SWE Highlight: Lionel Budge Letters

Recently added to the Saskatchewan War Experience project are these letters from Lionel Budge, written while serving in Mossbank, Saskatchewan.

The full collection of letters spans 1939 to 1947. Letters that have been uploaded were written in 1942, while Lionel Budge was working as a mechanic at the Mossbank air training school in Saskatchewan.

Lionel wrights of his duties, the cost of living in each of the towns he is in, and of the friends he has made during his employment.

SWE Highlight: SGGA Roll of Honour

Recently added to the Saskatchewan War Experience is this Roll of Honour poster published by the Saskatchewan Grain Growers Association around 1918.

The poster is illustrated with detailed prints and the names are arranged by location.

SWE Highlight: Edmund Oliver Papers

This letter and postcard come from a collection of letters from the University of Saskatchewan Archives "Oliver Papers" fond. Dr. Edmund H. Oliver was a History and Economics professor at the University of Saskatchewan. During WWI he was Chaplain of the 196th Battalion and in 1917 launched the University of Vimy Ridge, a university for soldiers during the war. The University of Vimy Ridge focused on vocational training that would help soldiers get a job upon their return home.




Dr. Edmund H. Oliver wrote to his wife Rita and his boys every day while he was away. This postcard, sent from France, depicts the prospective victory only a few months away. The Letter displayed here is one written after he was learned of the end of the war. Dr. Oliver often talks about the topic of his sermons for the week, current events of the war, his desire to be back home, and his desire to be closer to the men in the trenches.

SWE Highlight: New War Narratives

Two new war narratives have been added to the Saskatchewan War Experience home page.

"Seared In My Memory" is the account of Jessie Bernie's experience as a prisoner of war in Hong Kong, told by Norm Park, a journalist from Saskatchewan.

"The Silent Observer" is the self-authored story of David Acaster's experience of WWII.

Saskatchewan’s Visual Arts: Call for Participation

The University of Regina Archives and Special Collections is leading a digital exhibition project funded by the Ministry of Education, Provincial Library and Literacy Office in conjunction with a grant from the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists. The project will enable many institutions to contribute content to a single digital collection managed through the University of Regina Library’s ContentDM application.

The theme for the project is Saskatchewan’s Visual Arts: Post 1950. This theme looks at artists that have raised the profile of visual arts within Saskatchewan, following the creation of the Saskatchewan Arts Board in 1948. The Arts Board’s mandate to provide financial support to artists encouraged a new level of artistic growth within Saskatchewan and made way for some of the province’s most noteworthy and memorable artists.

Materials from permanent collections are eligible for digitization. This includes material in any format (photos, slides, sketchbooks, published material, sound, film, documents and memorabilia) as they relate to Saskatchewan’s Visual Arts: Post 1950. Participating institutions will be asked to digitize their contribution(s) or request technical support from the University of Regina Archives. Contributors should also provide accompanying metadata and contextual information for inclusion in the ContentDM database.

The goal of this project is to produce an online archival exhibit that will document Saskatchewan’s rich contribution to the visual arts and promote access to archival, library, museum, and gallery materials.

Content from participating institutions must be copyright-cleared and participants must be willing to make digitized content freely available on the internet.

Institutions willing to participate should contact Mark Vajcner (mark.vajcner@uregina.ca) before 17 June 2011. It is anticipated that the bulk of the scanning and description work will occur in July and August 2011.

Large and small contributions are welcome!

SWE Highlight: Community Meets Veteran

"Community Meets Veteran," published in 1945, is a recent addition to the Saskatchewan War Experience from the Saskatchewan Legislative Library.

The pamphlet discusses the needs of veterans upon their return home. The importance of a place in the community is emphasized, whether that means a job that the returned soldier can feel passionate about, or a way to address the issues that experience in war has made important.

The various forms of government funding and assistance to veterans are explained, and recommended readings and films about the returned soldier are listed.

Ben Neudorf
Technical Coordinator

SWE Highlight: Roll Call: The Voice of the Veteran

These magazines, entitled "Roll Call: The Voice of the Veteran," have just been added to the Saskatchewan War Experience.

Each issue contains "Army and Navy News," "Army Sports Review," along with various articles and business ads, many of which are veteran-owned.

This issue also contains an article entitled "The Philosophy of Rehabilitation," and advice about where to go for rehabilitation services.

Benjamin Neudorf
Technical Coordinator

SWE Highlight: Tiger Moths

New videos have been uploaded, courtesy of the Prince Albert Historical Society. The photo here is taken from a video of tiger moth planes training at the Prince Albert Airport.

Other videos uploaded from the Prince Albert Historical Society include Operation Eskimo, footage of children collecting rubber for the war effort, and a military parade in Prince Albert.

Ben Neudorf
Technical Coordinator
Saskatchewan War Experience

SWE Highlight: A History of the 28th (Northwest) Battalion

Hello, the most recent addition to the Saskatchewan War Experience is a comprehensive history of the 28th Battalion, compiled and edited by Major D.G. Scott Calder, and published by the Regina Rifle Regiment.

The "Ross Narrative," from Brigadier-General Alexander Ross, and "The Official War Diary" are the two main sources for the history, though others, including the Momoirs of Lt. Col.J.F.L.Embury, are also included.

At 365 pages, including maps and illustrations, it is a detailed history, beginning with recruitment.

Benjamin Neudorf, Technical Coordinator.

SWE Highlight - C28 Its Record of Service

Hello, my name is Ben Neudorf. I am the new Technical Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Digital Alliance's Saskatchewan War Experience project.

One of the most recent additions to the SWE project is this "C28: Its record of Service" pamphlet from the University of Saskatchewan Special Collections "Canadiana Pamphlets" collection. It contains a brief history of the 28th battalion, commanded by Brigadier-General J . F. L. Embury, and its service in World War I.

Here is an excerpt from the history:
"On the night of september 25, the 28th Battalion first went into the trenches in France. The battle of Loos, which opened on September 26, 1915, marked the advent of the 2nd Canadian Division on the Western front. . .
The 28th carried out it first important raid on the last night in January, 1916. It was a brilliant operation, and the raid was led by Captain D. E. McIntyre, now Lieut. -Colonel McIntyre, D.S.O., officer commanding the unit. In the trench warfare in the early months of 1916 the marksmen of the 28th established a record which was a tradition with the brigade and division" (p6-7).

If you are interested in the 28th Battalion, and Saskatchewan's contributions to World War I, I will be working on a more extensive history of the 28th Northwest Battalion, compiled and edited by Major D.G. Scott Calder, over the next couple of days.

Ben Neudorf, Technical Coordinator

New Technical Coordinator!

Well, everybody, I've had a blast working on the Saskatchewan War Experience with all the awesome participants that have submitted so much fascinating material, but now it is time for a new Technical Coordinator to take over! Ben Neudorf, an English major just wrapping up his third year at the University of Saskatchewan, is now the Coordinator for the project. He's very tech-savvy and is sure to do a great job.

Cheers!
Catherine Nygren, former Technical Coordinator

SWE Highlight - Women's Military Unit

This photograph depicts a women's military unit marching in the Torch Day Parade in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Torch Day Parade, which took place on May 29, 1941, was part of the drive for the First Victory Loan.

The photograph of the Women's Military Unit marching in the Torch Day Parade was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the City of Regina Archives.

SWE Highlight - Conditions of competition for the selection of an architect for the proposed War Memorial Museum at Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

In 1919 the Government of Saskatchewan promoted a competition for the design of a building to serve as a memorial to the soldiers of Saskatchewan who fell in the Great War, or World War I. The building would have also contained war trophies and records of the province. In the end, however, the War Memorial Museum was never developed.

If developed, the War Memorial Museum would have been situated to the south-west of the existing Parliament Buildings. The style of the building, while left to the discretion of the competitors, should have harmonized with the Parliament Building. The plans for the competition provides a deeper look into how the Saskatchewan Government treated veterans and planned future memorial projects.

The Conditions of Competition for the Selection of an Architect for the Proposed War Memorial Museum at Regina, Saskatchewan, was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the Saskatchewan Legislative Library.

SWE Highlight - Operation Eskimo

In January and February 1945 Operation or 'Exercise' "Eskimo" was held in northern Saskatchewan in order to test the effect of a continental, sub-Arctic winter on the mobility and combat efficiency of all-arms striking forces.

This short video clip shows troops involved in Exercise Eskimo coming off the Prince Albert railway bridge, likely south on 1st Ave West, then parading North on Central, past the inspecting group off camera on the steps of the old City Hall, now the Arts Centre.

For more information on Exercise Eskimo, visit Recapturing the North: Exercises "Eskimo," Polar Bear" and "Lemming," 1945.

Operation Eskimo was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the Prince Albert Historical Society.

SWE Highlight - Remembering World War II with Captain Jack Kemp

Captain Jack Kemp was born on 1913 in Halkhurst in Kent, England. He emigrated to Canada soon after turning 16, and joined the Army in July 1940.

In the interview, Kemp recounts his enlistment, training, posting in England, preparations for the assault on Dieppe, receiving regimental colours from King George VI, V1 "buzz bombs," landing in Normandy, being shot by a sniper in Falaise, France, repatriation to Canada, and life in post-war Lloydminster.

Captain Kemp recalls what it was like be to shot by a sniper:

I ran across the road to look to se which would be the . . . you know, whether we could actually go up this road at all or whether you'd have to clamber over all the stuff. And then suddenly, and then something made me shake my head like that and I could only see about this width and I thought well somebody's hit me and then I guess I fell over and then the nex thing I knew I opened my eyes and Sergeant Major was trying to get this book out of the big pocket on my battle dress. And anyway, they . . . what happened was, over in teh castle, you know, the castle had round towers, with long slits in it, about that wide . . . He was in this castle. (page 20)

Capt. Jack Kemp recounts experiences in WWII was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the Lloydminster Regional Archives.

SWE Highlight - The Saskatchewan Gazette 1914

This issue of The Saskatchewan Gazette contains important communications regarding the outbreak of World War I. It includes the Declaration of War between the British Empire and Germany. At the time, Canada was still heavily influenced by Britain's decisions; therefore, the citizens of Canada and Saskatchewan found themselves at war as well.

The issue is Volume X, No. 15, and was issued on August 15, 1914, only 11 days after Britain formally declared war on Germany.

The Saskatchewan Gazette, 1914, was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the Saskatchewan Queen's Printer, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General.

SWE Highlight - War Diary of the 67th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery in WWII

The War Diary of the 67th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery follows the path of the recruits of the Battery from recruitment in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1941, through training in Patawawa, Ontario, Canada, and numerous other locations, with the diary ending while the recruits are undergoing training in Portslade, Sussex, England, through 1943.

An excerpt reads:

"July 1st, 1941, Rosetown, Saskatchewan: Recruiting for the Battery continued with the 30CWT. army truck and loud-speaker equipment, making tours of the area on an itinery designed to include as many of the community sports' days as possible."

However, while the recruitment efforts may have been initially successful, some recruits decided to leave the military. Consider this excerpt from November 11, 1941, while the recruits were on board a train heading to the east coast, from where they would travel to England:

"One man was lost from the train, it is beleived at CAMBLETON, he was struck off strenght at HALIFAX. Another man from the 57th Battery tried to escape at SACKVILLE, but was unsuccessful."

The War Diary of the 67th Anti-Aircraft Battery was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the Rosetown Centennial Library Archive.

SWE Highlight - Campion College Library Yearbook, WWII

The war-related excerpts from this yearbook provide a glimpse into the lives of young men during World War II. It includes a list of Campion College casualties from World War II, a list of Campion College students enlisted in the Armed Forces, photos of some of the students involved in the war efforts, the annual report of Campion College Air Cadets with a roster and photos of the Cadets and various activities. A photo of the Campion College C.O.T.C. is also included.

Campion College is a university college federated with the University of Regina, and is located on the University of Regina's main campus.

The Campion College Yearbook, 1945, was submitted to the Saskatchewan War Experience by the Campion College Library.

SWE Highlight - Memorial Tree certificate for William Douglas Aird

City of Saskatoon certificate No. 130 "to certify that a memorial tree was planted by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Aird (parents) in honour of Lieut. William Douglas Aird, 10th Can. Machine Gun Batt. who enlisted at Saskatoon, Sask. Sept. 22, 1915. Killed Oct. 26, 1917, age 20 years, at Passchendaele." Signed by Mayor Howard McConnell and City Clerk Mourdant Tomlinson.
The caption reads: "Let Those Who Come After See to It That this Name Be Not Forgotten."

This memorial tree certificate was issued ca. 1922. The tree was most likely located along Saskatoon's Memorial Avenue in Woodlawn Cemetary, a path lined by trees leading to a memorial for dead of World War I.

The Memorial Tree certificate for William Douglas Aird is part of the Document Collection at the Saskatoon Public Library, Local History Room. See more artifacts online at the Saskatchewan War Experience.

SWE Highlight - Letter from son to mother, WWI

On November 21, 1916, Dave Ross was in the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood, Dokingham Berkshire in England, suffering from a knee injury. He wrote this letter to his mother in Chesley, Ontario.

In the letter, Dave recounts his memories of his

mother's old stove. His remembrances, however, quickly develop into reflectons about family life and what is worth while in life. As the letter progresses, he reveals his deep love of and gratitude to his parents.

An excerpt:

"I learned more of you when you said, "Dave, I've been expecting this for some time" than I knew before. I'm an awful coward and hate danger and lice and mud but I'm your soldier and if I could do the work of twenty I would not be half worthy of you."

Dave ends the letter with an amusing description of his hospital clothes, and noting that, while he will not make it

to France this year, his knee is nearly all right and he'll probably leave the hospital by the weekend.

The Letter from Dave Ross to his mother is part of the Connell Collection at the Regina Plains Museum. The entire document is located online at the Saskatchewan War Experience.