Every so often, we come across an item that raises more questions than answers. For example, this painting apparently depicts a soldier in the 29th Battalion (Vancouver) Canadian Expeditionary Force training in Hastings Park, Vancouver, in early 1915. It shows the...
The War Diary for the Okanagan’s 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (2CMR) made special mention of nocturnal action on November 20/21, 1916, in front of Vimy Ridge. Nine men out of 49 were recommended decorations for their daring and efficient work that night, and the unit...
Lieutenant Frederick Ambler Heather MC. MM. is another of the Okanagan’s Decorated Fallen in the First World War (FWW), and another officer that rose from the ranks with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (BC Horse). Fred was born to Thomas and Emily H. (nee Ambler)...
Colin Keith Lee Pyman, who was 30 years old with blue eyes, red hair, and a fair complexion, sailed with the 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry) to England on October 8th, 1914. He served briefly with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in 1915 and was promoted...
In Part I, we reviewed definitions, descriptions of Canadian military decorations, and their qualifying criteria. This time we look closer at some examples from the First World War. According to our records, 20 men listed on Okanagan cenotaphs were decorated for...
When Canadians created cenotaphs and memorials to grieve the terrible losses of the First World War, they listed surnames and initials of the Fallen without abbreviations of ranks, decorations or units because they recognized that all are equal in death. It is the...