Collection search - Claude Vivian Williams fonds [textual record]

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1
Claude Vivian Williams fonds [textual record]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1916-1979.

Reference:

R2185-0-1-E, MG30-E400

Type of material:

Textual material

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

101936

Context of this record:

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Claude Vivian Williams fonds
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Record information – Details
Date(s):

1916-1979.

Place of creation:

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent:

3 cm of textual records.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Fonds consists of letters from rear areas and front lines in France, and army training camps and relatives' homes in Britain, by Lieutenant Claude Vivian Williams, from 20 May, 1916 to 23 March, 1918. He describes army life, especially the needs and concerns of his comrades, while conforming with censorship regulations. He also expresses his opinions freely on the great issues of the day, including conscription, the dispersal of the battalions of the Canadian Expeditonary Force raised in 1916, and such catastrophes as the Halifax Explosion of 1917. The letters are addressed to his parents, his sister Edythe, and his brothers Arthur, Percy, Bert and the twins Buster and Ralph. A short memoir written in 1979 follows the letters, describing the months from April to September, 1918, Williams' repatriation, and his return to university.

Provenance:

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Williams, Claude Vivian
Additional name(s):

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Canada. Canadian Army

Canada. Armées canadiennes

Williams, Claude Vivian

Canada. Canadian Army. Canadian Expeditionary Force

Canada. Armée canadienne. Corps expéditionnaire canadien
Biography/Administrative history:

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Williams, Claude Vivian : Claude Vivian Williams, military officer, probably born at Hamilton, Ont., had just finished his second year of medical school at the University of Toronto, when he was commissioned in the 13th Royal Regiment of Canadian Militia at Hamilton on 20 May, 1915.

He volunteered for the 86th Infantry Battalion, C.E.F., and went overseas in R.M.S. Adriatic in May of 1916; his battalion was disbanded on landing in England, to form the Canadian Machine Gun Depôt at Resborough Barracks, Shornclife, Kent. Williams trained as a machine-gun officer, taught for a short time on the depôt cadre, and went to France to join the 6th Brigade Canadian Machine Gun Company, British Expeditonary Force, on 5 October, 1916. Except for a two week map-reading course at Rheims in February 1917, he was continously in the line until 30 June, 1917. He fought at Arras, and was decorated with the Military Cross for his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" at Vimy, being gazetted on 18 July, 1917.

In September 1917, he was invalided to Britain with trench fever and gas poisoning. After a short leave, he attended Officers' School at Brocton Camp, Staffordshire, returned to France on 6 March, 1918 and transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps. He was promoted Temporary Captain on 1 May, 1918, and returned to the Canadian Machine Gun Depôt, which had moved to Seaford, Sussex, on 5 August, 1918. William was repatriated in September 1918, resumed medical school, and was posted to the Reserve of Officers on 14 September, 1918.

Finding aid:

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(No finding aid)

Additional information:

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General note:

Received in 1981 from Ms. Anne Boody of Ottawa, Ont.
Subject heading:

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Soldiers' writings, Canadian

Écrits de militaires canadiens

Halifax (N.S.) Explosion, 1917

Halifax (N.-É.) 1917 (Explosion)
Source:

Private

Former archival reference no.:

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MG30-E400
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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [MG30 E 400] 1

[Consultation 90 Open]

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Date modified:: 2024-04-09