Introducing Culture Summerside’s New Project: 1919- PEI Soldiers Return from the Great War
Culture Summerside is once again bringing attention to the soldiers of the Great War. Many Prince County citizens will recall the 2016 project about the members of C Company of the 105th Battalion who trained in Summerside over the first six months of 1916 in preparation for overseas service. The current project titled, 1919 – PEI Soldiers Return from the Great War, will include a lecture series, a commemorative event, and the creation of a booklet with the assistance of creative writers and volunteer researchers. The various components will address the return of soldiers to Prince Edward Island with emphasis on the men whose homes were in the western half of the province.
While many wounded or otherwise discharged soldiers arrived in 1917 and 1918, the majority of Canadian troops (over 267,000) were still in France or Great Britain when the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. It was in 1919 that the demobilization took place and Islanders looked forward to welcoming home the men who had served for them.
The 2019 project is being funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage under the Anniversary Component of the Building Community through Arts and Heritage Program and will run from mid-January to the end of May. Volunteers are currently taking part in research by reading on microfilm several Island newspapers that existed in 1918-19. Their findings will be the backbone of a booklet to be published in recognition of the return of the soldiers. A section of the booklet will also contain selections of creative writing to be inspired by images found in the newspapers.
A lecture series is being planned for late in the spring. One of the presenters will be Louise Morris, who has done extensive research on members of the 105th Battalion, in particular the men of C Company, who were mainly from Prince County. She has worked closely with the staff of the MacNaught History Centre to determine what happened to the men after the war and has made some interesting discoveries.
The project will culminate in a public event to take place on Sunday, May 26th with special emphasis on commemorating the return of the largest group of returned soldiers, which arrived in Summerside on May 18, 1919. In addition to music and drama, the afternoon event will include the launch of the booklet, which will be a lasting reminder of the year the soldiers of the Great War came home.
For more information regarding this project contact the MacNaught History Centre and Archives at 75 Spring St.
Call 902-432-1332 or email archives@city.summerside.pe.ca
This project is being supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage
City of Summerside Cultural Plan | Cultural Plan Recommendations Progress Sheet