I am writing a real time story of my large extended family's experiences in the First World War. When I say real time, I mean that each week from August 1914 to May 1919 will have entries talking about what was going on that week 100 years before. When I say "large extended" family" I mean that group of Anglo Scot families that dominated Montreal from 1800 to 1945.
Periodically, I will collect all the posts into one omnibus post. This 2nd Omnibus post will list the stories from the outbreak until the landing of the First Division in mid February 1915.
While these stories only cover only a small part of Canada, I hope that you find that they are universal as well. For every community shared a common experience. I also do not confine this to men and to the front. Everyone was affected by this war. We will move from home in Canada, to life in the UK, to the front, to behind the lines, to hospitals, to being on leave, to being a prisoner, to travel, to the sea and sinkings. We will be with our characters in every part of their lives and deaths.
I hope that you find people here that you get to like and care for. I have and I often lie awake at night thinking of them. They have become part of my life.
4. The Tribe - the Scots Extended family
5.Valcartier and the First Contingent
7. Not just soldiers on the move - Dr's and family
8. The Ritz and My Late Aunt Frances - Her obit is here
9. Harold Cooper - Alec's groom
12. Cousin Martha Allan - Nursing, Emancipation and Women
17. Julia Drummond - Canada's "Mother" sets off
19. Salisbury Plain and the 2nd Brigade CFA
20. Leave and Loneliness - Julia Drummond
21. The PPLCI - The First In France
22. Tipperary - The Girls We Left Behind
25. McGill and Montreal's Hospitals Get Ready
29. Flu - Did this save my grandfather's life in 1918?
