The nominal list in the May 1945 war diary for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders lists Towne as having been wounded on 8 July 1944, likely during the bloody fighting for Authie on that day. See page 67 of the May 1945 PDF (5/5):
recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/rec...
Alt: Black-and-white scan of microfilmed nominal roll listing patients being repatriated to Canada, listed by service number, rank, name, and unit Information on PULHELMS classification, remarks on the category of patient (stretcher case, etc.), and diagnosis are provided.
Other documents confirm the same hospital car (No. 98) was transporting Clarence Towne, wounded while fighting with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders in Normandy (4/5):
heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm....
Black-and-white photograph of four porters in dark uniforms, standing in front of a map of Europe. Left to right: Jean-Napoléon Maurice, James E. Thompson, Randolph Winslow, and Sam Morgan. Headline text: Wounded Veterans Staff C.P,R. Hospital Cars. Caption: Assigned to regular hospital car service by the Canadian Pacific Railway these four porters, standing in front of the ever-changing map of the Battle of Europe in the Windsor Station at Montreal, have a record of 22 years of service and wounds form seven actions in two wars. Left to right the four who have the bond of a common experience with the wounded servicemen they look after on the coast-to-coast runs of hospital trains are Jean Napoleon Maurice, Montreal, wounded at Dieppe and in Italy; James E. Thompson, Montreal, casualty of the London Blitz; R. Winslow, Montreal, wounded at Vimy Ridge and Amiens; Sam Morgan, Verdun, veteran of this war and the last one, wounded at Second Ypres and Dieppe. Source: Porcupine Advance (Timmins, ON), 31 August 1944, p. 8, via Timmins Public Library.
Along with Randolph Winslow, Sam Morgan, and James E. Thompson, Maurice was one of four Canadian Pacific Railway porters chosen in 1944 to work in hospital cars. All were veterans who had been wounded in service, and their selection for these roles was reported in Canadian newspapers (3/5):
Black-and-white image of an invoice from the Canadian Pacific Railway, identifying porters working in hospital cars 97, 97, 98, and 99, and listing days and hours worked. Top to bottom, they are Randolph Winslow, Sam Morgan, Jean-Napoléon Maurice, and James E. Thompson. Image source: Library and Archives Canada, RG24, microfilm reel C-5587, file HQS 61-207C, "Trains - Hospital Cars - Accounts"
This invoice turned up too late for inclusion, but confirms that Maurice worked on Canadian Pacific Railway hospital car 98. It's also one of few documents mentioning porters' names. When I posted last year, I accidentally linked to the wrong document (2/5): heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm....
Black and white photograph of a porter (on the right, with white jacket and dark cap) leaning over to light the cigarette of a patient lying in the bed on the left. Image source: Library and Archives Canada, e011871941.
Reposting & updating a blog post of mine from 2025 as part of Library and Archives Canada's Black Porter Perspectives series. Pic of porter & veteran Jean-Napoléon Maurice & Private Clarence Towne as entry to archival sources (1/5):
thediscoverblog.com/2025/02/18/b...
#BlackHistoryMonth #CdnHist
Like @tattooedhistorian.bsky.social says, the clock is ticking for abstract submissions. We’re looking forward to hearing from you - details in the link:
drive.google.com/file/d/163rt...
As John says, the deadline for abstracts is January 1, and we're looking forward to your submissions! This volume will explore how ethics can be re-engaged as a living, contested, and transformative force in the study of conflict. More information is available through the link:
Colour photograph, with white snow and grey rocks in foreground. A person with their back to the camera is in the middle distance at centre. In the distance at centre is a large mountain with snow and dark trees. The horizon is at the middle of the image, with a blue sky above it.
Since it’s #InternationalMountainDay, (and also #ThrowbackThursday), here’s a view of Giant from Rocky Peak Ridge, taken last winter.
It’s a preparatory work for the oil painting Ten Minutes' Rest - Kiska, Canadian War Museum 19710261-3873. (2/3)
www.warmuseum.ca/collections/...
Black and white drawing of a group of soldiers against a snowy background. Ocean is visible on the left, and a mountain peak in the distance at centre. To the right, a tracked tractor pulls a trailer full of soldiers. Track marks are visible in the snow running from the tractor towards the bottom right.
An E.J. Hughes work "Ten Minutes Rest during Route March on Kiska," depicting Canadians on Kiska during the Aleutian campaign just sold at auction for $133,250 CAD; estimate was $25-$35,000 CAD. Link to lot details at Heffel are in the third post. (1/3)
#WarArt #CdnHist #MilitaryHistory
Oh, most definitely. I can recall seeing one later-war photograph, but the digitized version was relatively small and Shawinigan was so iced up that it's hard to see many details.
Can't usefully comment on generals, but I can also mention Sir William Palliser, for his innovations (Palliser shot, rifled muzzle loading conversions for smooth-bore guns), and Sir Alexander Moncrieff, who developed a useful "disappearing carriage" (largely used for coast defence artillery).
Black and white photograph of a rectangular wooden panel composed of vertical tongue and groove with a frame and a horizontal brace across the middle. Dark stains on lower half may be fuel oil. Image from board of inquiry into loss of HMCS Shawinigan, Library and Archives Canada, RG24, volume 4108, file 1156-331/93.
Black and white photograph of a life raft with semi-circular ends leaning against a wall. Centre of raft has horizontal wooden slats, and five open boxes. Image from board of inquiry into loss of HMCS Shawinigan, Library and Archives Canada, RG24, volume 4108, file 1156-331/93.
Black and white photograph of a life raft with semi-circular ends lying on a flat surface. Image from board of inquiry into loss of HMCS Shawinigan, Library and Archives Canada, RG24, volume 4108, file 1156-331/93.
Burgeo's master failed to report that Shawinigan was not off Port-aux-Basques the following morning, only notifying naval authorities when the ship reached Sydney. The ensuing search turned up fuel oil and wreckage, some of which is seen here, as well as the bodies of six ratings. 2/2
Black and white photograph of the port side of HMCS Shawinigan, with ship's bow (front) at left. Ship is silhouetted agains the sky, with a gun at left, and superstructure including the bridge and a funnel at centre. Pennant number "K136" is painted on the hull. RCN image MC-2921, Ken Macpherson, Naval Museum of Alberta, via Wikimedia Commons.
On the night of 24-25 November 1944, U-1228 sank the corvette HMCS Shawinigan off Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland. The corvette had been escorting the ferry SS Burgeo, and was on patrol off the coast while Burgeo was in port. 1/2 #CdnHist #NavalHistory
Henry Shrapnel, who developed the shell that was named after him.
Scan to PDF is a wonderful function to have. I also appreciate microfilm digitization projects. I printed out thousands of pages of microfilm for my MA research in the 90s because the relevant reels could only be borrowed for two weeks, and digital output wasn’t an option. It’s now available online.
Colour photograph of a beige microfilm reader with a light-coloured page displayed on its screen. A grey concrete wall with vertical textured markings is in the background
Dusting off the past millennium’s technology. Glad to know I still recall how to load and operate a microfilm reader, complete with flashbacks to grad school. Did anyone else have a favourite microfilm reader at their archives? #history #CdnHist #CanadianHistory
Colour photograph of a room with chairs and a projection screen at centre. Image on screen has title of “Canada’s Naval War”, and a picture of part of the Canadian War Museum.
Colour photograph of a room with chairs and a projection screen at centre. Screen has black and white photograph of a woman with glasses on the left, and the name Hannah Baird on the right.
At work this morning to give a talk about Canada’s naval war from 1939-1945, including Hannah Baird, whose name is often mentioned, but whose face is seldom seen. #CdnHist #History #NavalHistory
Team member Roy Weatherdon accompanied Mowat on the voyage. The collection, including a V-2 rocket, a piloted V-1, and a range of other weapons and equipment, featured in contemporary news reports. Blommersdijk's cargo included German chemical weapons, Canadian Army equipment, and tulip bulbs. (2/2)
Black and white newspaper photograph showing a miniature submarine in profile, suspended by cables from a crane. The submarine is pointing from right to left, with a light-coloured nose on the left. The conning tower and tail on the right are enclosed by wooden structures, and the submarine is on a road trailer with wheels. Below the trailer is the railway flatcar it is being loaded onto. Workers stand in various locations to help load the submarine onto the flatcar. Photograph is from the Huntingdon Gleaner, 5 December 1945, page 7, via Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
Colour image of a three-quarter view of a black-hulled miniature submarine, pointing towards the viewer. A small conning tower and periscope are visible towards its rear, on the right. A silver bomb-shaped variable depth sonar is in the right background.
80 years ago, 13 Nov 1945: Dutch freighter Blommersdijk arrived in Montreal, with German equipment collected by the 1st Canadian War Museum Collection Team headed by Farley Mowat. This Molch miniature sub drew attention, ultimately becoming part of the museum’s collection. #CdnHist #History (1/2)
Also visible in the photograph, just right of centre: the tubular shape of the pulse jet engine of the Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg, a piloted version of the V-1 flying bomb. It was another one of the team's prized acquisitions.
(3/3)
The sub was part of the massive collection of German weapons and equipment assembled by the team, most of which was aboard. Two other Canadians and nine civilians also made the voyage, along with German chemical weapons, Canadian army equipment destined for postwar use, and tulip bulbs.
(2/3)
Colour image of a three-quarter view of a black-hulled miniature submarine, pointing towards the viewer. A small conning tower and periscope are visible towards its rear, on the right. A silver bomb-shaped variable depth sonar is in the right background. A horizontal red cylinder near centre is the pulse-jet engine of a piloted V-1 cruise missile.
80 years ago #OTD (1 Nov 45), this German Molch submarine, now at the Canadian War Museum, left Antwerp aboard the Montreal-bound Dutch freighter Blommersdijk. Also aboard were Farley Mowat, who commanded the 1st Canadian War Museum Collection Team, and Roy Weatherdon, one of its members.
(1/3)
This event is the latest in an ongoing series of webinars organized by the embassies of Canada in Reykjavík and Iceland in Ottawa. The webinar will also include remarks by Canada’s Ambassador to Iceland, Jenny Hill and Iceland’s Ambassador to Canada, Hlynur Guðjónsson.
(3/3)
Key insights will be shared from the ongoing PhD research of Canadian and Icelandic scholars Madison Herget-Schmidt, University of Manitoba, and Karen Lilja Loftsdóttir, Queen’s University, respectively.
(2/3)
For those who might be interested, I'll be moderating a webinar on Canada and Iceland during the world wars on 12 November. It examines the cooperation and collaborations undertaken between Iceland and Canada during both conflicts. Free registration here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/canada-and...
(1/3)
I'm devastated by today's news. Tim has been a colleague and friend for nearly 20 years. It's a profound loss for his family, friends, and colleagues, and for everyone else whose lives he's touched through his research, publications, mentorship, and many contributions to the Canadian War Museum.
Black and white photograph showing the silhouette of a submarine (U-537) in a bay. Snow covered hills are in the background. Source: George Metcalf Archival Collection, Canadian War Museum 20030149-001_2
Black and white photograph showing the after deck of U-537 as seen from the conning tower. An officer is in the foreground. In the background, sailors stand on the deck with two inflatable rubber boats. Source: George Metcalf Archival Collection, Canadian War Museum 20030149-001_3
Retouched black and white photograph showing Kurt after installation. Dark-coloured vertical metal cylinders, a tall antenna, and a shorter pole with weather-measuring instruments are visible against a snow-covered background. Source: George Metcalf Archival Collection, Canadian War Museum 20030149-001_5
Colour photograph of the restored Kurt weather station at the Canadian War Museum, showing a series of vertical dark metal cylinders with irregular white painted markings. One cylinder is painted grey. The station's antenna is just left of centre. Other artifacts and parts of the museum are in the background.
#OTD 82 years ago (22 October 1943): German sub U-537 arrived at Martin Bay in northern Nunatsiavut/Labrador, & installed automated weather station WFL-26, aka "Kurt". It functioned for a short time before it stopped transmitting. Recovered in 1981, it's now at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
