The Best of Times

| May 3, 2020

Remembered A solitary grass and flower muncher ambles across the road from one yard to the next. Unperturbed by the white painted fence it approaches and without the leaping gait of a high jumper, this fleet of foot one, simply springs from a standing position across the obstacle. Then turning its head, to look at […]

Behind the Wire 1916

| January 20, 2018

16th Battalion C.E.F. Prisoners of War (Part 2) …the enemy opened a heavy bombing attack against the left flank. Sergeant Slessor was wounded and captured – he died three days afterwards. His post was overwhelmed. Only after hard fighting was this onslaught stopped and the block retaken. (Urquhart, The Sixteenth, page 183) See also Behind […]

In the morning, evening, at night…

| May 1, 2017

Om morgonen, kvelden, natta* In the darkness of the early morning the men of Alberta waited for the barrage to commence which would send them “over the top.” In spite of the heavy enemy bombardment, there were few casualties before the opening of the attack; but in front, swept by rifle and machine-gun fire and […]

My Vimy

| April 11, 2017

It is as if Vimy is the start of what I do Vimy is connected to family. It’s personal. This I learned many years ago from my grandmother who told me stories about her father…..which were…..upon reflection…..stories her mother had told. This was the man Grannie knew…..memories…..passed from one generation to another. Grannie was two […]

The Cambusnethan VC

| April 8, 2017

W.J. Milne 16th Battalion CEF (Canadian Scottish) William Milne came to Canada in 1910 from his native Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland settling near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where he worked as a farmer. On 11 September 1915 Milne joined the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion but transferred on 16 June 1916 to the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Canadian […]