2 mm (1 two-page letter -- 1 letter with envelope)
History / Biographical
David Sommerville Charleson was born January 14th, 1884, in Brandon, Manitoba. The Charleson's settled in the GlenSouris area south of Brandon, Manitoba in 1882. David Charleson enlisted on 24 September 1914. He served as a lieutenant in the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Later, he transferred to the 8th Battalion. In Belgium, Charleson was a victim of an enemy gas attack early in the war, following which he returned to Canada incapacitated. Miss Estella Cullen, a trained nurse, cared for him following his return to Canada. David Sommerville Charleson died on May 12, 1925 a victim of war-time injuries. He is buried in the GlenSouris Cemetery just south of Brandon.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of one letter written by Charleson from Belgium in early 1915 to Miss Estella Cullen in Rounthwaite, Manitoba. In the letter, Charleson describes the circumstances facing the Canadian troops in the trenches during the Great War and provides an account of the German trenches facing him. This is an evocative and reflective letter. Philatelists may find the condition of the stamps on the letter envelope of interest.
The Berbank Red Cross was founded in November 1917, as a local feature of the Great War. The name Berbank was created by combining the names of the two local districts, Riverbank and Bertha, located south of Brandon in the Rural Municipality of Oakland. The Berbank Red Cross sent supplies of various kinds to local soldiers serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe. The organization also organized social gatherings in the Berbank area. With the end of the war most rural Red Cross organizations were disbanded, but the Berbank group agreed to remain intact to assist with the construction of a church. (See accession 28-1997 Berbank Church fonds)
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 1997 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes a minute book, which provides a complete record of every meeting held by the Berbank Red Cross, from its creation in 1917 to 1919, when it became the Berbank Ladies Aid. Fonds also includes a roll call, financial records, and meeting minutes.
Brandon College established a Canadian Officer Training Corps (COTC) program in 1916 and had enough students for a platoon that would join the 196th Western Universities Battalion's B Company. COTC logs for in the SJ McKee Archives show that at least 40 men regularly attended classes on campus during the 1916 winter term.
The Brandon Daily Sun published the names of 60 potential platoon recruits before they headed to Camp Hughes to train in the summer of 1916. Although Lt. J.R.C. Evans spearheaded the training of the COTC enlistees at Brandon College, he was found medically unfit for overseas service. In his stead, the son of the college's founder, Lt. William Carey McKee, lead the platoon to Camp Hughes where they joined the 196th Battalion. Of the 60 recruits identified in the local paper, 20 would not survive the war, including Lt. McKee. [ST/2016]
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of 40 men wearing WWI uniforms. The men have the Canada general service cap badge on their headdress. The officer in the centre of the group (i.e., the man with the cane) is J.R.C. Evans. The group of men are likely members of the first Brandon College Platoon, which joined the 196th Western Universities Battalion.
Photograph shows Western Motors Ltd. on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Anglo gas station is part of the car shop, which sells GM, Chevrolet, and Oldsmobiles.
Hutchings' Drugs is on the ground floor of the Hughes Building on the northwest corner of 10th Street and Princess. Manufacturers Life occupies the second storey.
Photograph shows the north face of the Prince Edward Hotel on Princess Avenue. To the east of the hotel is Old City Hall with the military monument (which has since been relocated to the Brandon Armoury). On the west side of the hotel is Wheelers Esso Service Station.
Notes
The photograph appears to be taken from the Hughes Building on 10th Street.
Photograph shows Princess Avenue facing east from 10th Street. On the north side of Princess Avenue, a B/A Service Station, Princess Cafe, Lindenberg Seeds, and the Central Fire Station are visible. Old City Hall with the war memorial and the Prince Edward Hotel are visible on the south side of Princess Avenue. Traffic is travelling one-way on Princess Avenue.
Photograph shows the Greyhound Bus Depot at 11th Street and Princess Avenue. Western Motors, Wheelers Esso Station, and the Prince Edward Hotel are visible along the south side of Princess Avenue. Traffic is travelling one-way on Princess Avenue.
Photograph shows Western Motors Ltd. on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. To the west of the car dealership/garage is the Greyhound Bus Station and its Maxwell House Cafe as well as the court house.
Photograph shows the west side of the 200-block on 10th Street. Visible businesses include: Chamber of Commerce Tourist Information, Dominion Tire & Radio Co., Bonnie's Bonnet Shop, Steve's Grill, Wally's Taxi, and Western Motors Ltd. The painted advertisement for Doig, Rankin and Robertson is visible on the Alexandra Block. Christmas ornaments are displayed from light standards and include Santa Claus and a Christmas elf.
Photograph shows the west side of the 200-block on 10th Street. Visible businesses include: Chamber of Commerce Tourist Information, Dominion Tire & Radio Co., Steve's Grill, Wally's Taxi, and the garage entrances to Western Motors Ltd. A Santa Claus Christmas ornament is displayed from a light standard.
Photograph shows the Red Indian (Gasoline) Station on the north side Princess Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets, Brandon. Attached to the west side of the gas station is another shop which contains Hutchings' Drug Store. The Alexandra Block on 10th Street is visible in the background.
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