Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
User Collection PublicVictoria 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.
Permalink: https://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/45830aeb-b1dc-48fa-901e-3c05e70b04d5
Collection Details
- Items 170
- Last Updated 2024-07-31
Parent Collections (1)
Works (170)
11. Archie Wills - All in a Lifetime scrapbook
- Title Tesim:
- Archie Wills - All in a Lifetime scrapbook
- Description:
- A scrapbook compiled by Lydia Wills (née Knapp) for Archie H. Wills. Scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper clippings and ephemera relating to Archie Wills' experiences in the army during World War I, his career as a journalist and later editor of the "Victoria Daily Times," and his involvement with the City Council of Victoria, the Y.M.C.A., and the Gyro Club. Scrapbook also contains materials related to his personal life, athletics, marriage to Lydia Knapp, and the marriages of his children. Biography: Archie H. Wills (Henry Archibald Wills) was born in Victoria, British Columbia on 11 September 1892. His parents, Frank Henry Wills (1864-1953) and Sarah Ann Porter (1861-1946) were born in England and emigrated to Canada in 1887 and 1890, respectively. Frank Wills was a carpenter and built many houses in Victoria, including his own family’s which was located in the Spring Ridge area of the Fernwood neighbourhood. Archie attended Spring Ridge School and Victoria High School. Upon seeing an advertisement for an editorial room office boy at the Victoria Daily Times, Archie immediately decided he wanted to be a newspaperman, and left school to do so at age fifteen. Within a few months he had begun to write short pieces for the Times. In 1910 he was made Marine Editor for the paper, a position he held for five years until he enlisted for World War I. Archie embarked upon a round-the-world trip in 1913 but only went as far as Toronto, where he met Lydia Mary Knapp, a successful amateur singer. He returned for a visit in 1914 and they were engaged. Unable to join an aerial corps (he had a life-long interest in aviation), Archie joined the 62nd Battery, Canadian Forces Artillery, the right section of which was absorbed by the 58th Howitzer Battery in 1917. He trained at Fort Macaulay, Petawawa, and Witley (England) and then saw sixteen months of action in France, rising through the ranks from Gunner to Bombardier, Corporal and Sergeant. During the war, Archie established “The O-Pip” (The Observation Post) paper with Gordon A. Cameron and J. M. Mitch Inglis. Lydia and Archie married on 3 September 1919. They had three children, Kenneth (b. 1922), Eileen (b. 1924), and Dorothy (b. 1928). When he returned to Victoria and the Times in 1919 Archie was assigned the police beat. Other assignments followed: he was Sports Editor from 1920-27, City Editor from 1928 to 1936, and Managing Editor from 1936 until his retirement from the Times in 1951. During his career at the Times he also served Victoria in a number of public offices: as police commissioner for two years, Chairman of Fire Wardens for seven years, a Director of the Chamber of Commerce for twelve years, a member of the War Board for the duration of WWII, and an alderman on City Council for ten years (1934-44), the last three of which he was Acting Mayor of Victoria. Archie was a charter member of the Victoria Gyro Club, a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was connected with the YM-YWCA throughout his life and was a lifelong member of the congregation of the Metropolitan United Church (earlier the Metropolitan Methodist Church). After 1951 Archie continued to sell stories and act as Victoria correspondent of the Seattle Times. He continued to write for the Victoria Times and the Daily Colonist until the early 1980s. In 1951 on retirement from the Times he began a career in public relations, including work for the Victoria Milk Distributors Association. He assisted with local labour adjudications, and, along with Lester Patrick, revived the Victoria Cougars hockey franchise. Archie was Managing Secretary of the Victoria Downtown Business Association when it formed in 1953, and he worked with the Association until 1969. He retired from public relations in 1969, the year of his and Lydia’s golden wedding anniversary. He continued to write, travel, and spend time with his by then extensive family. Lydia died in 1985. Archie died 5 April 1988 in Victoria, aged 95.
- Subject:
- http://id.worldcat.org/fast/814835, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1165710, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/862123, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021247, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/837328, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125249, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/864940, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1010443, Wills, Percy E., http://id.worldcat.org/fast/531187, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/803587, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/592499, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180924, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1728849, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1029339, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/819166, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1183052, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1128924, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/893952, Wills, Archie H. (Archibald Henry), 1892-1988, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1037111
- Contributor:
- Wills, Lydia
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1912/1971
- 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 scrapbook (33 pages) ; 32 x 30.5 cm
- Alternative Title:
- Scrapbook: Highlights of the life of Archie H. Wills as prepared by his wife Lydia
- Geographic Coverage:
- http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1245064, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204310, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1214700
- Coordinates:
- 48.4359, -123.35155 and 60.10867, -113.64258
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Pagination skips from ScrpBk_26-verso to ScrpBk_28 due to possible numbering error.
- 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/300027240, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026867, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300027341, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028881, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300027191
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2005-036, Item: 5.2
- Fonds Title:
- Archie H. Wills fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR394
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/archie-h-wills-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman and M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
12. Joseph B. Clearihue - officers of the S.S. Corinthian postcard
- Title Tesim:
- Joseph B. Clearihue - officers of the S.S. Corinthian postcard
- Description:
- A photographic postcard depicting the officers of the S.S. Corinthian, June 29, 1913. Group includes the captain, the ship's purser, the doctor, and other officers, some identified on verso ( and Martin, G. S.; Anderson, T. H.; Blewett, E. W.; Jamieson, J.). According to Joseph B. Clearihue's scrapbook, Clearihue's mother and sister sailed to England on board the S.S. Corinthian in 1913. 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/2011150, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1116439, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/814617, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1913
- 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 postcard
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Black and white.
- 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/300026816, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300128347, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1978-027, File: 14.3
- 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:
- Joseph B. Clearihue's scrapbook (2005-012_ScrpBk_2_231) contains a passenger list with the following annotation: "Passenger List of Corinthian upon which my mother and sister [?] sailed to England in 1913." List of officers available on ScrpBk_2_238. Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
13. F. L. and M. Barrow - Mary Hutton on her way to Canada, March 1913 photograph
- Title Tesim:
- F. L. and M. Barrow - Mary Hutton on her way to Canada, March 1913 photograph
- Description:
- A photograph depicting Mary Hutton during her journey to visit her brother in Edmonton, Canada, where she met and married Frederick L. Barrow in 1913. Biography: Mary Hutton Barrow was born in England in 1893 and emigrated to Edmonton, Canada. She died in 1965. During the First World War she volunteered extensively for the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, wartime canteen, etc. Her brother, Jack Hutton, enlisted and died during the war. Frederick Barrow was born in 1894 in England and immigrated to Edmonton with his parents. He served with the Canadian forces oversees from 1914 to 1920. After the war he became an Adjustment Officer with the Great War Veterans' Association and Canadian Legion, and later became the first Departmental Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. He gave extensive evidence before the Federal Special Committee on Returned Soldiers' Problems. He died in 1979. Frederick and Mary had one daughter, Valentine Kathleen, who was a member of the RCAF women’s division, and later became a librarian at the University of Guelph. Frederick and Mary traveled extensively and visited about 40 countries.
- Subject:
- Barrow, Mary H., http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1177123, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1913-03
- 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 ; 8.4 x 10.9 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Caption in blue ink of back: Mary Hutton on her way to Canada where she married Frederick Lyon Barrow and was known [variously] as May and Mem March 1913
- 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/300128347 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1991-053
- Fonds Title:
- Frederick Lyon Barrow fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC010
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/frederick-lyon-barrow-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2016-05-11
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
14. Archie Wills - Cemetery Villers-au-Bois photograph
- Title Tesim:
- Archie Wills - Cemetery Villers-au-Bois photograph
- Description:
- Photograph showing countless white cross grave markers for Canadian soldiers in a cemetery. Some of the graves have flowers placed on them. Biography: Archie H. Wills (Henry Archibald Wills) was born in Victoria, British Columbia on 11 September 1892. His parents, Frank Henry Wills (1864-1953) and Sarah Ann Porter (1861-1946) were born in England and emigrated to Canada in 1887 and 1890, respectively. Frank Wills was a carpenter and built many houses in Victoria, including his own family’s which was located in the Spring Ridge area of the Fernwood neighbourhood. Archie attended Spring Ridge School and Victoria High School. Upon seeing an advertisement for an editorial room office boy at the Victoria Daily Times, Archie immediately decided he wanted to be a newspaperman, and left school to do so at age fifteen. Within a few months he had begun to write short pieces for the Times. In 1910 he was made Marine Editor for the paper, a position he held for five years until he enlisted for World War I. Archie embarked upon a round-the-world trip in 1913 but only went as far as Toronto, where he met Lydia Mary Knapp, a successful amateur singer. He returned for a visit in 1914 and they were engaged. Unable to join an aerial corps (he had a life-long interest in aviation), Archie joined the 62nd Battery, Canadian Forces Artillery, the right section of which was absorbed by the 58th Howitzer Battery in 1917. He trained at Fort Macaulay, Petawawa, and Witley (England) and then saw sixteen months of action in France, rising through the ranks from Gunner to Bombardier, Corporal and Sergeant. During the war, Archie established “The O-Pip” (The Observation Post) paper with Gordon A. Cameron and J. M. Mitch Inglis. Lydia and Archie married on 3 September 1919. They had three children, Kenneth (b. 1922), Eileen (b. 1924), and Dorothy (b. 1928). When he returned to Victoria and the Times in 1919 Archie was assigned the police beat. Other assignments followed: he was Sports Editor from 1920-27, City Editor from 1928 to 1936, and Managing Editor from 1936 until his retirement from the Times in 1951. During his career at the Times he also served Victoria in a number of public offices: as police commissioner for two years, Chairman of Fire Wardens for seven years, a Director of the Chamber of Commerce for twelve years, a member of the War Board for the duration of WWII, and an alderman on City Council for ten years (1934-44), the last three of which he was Acting Mayor of Victoria. Archie was a charter member of the Victoria Gyro Club, a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was connected with the YM-YWCA throughout his life and was a lifelong member of the congregation of the Metropolitan United Church (earlier the Metropolitan Methodist Church). After 1951 Archie continued to sell stories and act as Victoria correspondent of the Seattle Times. He continued to write for the Victoria Times and the Daily Colonist until the early 1980s. In 1951 on retirement from the Times he began a career in public relations, including work for the Victoria Milk Distributors Association. He assisted with local labour adjudications, and, along with Lester Patrick, revived the Victoria Cougars hockey franchise. Archie was Managing Secretary of the Victoria Downtown Business Association when it formed in 1953, and he worked with the Association until 1969. He retired from public relations in 1969, the year of his and Lydia’s golden wedding anniversary. He continued to write, travel, and spend time with his by then extensive family. Lydia died in 1985. Archie died 5 April 1988 in Victoria, aged 95.
- Subject:
- http://id.worldcat.org/fast/850521, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1170508, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125338, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1170454
- Contributor:
- Wills, Archie H. (Archibald Henry), 1892-1988
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914/1918
- 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
- Geographic Coverage:
- http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1204289
- Coordinates:
- 46, 2
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Caption on front "Cemetery. Villers-Au-Bois" and caption on back in blue ink "War cemetery in France, 1914-18"
- 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/300128347 and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2005-036, File: 4.10
- Fonds Title:
- Archie H. Wills fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR394
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/archie-h-wills-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
15. Destrubé family - "A" Company Piquet postcard (copy 1 of 2)
- Title Tesim:
- Destrubé family - "A" Company Piquet postcard (copy 1 of 2)
- Description:
- A photographic postcard depicting Georges, Guy and Paul Destrubé as part of A Company Piquet. On the reverse, Georges describes how Picquet duty works in camp. Possibly Clipstone, England. 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:
- Destrubé, Georges, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021543, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125324
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914/1915
- 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 postcard ; 13.5 x 8.5 cm
- Alternative Title:
- A Coy. Piquet.
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Clipstone
- Coordinates:
- 53.17375, -1.11287
- 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, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300128347, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026816
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
16. Destrubé family - "A" Company Piquet postcard (copy 2 of 2)
- Title Tesim:
- Destrubé family - "A" Company Piquet postcard (copy 2 of 2)
- Description:
- A photographic postcard depicting Georges, Guy and Paul Destrubé as part of A Company Piquet. On the reverse, Georges describes how Piquet duty works in camp and talks about the troop commander. Possibly Clipstone, England. 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/1021543, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125324, and Destrubé, Georges
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914/1915
- 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 postcard ; 13.5 x 8.5 cm
- Alternative Title:
- A Coy. Piquet.
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Clipstone
- Coordinates:
- 53.17375, -1.11287
- 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/300128347, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026816, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
17. Destrubé family - British uniform button
- Title Tesim:
- Destrubé family - British uniform button
- Description:
- A British military First World War general service brass button. 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/1021354, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021566, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914/1918
- 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/PhysicalObject and http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 uniform button ; 2.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1219920
- Coordinates:
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 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/300117127, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300207332, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300427524, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300265421
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
18. Destrubé family - Georges' military ID tag
- Title Tesim:
- Destrubé family - Georges' military ID tag
- Description:
- A First World War metal, military identification tag. Engraving reads, "RFUS C E" at centre and "L. Destrubé 50512" around the edge. The reverse is heavily worn, the profile of a head (likely the king) can be detected in raking light. 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, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021354
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914
- 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 identification tag
- 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/300117127, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300426412, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300265421, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300247916
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2016-06-23
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
19. Destrubé family - Miniature 22" gun range, Clipstone Camp, England photograph
- Title Tesim:
- Destrubé family - Miniature 22" gun range, Clipstone Camp, England photograph
- Description:
- A photograph depicting soldiers from the 22nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers posed in front of a miniature 22" gun range, built during training at Clipstone Camp. Georges Destrubé indicates on the reverse of the card that he was the leader for the work. 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/1125324, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125251, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021543, Destrubé, Georges, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/835803, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914/1915
- 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 postcard ; 13.5 x 8.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Clipstone
- Coordinates:
- 53.17375, -1.11287
- 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/300128347, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046300, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026816, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300026877
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
20. Destrubé family - Officer's Rank Insignia Pin
- Title Tesim:
- Destrubé family - Officer's Rank Insignia Pin
- Description:
- One of a pair of officer's rank insignia pin from Georges Destrubé's First World War service. These would have been attached to the tunic epaulets. 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/1180746, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/216452, http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021354, and http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021566
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1914/1918
- 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/PhysicalObject and http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 officer's pin ; 3 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1219920
- Coordinates:
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 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/300426511, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300427524, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300265421, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300207332, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028725, http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300117127, and http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300046006
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/destrube-family-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.