Contemporary Accounts

Syllabus of Training

This document is a reserves training schedule for the week of March 20th, 1917. It is divided by day and time, and provides a short description of the task like 'phy training', 'rifle manual', and 'Lewis gun'.

Soldier's Pocket Diary

Small pocket diaries just like these were given out to all front line troops during the First World War. Soldiers often used these to keep track of the weather, their daily activities, and who they received letters/parcels from.

In some diaries there are small photographs, pressed flowers, and even a real preserved butterfly.

Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps Parade

During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps were instrumental in the treatment and rehabilitation of the thousands of Canadian casualties in all theatres of war. These photographs, likely taken sometime in the summer of 1940, show an ambulance from the Kitchener-Waterloo 24th Field Ambulance R,C.A.M.C. Unit. 

Blackout Programme

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. 

139th Battalion CEF

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.

138th Battalion CEF

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.

137th Battalion CEF

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.

136th Battalion CEF

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.

135th Battalion CEF

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.

134th Battalion CEF

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.