The Alberta World Wars Living History Association

The Alberta World Wars Living History Association We are a reenactment group that is based out in Alberta, Canada. We portray the Black Watch, Canadian Nursing Sisters and the 233rd Reserves

Commemorating the Second Battle of YpresOn this anniversary of the Second Battle of Ypres, we honour the Canadians who s...
04/22/2026

Commemorating the Second Battle of Ypres
On this anniversary of the Second Battle of Ypres, we honour the Canadians who stood in the path of an unprecedented assault in April 1915. Among them were the men of the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) and the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) — units whose actions helped hold the line when the Allied front nearly collapsed.

Lieutenant‑Colonel R.G.E. Leckie of the 16th Battalion left us one of the most vivid personal accounts of those days. Writing to his family on 13 May 1915, he described the opening bombardment with stark clarity:
> “Very heavy shelling of Ypres took place… Houses crumbled up with one shot… Soldiers helped women and children. Many casualties.”

As the French line broke under the first chlorine gas attack, the 13th and 16th Battalions were among the Canadian units rushed forward to plug the gap. The Highlanders of the 13th, positioned near St. Julien, advanced into the chaos with little information and no protection against the gas that still lingered in the air.

Leckie recalled the intensity of the night advance:
> “When about 300 yards from the enemy he opened rapid fire… It was a terrific fire and it is a wonder anyone got through.”

The 13th Battalion faced the same storm. Their counterattack toward Kitcheners’ Wood — carried out shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the 15th Battalion — became one of the most ferocious bayonet charges of the war. They fought through dense woods, shattered fences, and entrenched German positions, suffering devastating casualties but driving the enemy back.

In the midst of the violence, Leckie insisted on maintaining humanity toward captured German soldiers:
> “I would not let any of the men deal harshly with the prisoners… Some seemed paralyzed with fright.”

By 23 April, the battlefield had become almost unrecognizable. Leckie wrote:
> “Whole place a shambles. Wounded and dead lying about every place. Horrid smell of blood.”

The 13th Battalion, exhausted and reduced in strength, continued to hold the line under constant shellfire. Their steadiness under impossible conditions helped prevent a breakthrough that could have opened the road to Ypres — and perhaps the Channel ports beyond.

Senior commanders later told Leckie that the Canadian counterattacks “saved the position for the British.” The 13th Highlanders were a crucial part of that stand.

Why We Remember?
The Second Battle of Ypres was a turning point, not only in military history, but in the human experience of war. The courage of the 13th and 16th Battalions, and of every soldier who stood with them, remains a defining chapter in the story of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Today, we honour their sacrifice, their resilience, and their legacy.
Lest we forget.

In the early spring of 1915, the German Army around the Ypres Salient was quietly reshaping the battlefield — long befor...
04/13/2026

In the early spring of 1915, the German Army around the Ypres Salient was quietly reshaping the battlefield — long before anyone on the Allied side understood what was coming.

Behind the front, supply columns moved under cover of darkness. Strange steel cylinders were hauled forward and buried into the parapets by specialist pioneer units. Officers received sealed instructions. Ordinary infantrymen noticed unusual activity but were told little beyond the need for strict secrecy.

Meteorological teams — a rarity in frontline warfare at the time — began taking constant wind readings. German commanders knew their next operation depended not on artillery or infantry strength, but on the weather itself. Every day, reports were sent up the chain, waiting for the right conditions.

Meanwhile, engineers and chemists worked side by side with frontline troops, testing equipment, drilling procedures, and preparing for a method of attack unlike anything used before on the Western Front.

By mid‑April, the German lines around Langemarck and Poelcappelle were a hive of controlled tension. Something was being readied — something the Allies had not yet imagined.

April 1915.One week, it’s route marches, inspections, and lectures.The next, it’s gas clouds, collapsing lines, and rele...
03/31/2026

April 1915.

One week, it’s route marches, inspections, and lectures.
The next, it’s gas clouds, collapsing lines, and relentless shellfire.

In the war diary of the 13th Canadian Battalion, the rhythm is almost jarring:

“Afternoon was a general holiday.”
“Quiet and uneventful.”
“Battalion resting and cleaning up.”

And then—

“A terrific bombardment…”
“A great cloud of gas…”
“Many unburied dead between the lines.”

This is the reality of the Second Battle of Ypres—not constant action, but a brutal cycle of waiting and surviving. Long stretches of routine and boredom, broken in an instant by chaos and fear.

For the soldiers, the hardest part wasn’t just the danger.
It was never knowing when the quiet would end.

Watch for our posts on the Second battle of the Ypres this month.

Today we honour the “Bluebirds” — Canada’s courageous Nursing Sisters who reshaped military service through compassion, ...
03/08/2026

Today we honour the “Bluebirds” — Canada’s courageous Nursing Sisters who reshaped military service through compassion, skill, and unwavering bravery.

From their early service in the 1885 North-West Resistance to the battlefields, hospital ships, and casualty clearing stations of the First and Second World Wars, more than 7,600 Canadian women stepped forward as Nursing Sisters. They served close to the front lines, endured bombardments, and cared for the wounded under the same dangers faced by soldiers.

Their legacy includes moments of profound sacrifice — such as the 1918 sinking of the Llandovery Castle, where 14 Nursing Sisters lost their lives — and countless acts of courage across Europe, Asia, and later UN and NATO missions around the world.

Today’s Nursing Officers continue that tradition, serving in conflict zones and humanitarian operations globally.

On International Women’s Day, we remember the Bluebirds and all women whose service, leadership, and resilience have shaped Canada’s military history.
Lest we forget.

📷 Credit: Library and Archives Canada / Valour Canada

Early February 1915 — The 13th Battalion in FranceAt the start of February 1915, the men of the 13th Battalion (Royal Hi...
02/02/2026

Early February 1915 — The 13th Battalion in France

At the start of February 1915, the men of the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) were settling into the hard realities of active service on the Western Front.

After disembarking at St. Nazaire, the battalion moved by train and long route marches through Le Mans, Boulogne, Hazebrouck, and Armentières—often in relentless rain, on cobblestone roads, carrying full kit. They were inspected by senior command, billeted where space allowed, and rotated steadily into the trenches.

Between marches and front-line duty, the battalion received instruction in bomb throwing, fieldcraft, and trench routine, preparing for the conditions that would soon define their service. Even on quieter days, the work never truly stopped.

These diary entries remind us that the war was not only fought in great battles, but in cold marches, soaked uniforms, exhausted feet, and disciplined preparation.

We remember and honour the service, endurance, and professionalism of the 13th Battalion as they began February 1916—far from home, committed to duty.

Lest we forget.

On this day, January 9, 1915, we remember Frederick Williamson McGuiness, a young man who gave his life in service durin...
01/09/2026

On this day, January 9, 1915, we remember Frederick Williamson McGuiness, a young man who gave his life in service during the First World War.

Frederick passed away in England while training with the 13th Battalion, preparing for service in France. His death from cerebral meningitis was not only tragic, but historically significant: he is recorded as the first death noted in the battalion’s regimental diary.

Before enlisting, Frederick worked as a bank keeper. He was just 24 years old.

As the Alberta World War Living History Association, we honour Frederick’s sacrifice and pause to remember an often-overlooked reality of war—disease claimed countless lives, many before soldiers ever reached the battlefield.

Today, we remember Frederick McGuiness, and all those whose service was cut short by the unseen enemies of war.

Merry Christmas from the trenches! This christmas card perfectly illustrates the humour and attempts at levity in the tr...
12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from the trenches! This christmas card perfectly illustrates the humour and attempts at levity in the trenches. Near the end of the war.

We are pleased to share this excellent video from the Western Front Association, which explores the training of Canadian...
12/21/2025

We are pleased to share this excellent video from the Western Front Association, which explores the training of Canadian troops in England prior to their voyage to France during the First World War.

The video examines both the political pressures surrounding Canada’s early war effort and the physical challenges faced by the men as they trained—often in difficult conditions—while preparing for the realities of modern warfare.

Watch the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB4bH9w2Up8&t=1261s

This content is produced by the Western Front Association, an organization dedicated to the study, preservation, and understanding of the Great War. We encourage you to explore their extensive educational resources and research at:
https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/

As the Alberta World War Living History Association, we value and support the work of organizations like the Western Front Association, whose efforts help ensure the experiences of these men—and the complexities of their service—are not forgotten.

From October 1914 to February 1915, the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained on Salisbury Plain under some of the most u...
12/01/2025

From October 1914 to February 1915, the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained on Salisbury Plain under some of the most unpleasant weather imaginable. Out of 123 days, it rained on 89—turning the chalky ground into a swamp of mud and standing water.

Troops lived in unheated tents, battered by cold winds and constant downpours. Drills became nearly impossible in the quagmire. The war diary states that training was postponed numerous times due to the rain. This misery forged resilience. Ironically, the endless rain and mud proved to be a grim rehearsal for what awaited them in the trenches of France and Flanders.

What began as a struggle against the elements became a brutal preparation for the realities of war.

Canadian Expeditionary Force Arrives in England | Canadian Military Engineers https://share.google/swq9CtG7H65i0TwJH

We reenact to remember. To feel, in some small way, what they felt. I may not stand in Flanders Fields to see the popp...
11/26/2025

We reenact to remember.
To feel, in some small way, what they felt.

I may not stand in Flanders Fields to see the poppies blow, but I can wear the uniform of the men buried there.
I may not hear the guns of August, but I can teach you why they sounded.
I may never watch the lifeblood drain from a best friend in a hole in no man’s land, but I can show you what that may have looked like.

It may seem silly when we run around in old uniforms or debate the finer points of sewing from 111 years ago—but associations like ours keep these memories alive. We are proud to, in some small way, remember.
Lest we forget

Credit for reenactments photos at Newville and photos from the

As we reflect on the experiences of Canadian soldiers in the First World War, it’s important to remember that their endu...
11/19/2025

As we reflect on the experiences of Canadian soldiers in the First World War, it’s important to remember that their endurance and effectiveness on the front lines were forged long before they ever saw battle.

111 years ago, while still training in England, the men of the 13th Battalion spent countless hours practicing one of the defining tasks of WWI: digging trenches.

Trench warfare would dominate the Western Front, and mastering its construction was essential. The soldiers didn’t simply dig one trench and call it done — they dug and filled in trenches over and over again, learning through repetition until the work became second nature.

This training taught them:
• Proper trench design, from fire steps to drainage, revetments, and parapets — all critical to keeping men safe from enemy fire and the elements.
• Team coordination, as trench construction required many hands working in tight, muddy, exhausting conditions.
• Speed under pressure, knowing that in France and Belgium trenches often had to be built while under threat from artillery or snipers.
• Endurance, as hours of digging through hard or waterlogged soil pushed their bodies to the limit.
• Adaptability, because no two trenches were exactly the same — each site demanded quick thinking and practical problem-solving.

These repetitive exercises prepared the soldiers for the grim, physical labour awaiting them overseas, where trenches were not just fortifications but homes, workplaces, and the very edge of survival.

Today we honour not only their bravery in battle but the relentless preparation that enabled them to endure the brutal realities of trench warfare.

Lest we forget.

(Picture is of the 2nd Suffolks pioneer battalion in france)

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Airdrie, AB
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