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William Head (B.C.)
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I. E. Cornwall fonds

  • PR-1326
  • Fonds
  • 1900-1930

The fonds consists of negatives of I. E. Cornwall depicting the Cornwall family. Includes photos of William Head, the Chinese Labour Corps en route to Europe, Cachalot whale factory and Kirby Creek..

Cornwall, I. E.

Canada. Dept. Of Agriculture. William Head Quarantine Station.

Annual reports for the William Head (B.C.) Quarantine Station from 1902 to 1932. As well as statistical operational data on the station, the reports often contain information of occurrences of communicable diseases on connecting shipping routes. Some correspondence is included concerning the isolation and treatment of leprosy in the province.

Canada. Department of Agriculture

H. Rundle Nelson fonds

  • PR-0324
  • Fonds
  • 1912-1922

The fonds consists of H. Rundle Nelson's photographs of the William Head Quarantine Station. Includes photos of the arrival and temporary stay and departure of the Chinese Labour Corps en route to Europe.

Nelson, H. Rundle

Chinese Labour Corps prepare to depart William Head

Chinese Labour Corps prepare to depart William Head

Photograph depicts two pictures taken at William Head Quarantine Station. These pictures show groups of Chinese labourers recruited from China preparing to depart the camp and continue their journey to France. This particular group was one of the few who travel by ship to Europe via the Panama Canal.

Chinese Labour Corps prepare to depart William Head

Chinese Labour Corps prepare to depart William Head

Photograph depicts a group of Chinese labourers on the grounds of William Head Quarantine Station. The men are likely marching toward the embarkation point near the camp. These men would depart towards Europe via the Panama Canal on the RMS Empress of Asia and serve in the Great War as labourers, digging trenches, unloading supplies and clearing battlefields.

Chinese Labour Corps at William Head

Chinese Labour Corps at William Head

Photograph depicts a group of men from the Chinese Labour Corps waiting to embark on the RMS Empress of Asia. These men, recruited from China, would serve in the Great War helping to dig trenches, carry supplies and clear battlefields. The group in this photograph depicts some 3,500 Chinese labourers who sailed to Europe via the Panama Canal that day.

Chinese Labour Corps photographs

The Chinese Labour Corps photographs sub-series contains images of Chinese labourers who were brought from China by the British forces during the First World War to help clear battlefields, unload supplies and dig trenches.

The photographs were taken at William Head, British Columbia where a quarantine station was established to clear international ships entering and leaving Canada’s west coast. This was done to contain the spread of illnesses but sometimes ships were held due to military and transport reasons.
The photographs were taken in 1918 as Chinese labourers passed through William Head Camp on their way to France and in 1920 as they were returning to China. The photographs show life at William Head during this time and feature the over-crowded tent area where labourers slept, as well as some activities they did to help pass the time (such as volleyball, games, visiting the YMCA, cooking etc.). Many photographs also show to embarkation process on the M.S. Dollar and HMS Empress of Asia.

Finally, the photographs also feature the staff and military officials who were in charge of the camp during this time. This includes the camp commandant Major Frank Basil Edwards.

Staff of the William Head Quarantine Station

Staff of the William Head Quarantine Station

Photograph depicts members of staff at William Head, as well as some military officials who helped organize and assess the health of the Chinese Labour Corps during their stay at the William Head Quarantine Station. They pose in front of the RMS Empress of Asia, an ocean liner that would transport 3,500 Chinese labourers from B.C. to France via the Panama Canal.

Chinese Labour Corps prepare for boarding

Chinese Labour Corps prepare for boarding

Photograph depicts members of the Chinese Labour Corps lined up at the docks near William Head Quarantine Station where they wait to board the HMS Empress of Asia. These men, recruited from China, would have stopped in B.C. on their way to Europe for military, transport and health reasons.

RMS Empress of Asia at William Head Quarantine Station

RMS Empress of Asia at William Head Quarantine Station

Photograph depicts the RMS Empress of Asia at William Head Quarantine Station, approximately 30 kilometres from Victoria B.C. This clearing station was an important stop on the journey from China to Europe for all members of the Chinese Labour Corps. This particular ship transported approximately 3,500 Chinese labours to France via the Panama Canal.

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