More Yorke Island photos from the Chuck Wong collection. It's the mission of the 85Vics working with BC Parks to preserve the island for future generations in a similar state to that shown in the photographs. There should be some on island time in May cleaning up some of winter's damage and reinforcing the overhead shelters so that they will survive. Check out the other photos here and if you want to get lost in Yorke history, you can find our complete collection here. Enjoy!
The O Pip was a monthly publication produced by Sergeant Archie Wills, formerly of 5th Regiment, CGA and 62nd Battery, 15th Brigade, CFA. It had a distribution of over 6,000 and provides a light hearted look from an artillery perspective. With its roots in both the 5th and the 15th, I thought it would be appropriate to archive any copies that may come available. Check out the Paris issue here. You might also want to check out Sgt Wills' obituary here and his service record here. Ross Keller from the 85Vics met up with a section of Canadian Rangers on Yorke Island in 2010 and we've just received these great photos from Ranger Chuck Wong. Check the other photos here. More to follow tomorrow.
Some more news regarding life on the gun line during World War 1. Apparently not all positions were equal in their amenities, "We moved to another part of the lines, since last writing, and you'd never believe that we buy the papers and candy every morning, from newspaper boys, right in the gun pit. There's an Estaminet ( bar ?) only a few yards away and also a place where we can buy eggs and chips." Check out the complete letter here. Bombardier Cox is tasked to a working party to the second line trenches prior to the the Battle for Hill 70. Food and lice are also important topics of conversation when you're writing home. Check out the latest letter here. What does one write home about after being engaged with the enemy for five weeks? The desolation that you see all around you is probably uppermost on your mind. Of course, there's also the lice that have infested all your clothing. Check out the latest letter here. The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Vancouver Artillery Association will be held on Zoom, on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 1300hrs, for the following purposes: 1. To receive and approve the report of the Directors of the Society and the financial statements of the Society for the period ended the 31st day of December, 2020. 2. To fix and determine the number of directors. 3. To fix and determine the annual membership dues. 4. To ratify, confirm and approve all acts, deed and things done by the proceedings of the directors and officers of the Society on its behalf since the last Annual General Meeting of the Society. 5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. Members should have received notice of the meeting and the details by email from the secretary. Please advise if you have not received your copy. president.vcrgunners@gmail.com Bertie writes his sister regarding her wedding, the girl he met in Godalming - Alice Knight, describes what a Blighty is and mentions the magazines Canada in Khaki. You can read the complete letter here. Bombardier Cox's story continues with the latest letter from the front. The missing words were deleted by censors 104 years ago. "I had my 1st experience this morning with German prisoners. XXX came across 2 Germans out in the field next to this place XXX took them prisoners of course and they told us they were prisoners of the Somme captured by the French and were trying to get back to their own lines. We took them in our shack where they smoked our cigarettes and we had quite a pleasant conversation of broken languages. Then they took them off, heaven knows where they are now, but one could see that they were awfully sorry to leave us." Check out the complete letter here. Driver Arthur Lawrence Wright Driver Wright was born Nottingham, England, a sheet metal worker. He enlisted with the Vancouver Volunteer Reserve, Boorman's Battery on 29 January 1916 and served overseas with the 1st Canadian Division Ammunition Column. He was killed in action 13 June 1916 and is buried at Bedford House Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Lest we forget. |
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