Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection // Vault

Victoria to Vimy, sponsored by a World War Commemorations Community Fund grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage, is a digital collection of First World War materials held at the University of Victoria Libraries, Special Collections and Archives.

For this exhibit, the University of Victoria Libraries has selected a range of items that provide diverse perspectives on the lives of ordinary Canadians during the First World War. These materials tell the stories of soldiers—from enlisted men to high-ranking officers—as well as their friends and families. The site takes visitors on a journey from Victoria, where many young men enlisted and trained to sites across Canada, including, Vernon, British Columbia; Ottawa, Ontario; and Valcartier, Quebec—and then across the sea to England for training. Ultimately, many of these soldiers went to the Front in France and Belgium, where Canadians fought in several major battles, including the Battle for Vimy Ridge in April 1917.

The collection includes: letters, collections of letters, diaries, postcards, individual photographs, photograph albums, scrapbooks, war records, audio-oral histories, and artifacts.

Resource type

Collection

Subject

Genre

Location

Permalink: https://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/45830aeb-b1dc-48fa-901e-3c05e70b04d5

Collection Details

: Items 170
: Last Updated 2024-07-31

Parent Collections (1)

Military History Collection

Works (170)

121. Archie Wills - My Life in the Army, Volume 04

Title Tesim:: Archie Wills - My Life in the Army, Volume 04
Description:: The fourth of eight diaries written by Archie Wills during World War I. Describes Wills’ experience at Witley Camp as well as his training at Woolwich, both located in England between February and August 1917. Wills describes the daily life of the soldiers at the Witley training camp, which consisted of parades and field exercises. The men are trained in the use of gas helmets. The diary illustrates the hardships endured by the soldiers, such as the wet and cold weather, lack of baths due to broken pipes and freezing temperatures and insufficient rations. During their spare time the men explore the surrounding areas and socialize with the locals. By March 13th Wills and two of his friends begin the publication of their paper “O-Pip”, releasing the first volume in April 1917. By the end of June Wills begins a 6-week training course in Woolwich. He returns to Witley camp on August 13th 1917. People mentioned include: People: Goldie, James Alexander; Newton, William; Gisborne, Frederick; Arthur, Prince, Duke of Connaught, 1850-1942; Borden, Robert L., Sir, 1854-1937; Hughes, Garnet Burk; Wells; Cohen; McMillan, Evan; Yates, Bob; Waterson; “Pink”; Shaw, Forrest Other military personnel mentioned: Alex Goldie, Prior Hayman, Farley, Fred Gisborne - “Gipny”, Percy Matlin, Jim Frane (cook), Sir Robert Borden, Brigadier General Hughes Locals mentioned: Mrs. Kent, Mr. and Mrs. Sturgeon and their son Rex, Ms. Laura Peto; Smith girls; Mrs. Henderson in Hasleton; Lady Combe
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1091944, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125269, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/531187, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021543, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021108, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125249, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1745536, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021054, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125310, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125350
Creator:: Wills, Archie H. (Archibald Henry), 1892-1988
Contributor:
Location:
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-02-10/1917-08-16
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 volume (127 pages) ; 13 x 8.5 cm
Alternative Title:: My Life in the Army, Volume 04 and Volume 4..My Life in the Army. England. Feb.10,1917 Aug 16. Ready for France.
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1235148, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1219920, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1312042
Coordinates:: 51.491, 0.0648, 52.16045, -0.70312, and 51.14993, -0.64768
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: World War One Photographs and Journals and Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028569 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300027112
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 2005-036; Series: Autobiography; Sub-series: My Life in the Army; Archival Item Identifier: 3.11
Fonds Title:: Archie H. Wills fonds
Fonds Identifier:: AR394
Is_referenced_by:: Archival Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/archie-h-wills-fonds
Date Digitized:: 2007-05-11
Technical Note:: 400 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by KD.

122. Destrubé family - Copy of letters from Georges Destrubé to his father, February 19 to 26, 1917

Title Tesim:: Destrubé family - Copy of letters from Georges Destrubé to his father, February 19 to 26, 1917
Description:: Two hand copied letters originally from Georges Destrubé to his father (Pumps) and family, dated February 19, 1917 to February 26, 1917. Georges writes about his brother's (Dan) engagement, and about his stay in hospital. Although his brothers Paul and Guy were killed in battle on February 17, 1917, Georges was unaware of this when he wrote the letters. Destrubé Family Biography: The bulk of the material in the Destrubé family fonds, represented in this exhibit, concerns the children of Ernest Destrubé, and in particular, the siblings who immigrated to Canada in the early part of the twentieth century – Maurice, Georges, Guy, Paul and Sylvie. It includes their lives as homesteaders in Alberta, experiences on the Front of the three brothers (Georges, Guy and Paul) who signed up to fight in 1914, and life just after the war. Ernest Destrubé, “Pumps” to his family, was born in France in 1850. After being wounded in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Ernest began a career in banking. He eventually moved to England to be Assistant Manager of the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris, located at 52 Threadneedle Street in London. He lived with his wife Elizabeth (nee Farmery, 1856-1897) and their six children--Maurice, Georges, Dan, Paul, Guy, and Sylvie--on Adelaide Road in London. Following Elizabeth’s death, Ernest married Alice Bauche in 1900. They had a son, Andre, in 1901. After the War, Ernest moved back to France. He lived at Les Clematites, near Beaune, until his death in 1923. Dan Louis [1879-1940] was born in London and spent most of his life in France. Paul Maurice (nickname, Jack) was born in London in 1885. He followed his father into banking but decided soon after to take on the adventure and challenge of homesteading in Canada. He left England in 1906 for the US, where he learned farming from an uncle in Missouri, before traveling to Rife, Alberta to stake his claim. His first wife Margaret (Maggie, née Lebow) died in childbirth in 1918. After the war Maurice married Pevensey (Pem) Wheeler, former hospital headmistress and friend to Sylvie. Maurice eventually (1940s) sold the homestead and moved to Victoria, British Columbia. He married Eleanor Mary Ellis (née Sandeman) in 1950 and later built a cabin on Piers Island. Maurice died in 1978. Marguerite Sylvie (Sylvie, or Syl) was born in London in 1882. After the death of her mother in 1897, she took on the role of mother to her young brothers. Sylvie also made the journey to Canada to help her brothers in Rife. She returned to England during the First World War to work for the Red Cross, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). Sylvie was engaged to family friend, Arthur Fleming, who was killed in action in the War [1916?]. After returning to Canada, Sylvie married Bert Spencer. Together they ran a store in Alberta until, in their retirement, they moved west to Victoria, British Columbia. Leon Georges [b. 1888], Paul Jean [b. 1893] and Charles Guy [b. 1891] were born in London. Guy left England to join his brother in Canada in 1907, followed by Georges in 1908 and Paul in 1913. Georges was a talented sketch artist. He had some training in England but decided not to pursue art as a career. Soon after War was declared, the boys travelled to Edmonton (first Paul and later Georges and Guy) to sign on with the Alberta dragoons, however, the first battalion had already left for the east. Pumps sent them enough money to cover the trip to England, where the three brothers signed up with the Royal Fusiliers. After close to a year of training in England, Paul, Guy and Georges left for France to serve in the same company of the 22nd Royal Fusiliers. In spring of 1916, Georges was wounded at Souchez—shot through the lung. He was invalided to England and convalesced at Ebbwvale, Wales. Although he made it back to France in January 1917, his return to the Front was delayed by quarantine for Mumps. Due to this twist of fate, Georges missed joining his brothers in the Battle at Miraumont, where Paul and Guy were among the several-hundred soldiers killed, February 17, 2017. In the ensuing months, Georges applied for and was granted a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He returned to England for training and spent the rest of the War ferrying planes to and from France. After the War, Georges married Suzanne Fournier (nickname Mémé). They lived for a few years in Rife, Alberta but Georges found that he was no longer able to do the difficult physical labor required on the farm. He sold his share of the homestead and moved with Suzanne to Victoria, British Columbia. At some point Suzanne and Georges changed their last name to d’Estrubé, although, the rest of the family maintained the original spelling. In 1949 Georges and Maurice made a nostalgic return visit to Rife where Georges died suddenly at age 61. References: Hendrickson, James E., Ed. Pioneering in Alberta: Maurice Destrube’s Story, Historical Society of Alberta. 1981. Stone, Christopher, Ed. A History of the 22nd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Kensington). 1923.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125266
Creator:: Destrubé, Georges
Contributor:: Destrubé, Ernest
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-02-19/1917-02-26
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 page
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289
Coordinates:: 46, 2
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026879 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1982-006
Fonds Title:: Destrubé family fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC033
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
Transcript:: [Upper left:] Copy [Centre:] Dear Father & family [Upper right:] France 19/2/17 [Below "19":] 26 I've [here?] had several letter from home & feel a bit ashamed for not having answered earlier - But yesterday I recieved the tidings, glad tidings about old Dan - - - By Jove, I'm simply overjoyed! - Just as I know you are. It's the best news in years - it is simply great. I'm not more than a big days march from the house of his fiancee & I feel tempted to jump a freight into that town, for a day, to make the acquaintance of our future sister-in-law. I'll bet she is a "bit of alright" as Dan would say, for he's got excellent taste, has Dan. But what beats me is the circumstances under which it all happened! - the pre-arrangements & businesslikeness of fit, which alone would have been enough to cause failure where a Destrube is concerned, under ordinary luck. & so I say "Three Cheers for Mme Beaurain"! And he has to be in Boulogne (according to your letters) last Saturday; I could have been to see him. Were passes granted. Yes, it's grand news & I shall write him right away. Thanks for cough drops -De - glad to say my cold is much better now. The feverishness has gone & I cough much less. The cold spell has broken up & we now have ordinary winter weather for which poor old Guy & Paul must by very thankful - very best love - affectionately signed Georges [Right, lower third of page:] France 22/2/17 [Below "22":] 26 Dear Pumps I forgot to say in my last letter that I was broke. Have been so for quite a long time & have been living on pay. I was'nt paid while in [Harfield?] & I am only paid 5 p here. I had thought it best to wait till I joined Guy & Paul but I am doomed to be here for a long time yet. Another chap from our tent is developing & I expect he'll go to hospital tomorrow which will mean another 3 weeks for us here (& more if another case breaks out) oh hell! I cannot make a long letter of this, there is nothing to say: Life in this isolation camp is one dead monotony & I find I cannot for the life of me make anything of it. Here is my new address: Pte. L.G.D. no 50512 2nd Royal Fusilers Tent 53 - Segregation Camp A.P.O. 5.11 - BEF France - Georges -
Technical Note:: Metadata by M. Gerber. Migration metadata by KD.

123. Destrubé family - Letter from Georges to Dear Ones, March 17, 1917, France

Title Tesim:: Destrubé family - Letter from Georges to Dear Ones, March 17, 1917, France
Description:: A typed copy of a letter written by Georges Destrubé to his family on March 17, 1917 while in hospital in France. In this letter he discusses the deaths of his brothers Guy and Paul in February and the details of their burial. Destrubé Family Biography: The bulk of the material in the Destrubé family fonds, represented in this exhibit, concerns the children of Ernest Destrubé, and in particular, the siblings who immigrated to Canada in the early part of the twentieth century – Maurice, Georges, Guy, Paul and Sylvie. It includes their lives as homesteaders in Alberta, experiences on the Front of the three brothers (Georges, Guy and Paul) who signed up to fight in 1914, and life just after the war. Ernest Destrubé, “Pumps” to his family, was born in France in 1850. After being wounded in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Ernest began a career in banking. He eventually moved to England to be Assistant Manager of the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris, located at 52 Threadneedle Street in London. He lived with his wife Elizabeth (nee Farmery, 1856-1897) and their six children--Maurice, Georges, Dan, Paul, Guy, and Sylvie--on Adelaide Road in London. Following Elizabeth’s death, Ernest married Alice Bauche in 1900. They had a son, Andre, in 1901. After the War, Ernest moved back to France. He lived at Les Clematites, near Beaune, until his death in 1923. Dan Louis [1879-1940] was born in London and spent most of his life in France. Paul Maurice (nickname, Jack) was born in London in 1885. He followed his father into banking but decided soon after to take on the adventure and challenge of homesteading in Canada. He left England in 1906 for the US, where he learned farming from an uncle in Missouri, before traveling to Rife, Alberta to stake his claim. His first wife Margaret (Maggie, née Lebow) died in childbirth in 1918. After the war Maurice married Pevensey (Pem) Wheeler, former hospital headmistress and friend to Sylvie. Maurice eventually (1940s) sold the homestead and moved to Victoria, British Columbia. He married Eleanor Mary Ellis (née Sandeman) in 1950 and later built a cabin on Piers Island. Maurice died in 1978. Marguerite Sylvie (Sylvie, or Syl) was born in London in 1882. After the death of her mother in 1897, she took on the role of mother to her young brothers. Sylvie also made the journey to Canada to help her brothers in Rife. She returned to England during the First World War to work for the Red Cross, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). Sylvie was engaged to family friend, Arthur Fleming, who was killed in action in the War [1916?]. After returning to Canada, Sylvie married Bert Spencer. Together they ran a store in Alberta until, in their retirement, they moved west to Victoria, British Columbia. Leon Georges [b. 1888], Paul Jean [b. 1893] and Charles Guy [b. 1891] were born in London. Guy left England to join his brother in Canada in 1907, followed by Georges in 1908 and Paul in 1913. Georges was a talented sketch artist. He had some training in England but decided not to pursue art as a career. Soon after War was declared, the boys travelled to Edmonton (first Paul and later Georges and Guy) to sign on with the Alberta dragoons, however, the first battalion had already left for the east. Pumps sent them enough money to cover the trip to England, where the three brothers signed up with the Royal Fusiliers. After close to a year of training in England, Paul, Guy and Georges left for France to serve in the same company of the 22nd Royal Fusiliers. In spring of 1916, Georges was wounded at Souchez—shot through the lung. He was invalided to England and convalesced at Ebbwvale, Wales. Although he made it back to France in January 1917, his return to the Front was delayed by quarantine for Mumps. Due to this twist of fate, Georges missed joining his brothers in the Battle at Miraumont, where Paul and Guy were among the several -hundred soldiers killed, February 17, 2017. In the ensuing months, Georges applied for and was granted a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He returned to England for training and spent the rest of the War ferrying planes to and from France. After the War, Georges married Suzanne Fournier (nickname Mémé). They lived for a few years in Rife, Alberta but Georges found that he was no longer able to do the difficult physical labor required on the farm. He sold his share of the homestead and moved with Suzanne to Victoria, British Columbia. At some point Suzanne and Georges changed their last name to d’Estrubé, although, the rest of the family maintained the original spelling. In 1949 Georges and Maurice made a nostalgic return visit to Rife where Georges died suddenly at age 61. References: Hendrickson, James E., Ed. Pioneering in Alberta: Maurice Destrube’s Story, Historical Society of Alberta. 1981. Stone, Christopher, Ed. A History of the 22nd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Kensington). 1923.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125266
Creator:: Destrubé, Georges
Contributor:
Location:
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-03-17
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 page
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289
Coordinates:: 46, 2
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection and World of Mary's Wedding Reminiscences of World War One
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026879 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1982-006
Fonds Title:: Destrubé family fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC033
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
Transcript:: [Centre:] FROM GEORGES DESTRUBE TO THE FAMILY[Upper left:] COPY. [Upper right:] France 17/3/17Dear Ones,I have recieved your numerous letters and they have been a great consolation to me. I hope you get mine too; I sent one the daybefore yesterday in a green envelope. I believe I have already said that I recieved no copy of <del>ye</del>your letter to Col. Barker, and I would like one very much.You will find many letters enclosed, I would like you to putthem by for me Pumps, - except of course the new letters that you haven't yet seen; these last you can keep, Pumps.I shall be leaving segregation on Tuesday so my new addresswill be -, Pte. Destrube, No. 50512, 22nd Royal Fusiliers, I.B.D. A.P.o.Sec. 17. B.E.F. France. There is a letter from Vinicombe. He latterly joined theM.G. He was not with Guy and Pauls team but he knew them well, thoughperhaps not intimately. He was a Sergt. last summer, but was reduced to the ranks for shewing cowardice, so I heard. He was a good hearted fellow though. It was a great, great relief to know that our dear boyswere buried together and a cross erected, - this will make it possible tofind their dear grave when the war is over and it will be a greatconsolation to us all. When I get on the Front again I shall naturallytry and locate the spot but unless the Battn. returns to that neighbourhood, this will be impossible. But you may rest assured that the graveswill remain untouched and the spot still quite traceable after the war. Also the burying parties are instructed to make notes of the exact whereabouts which are preserved in England. A chap told me that there wasa public office in London where they made it a business of keeping theserecords and all such information. It is in charge of Sir Lionel Earle,he did not know the exact address, you could enquire Pumps. I should imagine that their personal belongings will have been sent to you without delay. I wrote to Cox asking him to see aboutit and to do his utmost to secure everything and that if some of theirthings fell in the hands of strangers to buy them back if necessary. I hope so much that we get everything back.I met Forbisher again, his version was quite correct, -poor Paul was first to be killed.I do not know at all whether Paul left any things atEdmonton or not. I should imagine that somebody at the Bank would know-unfortunately, the people where he was boarding have left, I think. Ofcourse I don't know their address.Will you please forward the parcel from Rife to the new address I gave you. (I'm afraid it will contain more tobacco than I canpossibly use if such was the duty!)Thanks so much my very dear Syl, for your kind numerousletters. Sunday. 18//17.Last night I recieved a letter from you dear old Syl, and 2 from Mme. Mac Coll and one from Rene. I am so pleased to hear that Minty is arlight, - I hadheard he was killed (only rumour). Goodbye my dear ones, (I dont feel I can write a longerletter.) Love to all Lovingly yours Georges
Technical Note:: Metadata by M. Gerber. Migration metadata by KD.

124. Destrubé family - Letter to Dear Ones from Paul, January 4, 1917, "Somewhere"

Title Tesim:: Destrubé family - Letter to Dear Ones from Paul, January 4, 1917, "Somewhere"
Description:: A letter written by Paul Destrubé to his family on January 4, 1917 from the Front in France in which he discusses his and Guy's hopes for commissions coming through that would take them away from the Front. He also mentions that Georges is in France waiting to return to their battalion. Both Paul and Guy were killed in action a few weeks later on February 17. Destrubé Family Biography: The bulk of the material in the Destrubé family fonds, represented in this exhibit, concerns the children of Ernest Destrubé, and in particular, the siblings who immigrated to Canada in the early part of the twentieth century – Maurice, Georges, Guy, Paul and Sylvie. It includes their lives as homesteaders in Alberta, experiences on the Front of the three brothers (Georges, Guy and Paul) who signed up to fight in 1914, and life just after the war. Ernest Destrubé, “Pumps” to his family, was born in France in 1850. After being wounded in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Ernest began a career in banking. He eventually moved to England to be Assistant Manager of the Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris, located at 52 Threadneedle Street in London. He lived with his wife Elizabeth (nee Farmery, 1856-1897) and their six children--Maurice, Georges, Dan, Paul, Guy, and Sylvie--on Adelaide Road in London. Following Elizabeth’s death, Ernest married Alice Bauche in 1900. They had a son, Andre, in 1901. After the War, Ernest moved back to France. He lived at Les Clematites, near Beaune, until his death in 1923. Dan Louis [1879-1940] was born in London and spent most of his life in France. Paul Maurice (nickname, Jack) was born in London in 1885. He followed his father into banking but decided soon after to take on the adventure and challenge of homesteading in Canada. He left England in 1906 for the US, where he learned farming from an uncle in Missouri, before traveling to Rife, Alberta to stake his claim. His first wife Margaret (Maggie, née Lebow) died in childbirth in 1918. After the war Maurice married Pevensey (Pem) Wheeler, former hospital headmistress and friend to Sylvie. Maurice eventually (1940s) sold the homestead and moved to Victoria, British Columbia. He married Eleanor Mary Ellis (née Sandeman) in 1950 and later built a cabin on Piers Island. Maurice died in 1978. Marguerite Sylvie (Sylvie, or Syl) was born in London in 1882. After the death of her mother in 1897, she took on the role of mother to her young brothers. Sylvie also made the journey to Canada to help her brothers in Rife. She returned to England during the First World War to work for the Red Cross, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). Sylvie was engaged to family friend, Arthur Fleming, who was killed in action in the War [1916?]. After returning to Canada, Sylvie married Bert Spencer. Together they ran a store in Alberta until, in their retirement, they moved west to Victoria, British Columbia. Leon Georges [b. 1888], Paul Jean [b. 1893] and Charles Guy [b. 1891] were born in London. Guy left England to join his brother in Canada in 1907, followed by Georges in 1908 and Paul in 1913. Georges was a talented sketch artist. He had some training in England but decided not to pursue art as a career. Soon after War was declared, the boys travelled to Edmonton (first Paul and later Georges and Guy) to sign on with the Alberta dragoons, however, the first battalion had already left for the east. Pumps sent them enough money to cover the trip to England, where the three brothers signed up with the Royal Fusiliers. After close to a year of training in England, Paul, Guy and Georges left for France to serve in the same company of the 22nd Royal Fusiliers. In spring of 1916, Georges was wounded at Souchez—shot through the lung. He was invalided to England and convalesced at Ebbwvale, Wales. Although he made it back to France in January 1917, his return to the Front was delayed by quarantine for Mumps. Due to this twist of fate, Georges missed joining his brothers in the Battle at Miraumont, where Paul and Guy were among the several -hundred soldiers killed, February 17, 2017. In the ensuing months, Georges applied for and was granted a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps. He returned to England for training and spent the rest of the War ferrying planes to and from France. After the War, Georges married Suzanne Fournier (nickname Mémé). They lived for a few years in Rife, Alberta but Georges found that he was no longer able to do the difficult physical labor required on the farm. He sold his share of the homestead and moved with Suzanne to Victoria, British Columbia. At some point Suzanne and Georges changed their last name to d’Estrubé, although, the rest of the family maintained the original spelling. In 1949 Georges and Maurice made a nostalgic return visit to Rife where Georges died suddenly at age 61. References: Hendrickson, James E., Ed. Pioneering in Alberta: Maurice Destrube’s Story, Historical Society of Alberta. 1981. Stone, Christopher, Ed. A History of the 22nd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Kensington). 1923.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125266, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452
Creator:: Destrubé, Paul
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-04-01
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 page
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289
Coordinates:: 46, 2
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026879 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1982-006
Fonds Title:: Destrubé family fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC033
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
Transcript:: [Upper left:] Copy [Centre:] Dear ones [Upper right:] Jany 4th 17 We recieved your letters together with a remittance for which many many thanks We have also recieved word from Georges who is at the Base in France waiting to be sent to a battalion. He wrote to our adjutant, asking that our Batt should claim him, which they were good enough to do. We therefore expect him back with us within a few days Ye gods! but there will be some tongue wagging for a day or two when we are reunited again! We hope that it will not be long before he is recalled by the RFC Many thanks dear Syl for obtaining those papers but was it was necessary to go to Sir Newman for them, I thought they could be obtained easily in England? I have as yet heard nothing from him, but wrote to him yesterday quite a long letter (that is long for me) There have been many irregularities in the leave question so that it is difficult yet for Guy to judge when his [time?] will come round; perhaps in three weeks time. We have not much longer to remain here now, but at least we got the Christmas festivities in, which were quick, but pleasant enough. There are no developments to report concering our little schemes. The mail deliveries have been very irregular of late, some of the late letters we have received taking as much as eight days to come. I know of nothing further to say, so will close now. With very best love signed Paul
Technical Note:: Metadata by M. Gerber. Migration metadata by KD.

125. W.O.H. Dodds - Report after the attack on Vimy Ridge

Title Tesim:: W.O.H. Dodds - Report after the attack on Vimy Ridge
Description:: A report from the Counter Battery Office, Canadian Corps Artillery written after the initial attack on Vimy Ridge between April and June of 1917. It contains general notes on areas such as the principles of action and the general nature of operations; Reports on daily operations, intelligence and hostile activities; Flow of information on, for example, balloons and aeroplanes; records of hostile batteries, such as confirmed or un-comfirmed positions; general fire policy, outlining destruction, neutralization etc.; and counter battery instructions and dispositions for "Z" Day. Report contains several appendices, including 2 maps of the Willerval area indicating "zone calls" and positions during the battle on Vimy Ridge. Contributor: L.P. Napier, Lieut. Biography: BRIGADIER GENERAL W. O. H. DODDS, C.M.G., D.S.O. was born on 3 July 1867 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and died in Montreal on 25 August 1934, at 67 years of age. He was manager of the Montreal Agency of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and much involved in and a keen supporter of sports and athletics in that city. Prior to the Great War BGen. Dodds had been a militia officer, a Major in the Artillery (3rd Montreal Battery) although his military career began in the 5th Royal Highlanders. He also served in the Canadian Grenadier Guards and the Royal Montreal Regiment. In 1914 he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and became Officer Commanding the 1st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, at Valcartier Camp and shortly thereafter was promoted to Lieut. Colonel. For a time he was Adjutant of the 1st Brigade, C.F.A., commanded by LCol. E. W. B. Morrison. Sailed with the First Contingent, C.E.F., for England in October 1914. He succeeded LCol. Morrison as Commanding Officer of the 1st Bde., C.F.A., and served in France with the 1st Cdn. Division. LCol. Dodds, later in 1915, commanded the 5th Bde., C.F.A., on Salisbury Plain and in France with the 2nd Cdn. Div. Returned to England in September 1916 to command the 8th Cdn. Training Bde. and almost immediately, in October 1916, was appointed C.R.A. (Commanding or Commander Royal Artillery) 4th Cdn. Div., with the rank of Brigadier General. On 29 March 1917 the 4th Cdn. Div. Artillery became the 5th Cdn. Div. Artillery following the reorganization of the artillery of the Canadian Corps. The 5th Cdn. Div. Arty. went to France in the late summer of 1917 and thereafter fought in all major offensives as Corps Troops. BGen. Dodds later served in Germany as part of the Occupation Forces, and for a short time, as Military Governor of the city of Bonn. Despite efforts to return to the insurance business, it was June 1919 before BGen. Dodds returned to Montreal to continue his civilian career. In New York he was among the first few foreigners to be appointed to an Honourary Life Membership and a Companion of the Military Order of the Society of American Wars, New York Branch. Later he became Honourary Colonel of the Royal Montreal Regiment and, in 1929, Honourary Colonel Commandant, Canadian Artillery.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1167023, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1710190
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-04-09
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 60 pages
Alternative Title:: Notes on Counter Battery Work in connection with the capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadian Corps, April 9, 1917.
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1205091
Coordinates:: 50.37243, 2.81034
Additional Physical Characteristics:: 2 maps.
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028094, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300027267, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300253931, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300027822
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1999-033. File: 1.7.1
Fonds Title:: William Okell Holden Dodds fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC345
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/william-okell-holden-dodds-fonds
Technical Note:: Metadata by M. Gerber and K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.

126. Joseph B. Clearihue - Canadian Official Photograph: Vimy, France

Title Tesim:: Joseph B. Clearihue - Canadian Official Photograph: Vimy, France
Description:: A "Canadian Official Photograph" depicting destroyed buildings in the town of Vimy, France, May 1917. Biography: Joseph Badenoch Clearihue was born in Victoria and attended Boys' Central School and Victoria High School before enrolling at Victoria College (graduated in 1903), McGill University and Oxford University. He enjoyed a long career as a student, a soldier in the Fifth Canadian Field Artillery Unit in World War I, a Liberal MLA and Victoria alderman, and as a lawyer before being appointed a county court judge in 1952. He was Chair of the Victoria College Council (1947-63), and guided the College to university status. In January 1962, Clearihue turned the first sod at the construction site of the Clearihue Building, which was the first building on the Gordon head campus. Clearihue was also the first Chancellor of the University of Victoria, and Chair of the Board of Governors (1963-66).
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1167023, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/840979, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/841182, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/2011150, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/828910, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/531187, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746
Creator:: Castle, W. I. (William Ivor)
Publisher:: Department of National Defence (Canada)
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-05
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
Extent:: 1 black and white photograph
Alternative Title:: A shell bu[r]sting in the village of Vimy which was captured by the Canadians.
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1205091
Coordinates:: 50.37243, 2.81034
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Photograph is a cropped view of the original. Official caption on verso.
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300128347
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1978-027, File: 14.4
Fonds Title:: Joseph Clearihue fonds
Fonds Identifier:: AR032
Is_referenced_by:: Archival Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/joseph-badenoch-clearihue-fonds
Technical Note:: Date, photographer, and publisher based on description in Library and Archives Canada MIKAN database. Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.

127. W.O.H. Dodds - Artillery map of Vimy Ridge, Summer 1917

Title Tesim:: W.O.H. Dodds - Artillery map of Vimy Ridge, Summer 1917
Description:: A map (France, Sheet 36c S.W., 1:20,000) to accompany Canadian Corps Artillery Order Number 83. Shows artillery positions on Vimy Ridge in the Summer of 1917 and includes 1st, 3rd, 4th Canadian Division Artillery and positions of counter battery units. Biography: BRIGADIER GENERAL W. O. H. DODDS, C.M.G., D.S.O. was born on 3 July 1867 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and died in Montreal on 25 August 1934, at 67 years of age. He was manager of the Montreal Agency of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and much involved in and a keen supporter of sports and athletics in that city. Prior to the Great War BGen. Dodds had been a militia officer, a Major in the Artillery (3rd Montreal Battery) although his military career began in the 5th Royal Highlanders. He also served in the Canadian Grenadier Guards and the Royal Montreal Regiment. In 1914 he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and became Officer Commanding the 1st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, at Valcartier Camp and shortly thereafter was promoted to Lieut. Colonel. For a time he was Adjutant of the 1st Brigade, C.F.A., commanded by LCol. E. W. B. Morrison. Sailed with the First Contingent, C.E.F., for England in October 1914. He succeeded LCol. Morrison as Commanding Officer of the 1st Bde., C.F.A., and served in France with the 1st Cdn. Division. LCol. Dodds, later in 1915, commanded the 5th Bde., C.F.A., on Salisbury Plain and in France with the 2nd Cdn. Div. Returned to England in September 1916 to command the 8th Cdn. Training Bde. and almost immediately, in October 1916, was appointed C.R.A. (Commanding or Commander Royal Artillery) 4th Cdn. Div., with the rank of Brigadier General. On 29 March 1917 the 4th Cdn. Div. Artillery became the 5th Cdn. Div. Artillery following the reorganization of the artillery of the Canadian Corps. The 5th Cdn. Div. Arty. went to France in the late summer of 1917 and thereafter fought in all major offensives as Corps Troops. BGen. Dodds later served in Germany as part of the Occupation Forces, and for a short time, as Military Governor of the city of Bonn. Despite efforts to return to the insurance business, it was June 1919 before BGen. Dodds returned to Montreal to continue his civilian career. In New York he was among the first few foreigners to be appointed to an Honourary Life Membership and a Companion of the Military Order of the Society of American Wars, New York Branch. Later he became Honourary Colonel of the Royal Montreal Regiment and, in 1929, Honourary Colonel Commandant, Canadian Artillery.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1167023, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1981989, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1710190, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746
Language:: eng and fre
Date Created:: 1917-22
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
Extent:: 1 map
Alternative Title:: Map, R. A. (b), to accompany Canadian Corps Art. Order No. 83, France, Sheet 36c S.W.
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1205091
Coordinates:: 50.37243, 2.81034
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Colour. Scale 1:20,000
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028253 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028094
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1999-033
Fonds Title:: William Okell Holden Dodds fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC345
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/william-okell-holden-dodds-fonds
Technical Note:: Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.

128. Theodore Monk - Letter to Theo from Henry, July 5, 1917

Title Tesim:: Theodore Monk - Letter to Theo from Henry, July 5, 1917
Description:: A letter written to Monk at the Front in France from his young brother Henry in Winnepeg, Manitoba in July 1917. Biography: Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Benning Monk, well-known Victoria soldier and realtor was born in Winnipeg in 1884. In 1907 he enlisted with the active militia and in 1908 he became a gunner with the 13th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery (Manitoba Regiment). He turned to law when defective eyesight barred him from the permanent army then left that as "tedious". He followed his next employer to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the city engineer's department. His real estate career started with Pemberton & Sons, but he soon founded his own firm with Roger Monteith, which was responsible for forming several sub-divisions. He also was interested in developing Clo-ose as a resort area, but a change in the government planning halted the scheme. In the First World War he started service with the 54th Battalion, and fought in Vimy Ridge. Working between the wars as a realtor, he became Commanding Officer of the 5th Regiment. He was Commanding Officer of the Cadet Training Camp on the site of the present campus from 1940-41. After his Gordon Head post he became a liason officer of the U.S. Army from 1942-44. From 1930 until his death in 1959 Colonel Monk campaigned actively for a uniquely Canadian flag: designing flags, writing to M.P.'s and appealing to the general public.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251, Monk, Theodore, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125266, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746
Creator:: Monk, Henry
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-07-05
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 letter and 1 envelope
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1205803 and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289
Coordinates:: 49.8844, -97.14704 and 46, 2
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026879
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1978-019
Fonds Title:: Theodore Benning Monk fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC081
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/theodore-benning-monk-fonds
Technical Note:: Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.

129. Theodore Monk - Esquimalt postcard

Title Tesim:: Theodore Monk - Esquimalt postcard
Description:: A postcard sent to Theodore Monk during his service in France in World War I. Biography: 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 later went into law and real estate. He moved to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the City Engineer's Department. He established his own real estate firm with Roger Monteith, and among other real estate activities sought to develop the coastal town of Clo-ose, B.C. as a resort. In World War I he served with the 54th Battalion and fought in Vimy Ridge. He was Commanding Officer of the Gordon Head Cadet Training Camp at the present campus of the University of Victoria, 1940-1941, and became a liaison officer of the U.S. Army from 1942-1944. From 1930 on, Monk campaigned actively for a uniquely Canadian flag and submitted numerous designs to the competition for a new flag in 1968.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125266, Monk, Theodore, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-07-22
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage and http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 postcard
Alternative Title:: Warships in Esquimalt Naval Harbour, Victoria, B.C.
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1214700, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1205803
Coordinates:: 46, 2, 48.4359, -123.35155, and 49.8844, -97.14704
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Colour photograph.
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026816, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300128359
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1978-019
Fonds Title:: Theodore Benning Monk fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC081
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/theodore-benning-monk-fonds
Technical Note:: Metadata by M. Parker. and K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.

130. Theodore Monk - Ross Bay postcard

Title Tesim:: Theodore Monk - Ross Bay postcard
Description:: A postcard sent to Theodore Monk during his service in France in World War I. Biography: 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 later went into law and real estate. He moved to Victoria in 1908 and started work in the City Engineer's Department. He established his own real estate firm with Roger Monteith, and among other real estate activities sought to develop the coastal town of Clo-ose, B.C. as a resort. In World War I he served with the 54th Battalion and fought in Vimy Ridge. He was Commanding Officer of the Gordon Head Cadet Training Camp at the present campus of the University of Victoria, 1940-1941, and became a liaison officer of the U.S. Army from 1942-1944. From 1930 on, Monk campaigned actively for a uniquely Canadian flag and submitted numerous designs to the competition for a new flag in 1968.
Subject:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125266, and Monk, Theodore
Language:: eng
Date Created:: 1917-07-23
Rights Statement:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
License Tesim:: This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
Resource Type:: http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage and http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
Extent:: 1 postcard
Alternative Title:: Ross Bay, Victoria, B. C.
Geographic Coverage:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1205803, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1214700, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289
Coordinates:: 48.4359, -123.35155, 46, 2, and 49.8844, -97.14704
Additional Physical Characteristics:: Colour photograph. Postage stamp on front of postcard dated August 13, 1917.
Physical Repository:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Collection:: Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
Provider:: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/522461
Genre:: http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026816, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300128359, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
Archival Item Identifier:: Accession Number: 1978-019
Fonds Title:: Theodore Benning Monk fonds
Fonds Identifier:: SC081
Is_referenced_by:: Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/theodore-benning-monk-fonds
Technical Note:: Metadata by M. Parker. and K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.