Twas the week before Christmas and all through the class, students worked hard to earn their groups a pass.
Don’t forget that you need to have the projects submitted (strong preference: electronically) with accompanying photos for the blog posts BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK. That is to say, no later than Thursday unless you have previously made special arrangements for an extension to the deadline.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good write.
Filed under Soldier Project 2010
Selected representatives from each group had the opportunity to visit the New Brunswick Museum’s research archives on Douglas Avenue this snowy December morning.
Group photo on the entrance stairs to the NBM's archives.
With the assistance of the friendly and knowledgeable archivists on staff at the Museum, students were able to access primary documents about a variety of individual soldiers and about the 26th Battalion in general.
Kate’s group had a very fortunate find from the archivists, an entire box of scrapbooked information on Lieutenant C.M. Lawson, the first officer killed in action from the 26th Battalion. Lt. Lawson’s sister, Miss Jessie Lawson, kept a very thorough record of his life and the circumstances of his death. It was a historical treasure trove of telegrams, newspaper clippings and photographs.
The official telegram sent to the Lawson family from the Prime Minister's office at the time of Lieutenant C. M. Lawson's death. Source: Jessie Lawson Scrapbook, NB Museum Public Archives.
Other groups were able to use the New Brunswick Museum’s archival photo search, which is also online thanks to the ongoing digitization of the Museum’s collections. Ryan was particularly impressed by the photograph of the luxurious Hazen home, which was torn down many years ago in order to make room for St. Joseph’s Hospital. One of his group’s assigned soldiers was Judge Hazen’s son, and the Hazens were a leading family in Saint John at the time.
The students greatly enjoyed this opportunity to interact with the actual documents and photographs of the time. They were also given the opportunity to take a tour with the archivists and see some of the items from the collections, including a rare sketch of James Wolfe.
Poring through regimental histories and lists.
Thanks to the archival staff at the New Brunswick Museum, in particular Jennifer, Janet and Chris, for making our group feel so welcome. Primary documentation research is absolutely crucial to the success of this project! And though the students may not be able to answer every question they might have about their soldiers’ lives, the primary sources gave them snapshots on which they can build the stories of their soldiers.
Filed under Soldier Project 2010
Students have been working in their groups to research information on their assigned soldiers.
Meeting and researching in project groups for the first time.
It turns out that one of the assigned soldiers, Daniel Teed, was a member of SJHS teacher Mrs. Teed’s family! Colin M. was able to gain additional family information from Mr. Teed to give that soldier’s history a real family context. Way to go, group!
The class has been taking full advantage of the new netbooks provided through the Innovative Learning Fund grant in order to undertake research on the individual soldiers from our community, as well as the historical context of the battles in which they fell and the units with whom they fought in the Great War.
Those netbooks sure are handy! Students hard at work, showing how it's done.
Today, students were able to visit the Saint John Free Public Library to continue with their search for primary documents. They were introduced to the microfilm readers by the Head Research Librarian, Mr. Keith MacKinnon, and spent time using the microfilm readers to access the records of local Saint John newspapers from the First World War. Matt was able to find a nice biography and photo of one of his group’s assigned soldiers, Bapst Cronin: this obituary mentioned Cronin’s popularity in Saint John, that he had gone out West for work as many still do today, and that he had a popular sister “Miss Mollie”. Access to these primary documents are bringing these names on the wall to life!
Thumbs up for primary document research!
Students were also able to research some of the history of our local regiment, the 26th “New Brunswick” Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In researching some of these archival texts, students were instructed to handle the brittle paper with gloves. Julie was able to locate a photo of Lieutenant Charles Lawson, a former SJHS teacher who was killed in 1915. He was the first officer killed in action from the 26th Battalion. More information on Lt. Lawson will be discovered at the New Brunswick Museum’s archives!
White gloves for archival documents - the older paper is very brittle and delicate.
Research continues, as students begin to assemble a snapshot of their assigned soldiers’ lives, as well as the historical context in which they were killed. Students will begin creating their profiles shortly, and they will be posted here on the project blog.
Filed under Soldier Project 2010
Every day we at SJHS are surrounded by reminders of our school’s contribution in the Great Wars of the 20th Century and the continuing conflict in Afghanistan. The main floor of our school is dedicated to the memory of 2004 graduate, Pte. Dave Greenslade, killed in Afghanistan in April of 2008. On that floor by the formal marble staircase entryway to the school are the plaques and memorials placed in memory of those who served and those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
This bit of often-overlooked history in our own school community is the jumping-off point for the SJHS Remembers project. We will remember them.
Filed under General Remembrance
This is a New Brunswick Innovative Learning Fund grant project by Ms. Lewell’s Modern History 112 class at Saint John High School.
Students will be responsible for researching in assigned groups the stories of two local soldiers killed in the Great War. Where did they live? Where were they born? What did they look like? How were they killed?
Project rationale: to bring a local flavour to the NB Modern History 11 curriculum. This project was inspired by Blake Seward’s Lest We Forget project.
Projects will be posted here, at http://sjhsremembers.ca/ for public viewing. They will act as a virtual memorial to these soldiers – former students of Saint John High School themselves – who gave their lives in the Great War.
Group 1: Jill, Matt, Olivia, Katie, Marcus and Kaitlynn.
Anglin, George Lyman. Born May 5, 1895. Died April 9, 1917.
Cronin, John “Bapst”. Born 12 Oct, 1887. Died 8 Oct, 1916.
Group 2: Emily, Tori, Kendra, Skyler, Kevin and Robyn.
Bourne, Charles P. Born 9 Mar, 1896. Died 31 Oct, 1917.
Bourne, Norman Leavitt. Born 13 Mar, 1898. Died 8 Nov, 1917.
Group 3: Brittany, Myles, Kevin, James, Ryan and Yeji.
Hazen, James Murray. Born 15 Apr, 1896. Died 8 Aug, 1918.
Kirk, George Willard. Born 8 Jun, 1894. Died 9 Apr, 1917.
Group 4: Kailey, Elise, Rob, Kate, Gabrielle and Julie.
Manning, Frederick Charles. Born 24 Jul, 1895. Died 15 Apr, 1917.
Lawson, Charles Murray. Died August 1915.
Group 5: Colin F, Colin M, Mike, Jun and Sam
Teed, Daniel Lionel, MC. Born 12 Oct 1893. Died 2 Sept, 1918.
Winter, Francis Bassell, MC. Born 16 Jun, 1892. Died 15 Aug, 1917.
Filed under Soldier Project 2010
Canadian troops battled savagely against incredible opposition from the Germans during the Italian Campaign. Our men fought their way up the country, never looking back and never giving in, and they successfully secured Italy and removed the Germans from their strongholds. We remember battles such as the one that occurred at Ortona in 1943 because of the bravery and determination the Canadians showed when faced with what seemed like impossible odds.
The Canadian landings at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944 marked a significant turning point in World War II. We lost many men on this sandy stretch of land, but this battle was a major victory. It marked the beginning of the end of WWII and forever the D-Day landings will be remembered as a triumph against Nazi forces
Because of the fierceness of our troops, the Canadians were able to penetrate deeper into France than the British or American forces. Their strength and bravery was feared by the Germans. By May of 1945 much of Europe, including western Germany, was under allied control. But the people of the Netherlands were still deeply suffering. The Canadians are remembered for freeing the Dutch from the Nazi regime and providing the people of the Netherlands with much needed food and supplies.
We remember our strength. We remember our determination. We remember our compassion.
We remember our veterans.
(This is from the Huron Park webpage)
Filed under General Remembrance
SJHS Remembers 