The Collection
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greeting card, A Happy Easter, frontcorrespondence Easter greeting card, Theodore Benning Monk fonds. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Benning Monk was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1907, he enlisted with the active militia and in 1908 became a gunner with the 13th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery (Manitoba Regiment). He moved to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the City Engineer's Department. In World War I he served with the 54th Battalion and fought in Vimy Ridge. Click to view… |
greeting card, An Easter Wish, frontcorrespondence Easter greeting card, Theodore Benning Monk fonds. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Benning Monk was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1907, he enlisted with the active militia and in 1908 became a gunner with the 13th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery (Manitoba Regiment). He moved to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the City Engineer's Department. In World War I he served with the 54th Battalion and fought in Vimy Ridge. Click to view… |
greeting card, Joyous Easter, frontcorrespondence Easter greeting card, Theodore Benning Monk fonds. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Benning Monk was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1907, he enlisted with the active militia and in 1908 became a gunner with the 13th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery (Manitoba Regiment). He moved to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the City Engineer's Department. In World War I he served with the 54th Battalion and fought in Vimy Ridge. Click to view… |
greeting card, A Happy Easter, versocorrespondence Easter greeting card, verso, Theodore Benning Monk fonds: "Love and kisses from Baby." Click to view… |
greeting card, An Easter Wish, versocorrespondence Easter greeting card, verso, Theodore Benning Monk fonds: "Dear Daddy, I wish you a happy Easter Love from Sammy" Click to view… |
greeting card, Joyous Easter, versocorrespondence Easter greeting card, Theodore Benning Monk fonds: "Dear Daddy a happy Easter Love from Faith." Click to view… |
letter, Belgium, November 13, 1917, page 1correspondence Letter, page 1, Keith Macgowan fonds: "My Dear Helen, Another note. We are back in the area and Fritz is overhead dropping darn heavy bombs. My scout corporal was killed by one of them yesterday morning. We are about 6 or 7 miles from the line. Some air supremacy alright, Bailey is on leave and I have the company. We did not expect to be taken forward of here but fear that we shall have to relieve the line yet. I am hoping not as we have already done our stunt." See the link above to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, Belgium, November 13, 1917, page 2correspondence Letter, page 2, Keith Macgowan fonds: " ... complete this week we should all be out for a month but one can never count on anything & therefore I could not cable. I saw Richardson yesterday. He looks ok & is Q.M. of the 54th noow. Before we left our last billet a major of the 29th came in and when I had a chance to see him knew that I recognized him but couldn't place him. Asked what part of Canada he came from & he said BC so I had him. He was Fred. Kirkland who worked for H.N.Smith." See the link above to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, Belgium, November 13, 1917, page 3correspondence Letter, page 3, Keith Macgowan fonds: "... the M.O. offered to send me out the other day if I wanted to go but I didn't want to go that way, and it would have interfered with Bailey's leave. If I should really become sick I would go out but don't like to otherwise. Would be glad to be out of it for the winter as it will not be over for a long time yet. ..." See the link above to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, Belgium, November 13, 1917, page 4correspondence Letter, page 4, Keith Macgowan fonds: "... Had not heard of Charlie Major being sick but tell his mother that any chap who is sick enough to go out is generally considered lucky. Once away from the unit the medical attention is first class and hospitals good ..." See the link above to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, Belgium, November 13, 1917, page 5correspondence Letter, page 5, Keith Macgowan fonds: "... Have also half a dozen casualty letters to write to next of kin now. It is a miserable duty. The corporal killed yesterday was one of my old scout section and a rattling good man. Now my dear Helen I have to stop and forward to H.Q. a chit advising them of map location of my anti aircraft machine gun ..." See the link above to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, Belgium, November 13, 1917, page 6correspondence Letter, page 6, Keith Macgowan fonds: "...If I can keep on top for another week there should be no difficulty in living until Xmas, which I am anxious to get past as it is a miserable time of year for bad news etc but old girl personally I have no fear of death if it is drawn in the books for me & in case of the worst I would want to you all to carry on without any mourning business. I have never regretted coming ... With much love to all I am Lovingly your brother Keith ..." See above link to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, France, December 12, 1916, page 1correspondence Letter, page 1, Keith Macgowan fonds: "Dearest Mother: Nothing new to tell you. We are still in the same place & same billets. We expect to have a good bath in a few minutes down at the mines. The weather was fine yesterday but today cold & a slushy snow falling ... On our way across Canada we met girls at almost every stop and consequently gathered a lot of addresses. I only sent a card to one however & received an awefully nice letter from her. I met two of them together at Montreal and they afforded me an hours very pleasant conversation ..." See above link to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, France, December 12, 1916, page 3correspondence Letter, page 3, Keith Macgowan fonds: "P.S. Lately I have been able to write fairly regularly but should the battalion move I would not be able to quite so often so do not worry if several days elapse without hearing from me ... [ps]The major just asked an orderly if he knew anything good for bugs & the chap said I have tried nearly everthing but the best thing is just to keep picking them off to keep the average down, Sir." See above link to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, France, December 12, 1916, page 2correspondence Letter, page 2, Keith Macgowan fonds: "... Well the old war seems to be dragging on and I hope before long that it takes a decided turn because the law business is daily sliding right out of the back of my head so that I guess I will not be worth much to Bill by the time I come home ... Give my love to the whole family Lovingly your son, Keith" See above link to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
letter, France, March 17, 1917correspondence Letter from Georges Destrube to the Family (copy): "Dear Ones, I have received your numerous letters and they have been a great consolation to me ... it is a great, great relief to know that our dear boys were buried together and a cross erected, - this will make it possible to find their dear grave when the war is over and it will be a great consolation to us all. When I get on the Front again I shall naturally try to locate the spot but unless the Bttn. returns to that neighbourhood, this will be impossible. But you may rest assured that their graves will remain untouched ..." Click to view… |
letter, Vernon Camp, September 2, 1916, page 1correspondence Letter, page 1, on Westminster 131st letterhead, Keith Macgowan fonds: "My Dear Helen: - Have just finished a short letter to mother so you will receive what little news I have through her, so I shall devote this to the question of the snaps. I left you the 2 rolls & 2 films. You sent me 15 pictures & 16 films for same. The only one that didn;t turn out was one I took of Billie in his office ... I am just sending you the films & all my military snaps which please put with my others ..." See above link to read full transcripts Click to view… |
letter, Vernon Camp, September 2, 1916, page 3correspondence Letter page 3, Keith Macgowan fonds: "... Monday being Labour Day we have Brigade Sports all day. I am asked to act as our battalion Inspector on the track which sounds like something but I haven't the slightest idea as to what it really is ... I believe I am to run in our officers relay race team which means that one has to tear off 220 yards to a team mate who tears along another 220 & so on ... If there was a $20.00 bill at the end of the chase I might work up a little speed ..." See above link to read full transcripts Click to view… |
letter, Vernon Camp, September 2, 1916, page 2correspondence Letter, page 2, Keith Macgowan fonds: " ... Have just been out for about half an hour making my rounds after lights out. Have about 38 men still absent at 10 pm altho' I suppose several of them have by now reported in through the guard. Pay day & booze is a troublesome combination. Several in the lines are more or less half shot but I do not trouble them as long as they mind their business ..." See above link to read full transcripts Click to view… |
letter, Vernon Camp, September 2, 1916, page 4correspondence Letter, page 4, Keith Macgowan fonds: "... but all one gets is this stick & it is given away to the next man & is eventually thrown away or lost by the last. Rather thrilling I call it all ... Must stop now as it is getting late. Be sure & get me what prints you want & then put the films with the rest. With love to all, Keith." See above link to read full transcripts. Click to view… |
postcard, Clover Point, Victoria BC, frontcorrespondence Postcard of Clover Point, Victoria BC, Theodore Benning Monk fonds, showing a CPR steamer and the Clover Point Target Range. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Benning Monk was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1907, he enlisted with the active militia and in 1908 became a gunner with the 13th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery (Manitoba Regiment). He moved to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the City Engineer's Department. In World War I he served with the 54th Battalion and fought in Vimy Ridge. Click to view… |
postcard, Clover Point, Victoria BC, versocorrespondence Postcard of Clover Point, Victoria BC, verso, Theodore Benning Monk fonds: "Dear Daddy, How are you. Hope you are safe. [J___?] me a pair of roller skates which I enjoy very much. Love from Faith." Click to view… |
Provincial Normal School students and staff, Victoria BCphotograph Photograph of the students and staff of the Provincial Normal School, Victoria, BC, from the UVic Archives Historical Photograph Collection. In the late 1940s the Provincial Normal School amalgamated with Victoria College. The Normal School was located at the present-day Camosun College Lansdowne campus. Click to view… |
Soldiers with womenphotograph Image of returned soldiers with women in a garden, photograph by R.L. Pocock, Victoria, BC Click to view… |
Victoria College [McGill affilate] Men's Ice Hockey Team, 1914photograph Photograph of Victoria College Men's Ice Hockey Team, from the UVic Archives Historical Photograph Collection. Victoria College was originally affiliated with McGill University, Montreal. Front row: C. Floyd. Middle row: H. Clark, E. Howard Russell and R. Wallis. Back row: A. Straith, F. Kerr, S. Yuill, H. Bunt, and W. S. Nesbitt. Click to view… |
Victoria High School Class, 1915photograph Photograph of the 1915 Victoria High School class standing on the school steps. Victoria College was located on the top floor of Victoria High School for the 1914-1915 session. Click to view… |
AUDIO FILE: Battle of Moreuil Woodaudio file Battle of Moreuil Wood, extract of oral history interview by Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Jacobs Click to view… |
AUDIO FILE: Battle of Passchendaeleaudio file Battle of Passchendaele, extract of oral history interview by Major-General George Pearkes Click to view… |
AUDIO FILE: Battle of Vimy Ridgeaudio file Battle of Vimy Ridge, extract of oral history interview by Percy Twidale Click to view… |
Canadian Soldier searches German prisoners of warphotograph Image of a Canadian soldier searching German prisoners of war, from Archie Wills fonds. Archie H. Wills (Henry Archibald Wills) was born in Victoria, British Columbia on 11 September 1892. With the start of World War I Archie joined the 58th Battery, Canadian Forces Artillery. He trained at Fort MacAulay (Esquimalt), Petawawa, and Witley (England) and then saw sixteen months of action in France. Wills saw action at Arras and Vimy. Click to view… |
A Canadian Soldier's Annual Bathphotograph Image of a Canadian soldier bathing in a make-shift tub, from Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Crowd of Canadian and German Soldiers outside medical station.photograph Image of a Canadian and German soldiers outside a medical station, from the Arche Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
German casualty in Battlefieldphotograph Image of a deceased German soldier, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
German Stretcher Partyphotograph Photograph of a German strecher party, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album Click to view… |
Soldiers pulling heavy artillery in pitphotograph Image of Canadian soldiers moving heavy artillery. Note the reinforcing on the gun carriage wheels, from Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Prisoner of War Cagephotograph Image of prisoners of war in barbed-wire enclosure, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
German prisoners on Cambrai Roadphotograph Image of prisoners of war walking on the tree-lined Cambrai Road, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Tanks at Amiensphotograph Image of tanks at Amiens, France, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. The Battle of Amiens took place in August of 1918. Click to view… |
Machine Gun Coy. [Company] Passchendaelephotograph Image of a machine gun company in the mud of Passchendaele, Belgium, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. The Battle of Passchendaele took place from July to November, 1917. Click to view… |
Troops entering Cambraiphotograph Image of a small number of infantry advancing up a road in Cambrai, France. The Battle of Cambrai took place in November and December 1917. Click to view… |
Farbus a French Village 1917photograph Photograph of the damage to the countryside and buildings in Farbus, a hamlet surrounding Vimy Ridge, France, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place in April 1917. Click to view… |
Canadian Troops in Billets photograph Photograph of the cramped conditions for Canadian troops in Belgium, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Canadian Soldiers aboard "Cameronia" 1916photograph Image of Canadian Soldiers on the top deck of the "Cameronia" during the voyage to the front in 1916, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Canadian Soldiers looking for Submarines, 1916photograph Image of Canadian soldiers on the lookout for submarines, possibly on the "Cameronia", 1916, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Ration book ephemera Ration book with tickets for cheese, lard, meat, sugar, tea (with spare tickets), from the Archie Wills fonds. Click to view… |
Safety aboard the "Cameronia," 1916 photograph Image of Canadian soldiers checking out the safey equipment on board the "Cameronia," from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Barrage for Battle of Amiens, 1918correspondence Archie Wills fonds, he describes in his autobiography: "This is the original for the opening barrage of No. 2 howitzer commanded by Sergt. Archie H. Wills, in the Battle of Amiens, which signalled the start of the Last Hundred Days and led to the defeat of Germany in the First World War. The barrage was drafted by the headquarters of the 58th Battery, CFA., and Reveille was sounded at 3.30 a.m. and we opened fire at 4.20 a.m. and we kept firing until 6.40 a.m., when we stood down and awaited signal to advance." Click to view… |
Ticket for Troop ship "Cameronia" ephemera Ticket for the Anchor Line troop ship "Cameronia," section (upper) 2 'tween deck, from the Archie Wills fonds. Click to view… |
Veterinary Corpsphotograph Image of members of the Canadian Veterinary corps inspect a horse, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Ruins at Cambraiphotograph Image of extreme damage to the buildings of Cambrai, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Leave or Duty Ration Bookephemera Ration book with tickets for meat, tea, butter, sugar, lard, cheese and jam, from the Archie Wills fonds. Click to view… |
Pack Horses ready for transportphotograph Image of horses ready to transport supplies, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
C.L.H., Canadian Light Horse Regiment being reviewed at the Bonn Bridge, 1918photograph Image of Canadian troops riding on horseback over the Bonn Bridge in Germany in 1918, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Troop and Escort Shipsphotograph Images of escort and troop ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean on thier way to Europe, 1916, from the Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Pigeons with Military vehiclephotograph Image of soldiers with homing pigeons and vehicle with cages, from Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Wounded Canadian and German Soldiers walk out of a battlefieldphotograph Image of Canadian and German soldiers physically supporting each other as they walk out of a battlefield, from Archie Wills fonds photo album. Click to view… |
Archie H. Wills, All in a Lifetime; War, 1914-1918: Into the Unknown - War.publication Chapter from Archie Wills unpublished autobiography All in a Lifetime: "As I cleaned up my affairs before embarking on the Great Adventure of War, I began to realize that I knew very little about the business of killing other men and being charged with murder. I had heard my Father speak about the South African War and the Russo-Japanese War and I learned from my school books about the great battles ... as I was to find out they were small affairs when compared to the prolonged agony of the First World War ..." Click to view… |
Archie H. Wills All in a Lifetime; War, 1914-1918publication Chapter from Archie Wills unpublished autobiography All in a Lifetime: " ... deals with his years with a fine group of comrades, who faced death many times but, who experiences periods of much fund and frivolity, and formed enduring friendships, which are not appreciated by people who know not the stimulated and challenging affect of killing and fighting for survival." Click to view… |