The Commonwealth War Graves Commission exists because of Sir Fabian Ware, a commander of a First World War British Red Cross mobile unit. After seeing the mounting casualties in the early years of the war, Ware wanted to find some way to ensure the war graves would be forever remembered and honoured. With his help, the Red Cross unit began recordin...
High-Flying Moments
Due in large part to its easternmost location in North America, Newfoundland has bore witness to many historic moments in world aviation. Of course, flying is risky business - and was especially so in its early days. As a result, this province holds a few morbid distinctions as the scene for tragic, yet historic, crashes. Read on for a timeline of history-making moments in aviation that took place right here.
June 14, 1919 -
The 1929 Tsunami: Through Dinah's Eyes By Ella Hillier
Bath, Ontario
This is a retelling of my great-aunt Dinah Ford's personal account of the 1929 Tsunami that struck the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland.
She was born Dinah Bonnell on November 3, 1912, in the small outport of Taylor's Bay on the Burin Peninsula. In 1929, the community had 17 houses. Fishing stages and a community wharf lined the rocky beach. There was a one-room school and a small chapel.
Things Your Kids Will Never Do
Reader Loretta MacKinnon of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia recently sent Downhome her reflections on all those simple pleasures (and everyday annoyances!) that have become a thing of the past. "Today's children have many wonderful things to amuse themselves with: iPods, cellphones, electronic games, etc. Yet I believe that they have missed out on a lot," writes Loretta.
Not Quite Dairy Queen
Children born today will never know the excitement and anticipation of following the
Greeting the Enemy By Linda Greenfield (as told by Ida House-Davis)
Sitting with my mother (finally at home after five months in hospital), I recalled a friend's advice to ask my parents about as much family history as possible because when they are gone, so is that history. If not researched, important family happenings would be lost forever. For some reason, at this time, an old memory of my mother's words came to mind. Years ago Mom
A Picture's Worth
While posted overseas during WWII, Ralph Rowe of Winterton, Trinity Bay, wrote a few lines on the reverse side of this postcard - which pictures himself. During wartime, especially, it is likely this picture was worth much more than a thousand words to anxious loved ones waiting for news.
Buchans Graduates
This graduating class from Buchans Public School celebrated their 50-year reunion this summer. Here is a list of names:
Front row, left to right: Kathleen Torraville (Rowe), Mary Stacey (Lush), Jean Bailey (Burry), Laura Higdon (Williams), Rosalie Hiscock (Quinn)
Second row: Sadie McGinn (LeDrew), Lillian Loder (Boyd), Janet White (Riddell), May Penney (Pollard), Jean Percy (Cunningham), Daphne Cole (Shirran), Daphne Penney (Hounsell), Mildred Hoffe (Freeman)
Third row: Mervin Higdon, Robert Saunders (deceased), Roland Clarke, Walter Pinsent, David Short
Fourth row: Peter Hiscock, Hayward Simms, Aubrey Goodyear, Calvin Tilley, Glen Sheppard, Winston Carter (deceased), Wayne Penney
Christmas Past in Newfoundland Submitted by Frances Houser
I have very fond memories of Christmas while growing up in St. John's many years ago. As the holiday season approaches, my mind races back to the Christmases I enjoyed in the home where I spent almost 24 years of my life.
About a month or so before Christmas, the former Ayres department store on Water Street in St. John's would open Toyland, something my friends and I waited
This Month in History
Newfoundland at the turn of the 19th century was heavily Irish, and its inhabitants were deeply in debt to wealthy merchants who used a system of credit that kept the working class in virtual slavery. Discontent was particularly strong among soldiers garrisoned in St. John's, who were mistreated by their officers.
In 1799, the colony's chief justice estimated 400 people had become United Irishmen, a secret society plotting Irish independence from Great Britain. Many
