World War II Archives | Verdun in Wartime: An Engaged Community

A Parade to Commemorate the Battle of Ypres

This photograph, dated April 23, 1943, shows some of the 4000 soldiers and veterans who participated in the parade commemorating the Battle of Ypres. The crowd was marching […]

The Armistice Ceremony

Here is a photograph, dated November 7, 1937, of the ceremony at the cenotaph during the Armistice Day (now Remembrance Day) commemorations in Verdun. Servicemen form an honour […]

A Happy Family Reunion

The newspaper article features private Victor J. Myatt who was captured and imprisoned by the Japanese in Hong Kong from December 1941 until the end of the war. […]

Memory of the Soldiers’ Return at Bonaventure Station

Translated excerpt of an interview with Noëlla Bisson (N.B.) and her husband René Bisson (R.B.) by historian Serge Durflinger. N.B.: They arrived at the hotel, at the Bonaventure […]

Good News

Letter sent by the Department of National Defence to the family of soldier Fernand Vachon informing them of his imminent arrival in Canada on the liner Île-de-France. Transcription […]

A Much-Awaited Telegram

Telegram from Halifax sent on July 5, 1945, from Fernand Vachon to his family on Wellington Street, with the following message: “ARRIVED SAFE AND SOUND HOPE TO BE […]

A Very Sad Announcement

This telegram, dated March 14, 1945, announced the very sad news to Gisèle Garand, mother of a soldier from Verdun, Gérard Garand, who disappeared, and was presumed dead, […]

A Letter from the Sea

Here is a letter sent by Helen King D’All to her son, Harry King D’All, who was serving in England with the Royal Montreal Regiment. The letter was […]

Memory of a Ceremony That Marked the History of Verdun

Audio clip: interview with Douglas Whyte (D.W.) , conducted by Serge Durflinger ( S.D.). Transcription: D.W.: And we in ‘42, I believe, ‘42, Beurling came home. S.D.: Yes, […]

George F. Beurling at the Verdun Auditorium

Pilot Officer George F. Beurling returned to Verdun on November 10, 1942, and was celebrated by some 6000 people at the Verdun Auditorium, the largest crowd gathered for […]

A Celebrity Pilot

George Frederick Beurling rarely went unrecognized when in Verdun. Residents would often rush to get a glimpse of him in person. This admiration was also reflected in Verdun […]

Noëlla Bisson Recalls the Blackouts

A blackout was an anti-air raids measure that involved plunging an area into total darkness. During a blackout, all house lights had to be turned off, and opaque […]