General Arthur Currie Inspects His Troops, January 1918.

 

The Canadian Corps Commander, General Arthur Currie, inspects Canadian soldiers. January 1918.

#ArthurCurrie

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Soldiers Hygiene in the Trenches

 

Life in the trenches during a soldier's regular two weeks almost always left soldiers with little or no options for bathing. As we can see in this image, a number of Canadian soldiers availed themselves of a water-filled shell hole during a lull in the action to shave and to wash their faces and feet. Keeping one's feet clean and dry was an essential task to avoid contracting "trench foot," or rotting feet, caused by standing too long in water-logged boots and socks.

While the exact unit and date remain unidentified, the scene aligns with known conditions in reserve or support areas near major battle zones such as the Somme, Vimy Ridge, or Passchendaele. (The grassy terrain and lack of trench infrastructure suggest this was taken in a rear area, possibly during a lull in operations or between offensives.)

#WarInTheTrenches

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A Canadian Soldiers Tries to brighten the day of a Young Belgian Orphan. November 1918.

A Canadian pacifies a little Belgian baby near Mons, whose mother was killed by an enemy shell; the child was wounded in its Mother's arms. The Father is seen in the picture. November 1918.

#Mons1918

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Canadians at the Battle of Amiens. August 1918.

 

Canadian Stretcher bearers are seen moving forward during the Battle of Amiens. August 1918.

#BattleofAmiens

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A Member of The Royal Canadian Regiment Holds a Lewis Gun, during World War I.

 

A Lance Corporal of The Royal Canadian Regiment holding a Lewis Gun, during the First World War, 1914-1918.

#RCRWWI 

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A Canadian Soldier Shares a Warm Smile with a French Woman, June 1917.

 

Image: A Canadian soldier, uniformed and relaxed, shares a warm smile with a local French woman at the town's water pump in June 1917. 

The original caption read: “War is on—but there are bright moments for the Canadian in France.” This photograph, created in June 1917, amidst the relentless barrage of the death and destruction of World War I, had managed to beautifully capture this beautiful moment of warmth and humanity. This Canadian soldier, uniformed and relaxed, would share a warm smile with a local French woman at the town's water pump. Her clothing, made up of a headscarf, apron, and long skirt, exudes rural resilience. Additionally, the water pump and the village's brick buildings shed light on how both civilian and military life looked behind the front lines. Similar scenes played out in this manner throughout the war. In this particular case, this scene, along with so many others, was often photographed by official war correspondents under the command of the Canadian War Records Office. This office was tasked with documenting both combat and the quieter times of wartime existence. The way that this soldier’s posture and his expression were that of a person who was soaking in this rare and brief reprieve from the brutality and hopelessness of life in the trenches. At the same time, the woman’s presence represents the complex relationships that have been forged between occupying forces and local populations. The photograph, taken during a particularly intense period of Canadian fighting in battles such as Vimy Ridge and the run-up to the Battle of Passchendaele, offered a counterpoint to the dominant visual narratives of mud, wire, and shellfire. It shows us that even amid devastation, moments of connection—however brief—persisted. The photograph stands as a testament to the endurance of civility and the human need for companionship, even in the shadow of war.

#WorldWarI

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C-119 Flying Boxcar. September 22, 1952.

 C-119 Flying Boxcar. September 22, 1952.

The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet. It was designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment and to drop cargo and troops by parachute. The first C-119 made its initial flight in November 1947, and by the time production ceased in 1955, more than 1,100 had been built.

The Royal Canadian Air Force received 35 new C-119Fs delivered in 1952. They were in service until 1967 for transport operations, air resupply, paratroop ops, and medical evacuation. The aircraft was also used in the Arctic regions to resupply military bases, weather stations, and radar sites and to support survey and scientific expeditions.

The RCAF used the airplane as a part of the UN peacekeeping force in effect during the 1956 Israel and Egypt hostilities. The RCAF provided 16 C119s and their crews.

#C119FlyingBoxCar

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