Brockville Museum #TBT – Thursday, November 2, 2023

Brockville – With Remembrance Day less than two weeks away, this week’s #TBT is a little different.

Pictured is a scene from 1914 on Perth Street at the railway crossing, with troops parading to the Brockville station on their way to training and the front lines of WWI.

To help describe the emotions of this scene (or at least one like it, as we can’t say for sure that this description is from the same day as this photo), is a diary entry from then-17-year-old, Dorothy Buell.

Dorothy was the daughter of Sophie (Bowie) Buell and William Senkler Buell, a high-ranking local military leader who would go on to serve as the Senior Major of the 4th Regiment at the front line in Europe.

In December 1914, Dorothy, along with her mother, brother (Donald) and sister (Audrey) travelled to England to be near her father, where they stayed at multiple residences in the English countryside during the War.

Dorothy kept a diary of her experience, and the Brockville Museum is honoured to have her diaries in our collection, fully transcribed, and available on our online database.

An excerpt from an August 1914 entry (017.36.27) that pairs well with this photo:

“[…] We’re going to the station” shouted Aunt Jessie. “Come on, kids” And you bet we followed. At the corner was Mummy in the car. She got out and leaning on Grandfathers shoulder she wept her way to the house. We jumped in the car and flew to the station. It was crowded. Just jammed! The train came in loaded with troops including the Peterboro regiment. The band played. Everyone crowded around Daddy + the officers to say good-bye Miss McGannon + Miss Ward had crates of oranges + bananas put on board for the men. Cigars were produced for everyone. Parcels for this one + that. We put a lunch on for Daddy. The crowd cheers and cheered. Soldiers held their babys till the last and weepy children clung to their knees. It was the most horribly pathetic scene I ever witnessed. Finally the word to board the train was given. One man in the train endeavored to lean out of the window + kiss his wife and he did it but his comrades had to hold his boots. As they pulled out Daddy stood on the steps I stretched as far as I could and just as he passed me our eyes met + he saw me. He saw me. It was all I wanted. We all collapsed and Byron had to lead us to the car. And so our Boys of the 1st Contingent left Home to do their duty for King + Country.”