Contemporary Accounts

Small pocket diaries such as these were prized by soldiers during the First World War, who used them to keep track of the weather, their daily activities, and letters and parcels sent and received. In some diaries there are small photographs, pressed flowers, and even a real preserved butterfly.

During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps was responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of Canadian casualties in all theatres of war. These photographs, likely taken in the summer of 1940, show an ambulance from Kitchener-Waterloo's 24th Field Ambulance. The banner on the side of the vehicle reads: "Your Scrap Paper will make cartons for Blood Plasma if you put it out for collection on Thursday, August 10."

This document outlines the procedure in the event of an electrical blackout. Roles and duties were assigned to various men, with an emphasis on public safety and protecting the infrastructure. 

The 139th Battalion CEF was recruited in Northumberland County, and mobilized in Cobourg, Ontario, in 1915. The battalion had a strength of 21 officers and 495 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Southland on 27 September 1916. 

The 138th Battalion CEF was recruited and mobilized in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1915. The battalion had a strength of 32 officers and 870 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Olympic on 24 August 1916. 

The 137th Battalion CEF was recruited and mobilized in Calgary, Alberta, in 1915. The battalion had a strength of 32 officers and 936 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Olympic on 24 August 1916. 

The 136th Battalion CEF was recruited in Durham County, and mobilized in Kingston, Ontario, in 1915. The battalion had a strength of 18 officers and 492 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Corsican on 27 September 1916. 

The 135th Battalion CEF was recruited in Middlesex County, and mobilized in London, Ontario, in 1915. The battalion had a strength of 32 officers and 911 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Olympic on 24 August 1916. 

The 134th Battalion CEF was recruited and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario, in 1915. The battalion, whose recruits had to be at least 5'7" tall, had a strength of 32 officers and 1078 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Scotian on 9 August 1916. 

The 133rd Battalion CEF was recruited throughout Norfolk County, and mobilized in Simcoe, Ontario. "Norfolk's Own" had a strength of 21 officers and 665 other ranks when it embarked from Halifax aboard the Lapland on 1 November 1916.