The 14th Battalion entered the trenches for the first time in late February 1915. In mid-April they moved from France to the Ypres Salient where, in less than a week, the Canadian Division would be embroiled in their first great battle of the war.The Second Battle of Ypres, as depicted in this painting […]
The SS Andania arrived in Plymouth on October 14, 1914 but the troops waited 4 days before boarding a train to Patney from where they marched to West Down South on Salisbury Plain. The 1st Canadian Division then endured one of the worst English winters in memory. View a gallery […]
Canon Frederick George Scott was attached to 14th Battalion at Valcartier and a chapter in his book, The Great War as I Saw It, is devoted to his experiences at Valcartier Camp. He also wrote an excellent account of their voyage from Quebec to Plymouth aboard the RMS Andania. Not all of the 14th Battalion was […]
Jonathan Capek is currently editing an unpublished history of the 1st Lincolnshire Regiment written by Sgt. F.G. North in the 1920’s. Remarkably he recognized Edward Dobson’s name while visiting my website and kindly forwarded this amazing first-hand account from an encounter in the early morning hours of November 1st 1914: ‘In the pitch […]
A Field Service Postcard sent to his mother on the day the 72nd was, “owing to the hasty retreat of the enemy”, on the move from Aubencheul-au-Bac to Bugnicourt in northern France. On arrival they were ordered to move on to Fosse St. Roch. The Field Service Postcard, often referred […]
A brief letter written to his mother from the 72nd Battalion’s position at Vancouver Camp, Chateau de la Hare on Dec. 30, 1917. The Battalion had just returned from 10 days in the front lines. They arrived at 2:30am and the day was devoted to cleaning up. Transcription: “France, Dec. […]
A letter written to his mother from the 72nd Battalion’s position near Auchel in northern France on Dec. 16, 1917. The Battalion had spent the last week in intense preparation for a marching and firing competition held on Dec. 15th. The Battalion spent the Sunday afternoon preparing for the move […]
A letter written to his mother from the 72nd Battalion’s position near Auchel in northern France on Dec. 9, 1917. The Battalion had spent the last week on intensive training and sport. The results from the Saturday afternoon football match were: 72nd Battalion FC 7 4th Cdn Divisional HQ nil […]
A letter written to his mother from the 72nd Battalion’s position near Auchel in northern France on Dec. 1, 1917. Harry rejoined his Battalion on November 23 after having been wounded on June 26. The Battalion had spent the last week training and preparing for a marching and firing competition […]
A letter written to his mother while in France. He didn’t return to his Battalion until November 23 so it is likely he was at the 4th Canadian Infantry Base Depot at this time (in this letter he suggests his mother should ship parcels to the Depot and “if I […]
Doing Our Bit 