Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Carla-Jean Stokes

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

On October 11, 1918, Canadian official war photographer William Rider-Rider sent a telegram to the Canadian War Records Office in London. In it, he stated that he had just handed his negatives to the censor of photographs taken in the burning town of Cambrai.

Canadians entering Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN
3520999.

1 3 15

Reposted by Carla-Jean Stokes

Iain Sarjeant @iainsarjeant.bsky.social · 15h

This looks wonderful... 👇👀

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 17d

Copies of my book 'The Taking of Vimy Ridge: First World War Photographs of William Ivor Castle' are making their way out into the world, just ahead of the official release date of Oct 7!

Be sure to head to your fav indy bookshop and order a copy, or you can request it at your local library.

1 2 6

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

1. R-R was right - these photos are iconic

2. Take your findings with a grain of salt and admit your limitations when necessary!

5

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

But that could perception of significance could also be a bias that is based on the availability of extant sources (even though I've sifted through thousands of documents relating to the Canadian War Records Office) so the morals of the story here are:

1 2

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

Brigadier General Draper with his staff in Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522330.

1 4

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

Detachment of Canadians advancing through Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William
Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522332.

1 4

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

The fact that I've rarely seen a telegram accompany negatives that makes mention of their subject matter has always made me think R-R found these to be of particular significance.

1 3

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

It's quite unusual to find an extant note like this in the archives - where the photographer sends a few words along with his negatives.

1 3

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

Though they were sent on 11 October, the photographs were taken #onthisday on 9 October 1918.

Canadians passing through ruined Church in Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William
Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3403971.

1 4

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 16h

On October 11, 1918, Canadian official war photographer William Rider-Rider sent a telegram to the Canadian War Records Office in London. In it, he stated that he had just handed his negatives to the censor of photographs taken in the burning town of Cambrai.

1 3 15

Reposted by Carla-Jean Stokes

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

I love reviewing Canadian official First World War photographs in real time. Fall is an especially great season for this.

👇Here's why.

Canadians looking at German trench mortar ammunition, William Rider-Rider, October 1918, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3397962.

1 3 15

Reposted by Carla-Jean Stokes

Alex Bowers @bowerswrites.bsky.social · 1d

My latest Legion Magazine article is an interview with military historian and educator-turned-children’s book author, Kelsey Lonie. Her debut tome, Whitey’s Journey, tells the true story of a Canadian dog mascot in WW II.

📸 Heritage House Publishing

legionmagazine.com/childrens-bo...

2 4

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

If you've toured the battlefields in person, this really comes across, IMO. It's so wild to see such beautiful sites (today) and know its the final resting place for people who endured terrible events.

1 1

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

As the Canadian Corps began liberating towns throughout France, Rider-Rider photographed tighter cityscapes.

Stay tuned for those!

1 6

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

I think that these wide landscapes (we actually see them right from August 8 and into October) are some of the most powerful (and beautiful, I said it) images of Canadians at war.

I love them more than I can really intelligibly articulate.

1 7

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Canadians making practise attack with tanks, William Rider-Rider, October 1918, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3404586.

1 4

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Three villages fired by the Germans before evacuating, William Rider-Rider, September 1918, Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN 3403966.

2 5

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Photographs of Fall bring us to William Rider-Rider's images of the Hundred Days. When the war became--increasingly--one of movement, this was reflected in Rider-Rider's photographs. Towards the end of the war we see soldiers as small figures in a vast landscape.

Canadians advancing on the Arras front, William Rider-Rider, 2 September, 1918, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3522266.

1 4

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

I love reviewing Canadian official First World War photographs in real time. Fall is an especially great season for this.

👇Here's why.

1 3 15

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 1d

Yesterday was official publication day!

Grab yourself a copy or request The Taking of Vimy Ridge at your local library. (Extra points if they have comfortable chairs).

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 17d

Copies of my book 'The Taking of Vimy Ridge: First World War Photographs of William Ivor Castle' are making their way out into the world, just ahead of the official release date of Oct 7!

Be sure to head to your fav indy bookshop and order a copy, or you can request it at your local library.

3 17

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 5d

A Nurse being presented by some wounded Canadians with a dog brought out of the trenches with them, William Ivor Castle, October 1916, Library and Archives Canada.

2 13

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 6d

Spotted: nerding out about heritage at @mackielakehouse.bsky.social

7

Reposted by Carla-Jean Stokes

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 8d

Writing a name for a cross on a grave at the front, William Ivor Castle, October 1916, Library and Archives Canada.

1 1 9

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 8d

I've walked numerous battlefields and viewed thousands of war graves as they exist today, but later having the chance to see photographs that show us the wartime burial process (which is sometimes portrayed far more graphically than this) has been extremely impactful for me.

6

Carla-Jean Stokes @carlajeanstokes.bsky.social · 8d

Writing a name for a cross on a grave at the front, William Ivor Castle, October 1916, Library and Archives Canada.

1 1 9