Owen Harper was born in Cheshire, England, in December, 1891. Prior to the war he emmigrated to Canada and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he worked as a printer. Harper enlisted in June, 1916 in Winnepeg, Manitoba. He served overseas with the Canadian Field Artillery as a driver until his death in September, 1917. The collection currently consists of more than twenty letters.
Title
WWI
These collections contains any material relating to Canada from 1914 to 1918 from either the home front or the battlefront. External links in collection descriptions are either to online attestation papers at Library and Archives Canada or casualty and burial information at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Wilfred Edgar Hawkes was born in England in 1889. Sometime later he emigrated to Canada and enlisted at Vernon, British Columbia in August, 1915. The collection constist of two letters written to his young nephew Jack, in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1916.
Arthur James Hay was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1895 and enlisted July 22, 1915. Hay served oveseas in France with the 38th Bn. In 1917 he was wounded by a gas attack, and returned to Canada in July, 1918 as a result of his injuries. Arthur James Hay died in 1963. The collection consists of a photograph of Hay and a copy of his pension identification certificate.
Roland Hayes was born in Armstrong, British Columbia in October, 1895. He worked as a farmer until he was concripted in 1917. Hayes served with the 72nd Battalion in England and France and returned to Canada at the end of the war. The collection currently consists of one letter and two photographs. We are grateful to the Historic O'Keefe Ranch in Vernon, British Columbia for sharing these materials.
Eric Hearle was born in 1893 and enlisted in Hamilton, Ontario in September, 1914 with the 4th Battalion. As a result of wounds received in France he returned to Canada and studied at the University of Guelph. Following his studies Hearle became an assistant entomologist with the federal government. The collection consists of thirteen letters and twelve postcards. It also contains more than 130 photographs, beginning in 1914 with the camps in Canada and England and including a series from convalescent hospitals in Canada. Hearle died in 1934 at the age of 41.
William Henderson, MM, was born in Wick, Caithness, Scotland in 1892 and emigrated to Canada in early 1914. Henderson enlisted in Toronto, Ontario in August, 1915 with the 48th Highlanders and eventually served with the 24th Battalion Queen Victoria Rifles in France, with whom he was awarded a MM in August, 1918.
Albert Ernest Henry was born in Sombra, Ontario in 1877 and enlisted in March, 1916. He served overseas with the Canadian Forestry Corp. The collection consists of two letters.
James Hepburn, born in Scotland in 1891, enlisted in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1915. He was badly wounded at the Somme, losing his right arm. The collection consists of one letter written to his father from the hospital in England, while he was recovering from his wound, as well as pages from his paybook and some miscellaneous items.
The collection consists of one letter from May Grenville, a nurse who had served overseas with the A.E.F. home to her mother in Thorold, Ontario, at the end of the war in 1918. Used with permission by Heritage Thorold.
Victor Hicks was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1889 where he worked as a teamster until he enlisted in Toronto in July, 1915. He served overseas in France and was killed July 13, 1916. The collection consists of one letter written to his mother in 1916.
Frederick Charles Higgerty was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in November 1893. Higgerty enlisted in Winnipeg in December 1915 with the 108th Battalion. While in England Higgerty took a commission in the Imperial Army in August of 1917. He then served with the London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) until he was killed November 30, 1917. Higgerty is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial. The collection currently consists of a poem, a clipping, and one photograph.
John Patrick Crawford Higgerty was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta in March 1891. Higgerty enlisted with the No. 10 Forestry and Railway Depot in Winnipeg in February 1918. He was discharged in July, 1918 as medically unfit. The collection currently consists of his discharge certificate.
Private Charles “Charlie” William Hill was born in Cobden, Ontario on November 20th, 1895, son of Benjamin and Martha Hill. He enlisted with the 45th Battalion in Brandon, Manitoba on May 6th, 1915.
Shipping for England in March of 1916, he joined 43rd Battalion in France beginning in June of 1916. He was killed in action on October 22nd, 1917, and is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, West of Poperinghe, Belgium.
Within the collection are letters and postcards written by Charlie to his family back in Boissevain, Manitoba, mainly addressed to his mother, father, and sisters Maud (“Maudess”), Ethel & Dorothy. He often writes about his experiences as a member of the battalion band, and the collection includes a trench-newspaper style “souvenir paper” The Star-Shell produced by the 43rd Battalion Brass Band in July of 1916 while serving in France (listed under the “Newspaper Articles” heading in Collection Contents below). Also included are various, photos, postcards, and keepsakes from Pte. Hill’s time playing with the Chaplain Service, Canadian Corps.
External links:
Pte. Hill's Service Record (Reg/Ser# 424913) is available online through Library and Archives Canada.
Burial information is available at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site.
A memorial page honouring Hill can be visited online at the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Edward Robert Hill served with the 58th Battalion. He was killed at Passchendaele in October, 1917. His brother, William Lowrie Hill served with the 49th Battalion until his death at Mount Sorrel in June, 1916. The collection currently consists of one letter and two photographs.
William Lowrie Hill was born in Harrington West, Ontario in December, 1888. Hill enlisted with the 49th Battalion in Edmonton in January, 1915. He served overseas with the 49th until his death at Mount Sorrel in June, 1916. He was the brother of Edward Robert Hill who was killed at Passchandaele in October, 1917. The collection currently consists of two photographs and one 49th Battalion card.
John Gordon Hogarth was born in Stephen, Huron County, Ontario in October, 1895. Hogarth enlisted in Exeter, Ontario in September, 1915. He served overseas with the 34th Battalion and the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles until his death on October 1, 1916. Hogarth is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. The collection currently consists of four letters, two photographs, and one card.
Lucien Victor Hogarth was born in April, 1898 in Stephen Township, Ontario. Hogarth enlisted in May, 1916 in Exeter, Ontario with the 161st Huron Battalion. He served overseas in France with the 47th Battalion until he was demobilized and returned to Canada in 1919. The collection currrently consists of four letters, Christmas cards, and numerous photographs
Ira Layton Holmes was born on Prince Edward Island in July, 1893. Holmes enlisted in Regina, Saskatchewan in January, 1915 and served overseas. The collection currently consists of two letters, a short diary from 1916, photographs, and miscellaneous items.
James Stuart Holmes was born in Spencerville, Ontario in November, 1897. Holmes enlisted in March of 1916, and went overseas with the 156th Battalion. The collection currently consists of three letters written by Holmes.
Harold Holt was born in Manchester, England in May, 1897. Prior to the war he emigrated to Victoria, British Columbia. Holt enlisted in September, 1915 in Victoria and served overseas until his discharge. He was the brother of James Henry Holt, who served as James Henry. The collection currently consists of four photographs and some miscellaneous personal items.
