It is mind boggling to think that it has been 35 years since I stood at attention in the Bay Street Armouries, in an officer's mess, and was handed my promotion to Master Warrant Officer back in 1983. The promotion was actually handed to me by British Columbia's Honourable Lt Governor Bell-Irving and has always been one of my proudest memories of my service days back uniform..
Last weekend I enjoyed a vacation day, if you will, from these blogs, almost 450 strong, and needing the break. Considerable time was spent preparing for two recent projects, and quite frankly, with health issues, I was exhausted.
The week previous saw me back in the Currie Room at the armoury for the third year in a row. This being the very room of my earlier promotion.
I was there probably as the most junior member, for my third year running, of the annual conference of the Western Front Asossiation's Pacific Coast Branch. The WFA's international organization has some 6000 members across the world. These are historians, archivists, academics, authors, researchers , the military, civilians and others with deep understanding of the WW1 Western Front and a passion for remembering the terrible costs at the front... and even back home in that horrendous war.
The Pacific Coast branch, now numbering about 100 strong, and in its 19th year, have members coming to these events from several Canadian provinces and even across the United States. Over the past several years the conference has expanded so much that our leaders are now having to consider the thought that eventually larger forums may well be needed to better accommodate our needs.
I encourage you to have a look at the website...
https;//wfapacificbranch.org
This year was very special for me as I was allowed to address some 80 attendees during the event. And I have to say I think the only folks involved who probably had less knowledge than I on the Great War were probably the caterers, who by the way, did a fabulous job over the three day event.
The focus of my research for years, as you know, has been on the Medal of Honor and Canada's part in that very im portant story. Since there is only one WWl Western Front connection to this research, I thought I would take a slightly different approach in my talk.
The conference being held during March, the very month celebrated across the United States as Womens History Month, this would be my topic... sort of. I would share the information from several recent blogs about womens history, about the military and about three women who's stories must be told over and over and over again.
Each received very high medals during the Great War, and each touched on both Canada and the United States. You hopefully will recall the stories of Beatrice MacDonald and Lenah Higbee. They, and a third, who's story has yet to appear in this space, were the women I spoke of at the conference.
Last weekend I enjoyed a vacation day, if you will, from these blogs, almost 450 strong, and needing the break. Considerable time was spent preparing for two recent projects, and quite frankly, with health issues, I was exhausted.
The week previous saw me back in the Currie Room at the armoury for the third year in a row. This being the very room of my earlier promotion.
I was there probably as the most junior member, for my third year running, of the annual conference of the Western Front Asossiation's Pacific Coast Branch. The WFA's international organization has some 6000 members across the world. These are historians, archivists, academics, authors, researchers , the military, civilians and others with deep understanding of the WW1 Western Front and a passion for remembering the terrible costs at the front... and even back home in that horrendous war.
The Pacific Coast branch, now numbering about 100 strong, and in its 19th year, have members coming to these events from several Canadian provinces and even across the United States. Over the past several years the conference has expanded so much that our leaders are now having to consider the thought that eventually larger forums may well be needed to better accommodate our needs.
I encourage you to have a look at the website...
https;//wfapacificbranch.org
This year was very special for me as I was allowed to address some 80 attendees during the event. And I have to say I think the only folks involved who probably had less knowledge than I on the Great War were probably the caterers, who by the way, did a fabulous job over the three day event.
The focus of my research for years, as you know, has been on the Medal of Honor and Canada's part in that very im portant story. Since there is only one WWl Western Front connection to this research, I thought I would take a slightly different approach in my talk.
The conference being held during March, the very month celebrated across the United States as Womens History Month, this would be my topic... sort of. I would share the information from several recent blogs about womens history, about the military and about three women who's stories must be told over and over and over again.
Each received very high medals during the Great War, and each touched on both Canada and the United States. You hopefully will recall the stories of Beatrice MacDonald and Lenah Higbee. They, and a third, who's story has yet to appear in this space, were the women I spoke of at the conference.
This is the Bay Street Armoury, which proudly celebrated its 100rth anniversary not long ago, and was home of many who went forth in the Great War. It was also my home of sorts during my last five years of service, with the 11 Victoria Service Battalion, and within its Military Police platoon. Years ago, with transformation of units and command structures etc, the battalion was moved off to a new facility here in Victoria. Bay Street is however still the home of the famed 5th BC Artillery and the Canadian Scottish, and their army as well as an air force cadet corps.
Some of the members of my former unit look on as I stand as a Warrant Officer, in my Military Police uniform and received the promotion to MWO. The entire battalion was on parade that day and most jammed into the Currie Room to witness the event. Both of my late parents, who had served in WW II in England, France, Holland and Belgium also attended and met once again with many of their former military comrades.
Here we see the WFA banner at left and the opening of the conference in the Currie Room. With a meet and greet on Friday, the Conference started with guest speakers on Saturday, followed up by a brief organizational meeting and then a most dignified and formal Mess Dinner that night. On Sunday,several more speakers took to the podium with their fascinating presentations. Over the weekend many of the talks brought more than one attendee to tears.
If you look very carefully under my peak cap, three images up, you can see I have lost some hair over the past 3 decades. Here I am shown with one of my slides, images of which have been in earlier blogs. Each year the presenters are given a plaque acknowledging their participation. Here we see our esteemed President, John Azar at the head table. Beside him is Mrs Jacqueline Patten, widow of the founding Chair of the Pacific Branch, who served for many a year as our Chair.
I am proudly wearing the recently awarded Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers and my Canadian Forces long service medal above the Military Police crest on my jacket. (credits for above 3 WFA Pac Branch photos belong to local member Alan MacLeod)
Moving along to another topic, Just a few days back our new Governor General paid her first visit to Victoria. This of course does not include her flights overhead... actually WAY OVERHEAD as an astronaut not that long ago.
I am proudly wearing the recently awarded Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers and my Canadian Forces long service medal above the Military Police crest on my jacket. (credits for above 3 WFA Pac Branch photos belong to local member Alan MacLeod)
Moving along to another topic, Just a few days back our new Governor General paid her first visit to Victoria. This of course does not include her flights overhead... actually WAY OVERHEAD as an astronaut not that long ago.
The Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, shortly after arrival in BC. Her excellency presented 45 national medals to most accomplished Canadians at Government House, the following day.
After being introduced to a most dignified audience, our Lt Governor, at left, introduced our new Governor General who then went on to share the stories and introduce 45 recipients of very high federal awards. One woman was bestowed as a member of the Order of Canada. Others then received their memberships in the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, the Meritorious Service Decorations, the Decorations for Bravery, the Polar Medal and several Sovereign's Medals for Volunteers.
Seventeen of the 45 recipients were women. While gender can not be a factor in the awarding of these medals, it is hopeful that more and more women will have the amazing opportunity to stand on this stage in the years to come.
Seventeen of the 45 recipients were women. While gender can not be a factor in the awarding of these medals, it is hopeful that more and more women will have the amazing opportunity to stand on this stage in the years to come.
A complete list of all the proud recipients and their accomplishments is at...
https://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=17084&lan=eng
and I again would encourage you to visit this link also, and read about these Canadians. There you can read about our local hero Merna Forster shown here and several times in this space over the past few years. Her work to bring the government into waking up about putting images or famous Canadian women back on the paper currency of this country, is well know. A herculean task that began in Merna's home.
She makes us all proud, and especially so since she is one of the active participants in our own local Victoria Genealogical Society, that as you know also does great work in the metro area, and indeed around the world with its great volunteers.
Merna wears her new medal... the Meritorious Service Decoration, Civilian Division, in the above picture.
Moving along, I had planned on bringing some information about the historic importance of today in our calendar. It is of course March 25th..the very day when so may years ago the first ever Medal of Honor was presented in the history of the United States.
But the blog is getting too long!
So please return next Sunday for that BELATED story.
See you then,
Bart
https://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=17084&lan=eng
and I again would encourage you to visit this link also, and read about these Canadians. There you can read about our local hero Merna Forster shown here and several times in this space over the past few years. Her work to bring the government into waking up about putting images or famous Canadian women back on the paper currency of this country, is well know. A herculean task that began in Merna's home.
She makes us all proud, and especially so since she is one of the active participants in our own local Victoria Genealogical Society, that as you know also does great work in the metro area, and indeed around the world with its great volunteers.
Merna wears her new medal... the Meritorious Service Decoration, Civilian Division, in the above picture.
Moving along, I had planned on bringing some information about the historic importance of today in our calendar. It is of course March 25th..the very day when so may years ago the first ever Medal of Honor was presented in the history of the United States.
But the blog is getting too long!
So please return next Sunday for that BELATED story.
See you then,
Bart
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