Patrick will be speaking about his recent research and subsequent book "Reluctant Warriors: Canadian Conscripts and the Great WarReluctant Warriors: Canadian Conscripts and the Great War". The LCMSDS site describes his presentation as: “What stubborn-hearted virtues they disguised!” Canadian Conscripts at War – 1918 (talk to be followed by a book signing) In this the... Continue Reading →
A Rousing Send Off
The First World War energized and enabled Canada to express its loyalty to the Crown and the Empire. News articles, like the one below, show the enthusiasm and support the citizenry of this new country barely 50 years old. The community of Seaforth, Ontario took considerable time and effort to acknowledge the service of the... Continue Reading →
An Enthusiastic Shrapnel Slide: Private Young writes a letter full of irony.
Private Fred Young wrote a letter on February 15, 1916 relating some of his thoughts and experiences as a member of the 18th Battalion, C.E.F. This may well have been the later Sergeant Fred Young who was to become the “poet laureate” for the 18th Battalion after the war. His poetry and efforts as a... Continue Reading →
LOOKING EVERY INCH A SOLDIER
The 18th Battalion was nearing the end of its training. As it was formed in the latter part of October 1914 from South-Western Ontario the soldiers were collected in London, Ontario for training. As the Battalion was about to leave for England via Halifax on the S.S. Grampian on April 18, 1915. Thus, the Battalion... Continue Reading →
Expert Witness for the Defence: The connection between “Fatty” Arbuckle and the 18th Battalion
The front page of the December 1, 1921 of The Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah had numerous important news stories on that day. A British native force on the Afghan frontier was massacred, along with two of the British officers commanding it. Vienna, Austria is subject to bread riots due to the rising... Continue Reading →
Vimy Centennial Online Resources
With the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge the following opportunities exist to relive or commemorate this event in Canada's history. See links for dates, time(s), and details. CBC: News Special: Vimy Ridge: 100 Years On CBC TV and perhaps their live stream. Livestream: The Battle of Vimy Ridge: 100 Years Later. Veterans... Continue Reading →
Monument Men: A Book Review
This is a beautiful book. Rich, well composed photography and with a minimum of commentary (which allows one to appreciate the photographs) make the book World War 1: A Monumental History by Robert Konduros and Richard Parrish (the Monument Men of the blog title) a necessary inclusion into anyone who has an interest or passion... Continue Reading →
Picture of an 18th Battalion Soldier: Private Archibald Charles Ambrous, reg. no. 53994
Up until today Private Archibald Charles Ambrous, reg. no. 53994 existed visually as a series of official documents and several web pages outlining his attestation information and death from wound received in combat August 12, 1918. A member of the 18th Battalion CEF group was good enough to join the group so he could share... Continue Reading →
153rd Battalion Internet Resource and More Pictures of Soldiers Found
The 153rd (Wellington) Battalion C.E.F. web site came in handy recently. During a search for a solder, Private Forbes Dilworth, reg. no. 50413, the web site for the Wellington County Museum and Archives web site came up with two pages of soldiers pictures from the "PART I (A-L): Elora and District Servicemen, 1914-1918." Manually going... Continue Reading →
TVO Program: The Forgotten Gunners of WWI
Program Description: Air Date: Feb 15, 2016 Length: 47:04 Available Until: Jul 30, 2019 About this Video The 20th series begins with an examination of what life was like for the First World War Machine Gun Corps, revealing the lost secrets of Belton House, the stately home where they were trained. Follow this LINK to... Continue Reading →
Ill Health and Finances: The Tragedy of Lieutenant Harold Van Allen Bealer
Sometime in the early spring of 1915 a young man from Pennsylvania with gainful employment with Ingersoll-Rand as a draughtsman took a trip to Philadelphia to inquire with the British Consulate on how best to pursue an engagement with the Imperial Forces so he could participate in the war. The advice led him, with four... Continue Reading →
Special Event: 91st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force ”Elgins Own” in St. Thomas, Ontario
Below are the details of a wonderful initiative taken by a series of volunteers and history buffs of an event to honour the formation of the 91st Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. I have included the details per a document from this group's Facebook page. Many soldiers of the 91st Battalion served with other... Continue Reading →
It is nothing but hell on earth out there, and I know it.: A Letter From Private Blue
In two previous posts the war experience of Private Alexander Blue was reviewed. The first post offered a brief biographical sketch written in pen in long-hand and was part of the Kincardine, Ontario Royal Canadian Legion’s archives. The second post offered, from the same source, letters of assurance from a casualty clearing station immediately after... Continue Reading →
Video: Newfoundland News, No.1 (1916)
The Library and Archives Canada has a YouTube channel with videos that are of interest. Below is video entitled "Newfoundland News, No.1 (1916)" with a run time of 9 minutes and 10 seconds. The description is as follows: Newfoundland Soldiers Visit Home of Robbie Burns. Soldiers visit the sites of Scotland including Burn's birthplace, the... Continue Reading →
Digitizing History: Site for Private Raymond Joseph Allen
At a recent conference, The 11th Windsor Military Studies Conference, there was one presentation that reflected some of the work that this blog is trying to achieve. Kyle Lariviere, a history student at the University of Windsor, spoke about the work he did in digitizing the life of Private Raymond Jospeh Allen of the Highland... Continue Reading →
Major-Gen. Sam Hughes Talks “Shop” With Boys of the 18th Battalion
Caption reads: The Minister of Militia, during his inspection of the troops training for active service with the Second Canadian Contingent, stopped and chatted with many privates in the ranks.
Men of the 18th Battalion Starting On Their Long Cross-Country Grind
Captions reads: This picture was taken by the Free Press camera man from the head of two-mile hill this morning as the troops proceeded south from the city via the Wharncliffe road. The company to which the St. Thomas men are attached broke from the main body at Lambeth and proceeded to St. Thomas while... Continue Reading →
Lindsay Clarence Vogan Video
Brings this 18th Battalion soldier to life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRzdQ7hz8U4
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 