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 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 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.
