Date Range

1917-1963

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Earl T. Morris

Physical Description

1 cm of textual records; 12 postcards; 1 trench map

History Biographical

After serving in WW1 Morris worked at the Lethbridge Herald from 1905-1959. He also was the President of the Lethbridge Legion Club for many years. In 1934 it was announced that there would be a pilgrimage held for past service men and women. It was to the unveiling of the Canadian National War Memorial known as Vimy Ridge in France. Vimy ridge was described in the media as “A Part of France that will ever be Canada”. Mr. Earl T Morris was one of aprox 6000 participates. The first ship sailed from Montreal Canada on July 16th 1936. Morris’ trip started in Lethbridge July 17th in the morning. The train stopped at Medicine Hat, then Winnipeg to pick up people and then on to Montréal arriving the following Thursday at 9:00a. Morris’ ship was the last to set sail at 11am. He writes that there was a big crowd there to send them off and that the time on the ship was very pleasant. Friday July 24th the came to La Havre at 8 pm. were they received a very warm welcome with a lunch and a big crowd. When in Belgium Morris writes that you could still see the pill-boxes, shell cases and barbed wire stakes. They also went through an area known to Canadians as Ypres. He noted that although his billet card said hotel it was really a boy’s convent with 60 beds for all the men. His favorite part of the pilgrimage was seeing the preserved trenches and tunnels. At the ceremony King Edward made an appearance and a speech. He shook hands with the pilgrims. Specifically “Curly” Christian, and Mrs. S.J woods. This was described as a democratic act that impressed a lot of the pilgrims. Other notable authority in attendance was Prince Arthur, Ernest Lapointe minister of Justice, Phillppe Roy Canadian Minister in France, Ian Mackenzie minister of National Defense, C.G. Power Minister of Pensions and National Health and W.L Mackenzie. Services were conducted by Lieut Colonel Rev. C.C Owen, Lieut Colonel G.O Falls, and Lieut Colonel Rev. A.E Deschamps. At the ceremony several people spoke, the last post was sounded, 2 minuets of silence, Reveille was sounded, President of the French Republic spoke, Land of Hope and Glory was played, King Edward made a presentation, and lastly wreaths where laid around the monument and all officials left together. Several other events followed including a tour of near by towns, Palace Yard at House of Commons, and Buckingham Palace. Source: Lethbridge Herald September 2 1936 pg 7 and October 19th 1936 pg 8 (written by Morris).

Scope and Content

Brochure "Eight Royal Canadian Legion Band Festival: Lethbridge, Alberta. Souvenir Program, 1963." Membership Certificate - Canadian Legion Pilgrimage to Vimy, 1936, T.E. Morris Unveiling Program - Canadian Legion Pilgrimage to Vimy, 1936 Set of souvenir postcards - Vimy Memorial By-laws - Royal Canadian Legion, General Stewart Branch #4, Lethbridge, Alberta Daily Program "Canadian Legion Welcome to France" (in English and French) 1936 3 postcards addressed to G.A. Sylvester 66161 2nd Battalion, 12 Platoon France Trech folding map of Fampoux, sheet 51B-4, scale 1:10,000 1917, marked property of T.E. Morris.

Accession No.

19971030

Collection

Archive

Less detail