World War One and Victoria High School

Victoria High School's Fourth Building Opens

May 2, 1914

International Pretext:June

Jun 28, 1914

June 28, 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife are assassinated
July 6th, 1914: Germany offers Austria-Hungary monies for support in military action against Serbia
July 23rd-28th 1914: An ultimatum is given to Serbia and five days later, the country’s partial acceptance is rejected and war is declared

International Pretext: July

Jul 31, 1914

July 31: Russia announces the mobilization of her army, and Germany, as well as Austria demand that she stop, but Russia ignores their request.
* France respects Belgium’s neutrality, while Germany does not.

International Pretext: August

Aug 1, 1914

August 1: Germany declares war on Russia
August 3: Germany declares war on France
August 4: Germany invades Belgium and Luxemborg to invade France.
* Britain declares war on Germany
Canada is immediately at war as part of the British Empire

Canadian Troops

Aug 5, 1914

Aug 5 1914: Four nursing graduates from St. Joseph’s Hospitals and five from the Royal Jubilee Hospital (In Victoria, BC) volunteer for active service
Aug 26-28 1914: The first troops leave Victoria for war in Europe

First Battle of Ypres

Oct 19, 1914

• The battle’s duration was from October 19 through to November 22, 1914
• The Allied forces captured approximately 600 prisoners and killed 1,500 German troops
• Every day Ypres was heavily bombed
• In those bombings, because of their inaccuracy, killed many civilians as well as soldiers
• Fighting stopped because by winter the Germans had yet to take Ypres and the massive rainfall made any movements impossible

First Canadian Unit In Action

Jan 6, 1915

• Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry became Canada’s first unit in action
• Canada's Impact on the War

Victoria: Troops Departing

Feb 14, 1915

• Thousands gather in Victoria's Harbour to watch the 30th Battalion leave for Europe
• Battalions consisted of 1000 officers and men, then were divided into 4 companies

Victoria: Soldiers Depart

Mar 24, 1915

• The 67th Battalion (Canadian Scottish Regiment) departed for the front
• Battalions consisted of 1000 officers and men, then were divided into 4 companies

Second Battle of Ypres

Apr 21, 1915

• Consisted of 4 major battles (Gravenstafel, St. Julien, Frezenberg Ridge, and Bellewaarde)
• Lasted from April 21st – May 25th of 1915.
• First battle where mass use of Chlorine gas by the Germans
• First time Canada, a former colony of Britain, defeated a European power.
• Ypres is Remembered

Victoria: More Troops Depart

Jun 2, 1915

• From June 2nd to 6th The Canadian Mounted Rifles leave for Europe
• Battalions consisted of 1000 officers and men, then were divided into 4 companies

Canada: Franchisement

Mar 14, 1916

• Women won right to vote in Saskatchewan

Canada: Franchisement

Apr 19, 1916

Women won right to vote in Alberta

Reinforcements Depart

May 23, 1916

• The 88th Battalion (Victoria Fusiliers) left for Europe

Harold Eustace Whyte: VHS Grad

Jun 1, 1916

• Enlisted in 1916, left June of that year
• Three weeks later he was injured and sent home

Battle of the Somme

Jul 1, 1916

• From July 1 – November 18, 1916
• Fought on the lines of the Somme River
• The British forces joined up with the French in this attack against the Germans
• One of the largest battles in the First World War, as well as one of the bloodiest.
• VHS Teacher, John A. MacDonald died here

More Troops Leave

Jul 15, 1916

• 103rd Battalion leaves for the front
• Battalions consisted of 1000 officers and men, then were divided into 4 companies

VHS Graduate Leaves for Front As a Nurse

Nov 2, 1916

• Nurse Collis enlisted in 1916 and left that November
• Served in Britain and France, but spent a majority of time in Salonika, Greece
• Returned home following the armistice of 1918.

Teacher Perishes in the Somme

Nov 11, 1916

• John A. MacDonald dies heroically in Battle of the Somme, earning the military cross.
• Taught at Victoria High School from 1912 - 1916
• Enlisted in 1916
• Wrote letters to students who admired him

Reinforcements En Route

Feb 9, 1917

• 143rd Battalion (British Columbian Bantams) leaves for the front
• Battalions consisted of 1000 officers and men, then were divided into 4 companies

USA Declares War

Apr 6, 1917

• U.S.A declares war on Germany

The Battle of Vimy Ridge

Apr 9, 1917

• Took place from April 9th-12 of 1917
• The British and French previously tried to capture this position, but the Canadians managed to take control of the German-held position
• Distinguished the Canadians and set them apart from the British.
• Fought in North-East France
• VHS Graduate Jack Dowler died here
• - Historica Minute Video on Vimy Ridge

Beloved Jack Dowler Dies in Battle

Apr 11, 1917

• Died in battle for Vimy Ridge
• He was the only son of his parents
• Came from a prominent family in Victoria, BC where a street is named after the family
• He name is etched into the family monument at Ross Bay Cemetery

Battle of Passchendaele

Jul 31, 1917

• Otherwise known as the third battle of Ypres
• VHS Grad Harry Cross was gassed in this battle
• Between July 31 to November 10 of 1917
• The British Empire and the French battled the Germans for control of the South and East ridges of Ypres

Canada: The Conscription Crisis

Aug 29, 1917

• Conscription is implemented under the Military Service Act

Canada: Franchisement

Sep 20, 1917

• Wartime Elections Act allows female family members of men at war to vote

VHS Graduate Robin Gray Dies in Crash

Oct 31, 1917

• Left on patrol on October 31st, 1917, and his plane was shot down by the Germans, who then captured him and he died in a Prisoner of War Camp due to injuries sustained.

Canada's Airforce

Apr 1, 1918

Royal Canadian Air Force is formed

Canada Strikes Down The Red Baron

Apr 21, 1918

• The “Red Baron” also known as Manfred von Richthofen was shot down by Canadian, Arthur Roy Brown

Canada: Franchisement

May 24, 1918

• The Canada Elections Act is signed franchising all Canadian women over 21

*WARNING: Spanish Influenza Breakout*

Sep 8, 1918

• First outbreak of Spanish Influenza in Halifax

Armistice of 1918

Nov 11, 1918

• November 11th, 1918 at 11am the Armistice was signed; an Armistice is NOT a peace treaty!
• Signed by Woodrow Wilson (America), David Lloyd George (Britain) and Georges Clemenceau (France)
• Germany was accountable for all of the damages because of article 231 of Treaty of Versailles, “The War Guilt Clause”
• Hermann Müller and Johannes Bell, German delegates, signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of Germany on June 28,

Heroic Blayney Scott Dies

Nov 9, 1919

• Born and raised in Victoria
• Established athlete with the James Bay Athletic Association acquired the Distinguished Flying Cross after climbing onto the wing of the aircraft twice, the first unsuccessfully, to plug a bullet hole in the Petrol tank
• Returned home but died November 9th, 1919

Intellect Harry Cross Perishes From War Wounds

Jan 30, 1922

• Gassed in the Passchendaele in attempts to warn fellow comrades of danger ahead
• A Camosun Idol in 1916
• Never recovered from being gassed, and died as a direct result.