In Flanders Fields
I began school in 1970 and one of my most vivid memories is of the reciting of “In Flanders Fields” on every November 11th. John McCrae’s poem, along with the […]
Lt. William Lea Cook & Lt.-Col. Charles Benson Worsnop
Photo: City of Vancouver Archives, Ref: AM54-S4-: VLP 76.9 The St. Helens Roll of Honour website have created a tribute page to St. Helens born Lieutenant William Lea Cook. Cook died […]
The Mysterious Uncle Mat – Part 1
This wonderfully sharp period postcard caught my eye as did the simple inscription on its back. At one time “Uncle Mat” may have graced a family photo album but unfortunately […]
Soldiers I’m Researching
I’ve added over 50 names to the list of Soldiers I’m researching. If I’ve published information on these soldiers you’ll find a link. Please contact me if you’re also researching […]
Taking a break
Three members of the Royal Flying Corps take a break in a park during the First World War. All three are wearing “Maternity” style tunics, the name given to the […]
Dockside departure
Artillery men, likely from the 5th Regiment Canadian Garrison Artillery, pose for a photo on the CPR docks in Victoria, BC. The steamships would transport the troops to Vancouver where […]
Remembrance Day in the early 1930’s
A wonderful photograph of the Remembrance Day ceremonies at Victoria’s Inner Harbour in the early 1930’s. The photograph was likely taken from the steps of Victoria’s War Memorial which was […]
A letter to Remember
This clipping from a British newspaper in 1917 contains the final words of a son to his mother and father. Lieutenant Herbert Frederick Bolton of the 103rd Machine Gun Corps […]
First Canadian Contingent photos by J.A. Millar
I found this excellent collection of WW1 photos from 1914 while conducting research into the First Canadian Contingent, one of several online collections from the University of Victoria. This photo […]
Lt. William Lea Cook (1891-1917)
William Lea Cook was born in St. Helen’s, Lancashire in 1892, the fifth child of Robert Cook and Selina Lea’s seven children. William’s father died in 1908 and early the […]
Doing Our Bit 