The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 8, March 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
I’ve spent a lot of time recently immersed in trench journals, one of my favourite resources when researching soldiers from the First World War. Library and Archives Canada has a stunning collection, parts of which I will be featuring in the coming weeks.
Their collection includes all 18 issues of The Canadian Machine Gunner which was published between January 1917 and January 1919. The issues ranged in size from 34 to 48 pages and featured striking colour covers, some of which I’ve featured in the gallery below. Each issue included a large number of b&w photographs, poetry, cartoons, “Company Notes”, sporting results, feature articles and a large number of period advertisements. The gallery below includes previews of the types of articles you can expect to find.
Each issue is available to download at Library and Archives Canada through this link to their description page. Click on the “File Consists of 18 lower level description(s)” link on the description page to see the complete list of issues. Library and Archives Canada should be commended for providing these trench journals in easy to read PDF format rather than through custom viewers often used by other institutions. If you have a soldier who served in the “C Emma Gees” then you must check out this fantastic resource.
Photo Gallery (click to view close-ups):
The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 4, November 1917. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 8, March 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 10, May 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 13, August 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 16, November 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The Canadian Machine Gunner, Vol. 1 No. 18, January 1919. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The CMG at Vimy Ridge, CMG Vol. 1 No. 3, June 1917. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The Yukon Machine Gun Battery, CMG Vol. 1 No. 4, November 1917. Source: Library and Archives Canada
Vimy cartoon, CMG Vol. 1 No. 4, November 1917. Source: Library and Archives Canada
Captured Sniper’s Mask, CMG Vol. 1 No. 17, December 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
Letter from Home, CMG Vol. 1 No. 5, December 1917. Source: Library and Archives Canada
Burial of Major Knight, CMG Vol. 1 No. 10, May 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
Staff at the CMG Depot, CMG Vol. 1 No. 10, May 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
Motor Machine Gun Brigade in the horsiness, CMG Vol. 1 No. 12, July 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The C Emma Gees at Passchendaele, CMG Vol. 1 No. 16, November 1918. Source: Library and Archives Canada
The End of a Perfect Day, CMG Vol. 1 No. 4, November 1917. Source: Library and Archives Canada
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Categories: Archive, Library and Archives Canada, Military & Family History Research, Researching, Trench Newspapers
Tagged as: C Emma Gees, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, Emma Gees, Library and Archives Canada, Military & Family History Research, Research, Trench Journals, Trench newspapers
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great discovery. thanks for the find. PDF files are HUGE but will get them all. glenn
You’re welcome … they are well worth the bandwidth necessary to download them! 🙂
Totally agree with you in terms of the value of the pdfs; I find it incredibly frustrating when other institutions use what you describe as a custom viewer, which all but eliminates your ability to use them efficiently – or at all if you’re on a long flight and want to work off line.