Archive Record
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Metadata
Accession # |
A2003.102 |
Title |
Ernest Christopher Grimes, Elora fonds, 1914-1932; 2003. -- 18 cm. |
Date |
1914-1932 CIRCA |
Description |
The Ernest Christopher Grimes fonds consists of diaries, letters and photographs created by and relating to Ernest Christopher Grimes. Ernest Christopher Grimes was born in London, England in 1893 and educated at The Friends' School, Saffron Waldon. He emigrated to Canada in 1913 and worked as a farm labourer in Saskatchewan. He joined the Canadian army in August of 1914. He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France from 1914-1917. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917 - Nov. 1918. Ernest finished his military service with the rank of Captain. His diaries describe the period 1914-1918; many contain detailed maps at the rear of each volume. Ernest Grimes married Ida Mary Powell in December 1918 and they returned to Canada in October 1919 to settle in Elora. They had three children: Kathleen (Cunningham) (1923-1982); Mary (Sword) (b.1931); and James (b.1932). Ernest operated Grimes Grocery, on the south-east corner of Colborne and Geddes Streets, Elora, from 1920 until the business failed ca.1932-1933. Ernest Grimes then worked as a grocery clerk at Burt's from 1933-1936. He was employed as an office clerk at Gypsum and Lime and Alabastine in Hespeler from 1937-1938, when he transferred to GLA Beachvlle as the office manager in 1938. In 1938 the family moved to Ingersoll. He retired from GLA (now Domtar) in 1963 and died in Ingersoll in 1971. SERIES 1: DIARIES, LETTERS, REMINISCENCES, 1914-1918. Subseries 1: File 1: "Notes on Voyage Across Atlantic With The Canadian Expeditionary Force [begins] Valcartier Camp, 27 Sept. 1914." 29 pages, handwritten; ends 14 Oct 1914 "How jolly to be back in dear old England." File 2: [Copy] "Diary, March 1915. Started at Bois Grenier, France, Pres Fleurbaix (maps at end of book). Ernest Grimes, S12617, 5th Battalion, Signal Service, 1st Canadian Contingent. Book I, March to Sept. 1915 (Copy)" [copied from original by Ida Mary Powell [later Mrs. E.C. Grimes], ca. 1915-1916]. File 3: [Copy] "European War Diary (Continued from Book I), Sept. 1915 to [14 June 1916] (Copy)". Inside front cover: "I. Powell, St. John Street, Newport Pagnell, Bucks." [England; copied from original by Ida Mary Powell [later Mrs. E.C. Grimes] ca.1916]. File 4: "European War Diary (Continued from last book) France 1915. To be sent to Mrs. Grimes, 28 Elsie Rd., East Dulwich, London [England]. Pte E. Grimes, 12617. Signals, 5th Bn., 1st Can. Div. More or less a chronicle of the 5th Canadian Battalion, Signalling Section, Ernest Grimes". [12 July 1915 - 31 Dec. 1915]. File 5: Collins Paragon Diary for 1916. "Ernest Grimes, 5th Canadian Battalion, 1st Canadian Division, France. Please send to Mrs. Grimes, 28 Elsie Rd., East Dulwich, London, Eng. Mary - to you. An incomplete record of events as seen by myself of the 5th Canadian Battalion, dealing more especially with the Signalling Section. E. Grimes. Begun at Neuve Eglise, Flanders, nr. Messines." [1 Jan. 1916 - 31 Dec. 1916]. File 6: Letters - 23 Dec. 1916: Mary [Powell], St. John Street, Newport Pagnell [England] to [Ernest Grimes] [6-pages, handwritten]. 24 Dec. 1916: Mary [Powell], St. John Street, Newport Pagnell [England] to [Ernest Grimes] [10-pages, handwritten]. 26 Dec. 1916: Mary [Powell], St. John Street, Newport Pagnell [England] to Ernest Grimes [10-pages, handwritten]. File 7: The Empire Diary 1917. "Ernest C.E. Grimes, 5th Canadian Infantry Battalion, France 1917" [1 Jan 1917 - 31 Dec. 1917]. File 8: "Reminiscences of the R.F.C. [Royal Flying Corps][by] E.C. Grimes, A. Sqdn, No.2 R.F.C., Cadet Wing" [1918]. File 9: Note conveying the issue of the 1914-1915 Star "which I am directed, by the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence..." Reproduced in the "Diary ...", plate xi, between pages 70-71. Graduation Certificate, certifying that 2/Lt. E.C. Grimes - General List - has completed a course in the Military Wing and is qualified for service in the Royal Flying Corps ... 26 Nov. 1917. Reproduced in the "Diary ...", plate xvi, between pages 140-141. SERIES 2: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1914-1918; ca.1925, 1932. Subseries 1: File 1: "Album": Inside front cover "E.C. Grimes; B&w prints, 1917-1918." The pages have been numbered in pencil at lower left and right; the entries below follow the format: PH # PAGE ILLUSTRATION NUMBER DATE ph 17375 Page 1 35 Squadron R.F.C. [Royal Flying Corps], March 1918. Uniformed men standing and seated before wooden building; see ph 17455. E.C. Grimes in middle row 7th from the left. ph 17376 Page 2 [same locale as p.1] At Estrees en Chausee, Feb. 1918; sign at door "HQ & A Flgt Mess"; see ph 17445. ph 17377 Page 3 Aerial view: similar to p.4. ph 17378 Page 4 Aerial view, city: Amiens, May 1918 . ph 17379 Page 5 Aerial view. ph 17380 Page 6 Aerial view: Airdrome, Quevauxvillers, June 1918. ph 17381 Page 7 Aerial view. ph 17382 Page 8 Aerial view: Airdrome, Estrees, March 1918. ph 17383 Page 9 Aerial view: similar to p.10. ph 17384 Page 10 Aerial view. On reverse: "Oblique of Amiens". ph 17385 Page 11 Aerial view showing St. Helen, St. Helen Trench and Bellanglise. 35 AE 0 59 17.3.18 - 3 ph 17386 Page 12 Aerial view. 35 AE B 624 5.3.18 - 2 ph 17387 Page 13 Aerial view. 35 AE B 819 17.3.18 - 12 ph 17388 Page 14 Aerial view. 35 AE B 750 15.3.18 - 12 ph 17389 Page 15 Aerial view. 35 AE B 645 6.3.18 - 10 ph 17390 Page 16 Aerial view [Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate ixx, between pages 150-151]. 35 AE B 255 1.1.18 - 11 ph 17391 Page 17 Aerial view. 35 A... 9.2. [18?] ph 17392 Page 18 Aerial view. 35 AE B 246 1.1.18 - 11 ph 17393 Page 19 Aerial view. 35 LB 8 3.12.17 - 11 ph 17394 Page 20 Aerial view. 35 LB 9 3.12.17 - 11 ph 17395 Page 21 Aerial view. ph 17396 Page 22 Aerial view. ph 17397 Page 23 Uniformed men, standing and seated, before wooded area. E.C Grimes sitting in middle row 6th from the left. ph 17398 Page 24 Uniformed men standing and seated before brick building. E.C. Grimes sitting in middle row 2nd from right. ph 17399 Page 25 Aerial view. 82 AE ... 9.6. [18?] ph 17400 Page 26 Aerial view. 82 AE 8 X 9.6.18 (12-0) ph 17401 Page 27 Aerial view. ph 17402 Page 28 Aerial view. 82 AE ... 11.6.18 ... ph 17403 Page 29 Aerial view. 82 K 19 13.8.18 (4.0 pm) ph 17404 Page 30 Aerial view. 82 K 17 13.8.18 (4.0 pm) ph 17405 Page 31 3 views of 2-engined biplane, D.4576. ph 17406 Page 32 2 views of landscape [Farnborough airdrome[?] - see ph 17456], 1 view of cityscape. ph 17407 Page 33 3 views of crashed plane. ph 17408 Page 34 3 views of crashed plane, B.8871. ph 17409 Page 35 Uniformed men standing and seated in front of tent. ph 17410 Page 36 a) 3 men in RFC uniforms, standing. [E.C.Grimes on0 left) b) men standing and seated, some with RFC uniform. ph 17411 Page 37 Biplane, with initials "A-W" on engine cowling. ph 17412 Page 38 3 men, standing in front of biplane, D.5161; see ph 17454. E.C. Grimes in centre. ph 17413 Page 39 Uniformed men in landscape. ph 17414 Page 40 Uniformed men, standing and seated in front of biplane propeller; see also ph 17441, 17450. ph 17415 Page 41 Aerial view. 82 B 56 26.9.18 (12-0) ph 17416 Page 42 Aerial view, showing plane below. 82 B 51 26.9.18 (12-0) ph 17417 Page 43 Aerial view. 82 B 54 26.9.18 (12.0) ph 17418 Page 44 Aerial view. 82 B 40 26.9.18 (12.0) ph 17419 Page 45 Aerial view. 82 B 53 26.9.18 (12.0) ph 17420 Page 46 Aerial view. 82 B 49 26.9.18 (12.0) ph 17421 Page 47 a) 2 men, standing in front of quonset hut; see also ph 17450 b) 3 men, standing in front of quonset hut. ph 17422 Page 48 2 men, seated in front of wooden building. ph 17423 Page 49 3 views of groups of men, standing, some in uniform. ph 17424 Page 50 2 views of biplane, F6265; group of men in uniform, standing. ph 17425 Page 51 a) man in uniform, seated [E.C. Grimes?]; b) 2 men in uniform, standing. ph 17426 Page 52 2 men in flying suits, seated; 3 men in uniform, standing. ph 17427 Page 53 Group of men in uniform, standing and seated in front of wooden building: C Flight, 35 Squadron RFC. 26.2.18 ph 17428 Page 54 Group of men in uniform, standing and seated in front of wooden building: B Flight, 35 Squadron, RFC; sign at door "B Flight Mess". 30.1.18 ph 17429 Page 55 Man in uniform, next to biplane with number 3[?]; see ph 17450. E.C. Grime standing. ph 17430 Page 56 5 views of harbour, railway station, Liverpool[[?]. ph 17431 Page 57 5 views on board ship. ph 17432 Page 58 3 views on board ship. Top left photo on the left Ida Mary (Powell) Grimes, next to her 2nd Lieut. E.C. Grimes. ph 17433 Page 59 2 harbour views; one view of [Quebec?] bridge. ph 17434 Page 60 2 views of ships; one view of [Canadian?] railway coach. ph 17435 Page 61 Portrait: E.C. Grimes; see ph 17444, "Chris Grimes". Photo: London Portrait Co." ph 17436 Page 62 Portrait: E.C. Grimes, Canadian 5th on collar. Subseries 2: Loose prints, England and France, 1914-1918. ph 17437 James Pedley, Signaller Scout, Backwoodsman, Trapper, Lumber Jack etc., ca.1917. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate iii, between pages 10-11 ph 17438 Men in uniform, l-r: Sig. Sgt McNeil; Pte. Wickham; Lt.Cpl. Pedley; Pte. Sopp; (seated) Cpl. Durkin, ca.1917. Reproduced in "Diary ..." plate iv, between pages 14-15. ph 17439 Portrait, Ernest Christopher Grimes in RFC uniform. [2 copies, one mounted on 3-ring paper]. Photo: M. Louis Lancher, 16 Brook St. W., [London, England], ca.1918. Reproduced at front of "Diary ...". 2nd Lieutenant E.C. Grimes - graduated from flying training Royal Flying Corps, 1917. ph 17440 Three men in RFC uniform, standing in front of biplane D.5161, ca.1918. Also in "Album", page 38; Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xviii, between pages 146-147; see ph 16412, ph 17454. Centre man is Captain E.C. Grimes; Armstrong Whitworth airplane (160A.W). ph 17441 Men in RFC uniform, standing and seated in front of biplane propeller, ca.1918, Captain E.C. Grimes in front row centre. On reverse: "Miss Powell" Also in "Album", page 40; Reproduced in "Diary ..." , plate xx, between pages 154-155; see also ph 17414, ph 17450. ph 17442 Officers A Flt 82. Men in RFC uniform, standing and seated in front of wooded area, ca.1918. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xvii, between pages 144-145; see ph 17397, ph 17454. E.C. Grimes in front row sitting 2nd from left. ph 17443 Ida Mary Powell and Chris Grimes. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xiv, between pages 136-137. ph 17444 Chris Grimes, in uniform of the 5th Canadian Battalion. Photo: London Portrait Co., ca.1917. Also in "Album", page 61. ph 17445 35 Squadron RFC. Uniformed men standing and seated before wooden building, at Estrees en Chausee, Feb. 1918; sign at door "HQ & A Flgt Mess"[2 copies, one mounted on card]. Also in "Album", page 2. ph 17446 Portrait, unidentified man in uniform. Photo: T&R Annan and Sons, Glasgow, ca.1917. ph 17447 Unidentified man in uniform, on horse in front of tent, ca.1917. ph 17448 Unidentified men, standing and seated in front of residence, with goat [mascot?], ca.1917. ph 17449 Portrait of man in RFC uniform [E.C. Grimes?], on card, mounted on 3-ring paper. Photo: M. Louis Lancher, 16 Brook St . W., [London, England], ca.1918. ph 17450 Mounted on 3-ring paper: a) Railway station with crowds [at Liverpool docks?], ca.1917; see ph 17430. b) Men in RFC uniform, standing and seated in front of biplane propeller, ca.1918; see ph 17414, ph 17441. c) 2 men in uniform, standing in front of quonset hut; on reverse "Chris" [Grimes], ca.1918; see ph 17421. d) Man in uniform, standing beside biplane with number 3[?]; on reverse: "Chris [Grimes], 1917"; see ph 17429. ph 17451 Mounted on 3-ring paper with note "At Home 1916": a) Man in uniform, seated in deckchair. b) Man in uniform and woman, seated in deckchairs. c) 2 women, outdoors seated at tables with tablecloths. d) Man in uniform, with arm in sling, standing. With note "France 1916": 11 small prints of varying numbers of men in uniform. ph 17452 Mounted on 3-ring paper, with note "1914" a) men in uniform with sign "Newport Nuts 1914" b) 4 small prints, one identified on back as "E.G. [Ernest Grimes], Ralph Biggs ..." c) Row of children holding trays in front of sign "Newport Pagnell Habitation." Woman in background may be Kath Powell, younger sister of Ida Mary Powell, mother of donor. Photo: Sayle Photo, Newport Pagnell, 1916. d) Row of children holding trays in front of sign [2 copies]. Woman in background may be Kath Powell, younger sister of Ida Mary Powell, mother of donor. Photo: Sayle Photo, Newport Pagnell, 1916. ph 17453 Mounted in 3-ring paper, with note "Salisbury Plains, 1914": a) Men in uniform, standing and seated; identified as Nicholson, Baxter, Powell, Coles, Lineham, Bailey, Pearce, Lineham, Buckingham, Atkins. Postcard addressed to W.J. Powell, Esq., 32 St. John's St., Newport Pagnell, Bucks [England] - Dear Dad [signed] Basil [Powell]. b) Portrait, man in uniform "Basil [Powell], 1915." c) Man in uniform, on camel "Egypt, 1916". ph 17454 Mounted on paper: a) 3 men in uniform, standing in front of biplane D.5161. See ph 17412, ph 17440. b) men in RFC uniform, standing and seated in front of wooded area. See ph 17397, ph 17442. ph 17455 35 Squadron RFC, March 1918. Uniformed men standing and seated before wooden building at Estrees en Chausee. See "Album", page 1; also ph 17375. ph 17456 Mounted on paper, with note "Hursley Park, June 1917": a) 4 men in uniform, identified as H. Coombs - crashed; W.K. Pickup - killed; J.I.T. Jones, D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C.; E.C. Grimes. b), c), d) 3 small prints of man/men in uniform, in front of conical tents. With note "Oxford, July 1917": e) 3 men in uniform. f), g) men in canoe h) 2 men in uniform, one E.C. Grimes[?]. With note "Farnborough, May 1917" i) men in uniform j) landscape with buildings With note "Spittlegate Lines, Nov. 1917: k) 2 men in uniform at wing of biplane. l) 3 biplanes. ph 17457 2 men in canoe. Oxford, July 1917. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xii, between pages 132-133. ph 17458 5 men in uniform, seated in front of wooden building. L-r: Self [E.C. Grimes]; Jack Horne; Mac; Yuill[?]. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xiii, between pages 134-135. ph 17459 Man standing next to biplane, with number 3; "D.H.6., now burnt", ca.1918. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xv (top), between pages 138-139. ph 17460 2 biplanes; "160 AW", ca.1918. Reproduced in "Diary ...", plate xv (bottom) between pages 138-139. ph 17461 Man standing next to wing of biplane; "F.E. 2B, used for night flying", ca.1918. ph 17462 Men in uniform, some standing, one kneeling, one seated, on road[?] next to wooded area; "Taken Court[?] Drive, about end of July [1916?]. ph 17463 Men in uniform, some standing, some seated, one with telescope[?]. ph 17464 Harbour scene, "Aromoorn[?] 2/15" 1915[?]. ph 17465 2 views with notation "France 1916" a) Men in uniform, seated with backs against brick building; one marked with "x". b) Men in uniform, by bales of hay or straw, with goat[?]. c) 2 women, seated on diving board. ph 17466 Men, many wearing furs, standing on and next to railway car; "AH Campagne 1914 ... Passage de troupe Canadienne en gare d'Abance ... Abancourt, 1 fevrier 1914". Subseries 3: Loose prints, Elora, ca.1925; 1932. ph 17467 Interior of E.C. Grimes grocery store, Elora; sign on post "Wrigley's Nips", ca.1925. ph 17468 Interior of E.C. Grimes grocery store, Elora; sign on counter "Christie's Biscuits", ca.1925. ph 17469 ph 17470 E.C. Grimes grocery store, Elora, window display for Lux soap, "Empire Conference 1932 to Promote Trade ... Use Lux Soap to promote Beauty" 1932. SERIES 3: TRANSCRIPTION OF WAR DIARIES, ca.2003. Subseries 1: File 1: "Ernest Christopher Grimes / European War Diary / 1914 - 1918" [referred to within this fonds as "Diaries ..."; transcribed and compiled by Jim Grimes, ca.2003]. Part I: Voyage across the Atlantic with the First Canadian Expeditionary Force, 27 Sept. 1914 - 14 Oct. [During the rest of 1914 and into 1915, the Canadians trained at Salisbury Plain; no diaries have been located for this time period; entries resume in March of 1915 in France]. Part II: The Western Front, 20 March 1915 (Bois-Grenier, France, near Fleurbaix) - 18 May 1917. Part III: Training: In May 1917, after more than two years of active service on the Western Front, Ernest Grimes was accepted for the Royal Flying Corps. He began his officer training at Winchester, 19 May 1917. NOTE: Many of the Diary entries for the rest of 1917 are brief and of little interest; they have been abridged and only the entries that illustrate highlights of training and his personal views are quoted verbatim. Gunnery, topography, lectures, physical training and marches were notable features of the first weeks at Winchester. 19 May 1917 - 31 Dec. 1917. Part IV: The Royal Flying Corps: - Begins "You will proceed oberseas (January or early February, 1918. - Flying in France. - Our partirdge drive. - Dawn patrol. - A Shoot. - Battle. - Bombing. - Shot down. There are no further entries in the diaries. Ernest Grimes remained in France until the Armistice. He returned to England a few days later. In December 1918, he married Ida Mary Powell and in October 1919 they settled in Canada. File 2: Includes 1-page "Ernest Christopher Grimes", a chronology of his life (born London, England 1893 - died Ingersoll, Ontario Canada 1971); "Good Equipment Will Attract the Trade ... E.C. Grimes of Elora ..." from "Canadian Grocer" 5 Oct. 1923; 2-page List of "Names 1915, Names 1916, Names 1917" appearing in the Grimes' diaries, with Regiment and Box number. File 3: Photocopy, map "Laon/Arras" portion of northwest France, showing places mentioned in Grimes' diaries; bounded by Doullens, Amiens, Moreuil, Vermand, Bourlon, Arras. [Institut Geographic National, Verte #4: Laon / Arras (7), ca.2003]. File 4: Includes two 9cm discs marked "Diaries / 1) Titles / 2) Diaries unedited, pages 1-264"; "Diaries - Edited Final / Pages 1-9 "The Voyage" is missing". |
Creator \ Maker |
Grimes, E. Christopher [Author] |
Creator \ Maker |
London Portrait Company [photographer] Lancher, Louis [photographer] |
Item Name |
Letter Diary Photograph |
Person \ Organization |
5th Canadian Battalion Atkins Bailey Baxter Biggs, Ralph Buckingham Canadian Expeditionary Force Coles Coombs Durkin Grimes Grocery Grimes, E. C. Grimes, E. Christopher Grimes, Ida Mary Horne, Jack Jones Lineham McNeil Nicholson Pearce Pedley, James Pickup Powell Powell, Basil Powell, Ida Mary Royal Flying Corps Sopp Wickham Yuill |
Place |
Elora England France Oxford |
Subject |
Aerial View Bridge Military Railroad World War I |
Photo, Map # |
ph 17375 ph 17375 - ph 17470 ph 17376 ph 17377 ph 17378 ph 17379 ph 17380 ph 17381 ph 17382 ph 17383 ph 17384 ph 17385 ph 17386 ph 17387 ph 17388 ph 17389 ph 17390 ph 17391 ph 17392 ph 17393 ph 17394 ph 17395 ph 17396 ph 17397 ph 17398 ph 17399 ph 17400 ph 17401 ph 17402 ph 17403 ph 17404 ph 17405 ph 17406 ph 17407 ph 17408 ph 17409 ph 17410 ph 17411 ph 17412 ph 17413 ph 17414 ph 17415 ph 17416 ph 17417 ph 17418 ph 17419 ph 17420 ph 17421 ph 17422 ph 17423 ph 17424 ph 17425 ph 17426 ph 17427 ph 17428 ph 17429 ph 17430 ph 17431 ph 17432 ph 17433 ph 17434 ph 17435 ph 17436 ph 17437 ph 17438 ph 17439 ph 17440 ph 17441 ph 17442 ph 17443 ph 17444 ph 17445 ph 17446 ph 17447 ph 17448 ph 17449 ph 17450 ph 17451 ph 17452 ph 17453 ph 17454 ph 17455 ph 17456 ph 17457 ph 17458 ph 17459 ph 17460 ph 17461 ph 17462 ph 17463 ph 17464 ph 17465 ph 17466 ph 17467 ph 17468 ph 17469 ph 17470 |
Year Range from |
1914 |
Year Range to |
1932 |
Accession # |
A2003.102 |
Containers |
MU 496 STACKS |