SAANICH AT HOME & OVERSEAS 1914 – 1918 Saanich Archives First World War Exhibit Held August 7 to 26, 2014 The Gallery at Cedar Hill Arts Centre Saanich at Home & Overseas, 1914 – 1918 uses original photographs, letters, documents, artifacts and poetry to show the impact of the First World War on the Municipality and its residents. Learn about this poignant time in Saanich’s history and see original historical items on display for the first time. During the exhibit, music from the First World War was playing in the gallery. The Virtual Gramophone: Songs of the First World War is available for free on iTunes through Library and Archives Canada. Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Saanich at War Patriotism & Preparation In response to German aggression in Europe, Great Britain declared war on August 4, 1914. As part of the British Empire, Canada officially declared war on August 5th. Saanich residents, like most Canadians, felt it was their patriotic duty to defend King and Country. About 600,000 Canadians served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the Royal Air Force, or with British and Allied Units – as soldiers, nurses or chaplains. Over 800 men and women from Saanich served in WWI. Photos used in first white panel, clockwise from top left corner: 103rd Battalion leaving Victoria, July 1916 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca 48th Battalion marching on Wilkinson Road, 1915 Training at Heal’s Rifle Range, 1916 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca By January of 1915 the 1st Canadian Division had been formed and was fighting in France by February. Training camps were set up at Macaulay Point, Heal’s Rifle Range and Sidney to begin preparing soldiers for battle overseas. Photos used in centre panel, above; clockwise from above: 5th Canadian Field General Hospital Corps sailing from the Inner Harbour in 1915 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Saanich Municipal employees at Royal Oak, 1917 The Face at Courcellete But I’d rather fall at my country’s call than be the one who stayed away. Our work’s not done, it has just begun, in spite of the thousands gone, So we leave you here, and your duty’s clear – it’s for you to “carry on.” Poem by Kenneth George Halley Colonist newspaper - December 1916 Portrait of Unidentified Soldier Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Contrasts: Life in Saanich and Europe 1914 - 1918 Saanich was primarily an agricultural community in 1914. Attestation papers for local men who enlisted usually noted farmer, carpenter or blacksmith as their occupation. Once overseas, soldiers faced intense physical, mental and emotional hardship in the trenches and on the battlefields. Photos used in grouping to the left; clockwise from top left corner: Threshing on Dean’s farm, Richmond Road Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Vista from Mount Tolmie showing Richmond Road at Pear Street, circa 1908 George McMorran in coveralls on Glen Gowan Farm in 1915 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Photos used in second grouping; clockwise from top left corner: Canadian soldiers at Passchendale, circa 1915 (not shown) Godfrey Girling in uniform, circa 1915 The Girling family of Swan Lake sent five sons to the front lines, two died overseas of battle wounds. Canadian soldiers in France, circa 1916 (not shown) Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca The Little Wet Home in the Trench In my little wet home in the trench, That’s the place where we fight with the French, The Germans all know So we have to keep low. In my little wet home in the trench There’s no one to visit us there. For the place is all muddy and bare… If only the war was to cease At the sound of the little word “Peace” With a fast beating heart I would willingly part With my little wet home “inn” the trench Anonymous poem Colonist newspaper - October 12, 1915 Saanich Citizens in WWI The First World War had a profound effect on Saanich families. As fathers, brothers and sons left for war duty, women were left to run households, farms and family businesses. Citizens who remained in Saanich supported the war effort by growing food, fundraising and providing moral support for troops overseas. Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Photos used in first panel of three above; clockwise from top left corner: Tom Hall (centre) and fellow recruits in front of the Bay Street Armoury in 1916 John Sambrich Askey in his Reserves uniform Hector of Tattersall Drive in medical corps uniform Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Arthur and Clara Lambrick outside their first store at Shelbourne and Kings Road, 1915 Saanich resident Robert Stark Little Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Baden-Powell Issues Instructions to Scouts - Boys May be of Material Service to Empire Vancouver Sun – August 25, 1914 To help win the war Boy Scouts in England and the Dominions should supply free labour for odd jobs around the community camp near water supplies to prevent German agents from poisoning water serve as guides near stations and docks care for the gardens of men who were at the front guard and patrol bridges, culverts and telegraph lines aid the sick and wounded establish first aid stations operate refugee and soup kitchens deliver notices guide vessels Photos used in centre panel of three above; clockwise from top left corner: Patriotic girl, circa 1915 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Boy Scout with soldiers, circa 1916 Saanich employees Tom Staples and George Hicks working on West Saanich Road in 1915 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Cadet Stephen Levings on Gorge Bridge, 1915 The Oates family, circa 1915 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca We must produce all we can, waste nothing and shift our consumption as much as practicable from wheat, flour, beef and bacon to other foods. The other foods are just as wholesome for us but are not as suitable for shipment overseas in wartime. Food Controller of Canada, 1917 Photos used in third panel of three above; clockwise from top left corner: Dawson family and Margaret Irvine, circa 1917 Charles Croft and infant, 1917 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Red Cross volunteer Mileva Todd, 1915 Saanich women tending the farm during WWI Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Soldier Leslie Scott and Irvine Dawson, circa 1917 Tom and Maude Hall in 1916 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Thoughts of Home It often makes me homesick, When the sun goes down in the west, Casting its rays in my dugout door Sinking behind a crest. As I sit on my bunk alone And my thoughts begin to roam With my brow buried deep in my hands I’m thinking of those at home. Poem by George V Jarvis Resthaven Why I was spared to come back I do not know But I’m so happy here, and I should like to show To all these “Sisters” here, who have given up their home To make us boys happy, how much we owe. Poem by Edwin Freeman Colonist newspaper - January 28, 1917 Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Full Lieutenant’s uniform worn by a soldier from the Canadian Scottish Regiment. A soldier’s pack including clothing, arms, ammunition, tools, toilet articles, rations and water weighed about 60 pounds/27 kilograms. On April 4, 1916 Canadian troops wore steel helmets in battle for the first time. About 2,400 women went overseas as nurses in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and served in England, France, Belgium, Egypt, Greece and Russia; an additional 527 served in Canada. All nursing sisters were given the officer’s rank of Lieutenant. On duty in base hospitals, clearing stations, ambulance trains and hospital ships they faced many dangers and endured great hardship. At least four Saanich nursing sisters served overseas - they were all graduates of Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital Training School: Nora Birkett Beatrice Bradshaw Nancy Bradshaw Maude Walker Nancy Bradshaw was one of six nursing sisters sent to No. 5 Canadian Stationary hospital at Heliopolis near Cairo, Egypt in December 1915. Her nursing there consisted of “mainly dysentery and malaria soldiers, housed out of doors in overcrowded tents.” Rain, mud and tents made living difficult in Salonika; their hospital was bombed with many patients and nurses killed and wounded. Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Peace and the Saanich Honour Roll The Municipality made assisting returning soldiers a priority, through employment, tax relief, the building of homes with the Soldiers’ Resettlement Housing Scheme, and by providing medical support for those wounded or disabled during the war. Before peace was declared on November 11, 1918 Saanich Council was considering ways of honouring those who served in the Great War. On July 27, 1916 a motion was made “that the Engineer be authorized to draw up a Roll of Honor…for the men who have enlisted for overseas service from Saanich.” This Honour Roll lists 355 of the Saanich men and women who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces; it is believed over 1,000 served. Saanich Remembers World War One | www.saanicharchives.ca Saanich Remembers WWI Project Saanich Archives is researching the Municipality’s men and women who served in WWI and how the community was affected. If you have stories, photographs, letters or diaries relating to Saanich and the war, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us: [email protected] 250.475.1775 ext.