Military Archives | Verdun in Wartime: An Engaged Community

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 […]

Veterans and the Housing Crisis

Verdun Branch no. 4 of the Canadian Legion identified the housing crisis as the main source of discontent among servicemen. This reproduction of a petition submitted by veterans […]

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 […]

Jane Leavitt

This article features Jane Leavitt, a British immigrant, born in London, who arrived in Verdun in 1913 with her family. She was chosen by the War Memorial Committee […]

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, […]

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 […]

Joan Adams of the Women’s Volunteer Reserve Corps

In March 1941, Joan Adams was appointed Senior Commandant of the Women’s Volunteer Reserve Corps. Excerpts from the interview with Joan Adams (J.A.), conducted by historian Serge Durflinger […]

Recruiting Ad

This advertisement from 1943 is a good example of the efforts made to recruit Verdunites. The advertisement invites women and men to join the ranks of the Royal […]

Douglas Whyte Enlisted in 1943 and Became Sergent

In 1943, Douglas Whyte enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father. Excerpts from the interview with Sergeant Douglas Whyte (D.W.), conducted […]

Women at Work

This photograph shows women at work at the British Munitions Supply Company. The manufacture and assembly of detonator shells demanded precision work but did not require any special […]

A Work Team at Defence Industries Limited

The photograph shows a work team at Defence Industries Limited in Verdun. Close to 7000 people were working there in December 1942. Production decreased as Allied victory became […]

A Team of Women Workers

This photograph features 1800 of the 2400 women employed by the British Munitions Supply Company in Verdun. Most of them were from Verdun and the south-west area of […]