Contemporary Accounts

Small pocket diaries just like these were prized by front-line troops during the First World War. Soldiers often used these to keep track of the weather, their daily activities, and who had sent them letters and parcels. 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 sometime in the summer of 1940, show an ambulance from Kitchener-Waterloo's 24th Field Ambulance. The banner hanging from the side of the ambulance 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 was recruited in Northumberland County and mobilized in Cobourg, Ontario, with a strength of 21 officers and 495 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 27 September 1916, on the troop ship Southland, and disembarked in the UK on 6 October.

The 138th battalion was recruited and mobilized in Edmonton, Ontario, with a strength of 32 officers and 870 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 24 August 1916, on the troop ship Olympic, and disembarked in the UK on 29 August.

The 137th battalion was recruited and mobilized in Calgary, Alberta, with a strength of 32 officers and 936 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 24 August 1916, on the troop ship Olympic, and disembarked in the UK on 29 August.

The 136th battalion was recruited in Durham County and mobilized in Kingston, Ontario, with a strength of 18 officers and 492 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 27 September 1916, on the troop ship Corsican, and disembarked in the UK on 6 October.

The 135th battalion was recruited in Middlesex County and mobilized in London, Ontario, with a strength of 32 officers and 911 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 24 August 1916, on the troop ship Olympic, and disembarked in the UK on 29 August.

The 134th battalion was recruited and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario (recruits to be at least 5'7" tall), with a strength of 32 officers and 1078 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 9 August 1916, on the troop ship Scotian, and disembarked in the UK on 19 August.

The 133rd battalion was recruited in Norfolk County (beginning 10 December 1915) and mobilized in Simcoe, Ontario, with a strength of 21 officers and 665 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 1 November 1916, on the troop ship Lapland, and disembarked in the UK on 11 November.