Category: Soldiers

Between 1914 and 1919, over 650,000 Canadians served at home and overseas during the Great War. On the Western Front in Belgium and France, Canadian soldiers of the Great War distinguished themselves in numerous battles, including Second Battle of Ypres, Battle of Vimy Ridge, and Second Battle of Passchendaele. In Canada’s Last Hundred Days of the Great War, Canadian soldiers at the sharp end of the spear breaking through the enemy’s formidable trench defences, the Hindenburg Line. Their efforts have inspired these soldier stories.

Collections

Many collections used to bring the soldier stories to life. First, and foremost, the Personnel Records of the soldiers serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). This collection, like the others to follow, digitized and made available by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Secondly, the War Diaries of the CEF often provide vital information about a soldier’s life not contained in their service file. Finally, Circumstances of Death (CoD), War Graves Registers (GRRF), and Veterans Death Cards provide further information on The Fallen. These three collections in conjunction with records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) vital to cases of identification and recovery of The Missing.

Courts Martial Records (FGCM)

Additional collections used to present the soldier stories include Courts Martial Records. Courts martial had the authority to try a wide range of military offences that resembled civilian crimes like fraud, theft or perjury. Others, like desertion and cowardice – purely military crimes. Records of individual courts martial consist of an average of 20 to 25 documents, mainly standardized forms. These document the trial and the charges under the Army Act.

MIKAN photo collection

Finally, the most powerful way of bringing soldier stories of the Great War to life, the images of the MIKAN collection digitized by LAC. Often complementing these photos – images held by the Imperial War Museum (IWM), some of which also contain images captured by the Official Canadian War Photographers (CWRO) during the Great War. Both LAC and IWM have film collections which further bring the reality of the soldier stories of the Great War to life.

Lieutenant Ian Cameron MacDonell in the Great War
Lieutenant Ian Cameron MacDonell of the Royal Flying Corps, the only son of General ‘Batty Mac’ MacDonell.

Lieutenant Ian Cameron MacDonell and his father.

Ian born 11 March 1895 in Lethbridge, Alberta. His attestation paper on 20 October 1914 notes he is already an Aviator. He obtained his brevet from the Royal Aero Club in December 1913 after passing at Bristol Flying School at Brooklands. Presently in the militia with the Cadets of Lord Strathcona’s Horse. He stood 5′ 9″ tall with dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.

Lieutenant Ian Cameron MacDonell
Alfred_Munnings-Lord_Strathconas_Horse_on_the_March_CWM

Son of Lt. Gen. Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., and Lady Macdonell, of 3026, Six “A” Street West., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Brigadier-General Jack Seely

On 31 March 1915, Lieutenant Ian Cameron MacDonell appointed temporary Captain and ADC to Brig-Gen Seely DSO. Seconded for duty with HQ of the 1st Canadian Mounted Brigade. Ian landed in France on 4 May 1915, but less than a month later, Lt Ian MacDonell evacuated to England.

Brig.-Gen. Seely wishes Gen. Sir Sam and his party goodbye upon their departure from the front. O-689, 18 August 1916.

Brig-Gen Jack Seely above with his new ADC who replaced Captain MacDonell.

Return to England

On 2 June 1915 treated for tonsillitis at 5th General Hospital, Birmingham.

Patients and nurses in Ward E of No. 32 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux. © IWM (Q 107072)

Royal Flying Corps

Lieutenant Ian Cameron MacDonell granted authority to attend Flying School for instruction, attached to RFC from 7 September 1915.

Damaged Airco D.H.2 aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps near Pozieres, France. MIKAN No. 3390149

Appointed Flying Officer and seconded, 24 November 1915.

Accident

Flying Scholl accident on 8 December 1915. Discharged from hospital on 23 December 1915 at Birmingham.

This image is of a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2C MIKAN 3390890

Leutnant Max Ritter von Mulzer

On the 2nd of July, it was Max Ritter von Mulzer’s turn again. His 7th already at Miraumont on a British B.E.2c (2654) around 14.00 hours. Most sources say this was 2654 from 9 Sqdn, but the time does not correspond. It is more likely to be 11 Sqdn’s FE2b 6357 who was attacked by two enemy planes, making a POW of both crew members, 2nd Lt. JW Toone and 2nd Lt. EB Harvey.

Mulzer the first Bavarian to receive the Blue Max

Oberleutnant Stefan Kirmaier’s First Kill

The plane 2654 from 9 Sqdn is most probably the victim of Stefan Kirmaier. However Kirmaier is said to have been stationed at KEK Jametz at this moment, which is, in any case, much to far away to have been flying with this unit. As we do not know with which unit he served at this moment, we will mention his victory here.

Manfred von Richtofen with an Albatross D.II.

It was crewed by Lt Ian Cameron MacDonnell and 2nd Lt. Hugh Albert Wiliamson who were both kiled in the crash of their plane (ARRAS FLYING MEMORIAL).

Arras Flying Memorial, 26 April 2015, cefrg.ca

Williamson was 29, his body was never found and he is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. He was the son of Mrs. MA Williamson of Irlam View, Broad Road, Sale, Cheshire, and the late Hugh Williamson.

Death of Mulzer & Kirmaier

Leutnant Max Ritter von Mulzer (10 Victories) killed in a crash while testing the performance of a new Albatros D.I., 26 September 1916 at Armee Flug Park 6, Valenciennes,

Kirmaier

Oberleutnant Stefan Kirmaier (11 Victories) killed in action when his Albatros D.II shot down by Kelvin Crawford and John Andrews, 22 November 1916 over Les Boeufs.

Macdonell & Scott

In December 1915, Ian’s father promoted to take command of the 7th Infantry Brigade. When Macdonell left the 7th CIB just under a year later, he remarked, “The Brigade has always been a source of pride and joy to me, and when sorrow came into my life, and my only son was killed in action. it was the Brigade that saved me–pulled me through and comforted me.”

Major-General A.C. MacDonell and staff officers, 1st Canadian Infantry Division. (Front row,L-R): Lieutenant-Colonel J.L.R. Parsons, Brigadier-General H.C. Thacker, Major-General A.C. Macdonnell, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Sutherland Brown, Colonel H.P. Wright. (Rear row, L-R): Lieutenant-Colonel H.F.H. Hertzberg, Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel F.G. Scott, Lieutenant J.M. Macdonnell (no relation to the General). MIKAN No. 3522131

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March 1, 2026