Documents and Diaries

Documents and Diaries

Nursing Sisters Murney Pugh and Ellanore Parker

Ellanore Parker and Murney Pugh were both nursing sisters who served in France. Examine photographs and documents from their time serving in the First World War. Learn more about their lives and the role of nurses in WWI in watch.

This is a black and white image of Nursing Sister Ellanore Parker showing her signature on the right side.
This is a black and white image of two Nursing Sisters in a bell tent.
This is an image of a nursing sister’s uniform from World War I.
This is an image from the front of a postcard from Murney Pugh showing ten nurses in front of a tent.
This is an image of the back of a postcard from Murney Pugh.
This is a black and white image of mess orderlies and Nursing Sister Parker gathering up belongings after a storm.
This is an image of a postcard to Ellanore Parker from King George.
This is an image of a typewritten poem called Vimy by Ellanore Parker.
This is two black and white images of Nursing sisters both going on and coming off night duty.
This is a black and white image of a group of nurses and soldiers in front of pictures made with pebbles.
This is a black and white image of nurses tending wounded soldiers at a Canadian stationary hospital.
This is a black and white photograph of a military hospital ward at Christmas time in 1915.

Frank Swannell

The following is a selection of photography and entries collected from Frank Swannell’s Diaries written during the First World War. To view more entries from Frank Swannell’s diaries and to help the Royal BC Museum transcribe important documents from the First World War, visit Transcribe.  View a video about Frank Swannell in watch.

This is a black and white photograph of Frank Swannell a soldier before leaving to serve in the First World War.
This is a black and white photograph of people at a train station in Ontario in 1915.
This is a black and white photograph of the transport vessel Missanabie taken in 1915.
This is an image of a diary entry from Frank Swannell.
This is a black and white photograph of Frank Swannell and two other soldiers in France during the First World War.
This is a black and white photograph of four soldiers including Frank Swannell at a military hospital in about 1918.
This is a black and white photograph of two men walking outside, both are using walking sticks.
This is an image of a diary entry from Frank Swannell showing a hand-drawn diagram.

British Columbia 143rd Bantam Battalion

The 143rd Bantam Battalion was created for men who didn’t quite make the regular height requirements for military service during the First World War. This battalion welcomed men 160 centimetres (five feet and four inches) or less in height. 

This is a black and white photograph, a primary source of the 143 Bantam Battalion.
This is a black and white photograph of soldiers from a Bantam battalion on a Vancouver street probably in 1916.
This is a black and white photograph of a BC Bantam battalion training in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, BC.
This is an image of a newspaper (page 15) from the Victoria Daily Colonist, Sunday April 2, 1916.
This is an image of a page 5 from the Victoria Daily Colonist, April 26, 1916.
This is an image of an application for BC Bantams in World War I.
This is an image of an advertisement for the 143rd Bantam Battalion.

The Copyright Act applies to materials that are part of Royal BC Museum and Archives collections; this includes but is not limited to still images, documents, cartographic records, sound recordings and moving images. Copies provided by the Royal BC Museum and Archives may only be used for the purpose of education, research or private study, and any use of the copy for a purpose other than education, research or private study may require you to obtain the authorization of the copyright owner of the work in question.

 

 

 

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