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Ernest Crocker fonds Victoria (B.C.)
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Ernest Crocker fonds

  • PR-1348
  • Fonds
  • 1902-1946

The fonds notably consists of military-related content from the early 1900s until the 1940s. Pre-WW1 photographs include a limited amount of photographs relating to the Canadian Militia. Photographs taken during the First World War including most departures of troops by ship from Victoria and other departures by train from Vancouver and Vernon. There are also images of numerous B.C. training camps which cover topics from training exercises, inspections, mascots and portraiture. For material covering the inter-war and Second World War, images are predominantly of ceremonies, visiting military dignitaries as well as of graduations and groups of soldiers who trained at the Officer’s Training Centre in Gordon Head. There are also photographs of the Women’s Army Corps and of various legions following the end of World War II.
The next largest group of photographs is a collection of city views, natural landscapes and other tourist-centric photography which Crocker used to make postcards which he sold. These cover large Canadian cities but also various stops along the CPR route through the Rocky Mountains, as well as other locations on Vancouver Island, across BC and down the west coast of the United States and even Mexico.
Other potential series in the Ernest Crocker fonds include portraiture, tableaux vivants, Royal Visits, celebrations and parades, and sporting events.

The collection is presently arranged by size and to some extent format. Containers are not organized by date nor by topic and appear to be mixed throughout the collection. The majority of photographic records appear to have been created in Victoria and the surrounding area, with additional photographic records covering Vancouver Island, the British Columbia Interior, Winnipeg, Toronto, London UK, California, U.S.A., and Mexico.

Crocker, Ernest William Albert

View of outskirts of military camp

Photograph depicts a view of the soldier's accomodations at a military training camp taken from the edge of the encampment. Stone markings and patterns can be seen outside the tents, placed there to mark specific areas of the camp that housed certain platoons and units. While the photographer has not labeled this photograph, the camp in question appears to be Willows Camp.

Physical Training, Willows Camp

Photograph depicts a group of soldiers on the training grounds at Willows Camp. They are participating in physical training and are performing a variety of areobic exercises. In the background another group of soldiers appear to be playing sports, possibly cricket.

Physical Training, Willows Camp

Photograph depicts a group of soldiers on the training grounds at Willows Camp. They are participating in physical training and are performing a variety of areobic exercises. In the background another group of soldiers appear to be playing sports, possibly cricket.

BC Horse inspection

Photograph depicts the 30th Regiment British Columbia Horse (later the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles) on parade at Willows Camp exhibition grounds. They are formally being inspected by then Brigadier-General Samuel Benfield Steele (later Major-General) who was Inspector General of Forces Western Canada. Next to him is Colonel Alexander Thomas Ogilvie, District Commanding Officer for Military District no. 11. Other high ranking military officials join them, as well as many civilians watching from the stands.

BC Horse inspection

Photograph depicts the 30th Regiment British Columbia Horse (later the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles) on parade at Willows Camp exhibition grounds. They are formally being inspected by high ranking military officials. The particular group of soldiers in the front appear to be signallers as they carry flags, telescopes and other equipment. Civilians watch from the stands.

1st Contingent; waiting to board ship

Photograph depicts several lines of soldiers at the CPR station in downtown Victoria. This group of soldiers, probably primarily from the 1st British Columbia Regiment (later forming the 7th Battalion) were among the first soldiers sent to Europe for the war. The group of soldiers in the darker uniforms are from the 5th Regiment of the Canadian Garrison Artillery. In the background is another ship carrying more soldiers to whom the ones waiting at the terminal wave.

Military assembled at parliament

Photograph depicts civilians, sailors and military officers standing in front of and on the steps of parliament in Victoria. At the bottom of the stairs is a waiting car as dignataries begin to exit the building.

Inspection of troops, Willows camp

Photograph depicts soldiers marching at the old exhibition grounds at Willows Camp during a formal review. Many civilians have come down to watch the event. Box notes left by the photographer state that this may be the 30th Battalion (2nd British Columbia).

The Great War album

The series consists of a photo album with 267 pages and 1437 b&w photographs that cover the period 1914 to 1919. The album measures approximately 32 cm x 42 cm x 10 cm and the average photograph measures 9 cm x 14 cm. The album has been annotated in pen, presumably by the photographer.

The pictures in the album are from a variety of military-related events that took place in or near Victoria, B.C. There are also a couple of photographs that were taken in England. It is not known who took these photographs in England or how they were acquired as it does not seem that Crocker went to England at any time during the Great War. It is also not known if these prints were sent to Crocker or if he developed his own copies of the original negatives, as the paper, quality and size of these photos are consistent with the other ones in the album.

Topics range from departures and arrivals of soldiers in downtown Victoria, to pictures taken at camps of soldiers, political dignitaries, and nurses, pictures of parades, recruitment offices, a military funeral and other events in which the military was present such as the opening of parliament, tag days, provincial holidays, royal visits and the anti-German riot.

Photographs are mainly of crowds at public events, soldiers marching in the street, soldiers drilling or being inspected at camp, soldiers posing with family and friends, and ships leaving the harbour. Photographs are primarily taken in Victoria (particularly Government and Belleville streets), Willows Camp, Beacon Hill, and Work Point Barracks, Esquimalt.

The following events and subjects are represented in the album. They are listed here in order of appearance and are transcribed directly from annotations that appear in the album:

Arrival of 7th Scottish Battalion Party, April 26th 1919
Arrival of 2nd CMR [Canadian Mounted Rifles], April 2nd 1919
Arrival of Troopship Empress of Asia at Outer Deck, January 24th 1919
Battalion Parade, Siberian Forces, December 7th 1918
November 7th 1918 [“The False Armistice”]
Arrival of Draft for Siberian CEF, October 12th 1918
Arrival of Draft for Siberian Unit, October 3rd 1918
Departure of Infantry Draft, September 21st 1918
Departure of Infantry Draft S/S Princess Patricia, August 26th 1918
Artillery at Work Point, June 15th 1918
Artillery, June 17th 1918
Infantry Draft 2nd Depot Battalion June 9th 1918
Departure of B.C. Special Services Company
Departure of Infantry Draft S/S Princess Alice, April 19th 1918
Departure of Infantry Draft, April 8th 1918
Departure of Infantry and Artillery Draft, March 31st 1918
Opening of Parliament Guard of Honour 1918
Departure of Draft S/S Princess Charlotte, January 15th 1918
Departure of Draft S/S Princess Charlotte, January 9th 1918
Departure of Willows Base Company, November 15th 1918
Departure of Drafts from Army Medical Corps and Artillery
Royal Flying Corps Draft, September 22nd 1917
Military Funeral, Lieutenant Walker R.F.C, August 17th 1917
Army Medical Corps Draft “Presentation to Sergeant May”, August 12th 1917
Departure of Army Medical Draft S/S Princess Victoria, August 12th 1917
Departure of Army Medical Draft S/S Princess Adelaide, July 5th 1917
Departure of Artillery Draft S/S Princess Charlotte, July 4th 1917
Confederation Day Celebration, July 2nd 1917
Departure of Army Medical Draft, June 13th 1917
Aviation Draft, June 2nd 1917
Royal Athlete Park, Red Cross Sports etc., May 24th 1917
Returned Soldiers at Beacon Hill, May 1917
Departure of Overseas Draft, 50th Gordon Highlanders S/S Princess Adelaide, May 18th 1917
Church Parade, April 23rd 1917
Army Medical Corps and Artillery Drafts S/S Princess Victoria, April 20th 1917
Departure of Foresters Draft, March 22nd 1917
Forestry Draft at Willows Camp, March 21st 1917
Recruiting Office, Forestry Battalion, March 6th 1917
Guard of Honour, 88th Regiment, Opening of Parliament, March 1st 1917
Departure of 143rd B.C. Bantams, July 9th 1917
Departure of Army Medical Corps Draft, January 17th 1917
Departure of Yukon Company on S/S Princess Victoria, January 16th 1917
Battalion Parade – Bantams, January 12th 1917
Group of returned soldiers at Military Hospital Esquimalt, October 1916
Parade of Ammunition Column, 5th Regiment Band, January 5th 1917
143rd Battalion “Bantams” Parade, November 15th 1916
5th Regiment Church Parade, October 8th 1916
15th Brigade
Mechanical Transport Parade, July 26th 1916
Guard of Honour R.C.R. [Royal Canadian Regiment], Arrival of Duke and Duchess of Connaught, July 20th 1916
Departure of 103rd Battalion “Timber Workers”, July 15th 1916
103rd Battalion Parade, June 28th 1916
Review at Willows by H.R.H. Duke of Connaught, September 17 1915
B.C. Pioneers Departure, September 23rd 1915
Parade of Western Scots (67th Battalion), September 25th 1915
Mascots of the 67th Battalion “Romeo and Juliette”
Western Scots 67th Battalion, October 14th 1915
Garrison Parade for Drum Head Service at Beacon Hill Park, October 31st 1915
Girl Guides, October 21st 1915
Trafalgar Day Parade and Tag Day for Canadian Red Cross Society, October 21st 1915
Departure of 5th Regiment Draft for St. Lucia
Battalion Parade, 88th Fusiliers, December 2nd 1915
5th Regiment Draft December 11th 1915
Departure of Staff for B.C. Base Hospital, August 21st 1915
B.C. Horse, 88th Fusiliers, 50th Gordons
Detachment of B.C Horse from Vernon
B.C. Horse off to Vernon, August 20th 1915
Detachment from 88th Fusiliers and 50th Highlanders en route to Vernon Camo, July 24th 1915
Princess Patricia Reserves and Army Medical Corps, January 10th 1915
Review by Major-General Hughes, January 23rd 1915
Naval Reserve Draft en route to Halifax, July 26th 1915
“Some Victoria Boys in England”
First Contingent, August 26th 1914
Departure of 30th Battalion, February 14th 1915
Nurses from Victoria and Vancouver for duty in France, taken at Work Point, August 4th 1915
Patriotic Demonstration Parade (1 year of war), August 4th 1915
B.C. Base Hospital, August 21st 1915
Part of Camp at Willows, January 1915
Inspection by Major General Steele, February 27th 1915
Victoria Boys in Salisbury, England
Officers of 2nd CMR (B.C. Horse)
Anti-German Riot, May 8th 1915
Garrison Parade, May 24th 1915
Victoria Day Parade, May 24th 1915
Inspection of 48th Battalion by Lieutenant-Governor, June 15th 1915
Souvenirs from HMS Kent, December 8th 1914
Church Parade 48th Battalion
103rd Battalion, June 28th 1916
143rd Battalion, June 28th 1916
Untitled [artillery]
Departure of 11th CMR, June 20th 1916
No. 11 Company, Army Medical Corps off to Vernon, June 7th 1916
Departure of 15th Brigade CFA [Canadian Field Artillery], May 28th 1916
Departure of 88th Battalion CEF [Canadian Expeditionary Force], May 23rd 1916
15th Brigade CFA Parade, May 15th 1916
Farewell Parade, 88th Battalion, May 12th 1916
15th Brigade CFA, May 6th 1916
Church Parade, 88th Battalion, April 30th 1916
No. 1 Company, 88th Battalion, Belmont House
11th CMR [Canadian Mounted Rifles], April 7th 1916
143rd Battalion B.C. Bantams, April 2nd 1916
Departure of 67th Battalion Western Scots, May 24th 1916
103rd Battalion Parade, March 4th 1916
Opening of Parliament, 88th Battalion Guard of Honour, March 2nd 1916
11th CMR Parade, March 15th 1916
67th Battalion Western Scots Final Parade, March 14th 1916
67th Battalion Western Scots Farewell Parade through the City, February 21st 1916
103rd Battalion Parade, December 1915
Garrison Battalion Parade and Tag Day, December 21st 1915
Departure of Mechanical Transport Draft and “Pioneers”, December 25th 1915
Departure of First Contingent, August 28th 1914
Church Parade 48th Battalion, June 20th 1915
HMS Kent, June 1915
Untitled [Red Cross Bull Dog Mascot]

The album was originally arranged in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent photographs, though there are instances when this order is not followed. Additionally, it appears that the album’s original order may have been altered due to deterioration and handling. The album is currently broken into two separate pieces. The first piece which includes the front cover is entirely separate from the rest of the album and currently sits on top of it. It is unmodified and the last pages are exposed to handling and are therefore quite damaged and deteriorated.

The second piece of the album has been retrofitted with a cardboard cover to protect the first pages while the back of the album is protected with the original hard cover. It also appears that at some point in time another bulk of pages were wedged in between the last page of the album and the back cover. Most of the photographs, if not all, do not have original glass plate negatives within our collections. However, many of the events represented in the album are also represented in MS-3356, albeit from different angles. It is possible that the photographs in this album were taken by an assistant working with Ernest Crocker.

View down military Camp

Photograph depicts a row of tents in the encampment at a military camp. While the photographer has not labeled this photograph, the camp in question appears to be Willows Camp.

Soldiers leave to join 1st Contingent

Photograph depicts soldiers from the 1st British Columbia Regiment (later forming the 7th Battalion) in downtown Victoria near the Legislative buildings. They are on the location of the old CPR station that had a ship service connecting Victoria to the railway station in Vancouver. These men were among the first to leave Canada to fight in Europe. Morale was high and civilians were exuberant, so much so that you can see a line of soldiers making a border by holding hands in order to contain the civilians behind them. The remaining soldiers approach the docking area of the terminal where they will board the SS Princess Adelaide.

Physical Training, Willows Camp

Photograph depicts a group of soldiers on the training grounds at Willows Camp. They are participating in physical training and are performing a variety of areobic exercises. In this case, leg raises.

Soldiers from the 62nd Battalion at Vernon Camp

Photograph depicts a group of eight soldiers in camp clothes ("undress") at a military training camp in Vernon, B.C. Summer straw hats with wide brims and turned up on the left side were issued to troops at camp, but were not taken to England when drafted. One soldier in the front row has written the Battalion number on his hat, which has helped identify the photo. They are posed in front of their tents.

Sam Hughes inspects 2nd CMR

Photograph depicts Major-General Sam Hughes along with Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Bott and Premier Sir Richard McBride at Willows Camp. They are conducting a formal inspection of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.

CEF, 1st Contigent, 5th Regiment

Photograph depicts one of the earliest departures from Victoria. In this photo, troops and men gather on the docks near the Canadian Pacific station in downtown Victoria as they watch the SS Princess Adelaide navigate the harbour.

CEF, 1st Contigent, 5th Regiment

Photograph depicts one of the earliest departures from Victoria. In this photo, troops and men gather on the docks near the Canadian Pacific station in downtown Victoria as they watch the SS Princess Adelaide navigate the harbour.

CEF, 1st Contigent, 5th Regiment

Photograph depicts soldiers on the SS Princess Adelaide on departure day for some of the first troops to leave Victoria as part of the 1st Contingent. This picture was taken from the roof of the CPR station in Victoria.

CEF, 1st Contigent, 5th Regiment

Photograph depicts one of the earliest departures from Victoria. In this photo, troops and men gather on the docks near the Canadian Pacific station in downtown Victoria as they watch the SS Princess Adelaide navigate the harbour.

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