Archive Record
Metadata
Accession # |
A2004.38 |
Title |
Stanley Brocklebank correspondence and article, 1916-1918. -- .05 cm. |
Date |
1916-1918 |
Description |
Postcard and letter sent from Stanley Brocklebank, 1916, while on active duty in France during the First World War. Arthur Enterprise- News article following Stanley Brocklebank's death, 1918. Stanley H. Brocklebank was born in Arthur 19 Nov. 1889 to David and Mrs. Brocklebank. He was raised and educated in Arthur, then studied business in Toronto. He then worked in the offices of the Toronto Star and Canadian Northern Railway. He completed a B.A. at the University of Toronto, and attended a year of law school at Osgoode Hall, before the War broke out. In 1914-1915 he attended Military School in London, ON, and in the latter year was associated with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. As lieutenant with the 71st Battalion, he recruited men for the war at the Arthur Town Hall. In 1915-1916 he was stationed in Stratford, and left for England in March 1916. In August of that year he left for France with the 46th Battalion. While in France he participated in most Canadian battles, including those of the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Lens, Hill 70, and Paschendale. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in May 1917. Known for his courage, Capt. Brocklebank received a gunshot wound 10 Aug. 1918, and died from complications on 20 Sep. 1918. _________ - item 1: Field Service Postcard addressed to Mrs. Joseph Woods, RR3, Fergus. Dated 13 Nov. 1916. "I have received your letter dated Oct. 16/16". Signed. Only dates and signatures were allowed on these postcards for security reasons. - item 2: Letter addressed to "Min and Joe" from "Stan H. Brocklebank", dated "France 28 Nov./16". Minnie and Joseph Woods were the cousins of the author. He states that he was pleased to receive their letter, and notes the importance of correspondence. He does explain that the conditions in France were, "not conducive to letter writing". At the time of writing he had been in France 4 months and describes the horror of battle and the casualities he has seen. He proclaims that, "The Canadians here made a name for themselves, but we have paid a terrible price". He wishes a happy Christmas and New Year's to the Woods family. - item 3: Envelope that accompanies item 2, described above; postmarked Toronto, 20 Dec. 1916; addressed to Mrs. Joseph Woods, RR3, Fergus. - item 4: Broadside, with reprint of an article originally published in the Arthur Enterprise-News of 26 Sept. 1918 [though broadside mistakenly states 26 Oct. 1918]. The article, with photograph, offers a biography of Stanley H. Brocklebank, reports of his heroism during the war, offers an account of his death, and prints a letter received by his parents, dated 08 Oct. 1916. |
Creator \ Maker |
Brocklebank, Stanley [Author] |
Creator \ Maker |
Arthur Enterprise News [Publisher] |
Item Name |
Broadside Correspondence Envelope Letter Newspaper Postcard |
Person \ Organization |
71st Battalion Brocklebank Brocklebank, Stanley Canadian Expeditionary Force Canadian Northern Railway Osgoode Hall Toronto Star University of Toronto Woods, Joseph Woods, Minnie World War I |
Place |
Arthur Belgium Canada England Fergus France London Ontario Passchendaele Somme Stratford Toronto Vimy Ridge |
Subject |
Christmas Law Military Railroad War World War I |
Year Range from |
1916 |
Year Range to |
1918 |
Accession # |
A2004.38 |
Containers |
MU 508 - OVERSIZED |