To mark Vimy Ridge Day let us remember three Okanagan soldiers that died at Vimy Ridge in France. This battle on April 9, 1917, became a cornerstone of Canadian identity after the First World War ended in 1919. That identity was paid for in blood, sweat, and scars by...
Sometimes, when we travel somewhere, we encounter something remarkably close to our interests that is a fantastic surprise discovery. Such happened to a tourist to Kelowna wishing to explore the Okanagan Military Museum years ago. One day, a gentleman...
There is so much in the background about maps made in this era that we won’t delve into details, such as the conversion of coordinates to GPS or the theory of longitude and latitude here. [See notes for more resources.] However, we have several maps of different...
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)...