Category Archives: World War I

“Ten long years for me to be without my boy”

In the past, I’ve posted some of my family’s ties to the First World War but today, in honour of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, I thought I’d share a brief, new perspective, looking at the war and its impact as my great-great grandfather, James Proven, recorded in hisContinue reading ““Ten long years for me to be without my boy””

“Veterans”

“Veterans” By Alan Horwood These men knew war: In youth and strength they went Forth into battle, when the world was rent By conflict, born of arrogance and hate; To force all nations to a vassal state. They bore the burden, blood, and sweat, and tears, Of strife, and toil, and sorrow, through the yearsContinue reading ““Veterans””

Mother’s Day – 1918

I haven’t been able to do any further research but apparently the YMCA produced stationery specifically for soldiers writing home for Mother’s Day. I can’t imagine the YMCA thought that this would be used by a Canadian Forestry Corps company to record some productions statistics but it looks like they used anything on hand. Anyways,Continue reading “Mother’s Day – 1918”

Pte. Ernest Albert Proven, 1895-1917

Today marks the 97th anniversary of the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge. Among the thousands of Canadian soldiers who went “over-the-top” that fateful morning were two of my great-great uncles, Harry and Ernest Proven. While Harry survived the attack (read more about him here), his younger brother was not so lucky. On December 13, 1895,Continue reading “Pte. Ernest Albert Proven, 1895-1917”

Mapping the Canadian Forestry Corps in Keppernach (Scotland)

One of my more recent interests is the work of the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) during the First World War. The CFC was raised specifically to supply the Allied armies with a desperately-needed resource: timber. Whether it was to needed to support dugouts, hold barbed-wire, or aircraft frames, wood became one of the most basicContinue reading “Mapping the Canadian Forestry Corps in Keppernach (Scotland)”

Canadian Forestry Corps in WWI

A post of mine about the Canadian Forestry Corps in the First World War has just been posted on NiCHE’s The Otter. Based upon some of my research from last year, it briefly examines the transplanting of Canadian forestry methods to British forests. To learn more, click the link below! Exploiting Old World Forests withContinue reading “Canadian Forestry Corps in WWI”

Sergt. Harry Proven, 1893-1918

September 29, 2013 marks the 95th Anniversary of the death of my great-great uncle, Sergeant Harry Proven. Unfortunately, in the past ninety-five years, much of the history has been lost to time as his younger brother, Ernest Proven, was mortally wounded at Vimy Ridge, and the third brother, my great-grandfather, shared few stories about hisContinue reading “Sergt. Harry Proven, 1893-1918”