CEF Study Group - List of Recommended Great War Websites - November 2022 Edition

[Borden Battery]

Scottish Military Research Group            

The Scottish Military Research Group formed as a charitable association in September 2011.
They wanted to inform and educate the public about Scottish military history and help people research their military ancestors. From administrating the SMRG Commemorations Project; to holding research open days; to keeping people up to date on news of Scottish military history online, daily, through our social media sites;  the volunteers of the Scottish Military Research Group work in their spare time to share our passion and knowledge of Scotland’s military history with the world. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://scottishmilitaryresearch.weebly.com/

 

Brigade of Gurkhas - Wikipedia

The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units which originally served in the British Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of the East India Company. During World War I (1914–18), more than 200,000 Gurkhas served in the British Army, suffering approximately 20,000 casualties, and receiving almost 2,000 gallantry awards. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigade_of_Gurkhas

 

The Channel Islands and the Great War

Website addresses soldiers from the Channel Islands (The Bailiwick of Guernsey encompasses Alderney, Sark, Brecqhou and Herm. Alderney and Sark].  Data base on over 1,400 soldiers with more details being researched. Soldiers served in the BEF, the French Army and the Canadian Corps.

[Recommended by rlaughton] [ CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.greatwarci.net/

 

British Army - 1913-1919 - Quarterly Army Lists (First Series)

Military lists recording details of officers who served in the three main branches of Britain's armed services during the First and Second World Wars. Official lists for the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have been published since the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries respectively. Also includes unofficial 'Hart's Army Lists' of British Army and, from 1862, Indian Army Officers published between 1839 and 1915.

[Recommended by rlaughton] [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/97136046

 

The Machine Gun Corps Research Database

The large database of British Machine Gun Corps Officers and Men in the World – fee for service. Contains details of over 100,000 soldiers who served with the MGC. Sources include: 1914-15 Star Rolls, The Army List, British War Medal and Victory Medal rolls, Soldiers died in the Great War, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, General Service Medal and Indian General Service Medal rolls, The London Gazette, Officer’s 'Long Numbers', Medal Index Cards, Records of Military Hospitals (MH106), Prisoners of War, Order of Battle of Divisions, Rolls of Honour, The British Red Cross Society, The Marquis de Ruvigny, Silver War Badges, Territorial Force War Medals, Official War Diaries, The War Illustrated, War Services of Military Officers (1920), Enlistment Papers of Great War Soldiers (WO363), and Pension Papers of Great War Soldiers (WO364). [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.machine-gun-corps-database.co.uk/

[Borden Battery]

AIF - General Websites - Part 3(c)
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First World War Official Histories
The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 is a 12-volume series covering Australia’s involvement in the First World War. The series was edited by the official historian Charles Bean, who also wrote six of the volumes, and was published between 1920 and 1942. The books, with their familiar covers, “the colour of dried blood” in the words of one reviewer, rapidly became highly regarded internationally. Bean’s work established the tradition and set the standard for all subsequent Australian official war histories. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416844


Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 - First Set

Volume I – The Story of ANZAC from the outbreak of war to the end of the first phase of the Gallipoli Campaign, May 4, 1915
Volume II – The Story of ANZAC from 4 May, 1915, to the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula (11th edition, 1941)
Volume III – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916 (12th edition, 1941)
Volume IV – The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917 (11th edition, 1941)
Volume V – The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Main German Offensive, 1918 (8th edition, 1941)
Volume VI – The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Allied Offensive, 1918 (1st edition, 1942)
Volume VII - The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai and Palestine, 1914-1918 (10th edition, 1941)
Volume VIII – The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914–1918 (11th edition, 1941)
Volume IX – The Royal Australian Navy, 1914–1918 (9th edition, 1941)
Volume X – The Australians at Rabaul. The Capture and Administration of the German Possessions in the Southern Pacific
Volume XI – Australia During the War (7th edition, 1941)
Volume XII – Photographic record of the war

All above Chapters and Volumes are hypertext linked to the URL on the Internet

Records of C.E.W. Bean - Records of C.E.W. Bean, Official Historian

Charles Edward Woodrow Bean was Australia’s official war correspondent during the First World War and was later appointed official historian for that conflict. The personal records created by Bean in the course of those appointments now form part of the official records series: AWM38 Official History, 1914–18 War: Records of C.E.W. Bean, Official Historian. The Memorial has digitized 286 volumes of diaries, notebooks, and folders kept by Bean during and after the war and used by him to write the official history of the First World War.

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1377970

 

First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918

A very extensive indexed website divided into three main sections; Part A-Formations, Part B-Branches and Part C-Statistics. The whole site is intended to provide a reference tool for the reader or researcher of Australian military history. It lists the units and formations of the First AIF along with information about insignia, where they were raised, when they departed Australia with transport ship names, and where they served. There is data on nominal rolls, medical units, officers killed etc.  A very comprehensive data base type of website – features are too numerous to mention. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/OrderOfBattle/index.html

 

Australian Military Units - First World War, 1914-1918

A simple organized element of the Australian War Memorial website which provides a glossary, battle honours per unit, a summary of casualties, commanding officers within each unit, decorations within the unit and sometimes additional references. Some units have more information than others.

[Australian War Memorial] [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/ww1.asp

 

Australia - First World War Nominal Roll.

A searchable list of 322,829 soldiers by name, service number and/or military unit.  Each record can then be clicked for additional information.  Simple and effective website. [Recommended by HamiltonS]

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=First%20World%20War%20Nominal%20Roll

 

First World War Diaries - AIF

The war diaries generally consist of war diary or intelligence summary sheets located at the beginning of each diary which record the date of each entry, the unit’s location, a summary of events and any remarks or references to appendices. The material is listed in some 35 class categories and the sub-class categories.  At present, the amount of original manuscript material is minimal, however, the reader will obtain a general idea of the organization of the AIF from the categories provided. The Canadian Archives work is still the standard. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.awm.gov.au/index.php/collection/C1338583

[Borden Battery]

ANZAC

This website features the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps - the Anzacs.  Naturally, it includes much information on Gallipoli.  There are also sections on the Prelude to War, the Red Baron [who killed him], interesting sections recorded poems and images and Lance Corporal/Sapper William Dalton Lycett's detailed personal diary.

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.anzacs.net/Airaces.htm

 

Fifty Australians - Australian War Memorial

Fifty Australians provides a cross-section of Australians – sometimes a leader, a hero, or even a rogue – who saw war and its effects. Some of these men and women gave their lives, others became renowned for their wartime courage or example, while others, affected for better or worse, emerged to face the peace where they would make their own particular mark. Many of the stories come from the Great War. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/fiftyaustralians

 

Trooper William Edward (Billy) Sing, DCM, Croix de Guerre
Trooper Billy Sing was an ace Australian sniper with Australian Fifth Light Horse Regiment who is credited with perhaps 200 Turkish kills. To the Anzacs in the trenches he was "The Assassin". The site provides a short history of his actions at Gallipoli including a recorded duel with a Turkish sniper. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sing

 

Fiji in the First World War

In August 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany and the small colony of Fiji rallied to the call. About 400 young men living and working in the colony from Australia, New Zealand or Britain returned to their homelands and enlisted. This small and specialized website provides photographs, details on some of the volunteers and enlistment, the Fijian Labour Corps, a brief reference to the overseas placements, a listing of Medals and Awards and a list of those who died in association with Fiji. There is even a photograph of “Ladies' Machine Gun Corps” of Fiji. [C. Liava'a. Website] [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.freewebs.com/fiji/

 

Australian ANZACS in the Great War 1914-1918

The main feature of the website is a comprehensive database with details on the 330,000 men and women who served overseas in the (First) Australian Imperial Force, 1914-1918. The database is also sorted by out by specific memorial sites in France and Belgium and includes a unique section on alias and true names. Finally, the website includes information on Order of Battle and enlistment statistics. (Note: A complementary database on the (First) New Zealand Expeditionary Force is under development but is not currently accessible to the public.) [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

 [Recommended by Peter Dennis, AIF Group]

https://aif.adfa.edu.au/aif/

 

Australian Military History: An overview - The Australian Flying Corps

A condensed overview of the Australian Flying Corps as part of a larger website. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/first-world-war-flying

Researching New Zealand in the Great War – New Zealand History

Approximately 100,000 New Zealand men signed up to fight for King and Country in the First World War.  This website provides an initial, higher level portal to begin to access more specific information on Great War soldiers from New Zealand.  The overall site has a broader function; however, the reader can navigate to the Great War. Gives a good initial perspective on the subject.  [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/first-world-war

 

National Library (New Zealand) - First World War

The Alexander Turnbull Library and the National Library of New Zealand have significant collections relating to all aspects of New Zealand and New Zealanders during the First World War. Use this guide to get research advice, links to information and examples of material that will help you understand our collections, and find and use our First World War resources, with a special emphasis on online resources. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://natlib.govt.nz/researchers/guides/first-world-war

[Borden Battery]

AEF, French & Other General Websites - Part 3(d)

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National WWI Museum and Memorial

This website features exhibits and resources of the National WWI Museum and Memorial from Kansas City, Missouri, USA and is America's leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The multi-layered website features a host of topics including searchable data bases, exhibitions, teacher resource materials, short discussions on the Great War from the American perspective. [Recommended by better ole - GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.theworldwar.org/

 

AEF - The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces - Doughboy Center

The site is linked to the Great War Society and contains a wide range of topics and information on the American Expeditionary Force.  There are many subsets to this website and may be expanded upon later.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/ghq1arm.htm

 

Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I - Missouri State Archives - AEF

The Soldiers Database is a comprehensive database abstracted from the individual service cards and listing more than 576,000 Missourians who served in the military from territorial times through World War I. The database is searchable by name or unit and searches can also be limited to a particular war. Images of the original service records are linked to most database records. Many of the records are incomplete but are being worked on. [Recommended by Neil Burns - CEFSG] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
https://s1.sos.mo.gov/records/archives/archivesdb/soldiers/

U.S., Residents Serving in Canadian Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918 - Ancestry.com

Ancestry has a database “U.S., Residents Serving in Canadian Expeditionary Forces, 1917-1918.”    The records are from the US War Department, Office of the Provost Marshal General, and are held at the National Archives in Maryland.  Each entry contains the name of the resident, his address in the United States, date and place of birth, nationality, marital status, occupation, and place and date of entering service. These records can be searched by name or you can browse through the volumes, which are in alphabetical order – must be a member of this service to access. [Recommended by HamiltonS] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=9177

 

World War I Service Medal Application Cards - AEF

These cards were originally submitted by veterans and their survivors who applied for service medals. Information provided consists of name and serial number, place of residence at time of entry into service, date and place the veteran entered into service, rank, military unit to which attached, place and date of honorable discharge, and the signature of the applicant. The reverse side of each card shows the name of the veteran or survivor applying for the medal, and the residence to which the medal was to be mailed.

[Recommended by Neil Burns - CEFSG] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp

American Battle Monuments Commission - Data Base - AEF

American Battle Monuments Commission a listing of all U.S. Servicemen buried in France. Please note most U.S. war dead were returned to the United States after the war so this is not a complete list of casualties. Over 200,000 names from the Great War and the Second World War.  Search format is quick and easy.

[Recommended by Neil Burns] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
https://www.abmc.gov/

Polar Bear Expedition Digital Collections

The "American Intervention in Northern Russia, 1918-1919," nicknamed the "Polar Bear Expedition," was a U.S. military intervention in northern Russia at the end of World War I. Since many of these soldiers originated from Michigan, the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, has collected materials related to this event since the 1960s. The Bentley collection has over sixty individual collections of primary source material as well as numerous published materials. [Recommended by Chris Bostwick] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://bentley.umich.edu/research/catalogs-databases/polar-bear/polar-bear-expedition-history/

 

History of the 353rd Regiment - component of the 177th Brigade - 89th Division

A history of the Regiment from September 1917 to June 1919.  Includes an Honour Roll, decorations, a detailed history of this AEF regiment on the Western Front, occupation duties and return to the United States. [Kansas Collection Books - Contributed by Pam Rietsch and transcribed and produced by Connie Snyder]

[Recommended by Neil Burns - CEFSG] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
http://www.kancoll.org/books/dienst/353-title.html

 

1st Regiment, California Home Guard
California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories: San Francisco Home Guard
[Based mainly on the December 22, 1917 issue of the “California Home Guard News.”]

[Recommended by John Gilinsky - GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.militarymuseum.org/SanFranciscoHG.html

 

Rhode Island War Memorials

This simple website links to the following Rhode Island war memorials: Allendale Baptist Church, Centredale Village, Chepachet, Cranston (Western) and Plainfield Pike, Esmond, Exeter, Fairlawn Memorial Park, Foster War Memorial, Georgiaville, Greenville, Graniteville, Village of Greystone, Johnston War Memorial Park, Marieville Memorial, Newport, North Providence War Memorials, North Scituate War Memorial, Scituate War Memorials, Spragueville, Stillwater, Thornton, Johnston, RI War Memorial and Warwick. [Recommended by John Gilinsky - GWF]

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/WarMemorials.html

 

Training Camps & Schools, Iowa in the Great War

A listing of training camps in Iowa and a short summary of the number of recruits, camp locations and summation of activities.  [Recommended by John Gilinsky - GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
http://www.iagenweb.org/greatwar/tcs/main.htm

 

The Chinese Labour Corps - The forgotten army of the first world war            (South China Morning Post)

A well-done website provides a good overview of the Chinese Labour Corps in the Great War.  Photographs, maps and background of interest to the reader.  [Recommended by RaySearching-GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://multimedia.scmp.com/ww1-china/

Training for the Great War - World War I Training Trenches at Camp Lee

Originally Camp Lee in Virginia; the system of trenches was constructed as a training exercise during World War I.  Major Sweeney designed and constructed another trench system from November to December 1917 based on British and French doctrine.  Detailed maps and drawings coupled with the eventual transportation of the trained soldiers to the Western Front. [Recommended by David Isby – Great War Forum] [ CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.nps.gov/articles/training-for-trench-warfare.htm

 

Santerre 14-18 - French Site

A French language site with some little-known photographs, diagrams, recommended books including several CEF books, short histories and a rare photograph of a German AV7 tank attacking at Villers-Brettoneaux on 24 April 1918. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.chez.com/santerre1418/

 

War, Literature and the Arts

A publication of the United States Air Force Academy. The opinions expressed in this journal may not necessarily be those of the editors, the Academy, or the Department of the Air Force. WLA exists as a forum for many voices seeking an understanding of war and art, and the intersection of the two. Appears to be very well written will detailed articles. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.wlajournal.com/

 

Clausewitz Home Page  

The Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz is widely acknowledged as one of the most important of the major strategic theorists. Even though he's been dead for over a century-and-a-half, he remains the most frequently cited, the most controversial, and in many respects the most modern. This website is intended as a central source for information, articles, and arguments about the man and his ideas. It is designed to accommodate anyone interested in understanding human strategies, including not only scholarly researchers on Clausewitz but also students and faculty in professional military education (PME) institutions, business schools, and other organizations concerned with human competition and conflict. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.clausewitz.com/index.htm

 

De Eerste Wereldoorlog 1914 - 1918 (The Netherlands)

This extensive website is based in The Netherlands and is largely in Dutch. However, there are several sections in English and/or the photographs, postcards and many elements do not require further language description. [A Menno Wielinga website] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]  

http://www.wereldoorlog1418.nl/index.html

 

United States Marine Corps in the World War - Major Edwin N0 McClellan, USMC (1920/reprinted 1968)

A 118-page historical reference pamphlet printed in 1920 and reprinted in 1968. It is a distilled narrative and summary of background and actions with numerous summary tables.  [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.loc.gov/item/20026279/

 

John J. Pershing Papers – US Library of Congress

“The diaries, notebooks, and address books of John Joseph Pershing (1860-1948), U.S. army officer and commander-in-chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, are part of a larger collection of Pershing papers available for research use onsite in the Manuscript Reading Room of the Library of Congress. The entire collection spans the years 1882-1971, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1904-1948. It consists of correspondence, diaries, notebooks, speeches, statements, writings, orders, maps, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, picture albums, posters, photographs, printed matter, and memorabilia.  This digital collection is comprised of the contents of Boxes 1-7 (Diaries, Notebooks, and Address Books, 1882-1925) and Boxes 395-397, containing similar items in the Addition series.” [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.loc.gov/collections/john-pershing-papers/about-this-collection/

 

Italy in the Great War - International Encyclopedia of the First World War

“The article examines the Italian losses in the Great War 1914-1918. Regarding the military, indications are given about the losses in relation to the population and the number of men mobilized, the distribution per year, the causes, the different war fronts and the various units and special forces, as well as the geographical origin. As regards the civilians, consideration has been given to the victims of air and naval bombing, maritime war, the population of the territories occupied by the enemy, and, finally, the mortality caused by the "Spanish" influenza during the last months of the conflict, which produced more victims in the population and troops than the instruments of war had done in the preceding years.” [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/war_losses_italy

 

Battle in the Dolomites – Italian Alps

“The Most Treacherous Battle of World War I Took Place in the Italian Mountains” – an interesting article with maps and photographs online by the Smithsonian Institute. Interesting material on an obscure but trying battle.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/most-treacherous-battle-world-war-i-italian-mountains-180959076/

 

William George Barker VC – 139 Squadron RAF, Italy, July 1918

A historical sketch by a grandson of William George Barker VC, and a discussion of his legacy. The chronology ends at the rededication of his tomb in 2011, a ceremony attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Interesting photographs taken in Italy including an interesting photograph Tommy Sopwith, HRH The Prince of Wales, William Barker VC in 1919. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.rimba.com/Barker/barker.html

 

Luxembourg – Great War - International Encyclopedia of the First World War

“Despite its neutrality, Luxembourg was occupied in August 1914, mainly for its strategic value. For four years, the national elite engaged in a difficult policy of cooperation with the German occupier. This choice did not prevent the deterioration of social conditions from 1916 onwards and was heavily criticized by the Allies during and after the war. Due to these negative connotations, World War I came to play only a minor role in the collective memory of Luxembourgish society.” [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/luxembourg

[Borden Battery]

General Research Websites - Part 3(e)

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*** The Regimental Rogue – Canada

This website contains a wide range of information on the Canadian Armed Forces from the Northwest Rebellion to present day. There is a detailed list of the Great War battles and Battle Honours, and a section on the perpetuation of the units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), 1914-1919. O'Leary has added some additional features including "The Rogue Papers", "Tactical Primers" and "The Regimental Library". There is an excellent section on researching a CEF soldier and a nice list linking fallen Royal Canadian Regiment members with an Honour Roll, cemeteries and, and in some cases with a headstone photograph. Finally, this website now provides access to the Canadian Defence Academy Press free digital edition of Great War Commands - Historical Perspectives on Canadian Army Leadership 1914-1918.  An important resource website.

http://regimentalrogue.com/library/great_war_commands_godefroy.htm [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/index.htm

 

** fourteeneighteen - Researching the men and women of 1914-1918

This Chris Baker research service website is focused on soldiers of the British Army of the First World War.  Research generally includes the relevant archives and to obtain copies, if they exist. Standard packages generally include: army service record, army pension record, campaign medals record, entry in National Roll of Honour, entry in De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, promotions and appointments (for officers), Mentions in war diaries (for officers), and Mentions in the “Times” (for known casualties). If the man’s records or current information indicates - further research can be directed to gallantry and other special awards, records of death and burial, records of prisoners of war, mentions of death, wounding, capture or awards in war diaries, service record if discharged prior to 1913, records of medals from campaigns prior to 1914, and Long Service awards. One unique feature of this research service is also the interpretation of the results for persons with limited understanding of military records and historical events.  [Associated with The Long Trail/GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.fourteeneighteen.co.uk/

 

Virtual History Project

A series of time-lapse animations of regarding (i) the geography placement of Commonwealth War Grave placements from 1914-1918 and (ii) the War of Movement in 1914.  Both models are very illuminating in the graphic information they present. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022] [Recommended by ejwalshe]

http://virtualhistoryproject.com/home/index.php/world-war-i/

 

** Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group - CEFRG
CEFRG investigates units, in addition to, individual men and women of the CEF during the Great War.  CEFRG is currently active in cases of identification and recovery of remains – The Unknown Soldiers.  The Winnipeg Grenadiers and Canadian Scottish cases have been active since 2015 and 2016, respectively.  CEFRG collects objects and stories that give an insight into experiences of the Great War. CEFRG preserves these tales for future generations.  [An Edward Walshe, Jr. Eng. Website] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://cefrg.ca/

[Borden Battery]

Individual Great War Soldier Websites/Videos - Part 4

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Pte. Richard William Mercer - 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade / Borden Battery

The website publishes the personal letters by an ordinary Canadian soldier from 1915 to 1919.  The site makes extensive use of footnotes to explain the background and context of the comments of a young private in the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery, 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He served at the Battle of Hill 70, Passchendaele, the Ludendorff Offensive and The Last Hundred Days. Here is a short YouTube video of the Vickers Heavy Machine Gun set-up with both direct firing and indirect firing with a clinometer.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApmMbiF0nVs]

[Dwight Mercer/Borden Battery website courtesy of Brett Payne] [CEF Study Group]

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~brett/genealogy/cmgc/rwm_letters.html

 

*The Canadian Letters and Images Project             

This site features a strong selection of personal letters from Canadians in the Great War. The site has been completely redesigned with new features, such as search capabilities, and a greatly expanded range of letter materials.  Some selections contain a single letter while others are quite comprehensive. The search feature is a very welcome addition. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.canadianletters.ca/collections/468

 

Veteran Affairs Canada – Audio Interviews on the Great War

This website includes the “Real-Audio” interviews on a wide range of topics from the Great War and the Canadian perspective.  In many cases, transcripts of the interviews are also provided.  Teachers can access resource material.  Very good website for a wide range of audio material on the Great War. 

[Recommendation by Floyd] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/first-world-war/audio-archive

 

Memories of the Forgotten War: The World War I - Diary of Pte. V. E. Goodwin

The memoirs of Vincent Goodwin offer a window into the forgotten times of World War One. We have taken excerpts from Dr. Beatty's writings on Mr. Goodwin's diaries that were particularly interesting or relevant to our coverage of the War. Text quoted is that of Mr. Goodwin with narration by Dr. Beatty. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.mta.ca/library/courage/memoirsfromworldwari.html

 

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

A Canadian federal government website with general background on Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and includes the South African War and the Great War. The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's friends (Lt. Alexis Helmer http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc006/385066a.gif) was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, John McCrae gave them a voice through his poem. It was the second last poem he was to write. John McCrae was buried with full military honours in Wimereux Cemetery, just north of Boulogne, not far from the fields of Flanders.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/first-world-war/mccrae

 

[Borden Battery]

Letters Home from the Front World War I - South Shore Genealogical Society

These letters are transcribed from, and courtesy of, the Berwick Register newspaper, Berwick NS, by Phil and Stephanie Vogler. The Register Extracts and Vital Statistics are at: Berwick Register Extracts Project - a site created by the Voglers consisting of extracts from the Berwick Register newspaper. [Recommendation by 2004Springy]

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.rootsweb.com/~nslssgs/wwone4.htm

 

Gunner Bertram Howard Cox

The following 38 letters were written to his family during WW1 and were transcribed by his daughter Molly in 2002. Notes in parenthesis are clarifications by Molly. The army censored all soldier's letters involved at battle. Some of these letters had eraser marks, as noted by Bert, most likely concerning locations or movements of soldiers/battalions which had been written about. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/cox.html

 

The Diary of Alvin York by Alvin C. York

The Diary of Sgt. York. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.Vignettes/The.Diary.of.Alvin.York.html#Introduction

 

General Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Project - Honoring Canada's Greatest General

The General Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Project was started to raise a statue of the General in his boyhood home town of Strathroy Ontario. It is supported by the Town of Strathroy, Canada, the Sir Arthur Currie Legion #116 Museum and various private and corporate sponsors. The website contains the start of a collection of material on General Currie. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.strathroymuseum.ca/en/visitus/Currie-Memorial.asp

 

Rumbling into the Past: The incredible story of a First World War armoured car

At the outbreak of the First World War, wealthy entrepreneur and journalist Raymond Brutinel approached the Canadian government with a plan to raise and equip a motorized machine gun brigade. Eventually, 20 vehicles were acquired in the U.S., but years of trench warfare limited their utility — until the Imperial German Army began to collapse and the war became mobile again. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/armoured-car-first-world-war-mons-belgium-1.4900401

 

Maritimers and the Great War - Letters Home: Maritimers and the Great War, 1914-1918

Rev. Canon Dr. Ross Hebb, ed.

With personal letters gathered from public archives and the relatives of those who fought in the First World War, historian Ross Hebb tells the story of Canadian soldiers, from recruitment to deployment to return, in their own words.  "Letters Home" is a collection of the correspondences of 20 people shipped overseas from across the Maritimes, asking about their homes and farms, wondering at the girls in Britain, and leaving keepsakes and life advice for their children.  Organized chronologically, the letters describe crossing the Atlantic, training in England, the confusion and anticipation leading up to combat, and for some, the journey home. Includes 20 photographs of the letter writers, their families, postcards, and memorials; Published by Nimbus Publishing, August 2014. [Recommended by HamiltonS] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://miramichireader.ca/2015/04/letters-home-ross-hebb-2/

 

 

[Borden Battery]

The First World War: Canada Remembers

They called it "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars" – though of course it didn't. When hostilities erupted in Europe in 1914, Canadians rushed to Britain's side. But the cost was terrible: more than 60,000 were killed, 172,000 wounded. There are no more Canadian combat veterans alive to recall the horrors of the First World War, but their voices and memories live on in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Archives. Lest we forget, here are some of their stories. The original format and original URL address have been changed, and while the material can still be found, the changes to the CBC website have been regressive and make it more difficult to navigate. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

 

Arthur Lismer and the Halifax Explosion - CBC Broadcast Date: Dec. 6, 1990

Peter Gzowski learns about newly discovered sketches of the 1917 explosion in Halifax harbour. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1689034736

 

'The most dangerous spot in the world' - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 11, 1964

From 1914-1918, the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium was the deadliest place in Europe. It was once a transportation hub, but the war quickly reduced it to "just a battered track between heaps of wreckage." Three major battles left hundreds of thousands of dead, and more than a million wounded. As we see in this clip, a group of citizens makes sure that these sacrifices are remembered every day. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1790799415

 

Gas! Gas! - CBC Broadcast Date: May 7, 2003

Belgium's Ypres is a scene of carnage and ruin, throbbing with murderous machine gun and artillery fire and littered with unburied corpses. As if this vision of hell on earth isn't bad enough, a new innovation is turning the very air to deadly poison. In April 1915, the Germans unleash the horrific weapon of chlorine gas on Canadian troops. As we hear in this item from CBC Radio's Ideas, the new weapon is terrifying, but the Canadian line does not break. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group - Oct 2020]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/first-world-war-gas-gas

 

Raymond Collishaw, WWI Flying Ace (CBC Interview)

Air battles in the First World War were "straightforward dueling" which the "luckiest man won," says retired Vice Air-Marshal Raymond Collishaw. And he should know: he was a pilot and commander of the famed "Black Flight" squadron during the war and is credited with 60 victories. In this 1969 episode of the CBC television show Telescope, Collishaw reflects on his experiences, with additional commentary by fellow flying aces Gerry Nash, Mel Alexander, and Nick Carter.] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/raymond-collishaw-wwi-flying-ace

 

Battle of the Somme - CBC Broadcast Date: June 30, 2006

By 1916, the First World War has become a stalemate. The battlefields of Europe have been dug into 800 kilometres of trenches. Men are dying, but no ground is being won or lost. On July 1, 1916, 150,000 Allied troops – including thousands of Canadians and Newfoundlanders – go over the top in an attempt to open up the western front. The result is a bloodbath. In this clip from the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, historian Martin Gilbert describes the futility of "The Big Push."  [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1790799513

 

Remembering John McCrae - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 8, 1957

An interview with Walter Gow, cousin and boyhood friend of In Flanders Fields author John McCrae. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791231773

 

Going Over the Top at Vimy Ridge - CBC Broadcast Date: Jan. 10, 1965

For Canadians, Vimy Ridge is now a place of legend, the site of this country's defining military victory. But in 1917, the French battlefield was a seemingly impregnable fortress, a killing field of tunnels and trenches constantly watched by Germans occupying the high ground. But after weeks of preparation, and the biggest artillery bombardment in history to that point, the Canadians succeed where the British and French failed: they take Vimy Ridge. In this clip from CBC Radio's remarkable 1965 series Flanders' Fields, veterans of Vimy Ridge describe the moment when they finally left the trenches, storming across craters, trenches and barbed wire, and into history. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791234347

 

Shot Down by the Red Baron - CBC Broadcast Date: June 28, 1962

Canadian pilot Emerson Smith is one of the world's first air combat aces. A schoolmate of Billy Bishop, he joined the RAF in 1917 and flew a Sopwith Camel over the battlefields of Europe. As we hear in this interview for CBC Radio's Assignment, Smith's career (and his life) nearly ended when he tangled with Manfred von Richthofen, Germany's infamous Red Baron.  Note:  Some of the oral comments provided by Smith are at odds with official records and may contain factual inaccuracies. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791232668

 

Rumours of Armistice - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 11, 1962

By November 1918, trench warfare has finally given way to a headlong pursuit of the retreating Germans. Canadian troops under Sir Arthur Currie are tasked with liberating Belgian villages such as Mons, where house-to-house fighting is fierce. Then a rumour spreads: the war is over! As we hear in this clip, the news seems too good to be true. Even when armistice is confirmed, the exhausted soldiers can barely comprehend the new reality: death one day, peace the next. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791231719

 

Legend and Propaganda - CBC Broadcast Date: Aug. 12, 1942

Nations at war have always turned to past glories to boost morale. The First World War furnished Canada with its own war heroes and legends, and they are summoned when world war breaks out again. This program from the 1942 series Canada Marches uses speeches from Pericles of Athens and Sir Isaac Brock to set the stage for the show's highlight: an inspirational re-enactment of Canadian valour at Givenchy during the First World War. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791231719

 

Maple Leaf Legacy: A global memorial - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 10, 2003

It began with one photograph of a tombstone, with the carved maple leaf indicating a fallen Canadian soldier of the Great War. To Steve Douglas of Kitchener, Ont., the image was more than keepsake, it was inspiration. Douglas embarked on an ambitious project to photograph and upload images of all 117,000 Canadian war graves around the world. As we hear in this clip, the [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1790921220

 

1917: The Battle of Passchendaele – CBC Broadcast Date: Jan. 17, 1965

On Nov. 6, 1917 Canadian troops captured Belgium's Passchendaele ridge, ending a gruelling offensive that had begun on July 31, 1917. The Battle of Passchendaele is remembered for its atrocious conditions, heavy casualties and Canadian valour. Canadians, instrumental in securing victory, earned a total of nine Victoria Crosses for their courage. In this CBC Radio documentary marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, survivors describe feeling a sense of pride at having succeeded where those before them had failed. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-battle-of-passchendaele-in-the-words-of-the-veterans

 

The Murderous Mud of Passchendaele - CBC Broadcast Date: Aug. 22, 1972

At one time, Passchendaele, Belgium, was a pleasant crossroads village surrounded by rich farmland. But heavy bombardment and heavier rains turn the reclaimed marshland into a nightmarish sea of mud and muck, which the British called "The Slough of Despair." In this clip from CBC-TV's Their Springtime of Life, Canadian veterans recall what it was like trying to stay alive in the deadly mud of Passchendaele.

[Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-murderous-mud-of-passchendaele

 

Last of the Dumbells - CBC Broadcast Date: June 29, 1973

An interview with Jack Ayre, pianist for the First World War entertainers the Dumbells. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group - Oct 2020]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/last-of-the-dumbells

 

Artists Aid War Effort by Romanticizing Combat - CBC Broadcast Date: Feb. 21, 1979

Authors and poets help the propaganda war by romanticizing the trench warfare and even the tragedy at Gallipoli. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/artists-aid-war-effort-by-romanticizing-combat

 

Return to Vimy Ridge - CBC Broadcast Date: April 7, 1987

CBC-TV's Allen Abel journeys back to Vimy Ridge with veterans visiting it for the 70th anniversary of the great battle. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/return-to-vimy-ridge

 

Newfoundland Remembers Beaumont-Hamel - CBC Broadcast Date: July 1, 1991

"The Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 90 per cent of its men in just 30 minutes."[Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group - Oct 2020]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/newfoundland-remembers-beaumont-hamel

 

Vimy Ridge 75th anniversary - CBC Broadcast Date: April 7, 1992

Pierre Berton and Desmond Morton look back at Canada's defining battle of the First World War.

[Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/vimy-ridge-75th-anniversary

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1936-vimy-ridge-memorial-unveiled

 

Canada's Most Famous Bagpipes Come Home - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 8, 2006

Piper James Richardson was killed and won a Victoria Cross at the Somme. Ninety years later (circa 2006), his bagpipes have been found and returned. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022] http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/canadas-most-famous-bagpipes-come-home

 

William Barker, Flying Ace and Forgotten Hero - CBC Broadcast Date: March 16, 1998

He was also one of Canada's top wartime pilots -- and in fact, Bishop himself called Barker "the deadliest air fighter who ever lived." But by the 1990s, few Canadians have any idea who he was. In this 1998 Midday interview, Barker biographer Wayne Ralph and Manitoba MP Inky Mark explain why Canada needs to remember William Barker. 

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/william-barker-flying-ace-and-forgotten-hero

 

Heroes Remember Video Archive

Approximately 600 veteran interviews from the First World War and the Second World War.  Interviews range between 2 and 4 minutes and often include a transcript of the conversation.  Major source of individual stories and comments.  [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/heroes-remember/alpha

 

Kenora Great War Project

In 2012, three community organizations joined forces on a project which became known as The Kenora Great War Project. The three partners – the Ancestor Seekers of Kenora (ASK), the Lake of the Woods Museum and the Kenora Public Library – pooled their resources, their expertise and their knowledge to tell the story of Kenora’s involvement in World War I.  The website includes over 2,000 soldiers and their biographies before, during and sometimes after the war.  Also includes and alphabetical listing of medals and war dead.  Simple but effective website with good search features – a model for other communities to consider. [Recommended by michelstl] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.kenoragreatwarproject.ca/

 

“Deeply regret to inform you”: War and Loss in the Trapp Family” by Mike Bechthold, PhD.

A background narrative regarding Raymond Collishaw and the four Trapp brothers from British Columbia. One serviced with 131st Battalion CEF and three younger brothers who would join the British flying services.  Only one returned home. [CEF Study Group – Jan 2021] [ Part of http://activehistory.ca/]

http://activehistory.ca/2016/06/deeply-regret-to-inform-you-war-and-loss-in-the-trapp-family/

 

 

[Borden Battery]

The First World War: Canada Remembers

They called it "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars" – though of course it didn't. When hostilities erupted in Europe in 1914, Canadians rushed to Britain's side. But the cost was terrible: more than 60,000 were killed, 172,000 wounded. There are no more Canadian combat veterans alive to recall the horrors of the First World War, but their voices and memories live on in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Archives. Lest we forget, here are some of their stories. The original format and original URL address have been changed, and while the material can still be found, the changes to the CBC website have been regressive and make it more difficult to navigate. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

 

Arthur Lismer and the Halifax Explosion - CBC Broadcast Date: Dec. 6, 1990

Peter Gzowski learns about newly discovered sketches of the 1917 explosion in Halifax harbour. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1689034736

 

'The most dangerous spot in the world' - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 11, 1964

From 1914-1918, the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium was the deadliest place in Europe. It was once a transportation hub, but the war quickly reduced it to "just a battered track between heaps of wreckage." Three major battles left hundreds of thousands of dead, and more than a million wounded. As we see in this clip, a group of citizens makes sure that these sacrifices are remembered every day. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1790799415

 

Gas! Gas! - CBC Broadcast Date: May 7, 2003

Belgium's Ypres is a scene of carnage and ruin, throbbing with murderous machine gun and artillery fire and littered with unburied corpses. As if this vision of hell on earth isn't bad enough, a new innovation is turning the very air to deadly poison. In April 1915, the Germans unleash the horrific weapon of chlorine gas on Canadian troops. As we hear in this item from CBC Radio's Ideas, the new weapon is terrifying, but the Canadian line does not break. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group - Oct 2020]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/first-world-war-gas-gas

 

Raymond Collishaw, WWI Flying Ace (CBC Interview)

Air battles in the First World War were "straightforward dueling" which the "luckiest man won," says retired Vice Air-Marshal Raymond Collishaw. And he should know: he was a pilot and commander of the famed "Black Flight" squadron during the war and is credited with 60 victories. In this 1969 episode of the CBC television show Telescope, Collishaw reflects on his experiences, with additional commentary by fellow flying aces Gerry Nash, Mel Alexander, and Nick Carter.] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/raymond-collishaw-wwi-flying-ace

 

Battle of the Somme - CBC Broadcast Date: June 30, 2006

By 1916, the First World War has become a stalemate. The battlefields of Europe have been dug into 800 kilometres of trenches. Men are dying, but no ground is being won or lost. On July 1, 1916, 150,000 Allied troops – including thousands of Canadians and Newfoundlanders – go over the top in an attempt to open up the western front. The result is a bloodbath. In this clip from the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, historian Martin Gilbert describes the futility of "The Big Push."  [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1790799513

 

Remembering John McCrae - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 8, 1957

An interview with Walter Gow, cousin and boyhood friend of In Flanders Fields author John McCrae. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791231773

 

Going Over the Top at Vimy Ridge - CBC Broadcast Date: Jan. 10, 1965

For Canadians, Vimy Ridge is now a place of legend, the site of this country's defining military victory. But in 1917, the French battlefield was a seemingly impregnable fortress, a killing field of tunnels and trenches constantly watched by Germans occupying the high ground. But after weeks of preparation, and the biggest artillery bombardment in history to that point, the Canadians succeed where the British and French failed: they take Vimy Ridge. In this clip from CBC Radio's remarkable 1965 series Flanders' Fields, veterans of Vimy Ridge describe the moment when they finally left the trenches, storming across craters, trenches and barbed wire, and into history. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791234347

 

Shot Down by the Red Baron - CBC Broadcast Date: June 28, 1962

Canadian pilot Emerson Smith is one of the world's first air combat aces. A schoolmate of Billy Bishop, he joined the RAF in 1917 and flew a Sopwith Camel over the battlefields of Europe. As we hear in this interview for CBC Radio's Assignment, Smith's career (and his life) nearly ended when he tangled with Manfred von Richthofen, Germany's infamous Red Baron.  Note:  Some of the oral comments provided by Smith are at odds with official records and may contain factual inaccuracies. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791232668

 

Rumours of Armistice - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 11, 1962

By November 1918, trench warfare has finally given way to a headlong pursuit of the retreating Germans. Canadian troops under Sir Arthur Currie are tasked with liberating Belgian villages such as Mons, where house-to-house fighting is fierce. Then a rumour spreads: the war is over! As we hear in this clip, the news seems too good to be true. Even when armistice is confirmed, the exhausted soldiers can barely comprehend the new reality: death one day, peace the next. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791231719

 

Legend and Propaganda - CBC Broadcast Date: Aug. 12, 1942

Nations at war have always turned to past glories to boost morale. The First World War furnished Canada with its own war heroes and legends, and they are summoned when world war breaks out again. This program from the 1942 series Canada Marches uses speeches from Pericles of Athens and Sir Isaac Brock to set the stage for the show's highlight: an inspirational re-enactment of Canadian valour at Givenchy during the First World War. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1791231719

 

Maple Leaf Legacy: A global memorial - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 10, 2003

It began with one photograph of a tombstone, with the carved maple leaf indicating a fallen Canadian soldier of the Great War. To Steve Douglas of Kitchener, Ont., the image was more than keepsake, it was inspiration. Douglas embarked on an ambitious project to photograph and upload images of all 117,000 Canadian war graves around the world. As we hear in this clip, the [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1790921220

 

1917: The Battle of Passchendaele – CBC Broadcast Date: Jan. 17, 1965

On Nov. 6, 1917 Canadian troops captured Belgium's Passchendaele ridge, ending a gruelling offensive that had begun on July 31, 1917. The Battle of Passchendaele is remembered for its atrocious conditions, heavy casualties and Canadian valour. Canadians, instrumental in securing victory, earned a total of nine Victoria Crosses for their courage. In this CBC Radio documentary marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, survivors describe feeling a sense of pride at having succeeded where those before them had failed. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-battle-of-passchendaele-in-the-words-of-the-veterans

 

The Murderous Mud of Passchendaele - CBC Broadcast Date: Aug. 22, 1972

At one time, Passchendaele, Belgium, was a pleasant crossroads village surrounded by rich farmland. But heavy bombardment and heavier rains turn the reclaimed marshland into a nightmarish sea of mud and muck, which the British called "The Slough of Despair." In this clip from CBC-TV's Their Springtime of Life, Canadian veterans recall what it was like trying to stay alive in the deadly mud of Passchendaele.

[Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-murderous-mud-of-passchendaele

 

Last of the Dumbells - CBC Broadcast Date: June 29, 1973

An interview with Jack Ayre, pianist for the First World War entertainers the Dumbells. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group - Oct 2020]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/last-of-the-dumbells

 

Artists Aid War Effort by Romanticizing Combat - CBC Broadcast Date: Feb. 21, 1979

Authors and poets help the propaganda war by romanticizing the trench warfare and even the tragedy at Gallipoli. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/artists-aid-war-effort-by-romanticizing-combat

 

Return to Vimy Ridge - CBC Broadcast Date: April 7, 1987

CBC-TV's Allen Abel journeys back to Vimy Ridge with veterans visiting it for the 70th anniversary of the great battle. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/return-to-vimy-ridge

 

Newfoundland Remembers Beaumont-Hamel - CBC Broadcast Date: July 1, 1991

"The Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 90 per cent of its men in just 30 minutes."[Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group - Oct 2020]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/newfoundland-remembers-beaumont-hamel

 

Vimy Ridge 75th anniversary - CBC Broadcast Date: April 7, 1992

Pierre Berton and Desmond Morton look back at Canada's defining battle of the First World War.

[Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/vimy-ridge-75th-anniversary

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1936-vimy-ridge-memorial-unveiled

 

Canada's Most Famous Bagpipes Come Home - CBC Broadcast Date: Nov. 8, 2006

Piper James Richardson was killed and won a Victoria Cross at the Somme. Ninety years later (circa 2006), his bagpipes have been found and returned. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022] http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/canadas-most-famous-bagpipes-come-home

 

William Barker, Flying Ace and Forgotten Hero - CBC Broadcast Date: March 16, 1998

He was also one of Canada's top wartime pilots -- and in fact, Bishop himself called Barker "the deadliest air fighter who ever lived." But by the 1990s, few Canadians have any idea who he was. In this 1998 Midday interview, Barker biographer Wayne Ralph and Manitoba MP Inky Mark explain why Canada needs to remember William Barker. 

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/william-barker-flying-ace-and-forgotten-hero

 

 

Heroes Remember Video Archive

Approximately 600 veteran interviews from the First World War and the Second World War.  Interviews range between 2 and 4 minutes and often include a transcript of the conversation.  Major source of individual stories and comments.  [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/heroes-remember/alpha

 

Kenora Great War Project

In 2012, three community organizations joined forces on a project which became known as The Kenora Great War Project. The three partners – the Ancestor Seekers of Kenora (ASK), the Lake of the Woods Museum and the Kenora Public Library – pooled their resources, their expertise and their knowledge to tell the story of Kenora’s involvement in World War I.  The website includes over 2,000 soldiers and their biographies before, during and sometimes after the war.  Also includes and alphabetical listing of medals and war dead.  Simple but effective website with good search features – a model for other communities to consider. [Recommended by michelstl] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.kenoragreatwarproject.ca/

 

“Deeply regret to inform you”: War and Loss in the Trapp Family” by Mike Bechthold, PhD.

A background narrative regarding Raymond Collishaw and the four Trapp brothers from British Columbia. One serviced with 131st Battalion CEF and three younger brothers who would join the British flying services.  Only one returned home. [CEF Study Group – Jan 2021] [ Part of http://activehistory.ca/]

http://activehistory.ca/2016/06/deeply-regret-to-inform-you-war-and-loss-in-the-trapp-family/

 

 

Newfoundland, Allied Battalion & Regimental Websites - Part 6

_________________________________________________________________________

 

The Rooms – Newfoundland & Labrador Archives

The Rooms is an innovative, culturally relevant institution that represents and showcases Newfoundland and Labrador to itself and to the world, and brings the wider world to its doorstep. Several sections are devoted to the military history of Newfoundland in the Great War.  This includes access to a data base of Newfoundland soldiers and their Attestation Papers.  It should be noted that Newfoundland & Labrador was a British colony and were separate and distinct from Canada at this time.  This general website can be accessed from the following URL:  https://www.therooms.ca/thegreatwar/in-depth/military-service-files/introduction

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

 

Subsections include the following:

Searchable Database - some 6,000 soldiers plus a direct link to their detailed military personal files and detailed and unique Newfoundland Attestation Papers can be assessed from this URL:

https://www.therooms.ca/thegreatwar/in-depth/military-service-files/database

 

Beaumont-Hamel and the Trail of the Caribou

A very well-done website covering a very wide range of topics related to the Great War experience both at the Western Front and back home in Newfoundland and Labrador. Good overview of the situation.

https://theroomsgreatwarexhibit.com/

 

 

Royal Newfoundland Regiment & The Newfoundland Forestry Corps - World War 1

An impressive and detailed website regarding the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the regimental history [The First Five Hundred - A History of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment], nominal rolls, war graves, and general information. [Daniel Breen website] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://ngb.chebucto.org/NFREG/index1.shtml

 

Trail of the Caribou Research Group

This site exists to remember what Newfoundlanders accomplished in Foreign Wars. They will be starting with WWI fellows who fought as part of the Newfoundland Regiment, and those Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans who fought in other armies. The Group is documenting the stories and final resting places of their Great War soldiers.  Stories, information and assistance is being sought by this non-profit group.  A major website upgrade is slated.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://trailofthecaribou.ca/index.html

 

Newfoundland Book of Remembrance

The Newfoundland Book of Remembrance is a latter-day equivalent of the Canadian Book of Remembrance in Ottawa.

"To the Newfoundlanders who steadfast and true answered the call of duty and died in the defense of freedom, 1914-1949" (p. [3]). A register of Newfoundlanders who died in the First and Second World Wars, with Addenda to both lists and a leaflet of later changes and additions (5 p., [1981]). The First World War starts on p. [5], the Second World War on p. [140]. The entries are organized alphabetically by rank, name, unit, and date of death.”  Search the Data Base under “Newfoundland”. [Recommended by HamiltonS] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/books/search

 

Royal Newfoundland Regiment - A Boy from Botwood: Pte. A.W. Manuel

Brian Davies and Andrew Traficante, “A Boy from Botwood: Pte. A.W. Manuel, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 1914-1919.”    When World War One veteran Arthur Manuel was 83 years old, he hired a stenographer, purchased a Dictaphone, and compiled 400 pages of manuscript. The unpublished memoir, however, was only discovered among the family’s records by his grandson David Manuel in 2011. Published by Dundurn Press, Toronto, in January 2017. [Recommended by HamiltonS] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.cbc.ca/books/a-boy-from-botwood-pte-a-w-manuel-royal-newfoundland-regiment-1914-1919-1.4395706

 

The State and the Great War - Newfoundland

A good selection of articles, photographs, videos and audio recordings.  I noted a unique series of platoon portraits of many of the men. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/state_gw.html

 

 

 

 

[Borden Battery]

 

Great War Discussion Forums - Part 7

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Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group - Discussion Forum      

The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and all aspects of its involvement in the Great War is the focus of this discussion forum - the group formed in October 2004 around the "Canadian Pals" from the Great War Forum. Membership is about 900 plus members and some 112,000 postings.  The site is linked to several member websites and includes Great War Project databases, The Matrix and a comprehensive list of Recommended Great War Websites.  This list of recommended Great War Websites was created and is maintained by a member of the CEF Study Group as a research tool. Emphasis is on the research and study of the Canadian Corps. Note the URL address has change in 2012.  New members are always welcome. [CEF Study Group – May 2022]

https://cefresearch.ca/phpBB3/index.php

 

The Great War Forum - The Long, Long Trail

The Great War Forum includes a 28,000+ member discussion forum with over 2.2 million+ postings.  Emphasis is on the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) with some material on the CEF and AIF discussed.  A companion website contains information the Great War.  The greatest resource from this site are the earlier postings with detailed documentation; be sure to use the “Search” button to access a wealth of information. A great deal of information has also been archived for this site. [CEF Study Group - Sept 2022] [Founded by Chris Baker]

https://www.greatwarforum.org/

 

The Aerodrome - Forum

This website has about 9,800 active members with approximately 600,000 postings.  It represents an extensive documentation of the air war including cross-indexing of aircraft, aces, serial numbers of aircraft and pilot victories. Emphasis is visual and with visual statistics. The discussion forum includes postings with discussion threads tending to be on specific aircraft and airmen rather than historic discussion. Therefore, an excellent site for researching specific topics on Great War aerial combat. [Recommendation by Brett Payne / emma gee] [CEF Study Group - Sept 2022]

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/

Scottish War Memorials Discussion Forum

This new discussion forum is intended to showcase and discuss the many different War Memorials of Scotland. Formed on 14 December 2006, there are currently 5,200 members and over 100,000 postings.  The forum is structured to direct postings to several identified Scottish memorials. Memorials include the Great War and subsequent wars. [Recommended by DerekR-CEFSG] [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/

 

Picklehaubes.com Forum

The Picklehaubes.com Forum provides a German perspective of the Great War and begins to provide both a balance and another source of information on the Great War.  The forum has approximately 3,400 members and about 90,500 postings. The common themes include the study and collection of Imperial German headgear but also covers other topics from the German perspective of the Great War. [Recommended by Chris Dale-German Colonial Uniforms Website] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://pickelhaubes.com/bb/

 

British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

This specialized discussion forum has approximately 13,00 members and 448,000 postings associated with British and Commonwealth military badges. There are sections for specific badge groupings, a glossary of terms, a list of recommended dealers, a bibliography for reference, approximately 14,000 images of military insignia, and together with 23,000 images embedded within forum posts, which together, form a considerable illustrated reference of military badges. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/

 

Forum Eerste Wereldoorlog [5,900 members and 376,000 postings] [Language is Dutch]
Dit Nederlands talige forum richt zich op alle aspecten betreffende de Eerste Wereldoorlog en kent een groot aantal leden, voornamelijk uit Nederland en Belgisch Vlaanderen. Alle aspecten van deze oorlog komen aan de orde en het forum kent een zeer uitgebreide lijst van relevante boeken en web sites. De voertaal is overwegend Nederlands, echter, er worden ook regelmatig artikelen in de Engelse taal geplaatst. Gezien het feit dat dit forum pas 15 maanden geleden opgericht is, kan men stellen dat het een onstuimige groei heeft doorgemaakt. Dit is des te opvallender, als men zich realiseert dat Nederland niet deelgenomen heeft aan de Eerste Wereldoorlog.

[Editor – GrandsonMichael] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.forumeerstewereldoorlog.nl/index.php?sid=8d14d5e6566482cfc21168ae117097cf

 

Axis History Forum

This is an apolitical forum for discussions on the Axis nations, as well as the First and Second World Wars in general hosted by Marcus Wendel's Axis History Factbook in cooperation with Michael Miller's Axis Biographical Research, Christoph Awender's WW2 day by day, Dan Reinbold's Das Reich and Christian Ankerstjerne's Panzerworld. About 77,000 members and 2,200,000 postings. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://forum.axishistory.com/

 

[Borden Battery]

Miscellaneous Great War Websites - Part 8

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The Empire Club of Canada – Speeches         

The Empire Club of Canada, established in 1903, is recognized as one of Canada's oldest and largest speakers' forums with a membership comprised of some of Canada's most influential leaders from the professions, business, labour, education and government. Over its history it has been addressed by more than 3500 prominent Canadian and international leaders - men and women who have distinguished themselves in many fields of endeavour. These addresses are presented in their entirety with a database index of speeches, accessible by speaker, title, keyword, topic and or date of publication. One can read the speeches of Sir Arthur Currie or Sir Sam Hughes from this website. Every on-line speech index includes as synopsis and full biographical description.  A small sample of speeches associated with the Great War are listed below. [CEF Study Group - CEF Study Group – Sept 2020]

http://speeches.empireclub.org/AdvancedSearch

·       The Last Hundred Days of the War - Sir Arthur Currie Speech (29 August 1919)

      For those wishing to obtain more background on General Currie upon his return to Canada and just prior to the campaign by Sir Sam Hughes and others to discredit him; here is the major speech presented to a joint meeting of the Empire Club of Canada and the Canadian Club in Massey Hall on 29 August 1919.  In addition, this site has over 100 other speeches on the Great War - most are somewhat bombastic but provide an indication of the thought and temperament of the time.

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/60222/data?n=5

 

·       The Record of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade - The Rt. Honourable J.E.B. Seely (4 Oct 1920)

      "The very thrilling story of the Canadian Cavalry. How this brigade was formed; some actions that it did. The speaker’s command of this brigade. A crisis in the war after a period of training. Canada’s knack for being present at almost every crisis. The wicked act by the Germans of the employment of lethal gas against the promise they had given to the whole civilized world. The terrible losses suffered by the Canadians. Duty in the trenches. Remounting for the battle of the Somme. Useful work done in building and strengthening the front lines and in relieving the infantry. Encircling and capturing the village of Joncourt. The heroism of young Gardiner and of Harvey, who got his Victoria Cross. Outstanding accomplishments of each unit of the brigade. The first battle of Cambrai, when tanks were employed in great numbers for the first time. The surprising success of the tanks. The second battle of Cambrai. Details of more battles and attacks. The climax. Finding themselves in the disorganization of retreat under the command of a French General Dublo. Holding Moreau Ridge near Amiens. A reading of General Foch’s letter, with reference to the “heroism of the valiant Canadian Cavalry Brigade.” “Canada first” in valour and self-sacrifice."[Empire Club of Canada]

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/62167/data?n=12

 

·       A Short Review of my Visit to the European Manoeuvres - Col. The Hon. Sam Hughes (13 Nov 1913)

      "The speaker's view of how money had in the past been spent on the militia. Conceiving the idea of establishing the cadet corps on a universal basis throughout the Dominion. Response to the idea, particularly in Quebec. The effect of the drill halls in Canada. Comments on military training. Training the boys in the cadet system. Inspiring the proper spirit throughout the length and breadth of the country. Removing the prejudice in the minds of the best class of men in the community; the wrong impression that was in their minds regarding the militia of the country. How this was done. Banishing liquor from the training camps. The experiment of having the officers cross the water to the British manoeuvres, and to the French manoeuvres and the valuable experience that provided. Criticisms made against the Department of the Militia. The peace celebration to be held next year. Some details of the experiences of the men who were sent overseas to take part in British and French manoeuvres. The speaker's observations of the situation in Europe. Intentions of the German Empire. The situation with regard to Belgium, Holland, Germany, and France. The British divisional manoeuvres. The speaker's personal experiences in Scotland. [Empire Club of Canada]

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/60470/data?p=d

 

The British Navy - Admiral Viscount Jellicoe (8 Dec 1919)

      A joint meeting of The Empire Club of Canada and The Canadian Club of Toronto.
The true part played by the British Navy in winning the war. The part that Canada played. The speaker's conception of the three duties of the British Navy during war, with a brief discussion of each. First, the destruction of the enemy's armed forces; secondly, to free the seas of enemy vessels and to deny the seas to the enemy's merchant ships; thirdly, to make certain that the seas are quite clear and defended for the use of our own vessels. Several anecdotes to illustrate these duties are related. The two separate and distinct wars with which the navy was faced: the war on surface vessels, and the war instituted by submarines. Turning our thoughts to the future, and the possibilities of future wars. Hope for the work of the League of Nations to prevent war. The continuing dependency for life and prosperity upon the safety of sea communications. Insuring against interruption of our communications in war. [Empire Club of Canada]

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/62639/data?n=30

 

·       Experiences at the Front - Private Peat (7 May 1918)

      Assuring "you fathers and brothers and cousins of those who are right now demonstrating the fact that chivalry and honor and nobility of character are in no sense dead, that no man can pass through such experiences without benefit to his soul qualities." The hellish conditions created by the exigencies of modern warfare, as found today on the Western Front. Reasons why men go to war; why they go "over the top." The nobility of soul exemplified in the everyday lives of the people. Urging the audience not to judge our returned men too hastily; time needed to re-assimilate themselves. A description of the situation today on the Western Front. What may come of the composite now in the seething cauldron of the Western Front. Hearing much of internationalism in the last year, and what it means. The peace that is to be made upon the foundation of victory to be secured by continuing the community of interests that war has created. The internationalism of the fighting front that has grown more intimate in its relations as the war has continued. A moral welding, consecrated in sacrifice and blood. The speaker's conviction that we are witnessing today more than a winning fight against the central Empires. The birth of a new era for the world. Returned soldiers in Toronto and what they have seen and experienced. [Empire Club of Canada]

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/results?q=great%20war&bl=and&fz=0&st=kw&da=1914&db=1935&ro=%28%22ECC%22%29&itype=Speeches&sort=score%20desc&p=5

 

·       Gallipoli - J. Penry Davey 29 Apr 1920

      The Dardanelles campaign. Criticism of this campaign and the speaker's response to it. Our position at the time of this campaign. Details of the campaign, presented along with maps for explication. Decisions made about the campaign. Activities preparatory to landing. The landing itself and what the men had to do to get ashore. Another landing taking place at the same time by the Royal Fusiliers. The difficulties of re-embarking the troops. A word about Anzac. The Australians, landing a mile higher up than was planned, and how that was a success. The Turk, not submitting quietly. A word about the conditions. The evacuation. Preparations for evacuation. The diet for hard rations. The brilliant piece of work that this final evacuation was. Recalling to the audience the fact that on the other side of the Dardanelles could be seen the old plain of Troy, classic lands where the ancients fought for Helen of Troy. Now on this side, is ground no less classic where the boys of our empire proved their valour and showed the world that they were not decadent. The Empire worth all the loyalty we can show it. The Dardanelles campaign. Criticism of this campaign and the speaker's response to it.

      [Empire Club of Canada]

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/62364/data?n=372

 

·       The Artillery at Passchendaele - Major Robert Massie - 17 Jan 1918

      The speaker's personal experience of medical service. What the speaker saw or what came through the Intelligence Department of his own battery in relation to Passchendaele. The battle at Vimy. Several minor attacks made on Lens and Avion. From Vimy down to Hill 70 to take it; a very nasty attack. The appeal of Passchendaele due to the difficulties that existed in connection with it, and because of the fact that other troops had failed to take it. Five attacks on Passchendaele; three of them being main ones. A detailed description of three attacks, told from the point of view of the speaker. What the men did at Passchendaele beyond praise. [Empire Club of Canada]

      http://speeches.empireclub.org/results?q=great%20war&bl=and&fz=0&st=kw&da=1914&db=1935&ro=%28%22ECC%22%29&itype=Speeches&sort=score%20desc&p=13

 

·       The Fight at Zeebrugge - Captain A.F.E. Carpenter (15 Jan 1919)

A very detailed description of the fight at Zeebrugge, with the speaker commanding the H.M.S. Vindictive. The first part of the address show what the objective was, and why. The second part addresses the difficulties encountered. Maps and a slide presentation accompany the address, a great many of them aerial photographs. A suggested moral to the story: that this operation showed the result of good co-operation and confidence between officers and men. Officers and men in peace time: an analogy with employers and employees. [Empire Club of Canada]

http://speeches.empireclub.org/60892/data

[Borden Battery]

The Great War Website - A Guide to the Western Front WW1 Battlefields and History of the First World War

This site has been created by Joanna Legg (neé Parker) and Graham Parker and aims to provide an overview of battlefields on The Western Front and the sites of educational interest for the visitor today. The location of museums, sites of interest, cemeteries and memorials are combined with photographs and commentary. The Ypres Salient and The Somme are the two main areas covered at present with more battle sites to be added.  An innovative, 98-page Battle Study is a special feature of this site. The detailed story is told from both the German and Allied sides of the wire with the aid of Map and Time-line windows. Maps, previously un-translated German material and original research add fascinating details to the study.  [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/index.htm

 

 

Imperial War Museum - United Kingdom

The Imperial War Museum is a multi-branch national museum founded in 1917 to record the story of the Great War and the contributions made to it by the peoples of the Empire.  It maintain collections of works of art, which include over 15,000 paintings, drawings and sculptures and 30,000 posters; objects ranging from aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles and naval vessels to uniforms, badges, personal equipment, and medals and decorations; documents, both British and foreign; printed books comprising a national reference library of over 155,000 items; 120 million feet of cine film and over 6,500 hours of video tape; over 6 million photographs and photographic negatives and transparencies, and some 32,000 recorded hours of historical sound recordings. The Great War centenary has also resulted in additional features. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.iwm.org.uk/

 

Talbot House

 

On the 11th December, 1915 Chaplain Philip Clayton opened a "soldiers' house". The large home of the Coevoet family in Poperinge. Belgium was transformed into "Every Man's Club", where all soldiers were welcome, regardless of rank - it was called Talbot House. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.talbothouse.be/en/

 

Society for Army Historical Research

The Society's main activity is the publication of a quarterly Journal reflecting the members' interests and the results of their own research. The quarterly issues add up to a most attractive volume including colour plates and monochrome illustrations. The Society's subscription, however, remains modest as authors are not paid for their contributions. There is some Great War material - the Society could be a good direct source for serious readers. Note new URL address. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.sahr.co.uk/

 

International Guild of Battlefield Guides

The objects of this Guild, under the presidency of Dr Spencer Jones, are to analyse, develop and raise the understanding, practice and profession of battlefield guiding and to promote the education of battlefield guides and visitors.  The Guild's Badged Battlefield Guide Tour Directory provides a matrix of battlefield tours by guide expert.  [Note: This listing does not endorse the Guides on this list – it only provides a list of guides accredited by the Guild. [CEF Study Group – Oct 2022]

http://www.gbg-international.com/

 

Association for World War Archaeology - Flanders

Association for World War Archaeology or “Actiegroep voor Wereldoorlogarcheologie” was established by a group of archaeologists who have recently been dealing intensively with World War archaeological heritage in Western Flanders. Following the formation of a new “World War I department” within the Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE), the A.W.A. became its research center.  It is very detailed and sets a new example of Internet-based information for both the casual reading and the serious researcher. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.a-w-a.be/

 

 

BBC Wars and Conflict - World War One        

The BBC television website contains a wide range of features including a Western Front, 1914 - 1918 Animation, movies and photographs, many feature articles on battles and personalities.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone

 

Edited 23 October , 2022 by Borden Battery

[Borden Battery]

International Red Cross [ICRC] and the First World War

On 12 October 1914 the ICRC began setting up a system for processing prisoner of war information. An index card for each prisoner was classified by nationality, in files which also contained requests for information. As soon as a piece of information was matched with a request, the Agency was able to send a reply to the family or the place of origin of the prisoner of war concerned.  During the war the Agency made out 4,805,000 index cards and dispatched 1,854,914 parcels and consignments of collective relief.  In some cases, Great War researchers are able to obtain information from the ICRC. This website provides background history on this service, however, direct online access to the data base is not possible at this time.  The paper index cards are being digitized and may be available online in the future.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/icrc_002_0937.pdf

 

The Halifax Explosion - CBC TV

The Halifax Explosion website brings together a wide range of resources from CBC Television, CBC Radio and CBC.ca; from major research bodies, community groups and individuals. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.cbc.ca/archives/topic/the-halifax-explosion

 

The Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth

Formed at the end of 1904 for fellowship and for service to the State at any time of need, the Legion has been the centre of many myths. This website sets the record straight and tells the truth of the extraordinary history of those who served humanity selflessly and often made the greatest sacrifice of all.  The Nominal Roll of the 210^th Battalion is listed here: http://data2.archives.ca/e/e444/e011087781.pdf 

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.frontiersmenhistorian.info/

 

Legion of Frontiersmen - Wikipedia Website

The Legion of Frontiersmen is a patriotic paramilitary organization formed in Britain in 1905 by Roger Pocock, a former Constable with the North West Mounted Police and Boer War veteran, to bolster the defensive capacity of the British Empire. Prompted by pre-war fears of an impending invasion of Britain, the organization was founded on a romanticized conception of the "frontier" and imperial idealism.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Frontiersmen

 

Trench Raiding - Wikipedia Website

Trench raiding was a feature of trench warfare which developed during World War I. It was the practice of making small scale surprise attacks on enemy position. Raids were made by both sides in the conflict and always took place at night for reasons of stealth. [CEF Study Group - Sept 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench_raiding

 

 

 

Peaceful Penetration - Wikipedia Website

Peaceful Penetration was an Australian infantry tactic used during the First World War (though also used by the New Zealanders), which was a cross between trench raiding and patrolling. The aim was similar to trench raiding (namely, to gather prisoners, conduct reconnaissance, and to dominate no man's land), with the additional purpose to occupy the enemy's outpost line (and so capture ground).

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaceful_Penetration

 

No Man's land - Wikipedia Website

No Man's land is a term for land that is not occupied or is under dispute between parties that will not occupy it because of fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms. It is most commonly associated with the First World War to describe the area of land between two enemy trenches that neither side wishes to openly move on or take control of due to fear of being attacked by the enemy in the process. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_man%27s_land

 

The Duke of York's Royal Military School - WWI

The Mavor collection is two bound volumes of correspondence, reports and military orders collected and collated by Dr. James Mavor, former Professor of political economy of Toronto University. The correspondence covers a narrow period of the First World War, abbreviated WWI, from August 1914 to September 1915 and covers a wide range of operations in the conflict. This range includes pre-war Germany, France, England, Gallipoli, and Mesopotamia. Mavor's correspondence collected from a wide circle of family, friends, former students and colleagues who were involved in the fighting or directly affected by it as in the case of Mrs. Alfred E. Mavor whose journal, beginning 1 August 1914 and ending 5 August 1914, provides an interesting experience of a non-combatant hoping to reach safety before the fighting began. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.achart.ca/worldwar1.htm

 

Royal Canadian Military Institute - RCMI

A core element of the Institute's activities is the field of Defence Studies, particularly on issues related to Canadian Military Heritage and Contemporary Canadian Security.   The Charter that it was for "the promotion of Military Art, Science and Literature" among other aims and objectives.  The Library was initiated with a donation of 200 volumes from "the late Militia Institute".  A further large donation of 733 volumes came in 1925 from the estate of Colonel George T. Denison and through donations and purchases, the collection stood at well over 15,000 volumes. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.rcmi.org/

 

[Borden Battery]

Great War Weapons & Railway Websites - Part 9

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Training, Multi-National Formations, and Tactical Efficiency:

The Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigades in 1918

Conference of Defence Associations Institute in collaboration with the Centre for International Relations at Queen’s University and the War Studies. Conference paper presented by Mike Holden, U of New Brunswick, Canada. Available for download via Archive.Org. [CEF Study Group - Sept 2022]

http://archive.li/W5YxL

 

The Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades' Association

The Old Comrades' Association was formed by Veterans of the Machine Gun Corps after WW1 and. There are only six MGC Veterans, however, most members nowadays are relatives or descendant's of MGC men or those simply interested in the MGC specifically or the Great War in general.  The Association provides research assistance and commemoration services. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.machineguncorps.co.uk/index.html

 

The Vickers Machine Gun – A Richard Fisher Website

At present blog is specific to the Vickers Machine Gun was used by most units in the BEF, CEF, AIF and ANZACS.  This blog includes information on the machine gun, machine gunner training, detailed training manuals and photographs. The British Mk. I .303 Vickers Machine Gun was introduced into the British Army on the 26th of November, 1912 by List of Changes 16217. This was the beginning of its long life with the British Army.  It was finally declared obsolete on the 7th of March, 1968.  At recent, valuable addition - https://youtu.be/l5OxqlZNCyc

 [A Richard Fisher Website] [CEF Study Group – Updated Jan 2021]

https://vickersmg.blog/

 

Small Arms of WWI Primer 089:         British Vickers Mk I -  C&Rsenal Video

The C&Rsenal series attempts to display the complete history, design, and service of military small arms.  They began their efforts with an ambitious goal of documenting the complete catalog of WWI armaments. This YouTube video (over 1 hour) on the detailed history of the Vickers Machine Gun will impress and inform any students of the Emma Gees. Many other small arms weapons can be viewed on their website/YouTube series. [Recommended by McTague] [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMinxb2j_P8

 

Small Arms of WWI Primer 046:         British Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield -  C&Rsenal Video

Detailed combination of technical elements and their history of the pre- and later the Great War marks of the Lee Enfield geeks. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl51NVkt6Sg

 

The Lee-Enfield Rifle Association

The Lee Enfield Rifle Association (LERA) was formed in 1998 by group enthusiasts in Great Britain who saw the need for an organisation dedicated to the use and study of the Lee Enfield Rifle. Since then, LERA has gone from strength to strength and the membership of around 220 is widely spread throughout the United Kingdom and includes some from Oversea. LERA holds Home Office Approval and is affiliated to the National Rifle Association. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.leeenfieldrifleassociation.org.uk/

 

Ross Rifle - Wikipedia Website

The Ross rifle was a straight-pull bolt-action 0.303 inch calibre rifle produced in Canada from 1903 until the middle of the First World War.  Although the Ross .303 was a superior marksman's rifle, it had many faults in the adverse environment imposed by trench warfare, and after numerous complaints the replacement of all Ross rifles in the three Canadian Divisions by the Lee-Enfield was ordered. Snipers, however retained a considerable fondness for the weapon. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_rifle

 

Ross Rifle – Canadian Legion Magazine

Canadian-made First World War weapon was loathed by infantry and loved by snipers.

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://legionmagazine.com/en/2016/02/the-ross-rifle/

 

Small Arms of WWI Primer 014:  Canadian Ross Rifle Mark III -  C&Rsenal Video

The C&Rsenal series includes a very detailed examination (54 minutes) of the First World War – Canadian Ross Rifle from Mark II to Mark III.  The discussion provides the historical background, explains the key issues and the series of solutions to theses issue, the poor British ammunition, the soft bolt-head issues and the final versions which resulted in a good target/sniper rifle. [Recommended by McTague]

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uGYSQ_-FJU

[Borden Battery]

Small Arms of WWI Primer 034:  The Lewis Gun -  C&Rsenal Video

A detailed historical background (1 hr, 20 minutes) of the original Doctor McLean Machine Gun leading to the Lewis gun version from soldier Major Isaack Newton Lewis. Eventually, the use of the muzzle-blast inside a tube provided an air-cooling function led to a new gun manufacturer in Buffalo, New York which later involved the Savage Arms Company. Matters then moved to Belgium and later England for first the Royal Flying Corps.  A detailed dis-assembly with animation. Light infantry tactics by the Canadian used the Lewis Guns very effectively with a hip-walking sling.  General Pershing finally stymied the introduction by US ground forces. Germany re-tooled captured Lewis guns for their own use.  [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlsEmE5pM10

 

Colt Model 1895 "Potato Digger" Machine Gun - NRA

A short history of its development and use prior to the Great War by John Browning of the United States. Used during the early stage of the Great War by the Canadian Machine Corps, the French Army and the Russian Army; they were later replaced by the Vickers Machine Gun. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04qRHe5X-Lk

 

Browning/Colt 1895 'Potato Digger' Machine Gun – Animation of Firing Action

John Browning’s 1893 patent for an automatic machine gun was taken up by the Colt company, resulting in the Colt-Browning 1895 machine gun. Initially chambered for the 6 mm Lee Navy cartridge, it was later converted to fire a variety of cartridges, including the .30-06 Springfield and British .303 rifle cartridge. The initial design was built with a very heavy barrel to absorb the heat of firing. Rate of fire was about 400 rounds per minute. When used on a low-profile tripod, the swing arm had a tendency to dig into the mud, giving the gun the nickname ‘potato digger’. In 1914, the design was revised to use an easily replaceable finned barrel. The Colt 1895 had limited use in WW1. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j8UQNPlhsY

 

The Lewis Automatic Rifle - Van Nostrand's Lewis Gun Manual – 1917

The van Nostrand book includes a description of the breakdown and care of the weapon.  However, it also contains an extensive discussion of the use of the weapon in trench warfare. The book gives a unique insight into the concepts and practices of trench warfare in 1917. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www.fenrir.com/free_stuff/lewis/

 

Colt Browning M1895 (Potato Digger - Air-Cooled Machine Gun)

``Convinced of the inherent value of machine guns based on experiences in the Spanish American War of 1898 (and not wholly sold on the lumbering Gatling), the United States government moved on acquiring more of the weapons into the existing inventory. After trials, the choice fell to the Maxim water-cooled machine gun in .30 caliber, the first 282 examples purchased directly from Britain with the remaining stock to be strengthened through local production. Despite the selection, the US also, rather informally, took on a John Browning machine gun design that was manufactured and sold under the Colt banner as the Model 1895 (or "M1895"). This weapon was also tested in .30 caliber form though existed as a gas-operated, air-cooled design. The M1895 held origins in an 1889 Browning patent. Browning had partnered with Colt for some of his products that included shotguns and lever-action rifles. The lever action was ingenious for its time, requiring the user to manually-actuate a hinged lever handle to extract a spent cartridge case and introduce a fresh ready-to-fire cartridge into the chamber. Coupled with a tube magazine mounted either under the barrel or within the stock of the weapon, the user benefitted through a repeat-fire action that no other weapon of the period managed. Such actions were at the heart of the successful run of Winchester rifles of the mid-to-late 1800s.” On 15 Sep 1914, "Sifton's Battery" was formed in Montreal from private funds, a collaboration between lawyer Clifford Sifton and Militia officer Raymond Brutinel. Sir Sam Hughes accepted the offer of this unit and formed the Automobile Machine Gun Brigade – possibly the first motor machine gun unit. This Brigade had two batteries, with 10 officers initially authorized, with 124 other ranks, 24 Colt machine guns, 8 armoured cars, 8 trucks and 4 cars. The Vickers Heavy Machine Gun later replaced the Colt in the Canadian Expeditionary Force beginning in 1916. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=785

 

The Complete Lewis Gunner

A short and simple website with a distillation of the use and control of the Lewis Automatic Rifle/Machine Gun. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://www3.sympatico.ca/wmburns/Lewis.html

 

Mills Bomb - British Hand Grenade - Wikipedia Website

William Mills—a hand grenade designer from Sunderland—patented, developed and manufactured the "Mills bomb" at the Mills Munition Factory in Birmingham, England, in 1915. The Mills bomb was adopted by the British Army as its standard hand grenade in 1915, and designated as the No. 5.

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mills_bomb

 

 

Dum Dum Bullets - Expanding Bullets - Wikipedia Website

"Expanding bullets were given the name Dum-dum, or dumdum, after an early British example produced in the Dum Dum Arsenal, near Calcutta, India by Captain Neville Bertie-Clay." [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expanding_bullet

 

            Declaration on the Use of Bullets Which Expand or Flatten Easily in the Human Body; July 29, 1899   [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

            https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/dec99-03.asp

 

 

WWI German Granatenwerfer Model 1916 Mortar - aka Fish Tail Bomb
The Granatenwerfer 16 was classed as a spigot mortar. It was manufactured by Alfred Wolff, Berlin, and also with other companies. It was valued by the front-line troops because of its straightforward design and its excellent fragmentation effect of the shells.  Developed from a weapon originally designed by a priest, of all people, in the Austro-Hungarian army, the Granatenwerfer 16 was a German WWI grenade thrower which bridged the gap between hand-thrown grenades and the light minenwerfers. Throwing a small grenade with a 400g (14oz) high explosive charge to a maximum range of about 300 meters (330 yards), the Gr.W.16 with a practiced crew could maintain a rate of fire of 4-5 rounds per minute.

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]
http://www.forgottenweapons.com/granatenwerfer-16/

 

Preparation and Firing Stokes Mortars – YouTube Video

Simple video showing the preparation, process of firing, rate of fire and indication of general range of this simple Great War weapon. A short manual on the weapon can be found on the Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library (CARL) Digital Library.  [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

 [http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/singleitem/collection/p4013coll9/id/198]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT37eTQn5JU

 

Military Factory Website - World War 1 Guns (1914-1918)

“Military Factory™ showcases a comprehensive listing of over 5,350 individual entries spanning past wars, present conflicts, and future engagements. Compiled since 2003, the information provided through this singular, in-depth source allows for a unique insight into the many aspects of modern warfare...as well as a glimpse into the Battlefield of Tomorrow. daily, always free, and no subscription or account required.”  Has summary details and links to a wide range of Great War weapons by type and nationality. 

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/ww1-guns.asp

[Borden Battery]

Finalizing this List and it will be available for distribution in the last week of October 2022 - file format will be Adobe pdf. I am also planning a series of Press Releases to highlight the hundreds of websites and webmasters who have created this extraordinary base of information - these will be sent out at the end of October and just prior to the general public's interest in Remembrance Day.  Members of the Great War Forum will be able to access this new list from my member page as before.

Current list is now about 240 pages in smaller font and with the font condensed - up 20 pages from the 2020 edition "Late Richard Laughton" edition.

There are two (2) important elements in the study of the Great War - (a) the huge amount of catalogued material which has been organized on hundreds of websites and available for passive viewing, and (b) the active interchange of information in the form of discussion threads on forums such as the Great War Forum and several other forums specific to the Great War.  Perhaps in the future, we might see a greater, voluntary exchange between both modes of furthering the research and understanding the many elements of the Great War.

Borden Battery

[Borden Battery]

Fuze Types and Markings - The Western Front Museum

Information, details, markings and diagrams on a wide range of artillery fuze types from the Great War.  Part of a larger museum related website. [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://ator1149.home.xs4all.nl/wfm/ww1/ammunition3.html#fuzes

 

Mauser Model 98 (1898) (Germany) – Modern Firearms Website

“The Gewehr 98 Rifle was invented by the Mauser company, established by the two brothers Peter and Paul Mauser. This company earned its excellent reputation in firearms making in the last decades of the 19th century. One of these designs is undoubtably the famous Mauser model 1898 rifle, also known as Gew. 98 or simply G98 (G = Gewehr, “Rifle” in German). This rifle was created out of the experience gained from previous Mauser designs, and first appeared in 1898 as the standard German army infantry rifle. It was carried by Germans throughout the First World war, along with a carbine or shortened version, known as K98 (or Kar98, from Karabiner, German for “Carbine”).” [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://modernfirearms.net/en/military-rifles/bolt-action-rifles/germany-bolt-action-rifles/mauser-98-kar98-kar98k-eng/

 

8x50mmR Lebel; 7.5x54mm French (France)

“The bolt-action 8mm Model 1886 "Lebel" rifle was a French Army standard when introduced and proved a revolutionary offering in firing a smokeless cartridge with small-caliber jacketed bullet from an eight-round tube magazine. However, advancements in technology quickly pushed the Lebel to its limits and it quickly began to feel obsolete in an ocean of all-new, more capable designs being introduced elsewhere. Regardless, nearly 3.5 million of the rifles were produced from 1887 to 1920 with many seeing combat service even into World War 2 (1939-1945). [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=916

 

Railways in War - Part 3 - Railways to and from the Great War Battlefield

This small section of a larger website on railways contains a nice collection of images, comments and diagrams useful for persons interested in the railway services during the Great War.  Most of the images appear to be the lighter railway systems just behind the Front lines. [Recommended by Chris Wright]

[CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

http://members.kos.net/sdgagnon/milb.html

 

Corps of Canadian Railway Troops – Wikipedia Site

“The Corps of Canadian Railway Troops were part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during World War I. Although Canadian railway units been arriving in France since August 1915, it was not until March 1917 that the units were placed under a unified headquarters named the Canadian Railway Troops. They were re-designated as the "Corps of ..." on 23 April 1918. The corps was disbanded along with the rest of the CEF on 1 November 1920.” [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_of_Canadian_Railway_Troops

 

Canadian Railway Troops - Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force

Archives and Library Canada website.  Listing of formations and sources.  [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Documents/canadian%20railway%20troops.pdf

 

Railway and Ammunition Dump Maps – Digital Archive: McMaster University

Modest number of scalable, medium (20mb) and high resolution (1gb) maps for download which illustrate regular and light railway lines overlain sector maps.  Not complete but a start. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/islandora/object/macrepo%3A74936

 

The Role of Railways in the War - By Edwin A. Pratt, Author of The Rise of Rail-Power in War and Conquest. Brief summary overview of railways in the Great War. [WWI Document Archive]

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_Role_of_Railways_in_the_War

 

Women in the Production of Munitions in Canada – Imperial Munitions Board 1916

A pictorial expose illustrating a wide range of munitions manufacturing in Canada during the Great War with emphasis on the role of women.  Eighteen pounder artillery fuse manufacturing, tool and die work, cartridge manufacturing, 4.5 inch and 8-inch artillery shells and general factory services. Adobe pdf download.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://wartimecanada.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Munitions.pdf

 

Ambulance Trains – National Railway Museum

A simple but clever little website with the essentials regarding the Ambulance Trains which transported hundreds of thousands of wounded soldiers during the Great War.  The opening page has a neat surprise. Basically, a moving hospital. [Recommended by elewis – GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/ambulance-trains-bringing-first-world-war-home

 

WWI Ambulance Trains – The Smithsonian Channel

During World War I, the British converted a large number of commuter train cars into ambulance cars. This was mobile hospital which had the facilities to cater up to 500 men. Staff lived on the train.

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UM3N-f1BSU

Great War Photographic and Mapping Websites - Part 10

_________________________________________________________________________

 

The National Film Board WW1 Film Project   [CEF Study Group – Aug 2022]

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) continues a program to digitize Canadian films from the Great War. A collection of films that document Canada's participation in World War I, including training exercises, major battles, aviation footage and the war effort in Canada and include the following sample film clips:

https://www.nfb.ca/playlist/world-war-i-armistice/

 

Battle of Arras

This third short film on the Battle of Arras shows artillery fire, troop movements and several explosions on the battlefield. German prisoners can also be seen in the trenches, as well as enemy bombs falling on the town of Arras. 

 

Front Lines - Faith and Hope

This short documentary made in 2008 reflects on how religion and faith became a solace to many Canadians serving in the First World War. 

 

Front Lines - Nurses at the Front

This short documentary made in 2008 looks at the role of nurses and health workers during wartime. Long days, brutal injuries and both sad and triumphant outcomes are part of their reality.

 

Front Lines - The Life of the Soldier

This short documentary made in 2008 looks at the gruelling life of a soldier in the First World War. The letters home speak of the physical and emotional hardships and the mental strain of what they witness on the battlefield.

 

Front Lines - The Officer's Role

This short documentary made in 2008 looks at First World War officers. They often wrote reports and updates to headquarters. 

 

Front Lines - The Trenches

These short documentaries look at life in the trenches in the First World War. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 2008, 90 years will have passed since the signing of the Armistice ending the Great War in Europe. 

 

The Kid Who Couldn't Miss

Paul Cowan's feature-length film combines fiction and reality to tell the story of how William Avery (Billy) Bishop became one of the leading fighter pilots of World War I. By no accounts a biography of Billy Bishop, the film uses a 'docu-drama' approach.

 

 

TMapper - Great War Trench Mapping/Overlay Application

tMapper is a web-based application, converting WW1 trench map references to locations you can visit using a GPS, Google Maps or Street Directions. It will run on a PC, mobile phone or tablet. An internet connection and a modern browser is required. It supports single conversions, multiple conversions, elevation profiles, Google Street View, modern locations and Excel export. Known limitations appear below and may be addressed at a later date. Home Page allows any location within the 1,000-yard grid square (abcd), to be in single or double-digits. Initial impressions suggest this website/application could be a “game-changer” for Great War researchers. A further more detailed assessment will follow in a future List abstract – one new tool to watch. [Recommended by 18thCEF] [ CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.tmapper.com/

 

Great War Digital – Linesman Software Mapping Packages

The company has scanned over 800+ trench maps, historical maps and documents by digital scanning and then applied both GPS references and the ability to present and manipulate in 3-D. The system has the capability to work on a PC/ Laptop or on PDA devices.  As battle planning and operations, artillery fire and ground movements were based on this type of mapping; the Linesman product could reveal a different perspective on the study of the Great War. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.greatwardigital.com/

 

National Library of Scotland Digital Archives - Great War Trench Maps

The website is an extensive compendium of a wide range of topics on War from the perspective of Scotland. Of specific interest are the numerous digital trench maps and associated tools to search, access and utilize these digital maps including measuring distances and areas.  The reader is strongly recommended to spend some time exploring the features of this website. [RobL - GWF] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://maps.nls.uk/ww1/trenches/info2.html

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=11&lat=50.8299&lon=2.9814&layers=101464630&b=1

 

The Muninn Project – Canadian Data Integration Project

The Muninn Project is a multidisciplinary, multinational, academic research project investigating millions of records pertaining to the First World War in archives around the world. Our aim is to take archives of digitized documents, extract the written data using massive amount of computing power and turn the resulting information into structured databases. These databases will then support further research in a number of different areas. Represents “cutting-edge” spatial-data integration and not fully understood by the author at this time – nevertheless, a range of special projects to be monitored.

[Recommended by rlaughton] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://blog.muninn-project.org/node/39

 

Imperial War Museum - Trench Map and Trench Map CD

This selection has trench maps has been made from the collection of the Imperial War Museum.  However, most material needs to be purchased. Other sources may be better. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=&filters%5BcollectionString%5D%5BIMPERIAL%20WAR%20MUSEUM%20FIRST%20WORLD%20WAR%20MAPS%20COLLECTION%5D=on

 

Trenches on the Web - Map Room

Twenty-five general maps of the Great War. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.worldwar1.com/maproom.htm

 

Mark Our Place - Images and Memoirs of New Brunswickers in Wartime

This virtual exhibit includes photographs and archival documents from the collections of the Archives and Research Library of the New Brunswick Museum. The images portray the theme of the many faces of war, from the South African War to the end of the Second World War.  The Great War section contains over 500 on-line exhibits of military and personal interest. [Recommended by Chris Wight]

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://website.nbm-mnb.ca/MOP/index.asp

 

The New York Public Library - Digital 

The NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to over 415,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections.  This section includes a wide selection of German World War I photographic postcards. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?parent_id=452489&word

 

WERKOST.COM

This website features the Shuttleworth Aircraft Collection photos, Verdun battlefield visit photos, a Verdun map project, the Somme 1916 map project and the 1914-1918 War Memorials (Kriegerdenkmäler) for the Rheingau. Some interesting map-work to be looked at. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.werkost.com/

 

Camp Valcartier Photo Album – University of Victoria

About 35 pages of historic photographs at Camp Valcartier and prior to the First Contingent sailing to England. [Recommended by canadawwi] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://spcoll.library.uvic.ca/Digit/WOD/all_pages.htm

 

Autochromes de la guerre 1914-1918

Website [in French] with photographs from the Great War. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://mediatheque-patrimoine.culture.gouv.fr/collection/objet/autochromes-de-la-guerre-1914-1918

[Borden Battery]

The updated "List of Recommended Great War Websites - 11 November 2022" has just been released to a range of media outlets via a series of press releases.  Copies of the 242 page vetted document will become available to members of the Great War Forum sometime next week.  Borden Battery

[Borden Battery]

The CEF Study Group's "List of Recommended Great War Websites - 11 November 2022" edition is now available for download by members of the Great War Forum - we have been preparing this vetted list since 2005. 

This List is intended to feature the efforts of hundreds of webmasters who have collected, catalogued and presented invaluable information in digital form and also in an "Open Source" format of cooperative sharing.  [Created on 25 Oct  for 11 November distribution]  If you should visit these websites, consider letting these webmasters know you appreciate their work.

The List includes over 750 Great War websites condensed into 242 pages.  Each website includes embedded "key-words" in the abstract plus a direct URL address link to facilitate your searches.  There are 31 separate chapters.

Members are welcome to share this List widely with others who are interested in most aspects of the Great War - the only condition is to keep this List intact.

If you are aware of additional higher quality and/or unique website which warrants inclusion - please contact me with the details.

Whereas these websites are a final repository of collected information - the role of the Great War discussion forums via the utilization of "discussion threads" affords the researcher with real-time discussion and information exchange.  Collectively, both avenues work in parallel.

Borden Battery

22-CEF Study Group-Mercer-25 October-Final.docx.pdf

[Borden Battery]

Salonika Campaign Society
The Salonika Campaign Society was formed to promote interest in the Salonika Campaign, fought in northern Greece, Serbia and Albania from 1915 to 1918. The aim of the Society is to perpetuate the memory of those of all nations who served, whether they were members of the armed forces, medical services or civilian staff. This very detailed and multi-layered Blog site has numerous theme “buttons” which take the reader deeper into the topic. Site is mature and very well organized.
[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]
https://salonikacampaignsociety.org.uk/

[Borden Battery]

 

***Archive CD Books Project

The Archive CD Books Project is a well-established Canadian firm which makes reproductions of old books, documents and maps available on CD to genealogists and historians, and co-operates with libraries, museums and record offices in renovating old books in their collection.  Several documents and samples include material associated with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Transition to searchable scanned documents. Special orders and special projects are also undertaken.  This is a very valuable source of unique and rare archival material – Adobe pdf files can be both read and also “key-word” searched – recommended.  [A Malcolm & Chris Moody website] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.archivecdbooks.ca/acdbcanada.html

Edited 6 November , 2022 by Borden Battery
Correct font size.

[Borden Battery]

Newfoundland, Allied Battalion & Regimental Websites - Part 6

_________________________________________________________________________

 

The Rooms – Newfoundland & Labrador Archives

The Rooms is an innovative, culturally relevant institution that represents and showcases Newfoundland and Labrador to itself and to the world, and brings the wider world to its doorstep. Several sections are devoted to the military history of Newfoundland in the Great War.  This includes access to a data base of Newfoundland soldiers and their Attestation Papers.  It should be noted that Newfoundland & Labrador was a British colony and were separate and distinct from Canada at this time.  This general website can be accessed from the following URL:  https://www.therooms.ca/thegreatwar/in-depth/military-service-files/introduction

[CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

Subsections include the following:

Searchable Database - some 6,000 soldiers plus a direct link to their detailed military personal files and detailed and unique Newfoundland Attestation Papers can be assessed from this URL:

https://www.therooms.ca/thegreatwar/in-depth/military-service-files/database

Beaumont-Hamel and the Trail of the Caribou

A very well-done website covering a very wide range of topics related to the Great War experience both at the Western Front and back home in Newfoundland and Labrador. Good overview of the situation.

https://theroomsgreatwarexhibit.com/

 

Royal Newfoundland Regiment & The Newfoundland Forestry Corps - World War 1

An impressive and detailed website regarding the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the regimental history [The First Five Hundred - A History of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment], nominal rolls, war graves, and general information. [Daniel Breen website] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://ngb.chebucto.org/NFREG/index1.shtml

 

Trail of the Caribou Research Group

This site exists to remember what Newfoundlanders accomplished in Foreign Wars. They will be starting with WWI fellows who fought as part of the Newfoundland Regiment, and those Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans who fought in other armies. The Group is documenting the stories and final resting places of their Great War soldiers.  Stories, information and assistance is being sought by this non-profit group.  A major website upgrade is slated. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://trailofthecaribou.ca/index.html

 

Newfoundland Book of Remembrance

The Newfoundland Book of Remembrance is a latter-day equivalent of the Canadian Book of Remembrance in Ottawa. "To the Newfoundlanders who steadfast and true answered the call of duty and died in the defense of freedom, 1914-1949" (p. [3]). A register of Newfoundlanders who died in the First and Second World Wars, with Addenda to both lists and a leaflet of later changes and additions (5 p., [1981]). The First World War starts on p. [5], the Second World War on p. [140]. The entries are organized alphabetically by rank, name, unit, and date of death.”  Search the Data Base under “Newfoundland”.

[Recommended by HamiltonS] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/books/search

 

Royal Newfoundland Regiment - A Boy from Botwood: Pte. A.W. Manuel

Brian Davies and Andrew Traficante, “A Boy from Botwood: Pte. A.W. Manuel, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 1914-1919.”    When World War One veteran Arthur Manuel was 83 years old, he hired a stenographer, purchased a Dictaphone, and compiled 400 pages of manuscript. The unpublished memoir, however, was only discovered among the family’s records by his grandson David Manuel in 2011. Published by Dundurn Press, Toronto, in January 2017. [Recommended by HamiltonS] [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

https://www.cbc.ca/books/a-boy-from-botwood-pte-a-w-manuel-royal-newfoundland-regiment-1914-1919-1.4395706

 

The State and the Great War - Newfoundland

A good selection of articles, photographs, videos and audio recordings.  I noted a unique series of platoon portraits of many of the men. [CEF Study Group – Sept 2022]

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/state_gw.html

[Borden Battery]

As of today (12 November 2022), the "List of Recommended Great War Websites - 11 November 2022" has been emailed to approximately 800 contacts across the World Wide Web. This includes individuals, a good percentage of the webmasters and also organizations and associations interested in the Great War.   The List has expanded slightly from 220 to 240 pages.  Copies can be downloaded from my member page.

The most interest appears to be coming from librarian groups and military museums. A small number of webmasters have also started to include this List in their websites - I would expect this latter group with grow slowly as webmasters update their websites.  Responses from three universities in Canada has been favourable.

A series of Press Releases was sent out to weekly and daily newspapers in Canada. As of yet, no media have contacted me - and this was something of a surprise. Perhaps the Press Release and the List provided enough material for a short article. Perhaps we might discover some articles online in the future.

It would appear a stage of maturity has been reached within the collective group of Great War websites, the number of postings on discussion forums are down somewhat; however, it also appears more individuals are now writing about the Great War “off-line” but visiting websites and discussions more periodically for more background information.  It should be noted several of the longer-term discussion forums now have substantial databases and new readers can often find information without posting a new query.  I attribute much of this to more of phase change rather than a downturn in interest.

Finally, I would like to thank all the CEF Study Group and Great War Forum members who have provided recommendations for websites to be included. It is fully expected this List is now one of the more comprehensive directory of vetted Great War research and data websites on the World Wide.

Borden Battery

[Borden Battery]

Work on a further update to this List will begin early in the New Year.  Focus will likely be on expanding regimental histories and Great War maps.  A third area of possible expansion will be websites which provide specific information on each of the significant battles of the Great War. Members are welcome to forward recommendations for review and consideration. 

In the meantime, the List can be accessed and downloaded from my personal contact information on this discussion forum. 

Borden Battery