Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
User Collection Public
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.
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/45830aeb-b1dc-48fa-901e-3c05e70b04d5
Collection Details
- Items 170
- Last Updated 2025-02-21
Parent Collections (1)
Works (170)
81. Joseph B. Clearihue - Petawawa military camp, Ontario photograph
- Title:
- Joseph B. Clearihue - Petawawa military camp, Ontario photograph
- Description:
- An official photograph of the military training camp at Petawawa, Ontario. 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:
- World War (1914-1918), Canada. Canadian Army, War horses, Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976, and Military training camps
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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:
- Ontario--Petawawa
- Coordinates:
- 45.89452, -77.28007
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Caption on verso reads: "62nd Battery C.F.A. Line, Petawawa Camp, Ont. June 2nd - Sept 2nd, 1916."
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- photographs and black-and-white photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1978-027
- Fonds Title:
- Joseph Clearihue fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR032
- Is_referenced_by:
- Archival Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/joseph-badenoch-clearihue-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
82. Joseph B. Clearihue - group portrait of soldiers in front of the Empress Hotel, Victoria, B.C. postcard
- Title:
- Joseph B. Clearihue - group portrait of soldiers in front of the Empress Hotel, Victoria, B.C. postcard
- Description:
- A photographic postcard depicting a group of soldiers on the lawn of the Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. The soldiers are possibly members of the 62nd Battery, 15th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. 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:
- Soldiers--Correspondence, Empress Hotel (Victoria, B.C.), Soldiers, Canada. Canadian Army, Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976, and World War (1914-1918)
- Publisher:
- Victoria Book & Stationary Co., Ltd.
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Victoria
- Coordinates:
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Black and white.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- postcards, correspondence, photographs, and black-and-white photographs
- 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://search.archives.uvic.ca/joseph-badenoch-clearihue-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
83. Joseph B. Clearihue - heavy artillery in action, Petawawa, Ontario postcard
- Title:
- Joseph B. Clearihue - heavy artillery in action, Petawawa, Ontario postcard
- Description:
- A photographic postcard depicting soldiers with heavy artillery at the military training camp in Petawawa, Ontario. Message on verso was written by Joseph B. Clearihue to his sister, Etholine, on September 8, 1916. Clearihue obtained the postcard during his period of training at Petawawa. 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:
- Soldiers, Armed Forces--Artillery--Drill and tactics, Soldiers--Correspondence, World War (1914-1918), Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976, Military training camps, and Canada. Canadian Army
- Creator:
- Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Alternative Title:
- Heavy artillery in action, Petawawa, Ont
- Geographic Coverage:
- Ontario--Petawawa
- Coordinates:
- 45.89452, -77.28007
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Black and white.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- postcards, black-and-white photographs, correspondence, and photographs
- 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://search.archives.uvic.ca/joseph-badenoch-clearihue-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
84. Joseph B. Clearihue - officers at Lark Hill postcard
- Title:
- Joseph B. Clearihue - officers at Lark Hill postcard
- Description:
- A photographic postcard with a group portrait of soldiers wearing boiler suits over their uniforms. The photograph was taken during training at Larkhill garrison town, Salisbury Plain, England, and possibly depicts members of the 62nd Battery, 15th Brigade or the 51st Battery, 13th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Message on verso was written by Joseph B. Clearihue to his sister, Etholine. 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:
- Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976, World War (1914-1918), Soldiers, Canada. Canadian Army, and Soldiers--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916?/1917?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Salisbury Plain
- Coordinates:
- 51.21667, -1.83333
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Black and white.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- postcards, black-and-white photographs, correspondence, and photographs
- 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://search.archives.uvic.ca/joseph-badenoch-clearihue-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
85. Joseph B. Clearihue - post office and telegraph office, Petawawa Camp, Ontario postcard
- Title:
- Joseph B. Clearihue - post office and telegraph office, Petawawa Camp, Ontario postcard
- Description:
- A photographic postcard depicting the post office and telegraph office at the military training camp in Petawawa, Ontario. Message on verso was written by Joseph B. Clearihue to his sister, Etholine, on September 9, 1916. Clearihue obtained the postcard during his period of training at Petawawa. 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:
- World War (1914-1918), Military training camps, Canada. Canadian Army, Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976, and Soldiers--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Clearihue, J. B. (Joseph Badenoch), 1887-1976
- Contributor:
- Clearihue, Etholine
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Alternative Title:
- P.O. and telegraph office, Petawawa Camp, Ont.
- Geographic Coverage:
- Ontario--Petawawa and Québec--Québec
- Coordinates:
- 46.81228, -71.21454 and 45.89452, -77.28007
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- photographs, postcards, correspondence, and black-and-white photographs
- 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://search.archives.uvic.ca/joseph-badenoch-clearihue-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
86. Keith Macgowan - WWI letters
- Title:
- Keith Macgowan - WWI letters
- Description:
- A typescript collection of letters written by Keith Macgowan during his army service in the 131st Battalion of the New Westminster Regiment, the majority to his mother, Fanny Owen Macgowan. The letters date from April 30, 1916 to November of 1919 and cover Captain Macgowan's training at Victoria and Vernon BC, the battlefields in France and Belgium and postwar in Belgium and Canada. The letters describe daily life at the front, difficult conditions in the trenches, death and injury to friends and fellow soldiers, the work of his batmen, and experiences on leave in Paris and London. A number of letters describe Macgowan's legal work during the war, when he was occasionally assigned to defend soldiers accused of crimes, including desertion(a hanging offense). Biography: Keith Campbell Macgowan was born in Gowan Brae, PEI in 1890 and died in New Westminster BC in 1934. He was admitted to the bar in 1912, and joined the 131st Battalion of the New Westminster Regiment in 1916. During World War I, Macgowan was promoted to the rank of Captain, and was also engaged in scouting missions and providing legal work for the army.
- Subject:
- Soldiers, Battlefields, Soldiers--Training of, Macgowan, Keith C. (Keith Campbell), 1890-1934, World War (1914-1918), Soldiers--Social conditions, Intrenchments, and Soldiers--Conduct of life
- Creator:
- Macgowan, Keith C. (Keith Campbell), 1890-1934
- Contributor:
- Macgowan, Fanny
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916/1919
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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:
- 159 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Victoria, France, British Columbia--Vernon, and Belgium--Passendale
- Coordinates:
- 50.89979, 3.02133, 48.4359, -123.35155, 46, 2, and 50.26729, -119.27337
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1995-016
- Fonds Title:
- Keith Macgowan fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC074
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/keith-macgowan-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Gerber and K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.
87. Theodore Monk - group portrait of Bugle band, 121st Battn: Western Irish photograph
- Title:
- Theodore Monk - group portrait of Bugle band, 121st Battn: Western Irish photograph
- Description:
- A portrait photograph of the 121st Battalion (Western Irish) "Bugle Band" in Vernon, B.C., 1916. White tents are visible in the background. 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:
- World War (1914-1918), Monk, Theodore, Bands (Music), and Canada. Canadian Army
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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:
- "Bugle Band" 121st Battn: "Western Irish" (Vernon B.C. 1916)
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Vernon and British Columbia--Vancouver
- Coordinates:
- 49.24966, -123.11934 and 50.26729, -119.27337
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- photographs
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1978-019
- Fonds Title:
- Theodore Benning Monk fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC081
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/theodore-benning-monk-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Parker. Migration metadata by KD.
88. Theodore Monk - paybook
- Title:
- Theodore Monk - paybook
- Description:
- An Officer's Advance paybook used by Theodore Monk during his service in France in World War I as part of the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion between 1916 and 1917. Shows the amount of pay assigned to him was $85 per month. 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:
- Military paraphernalia, Soldiers, Monk, Theodore, and World War (1914-1918)
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916/1917
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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 booklet (11 pages)
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Only the front cover and first few pay stubs of the paybook are represented here.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- booklets, military records, and paybooks
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1978-019
- Fonds Title:
- Theodore Benning Monk fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC081
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/theodore-benning-monk-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Gerber. Migration metadata by KD.
89. Wood family - Zilah Hobart's WWI experience in Russia diary
- Title:
- Wood family - Zilah Hobart's WWI experience in Russia diary
- Description:
- A school exercise book used by Zillah Wood (nee. Hobart) as a diary to discuss her experiences and feelings during World War One in Russia. The first entry begins "Reflections - Nymchurch" and is dated August 10, 1916, other entries discuss her feelings hopelessness, the people around her, and her fear about winter coming.
- Subject:
- Civilians in war, World War (1914-1918), and Women and war
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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 notebook (70 pages) ; 20cm x 16.5 cm
- Alternative Title:
- Wood Family Diary and Zillah Hobart (later Wood)'s Russian Diary
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- notebooks and diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2011-048, File: 1.1
- Fonds Title:
- Wood family collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC465
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/wood-family-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2017-01-09
- Technical Note:
- Scanned by CDW on Plustek OpticBook A300 @ 600dpi tiff. Migration metadata by KD.
90. Destrubé family - Letter to Maurice and Mag from Georges, January 9, 1916, France
- Title:
- Destrubé family - Letter to Maurice and Mag from Georges, January 9, 1916, France
- Description:
- A letter written by Georges to Maurice and Maggie from France, January 9, 1916. In the letter, he reminisces about home in Alberta, describes his routines at the Front, alternating work in the trenches and on "rest," billets, acting as translator for the officers, and experiencing bombardments. Destrubé Family Biogrpahy: 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:
- World War (1914-1918), Destrube family, Soldiers, Soldiers--Family relationships, Soldiers--Conduct of life, and Soldiers--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Destrubé, Georges
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1916-01-09
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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:
- 6 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- France
- Coordinates:
- 46, 2
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2016-001
- Fonds Title:
- Destrubé family fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC033
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections fonds: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/destrube-family-fonds
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by M. Gerber and K. Bohlman. Migration metadata by KD.