British Munitions Workers Recruited from Canada in 1915
Was your ancestor one of 1,699 recruited from Canada to work in British munitions factories during the First World War? Details of this little known plan came to light while […]
Dugout fire claims the life of L/Cpl Josiah Cleator, C.E.
The Western Front was no stranger to the macabre but surely the fate of Lance-Corporal Josiah Cleator was particularly cruel. Creature comforts were in short-supply in the trenches and soldiers often […]
The British Colonist adds 30 years of digitized newspapers
The British Colonist Online Edition is a wonderful and free resource for researchers and family historians. I wrote about the website in December 2013, shortly after it was expanded to […]
Victoria volunteers ready for Active Service on Aug. 25, 1914
This list was published in the British Colonist 100 years ago today. Can you find your relative?
Forward, All? Advertisers jump on the Great War Bandwagon
When Britain declared war on Germany 100 years ago today the news was greeted with great keeness throughout the Empire. In Victoria The British Colonist reported that “Victorians Displayed Great Enthusiasm in Receiving […]
War Diaries – 9th Btn Railway Troops & 1st Pioneer Btn
I’ve updated my WW1 Canadian War Diaries page to include diaries for both the 9th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops (pdf, 99mb) and 1st Pioneer Battalion (pdf, 71mb). The 1st Pioneer Battalion was formed in Victoria, BC in July 1915 and recruited “good husky chaps” from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba “who […]
Christmas comes early – The British Colonist Online!
In early November I attended the launch of a new website called A City Goes To War. The event, held at the University of Victoria, included announcements on several other […]
Doing Our Bit 