The 100th anniversary of the First World War is now finished but the records will continue to be preserved at the Archives and accessible to current and future generations who want to know more about the time period. In addition, this blog will remain on our website as an additional resource.

From April 2016 to April 2017, this blog featured the First World War letters of one Manitoba soldier, George Battershill, of East Kildonan. Most of the letters were written to his mother or to his father. The blog follows the letters that George wrote in the same week, one hundred years ago.

July 2016 Posts:

• 25 July: One Manitoba Soldier: Friends at the front
• 18 July: One Manitoba Soldier: Out of the trenches
• 11 July: Panoramic photo of the 61^st Battalion: Where's George Battershill?
•   4 July: One Manitoba Soldier: Writing letters and waiting for more

25 July 2016

One Manitoba Soldier: Friends at the front

For the last week of July 1916, there are five letters from George: two to his father and three to his mother. George frequently wrote about friends and acquaintances at the front. It is a reminder that, of course, each soldier will have had friends and relatives training for war or fighting in the war. It was not only people on the home front waiting for news of friends and family.

In his July 26 letter, George wrote to his mother:

“I have lost all track of Allan W. Jones. His chum Fred Scott was blown up a few days ago. I don’t know where Allan is + I hope he is alright as it would be pretty bad at home if he got cut up.”

Two days later, George had more to report:

“I [seen] Allan W. about two days ago + he was fine and dandy but one of our bunch in the R.C.R. [Royal Canadian Regiment] got it + Jack Stevens got his hand blown off.”

Search Tip: Search the Battershill family fonds in Keystone for more information. All of the George Battershill letters have been digitized and can be read from the database (if you can’t wait for the weekly installments!).

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18 July 2016

One Manitoba Soldier: Out of the trenches

On July 20, 1916, George Battershill came out of the trenches and wrote several letters home on that day. Our collection includes both a letter to his mother and to his father. George reports that he wasn’t able to write letters in the trenches.

In the letter to his Dad, George wrote:

“Just a line to say that I am well. I have just got out of the trenches after a pretty hot time. I am putting a few lines to them all in this green envelope so give them to the ones whose name is written on it.”

The green envelope survived with the letters and can be seen in the images below.

Search Tip: Search the Battershill family fonds in Keystone for more information. All of the George Battershill letters have been digitized and can be read from the database (if you can’t wait for the weekly installments!).

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11 July 2016

Panoramic photo of the 61^st Battalion: Where's George Battershill?

There were no letters from George Battershill for this week, so instead we are posting a photograph of the 61^st Battalion, of which George was a part.

We only have one photograph of George Battershill and it is not clear, upon comparison, whether or not he is in this group photograph.

If you know the identity of any of the men in this photograph, please let us know!

This photograph is one of nine panoramas that are currently on display in the entrance area of the Archives. Read more about the display on our May 12 blog post. Come visit the Archives of Manitoba to see the display.

Search Tip: Search the Battershill family fonds in Keystone for more information. All of the George Battershill letters have been digitized and can be read from the database (if you can’t wait for the weekly installments!).

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4 July 2016

One Manitoba Soldier: Writing letters and waiting for more

At the beginning of July, 1916, George Battershill had finished his first 9 days in the trenches and was waiting to go back for a second time. George writes primarily about the letters he has written, the letters he’s about to write and the replies for which he is waiting. George reports to his dad that he’s received his first pay day in France – 20 Francs, about $4.00.

Search Tip: Search the Battershill family fonds in Keystone for more information. All of the George Battershill letters have been digitized and can be read from the database (if you can’t wait for the weekly installments!).

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