In April and in May of 1915, the Canadians of the First Division, and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry pass the test of courage and ability as they save the day during the 2nd Battle of Ypres.
By early 1916, Canada will field a Corps, or 4 Divisions, and the Pats will have left the British Army and joined the Canadian Corps. Few of the men of the "Originals" will be left to fill those places. But the few that remain and their story, will install in the Canadian Corps the expectation of an elite force.
The 13 posts that follow are my attempt to provide the underlying human story of this beginning as seen through the lens of my large extended family in Montreal.
In another series, we will follow also the lead up to, the sinking and the aftermath of the last voyage of the Lusitania. Again we will follow this story through the lives of the many members of this circle who took this last trip. Link Here.
I hope that you enjoy this. It is part of a 4 year project to explain the human aspect of World War 1 by using my own family as a focus.
3. The First Division Arrives at St Nazaire
4. Apprenticing
5. The players take their places
7. Trum Warren
8. Guy Drummond Dies Saving the Apex
9. The Gunners - 5th Battery and 2nd Ypres
10. John McCrae - The Motives behind In Flanders Fields
11. The Price of Devotion Part 1 - PPCLI May 1915
12. Ypres Update May 4- 8 - The PPCLI Move
13. The "Pats" - Death of the "Originals" and Birth of a Legend
