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The war artists followed
the Canadian army as it made its way from one battle to another.
But they were often no more than onlookers. They lived far behind
the lines and generally had a batman (aide), a car and a driver.
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Several artists complained of the boredom
and some drifted to Paris and other towns to find alternative subjects.
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![British Army and Navy Leave Club, Paris, France, 1917](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3136_270.jpg) Click to see
a larger image (219K)
British Army and Navy Leave
Club Paris, France, 1917
Caroline Armington
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Reference Code: C 334-1-1-0-1
Archives of Ontario, I0003136 |
British
Army & Navy Leave Club, Paris
By Caroline
H. Armington
The British Army
and Navy Leave Club is one of the clubs provided for the
accommodation of British and Colonial soldiers on leave
in Paris.
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
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![No. 8 Canadian General Hospital, Saint Cloud, France, 1918](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3137_270.jpg) Click to
see a larger image (270K)
No. 8 Canadian General Hospital,
Saint Cloud France, 1918
Caroline Armington
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Reference Code: C 334-1-1-0-2
Archives of Ontario, I0003137 |
Canadian
General Hospital
By Caroline
H. Armington
A delightful street
scene in St. Cloud by an artist well versed in the recording
of Paris life. |
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
With no set duties the
war artist could sketch whatever was around them thereby creating
the myriad of images of destroyed buildings and more specifically
the ruins of cathedrals and churches with their wrecked steeples
and towers.
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This fascination with bombed out
churches had much to do with the implied message that the German
army had no qualms about destroying religious buildings and cultural
property. In fact, to observers, it seemed that they were deliberately
setting out to lay waste to these buildings.
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![Church ruin, Ablain, St. Nazaire, 1916](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3101_270.jpg) Click to see
a larger image (181K)
Church ruin, Ablain, St. Nazaire, 1916
Lieut. C. H. Barraud
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Reference Code: C 334-1-2-0-9
Archives of Ontario, I0003101 |
Ablain St. Nazaire
By Lieut. C. H. Barraud
A very beautiful little
plate treated in a very simple and masterful style. The
gaunt but beautiful ruin of the Church is all that remains
of the once populous village which surrounded it.
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
The other imagery that seemed
to predominate the artists' creative thoughts was the landscape
in front of them. Many images were sketched and painted that could
almost be the English countryside with very little indication that
a war was happening at all. |
![Ruins of the Monastery, Mont des Cats, October, 1917](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3115_270.jpg) Click to
see a larger image (215K)
Ruins of the Monastery, Mont
des Cats October, 1917
Lieut. C. H. Barraud
Print
Reference Code: C 334-1-2-0-17
Archives of Ontario, I0003115 |
![Soldiers on the road Albert, France, [ca. 1917]](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3128_270.jpg) Click
to see a larger image (150K)
Soldiers on the road, Albert,
France, [ca. 1917]
Bertram Buchanan
Print
Reference Code: C 334-1-5-0-5
Archives of Ontario, I0003128
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
When they did go up to
the front lines they often found that during the day there was
little activity with only the occasional artillery shell-exploding
overhead.
It was a different story once night fell with the activity along
the front increasing as wire cutting parties moved out and supplies
were moved up. Flares burst overhead and machine gun fire would
increase as movement was detected in no-mans land.
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![The Night Patrol - Canadian M.L. boats entering Dover After Julius Olsson, A.R.A.](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/13654_270.jpg)
Click to see
a larger image (205K)
The Night Patrol - Canadian M. L.
boats entering Dover, [ca. 1915]
After Julius Olsson, A.R.A.
Reference Code: C 334-2-0-0-7
Archives of Ontario, I0013654
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![The Western Front, back lines [ca. 1915]](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3124_270.jpg) Click
to see a larger image (154K)
The Western front, back lines, [ca. 1915]
Alfred Bentley
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Reference Code: C 334-1-5-0-12
Archives of Ontario, I0003124
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
Approaching Poperinghe
on the Ypres Road
By Lieut. C. H. Barraud
Poperinghe is the largest
town in Belgium which was not occupied by the Germans. It
was used as a base for operations in the Ypres Salient,
and was intermittently under bombardment.
As one approached on
the Ypres Road the distant view of the town and the avenue
of trees combine to make a very happy composition.
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![Approaching Poperinghe, Belgium, 1917](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3108_270.jpg) Click to
see a larger image (223K)
Approaching Poperinghe, Belgium, 1917
Lieut. C. H. Barraud
Print
Reference Code: C 334-1-2-0-8
Archives of Ontario, I0003108 |
![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
![Place St. Bertin, Poperinghe, October 18, 1917](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3107_270.jpg)
Click
to see a larger image (287K)
Place St. Bertin, Poperinghe, October 18, 1917
Lieut. C. H. Barraud
Print
Reference Code: C 334-1-2-0-5
Archives of Ontario, I0003107
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Place St. Bertin, Poperinghe
By Lieut. C. H. Barraud
From a sketch made
October 18th, 1917. Up to then this particular spot in Poperinghe
had not suffered much from bombardment, this Church having
only been hit by one shell.
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
The war artists also found that when something interesting
was developing it was usually quickly over, on the move or concealed
by darkness. And, when a major offensive did start, they were
sent to the rear and their accommodation and cars requisitioned
for war purposes. To further frustrate them, they had to work quickly as their
allotted time at the front was often no more than two months
and could be as short as a two or three weeks. |
![Surrender of the German fleet, ca. 1917](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/3117_270.jpg) Click to
see a larger image (141K)
Surrender of the German fleet, 1918
Frank H. Mason
Print
Reference Code: C 334-1-5-0-14
Archives of Ontario, I0003117 |
![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
![Canadians entering Cambrai](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/13638_270.jpg) Click to see
a larger image (141K)
Canadians entering Cambrai, 1918
Lieut. Gerard de Witt
Reference Code: C 334-1-3-0-2
Archives of Ontario, I0013638 |
Canadians Entering Cambrai
By Lieut. Gerard de Witt
In this etching the artist depicts
the entry of the Canadians to the town of Cambrai a few
hours after its fall. The setting sun of an October evening
and the dense clouds of smoke rising from from the ruined
portion of the town together produce a dramatic scenic effect
never to be forgotten by those present on that memorable
occasion, and the name "Cambrai" will live ever
in the heart of every Canadian, the pivot of the great advance
to Victory. |
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![](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/pics/blue_dot.gif) |
In August, 1918 the Battle
of Amiens began followed by the start of what is known
as Canada’s Hundred Days march.
By November 10, 1918 the Canadians had reached the outskirts
of Mons where in 1914 the British and French had their first major
encounter with the German army that was intent on marching on
Paris.
At Mons on Nov 11, 1918 at
10.58am Private George Price of the 28th Battalion was killed
by a sniper. Two minutes later at 11.00am the armistice came into
effect. The war was over. |
![Canadians Entering Le Grand Place, Mons](/web/20061219044207im_/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/war_artists/pics/13635_270.jpg) Click
to see a larger image (203K)
Canadians Entering Le Grand Place, Mons, 1918
Lieu. Gerard de Witt
Reference Code: C 334-1-3-0-1
Archives of Ontario, I0013635 |
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