On the wall of the second floor in the Ottawa Officers' Mess are five samples of hand embroidered postcards that were sent home from France, by Corporal Bill Proctor, Machine Gun Section, 38th Ottawa Battalion, CEF to his English girlfriend, later his wife, Florence, during WW1. One of the postcards has the most delicately embroidered national flags in each of the numerals. It is when I see these small, intimate items that the realities of the WW1 conflict resonate. Once you stand at the Vimy Memorial, everything you see about WW1 after that, is suddenly more meaningful. Part of this battle in Canadian history are the myriad of details from people living their individual lives amidst the confusion and chaos of conflict overseas in France. These small, delicate communications have survived the war and remain for us to imagine the seperation of loved ones sending remembrances in the post. CJ
Vimy April 2017 Commemoration Tour with 200 Canadian Gunners and Signallers: Behind the Scenes
The town of Thelus is preparing for the crowd that will descend upon them in April 2017 during commemorative events for Vimy 100th. There will be a rededication of the artillery monument built by the Canadian Artillery Corps. The monument, erected in April 1918 and unveiled by General Sir Julian Byng, is getting some much needed care and attention in order to rededicate it to the Canadian Field Artillery along with the British and South African Gunners who served with them. We were very impressed in December 2016 with the mayor and his administration as they collaborated with us about the town's plans, all ready underway for this huge gathering.
CJ
Canadian Artillery Monument at Thelus