Canada’s Last 100 Days of the Great War

| July 8, 2018

Near to an ending? The passing days of centenary have provided several opportunities to pause and think upon celebration, commemoration, reconciliation. Now near to the end, those of us who have chosen to venture into the marshes of conflict must come to terms with 100 years plus one, plus two and so on. Although centenaries […]

Vimy Ridge Aerial Photographs April 1917

| April 8, 2017

The Royal Flying Corps at Work Aerial reconnaissance images taken by Royal Flying Corps (RFC) personnel. Printed and carefully assembled by the RFC for the four Canadian Divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, April 1917. Click on images for larger versions. Compare the images above with the map illustration below to learn where Canadian units […]

The CEF Comes Home

| March 11, 2017

The Transports that brought them Today while sauntering through countless images I happened upon this painting that I have always enjoyed for its subject matter and vibrant colours and interrupting angles. Arthur Lismer was an official Canadian war artist and I can only imagine what Lismer thought when encountering the abstract lines of the Olympic […]

The Tin Hat on the Somme

| October 7, 2016

I Heard the Clang of a Bullet Some months prior to the attack on Regina Trench, 8 October 1916, Canadian troops were first issued with the steel helmet in the spring of 1916. Patented in London in 1915 by John Leopold Brodie of Buffalo, New York, the helmet came into general use when large quantities […]

“Capture of the Sugar Refinery” by Fortunino Matania

| September 15, 2016

Authenticity, Accuracy in the Depiction of the Great War Today we reflect upon an event of a 100 years ago when the Canadian Expeditionary Force took part in its first major action of the Somme campaign during the Battle of Flers-Courclette. The Capture of the Sugar Refinery, September 15, 1916, was interpreted by Italian war artist […]