蘑菇短视频

The Great War 1914-1918

Each year on November 11, Canadians fall silent on the anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War. It is a time to reflect, remember and to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives.

This year, many of the devastating battles of the Great War reached their centenaries, including Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and the Third Battle of Ypres. To commemorate the sacrifices of the 蘑菇短视频 community, an exhibit capturing some of the narratives of the Great War is currently on display in the 蘑菇短视频 Archives: 鈥溎⒐蕉淌悠� at War: 1914-1918.鈥�

The First World War was fought on a scale never before imagined, and many men in the 蘑菇短视频 community answered the call to arms. Two of the 蘑菇短视频 men who fought were Reginald Prinsep Wilkins and Gordon McMichael Matheson. The two met as freshman in 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 Class of 1914. Together they played football and sang in the Glee Club. After graduating from 蘑菇短视频, Wilkins enrolled in law school at Osgoode Hall and Matheson entered the Faculty of Medicine. In December 1915, Wilkins and Matheson enlisted in the army.聽The 蘑菇短视频 University Review, May-June 1918, reports that 鈥淟ieuts鈥� G.M.Matheson and R.P. Wilkins have at last obtained the object of their desire and gone to France.鈥� Sadly, the October issue contains their obituaries. Matheson fell at the Battle of Amiens on August 11. Wilkins, who learned of his friend鈥檚 death on August 19聽shortly before he was sent to France, was killed in the battle of Bourlon Wood on September 27.

The women of St. Hilda鈥檚 College were also active. They worked as nurses, ambulance drivers, clerks, physicians and support personnel. Several St. Hildians were sent to France to work in military hospitals and to take part in the ambulance convoys close to the Western Front. One St. Hildians was alumna Ethel Ridley. From October 1914 to December 1918, she served at military hospitals in England and France, including field hospitals that underwent shelling and bombardment. For her service, Ethel received many decorations and medals.

The Great War also had a significant impact on life back home at the College, drastically altering the demographics of 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 students. In the 1913-1914 academic year, there were 169 students enrolled: 105 men and 64 women. By the third year of the war, and for the first time in 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 history, more women graduated from the College than men. In 1917, 蘑菇短视频 had only one male graduate. By the autumn of 1918, there were 37 male students attending 蘑菇短视频, a mix of men under military age, returned soldiers and those no longer fit for active service.

The physical structure of 蘑菇短视频 was affected by the war as well. By the fall term of 1915, 蘑菇短视频 House, the residence for freshman, had been closed due to reduced numbers in enrollment. Later it was used as a military hospital for returned convalescing soldiers. By 1916 the whole west wing of the main academic building closed and did not reopen for normal use until 1918. Throughout the war, parts of the college grounds were re-purposed for military use: the west wing for officers of the 28^th聽Battalion (Northern Fusiliers), Convocation Hall for officers鈥� classes, the gymnasium for musketry drill, and the playing fields for parade grounds.

There were 543 men from the 蘑菇短视频 community who registered to serve in the First World War. Seventy-three of these were undergraduates at the time of their enlistment. Of the men who answered the call to arms, 56 perished. Their names, and those who fell during the Second World War are engraved on the memorial wall in the 蘑菇短视频 Chapel.

Come explore the incredible narratives commemorated in 鈥溎⒐蕉淌悠� at War: 1914-1918鈥� exhibit. This display will remain in the 蘑菇短视频 Archives until the end of 2018.

(Sources: 蘑菇短视频 Archives and聽)

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