involved. I found a few diagrams on various sites and in one of my non-fiction books.
(1) There are front line trenches and support trenches as well as interconnecting alleyways – called communications trenches.
(2) Artillery is in behind, firing over the heads of their troops.
(3) All trench lines zigzagged in part to prevent explosions from rippling sideways – and hence wounding or killing more soldiers – for more than a short distance.
The second diagram (source: Vimy Ridge 1917, Osprey Publishing) sets out the concept of a platoon attack against its objectives.
(4) Troops are deployed in waves. Note the planned 1st Wave and 2nd Wave troop deployment.
(5) riflemen and bombers in front (1st line),
(6) rifle bombers and Lewis gunners in…
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Trench Maps Resources
Maps have always been a fascination for me and with the advent of the centenary of The Great War more interest for a suite of resources will become of value to people interested in researching the war. One of the challenges writing this blog is finding the reference made of place names in the War... Continue Reading →
Every Man Remembered Project
The Royal British Legion has created a site and is working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to commemorate every Commonwealth soldier that fell during First World War. See: http://www.everymanremembered.org/ My commemoration of my Uncle John Taylor Dewar.
BBC Online Courses
BBC in conjunction with several universities and instructors is offering (as of today) 4 courses with the following subjects: Trauma and Memory Aviation Comes of Age Paris 1919 - A New World Order? Changing Faces of Heroism
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 