Very few Newfoundlanders and Labradorians let alone very few Canadians have ever heard of Monchy-le-Preux. People from St. John’s might know of Monchy Street, in the city’s Rabbit Town neighbourhood. It is there alongside Suvla, Cairo, and Edinburgh Streets and a few others that seem to people unaware of Newfoundland’s
Continue readingTag: Great War
The Sir Robert Bond Papers: British VC Memorial Dishonours Former British Dominion #nlpoli
As part of its commemoration of the Great War, the British government unveiled a memorial to Victoria Cross winners who were born in other countries. That includes Commonwealth countries and, in some cases, places that weren’t even countries during the First World War. It’s a companion to the memorial to
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Shapes and sizes #nlpoli
The Duke of Connaught, Governor General of Canada and uncle of King George, visited St. John’s in the middle of July, 1914. During his visit, he officially opened a new park in St. John’s and inspected the paramilitary groups that formed the basis of Newfoundland’s defence plan in the event
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Remembering… or not #nlpoli
The news release that announced a provincial commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the First World War includes right at the start a picture of two couples, one older, and a small child. The photograph is curious. Look closely at it. (Read more…)
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: War, Memory, and Society #nlpoli
Part way through her interview with historian Margaret MacMillan last September, the Globe’s Sandra Martin turned the conversation for the lessons we might draw for today’s world from MacMillan’s understanding of what led the European nations to war in 1914. MacMillan does more than oblige Martin. She goes into a
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Newfoundland and the start of the Great War #nlpoli
Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One. There’s no sign of any commemorations or other events to mark the occasion, but undoubtedly there will be plenty. Your humble e-scribbler is working to finish off a major paper that’s been in the works for far
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: The Great War and Newfoundland Nationalism #nlpoli
This is a revised version of post that originally appeared on July 4, 2012. ___________________________________ Mark Humphries is an historian at Memorial University. He spoke with CBC’s Chris O’Neill-Yates on July 1, 2012 about the impact of Beaumont Hamel on Newfoundland and Labrador. Humphries does an interesting job of putting
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Beaumont Hamel and the Newfoundland nation #nlpoli
Mark Humphries is an historian at Memorial University. He spoke with CBC’s Chris O’Neill-Yates on July 1 about the impact of Beaumont Hamel on Newfoundland and Labrador. Humphries does an interesting job of putting the 700 dead and wounded on that day into a larger context. He likened it to
Continue reading