Recollections

Wilfred Chapman

Wilfred Chapman was born in Peterborough, England in 1898 and came to Canada when he was 14 years old to work in his brother's hardware store in Toronto. When the First World War was declared, he enlisted in the Army's 166th Battalion and was sent to France with a Company of Field Engineers.

In this interview recorded in 1996, he recalls his part in the taking of Vimy Ridge.

Mr. Chapman died in October, 1997.

Philip Downey

Philip Downey was born in Shemogue, New Brunswick in 1891. He enlisted with the 26th Battalion in Saint John, New Brunswick in October, 1914. He spent much of the four years of the First World War overseas. This interview was recorded with Mr. Downey in 1996 at the age of 105 years. He recalls the preparation for the Battle of Vimy Ridge and his role as an NCO of a trench machine gun group.

Mr. Downey died in July, 1998 at the age of 107 years.

Stephen Thorlakson

First and Second World War veteran Stephen Thorlakson recalls his participation in the Battle of Vimy Ridge and remembers how enthusiastically the people of France responded to that victory, inviting all Canadian troops to visit Paris.