Military history
These collections contain items ranging from illustrations and photos to personal memoirs of veterans, both written and recorded. Most of the material relates to the First and Second World Wars.
Canadian military oral history
Digital audio files and transcripts from the University of Victoria Special Collections Canadian Military Oral History Collection. The collection is composed of close to 600 interviews of veterans of WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan.
Over 370 recordings done by Dr. Reginald H. Roy and his students are the largest holding in this category. Historian Hal Lawrence also donated over 180 recordings that he collected of Canadian Naval personnel.
JM's World War I sketchbooks, 1917-1918
These images are from two World War One sketchbooks signed only "J.M." containing approximately 130 watercolour and pen and ink images. J.M. was a British soldier based in France and Belgium between 1917 and 1918.
The sketches range from caricatures to sombre images suggesting the horror and carnage experienced by those at the Front.
Pearkes collection, 1888-1984
The life of The Right Honourable George R. Pearkes V.C. (1888-1984) is illustrated from the Pearkes collection of photographs, interviews, maps, and war diaries.
Pearkes was an acclaimed military leader in both world wars who later went on to become Minister of Defence in Diefenbaker's cabinet, and Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia. Completed as part of the Schoolnet Digital Collections program.
Sir W. Orpen's illustrated letters, 1910-1920
William Orpen was a renowned portrait painter and First World War artist. He was prolific, leaving a legacy of portraiture and painting that includes politicians Winston Churchill and Woodrow Wilson, fellow artists such as Augustus John, and historical events such as the Versailles Peace Treaty.
This page reproduces his charming and whimsical letters to life-long friend, Beatrice Glenlavy.
Smyth's account of the end of World War I and the Armistice
Transcript of Major Charles McDowall Smyth's account of the end of the First World War, including his triumphant entry into Mons [Belgium] on November 11, 1918 -- le jour de l'Armistice.
Also includes a description of Major Smyth's honours and medals.
W.O.H. Dodds' World War I scrapbook
Brigadier General W.O.H. Dodds, C.M.G., D.S.O. was born on 3 July 1867 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and died in Montreal on 25 August 1934, at 67 years of age. This scrapbook relates to his life and service in the Canadian military.
This project uses SCRAPS, a program which allows for in-depth annotations of images.
World of Mary's Wedding: Reminiscences of World War I
An inspired collaboration between Pacific Opera Victoria and the University of Victoria Libraries resulted in the creation of a website to draw us into “The World of Mary’s Wedding.”
The collection is in three parts: Private Remembering (letters, diaries, personal photographs, scrapbooks), Collective Remembering (the military artifacts of war), and the Art of Remembering (war art, drama, poetry and music).
World War I photographs and journals from the Archie Wills Fonds
Photographs and journals selected primarily from the Archie Wills Fonds.
Wills (1892-1988) was born in Victoria, BC, served with the Canadian Forces Artillery in France during the First World War, and worked as a journalist for the Victoria Times and Daily Colonist newspapers both before and after his service.
World War I photographs by A.J. Millar, 1914-1918
This album of photographs, taken by J.A. Millar, contains scenes of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Valcartier Camp, at Quebec, and at Gaspe Harbour immediately prior to sailing to Britain in 1914.
There are also a few loose photos by unknown photographers. Millar was a staff photographer of the Montreal Daily Star and produced the album in 1915.