Fairfield in the First World War
Fairfield in the First World War is my attempt to shine a light on the contribution made by the residents of my neighbourhood 100 years ago. It’s a micro history […]
Author Archives
Jakealoo
99 Years ago today: the Second Battle of Ypres
Today I commemorate my great-grandfather Lance-Corporal Herbert Clifford, 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment), who in the early evening of April 22, 1915 was shot and captured while on patrol near the G.H.Q. line. Herbert would spend the remainder of the war enduring the hardships of a First World War POW camp. The […]
A Field Message Book belonging to Capt. Cyril Norman, MC
Lieutenant Cyril Norman‘s Field Message Book offers a fascinating glimpse into the working life of an officer on the Western Front. His entries begin in August 1916 and end in February 1917 […]
Remembering Lt. George Geoffrey May
A tribute to my grandfather’s cousin, Lt. George Geoffrey May, who died at Vimy on the morning of April 9, 1917.
“A Brush Cut” – a soldier’s poem to Nurse Styles
In August 1916 Nurse Ethel Styles opened to the first page of her autograph book and wrote: Memories are ever dear, Memories of “The Boys” Nurse Styles was serving at the Bethnal Green […]
Who Goes There? POWs and their German guard
This interesting postcard caught my eye and I thought others might be intrigued by it as well. The labels sewn onto the jackets of two men would imply they were […]
Dating and Identifying Soldiers in First World War Photographs
My primary interest is in researching Canadian and British soldiers of the First World War. My projects often begin with a postcard or photograph but vary greatly in terms of background […]
“The Poppy” – a poem written by my grandfather in 1927
March 21st is World Poetry Day and I thought it fitting to publish a poem written by my grandfather Grant Harold MacCarthy. He was only 16 years old but the […]
Pte Arthur B. Colville – 7th Battalion The Royal Scots
“Then when the second collision occurred the bottom came out of the compartment, and he, along with Private Arthur Colville, Musselburgh, dropped down and crawled along searching for a way […]
Who Goes There? The Duke of Connaught in Vernon, BC
This wonderful 20″ x 8″ panoramic photograph shows His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Earl of Sussex at Vernon Camp in British Columbia. I particularly like […]