On November 11 we honour all who served and currently serve to protect our country.

November 11, 1914 marked the end of the First World War. During World War I over 1300 of Assiniboia’s citizens enlisted, the greatest per capita enlistment of any Rural Municipality in the west. When the war ended on November 11, 1918, seventy-two of Assiniboia’s own lay dead in the fields, pastures and orchards of northern France and Flanders.

Below are select artifacts from the museum’s collection that belonged to those who served during the First World War.

Helmet worn by Private Charles Earnest L’Ami, 16th Infantry Battalion (Canadian Scottish) Canadian Expeditionary Force. Steel helmets were introduced in 1916 to reduce head wounds. The painted insignia on the front indicates division, brigade, and battalion seniority: 1st division, 3rd brigade, junior battalion.

Glengarry bonnet. Distinctive head dress of highland regiments. The 16th Infantry Battalion (Canadian Scottish) C.E.F. was raised in 1914 for overseas service by four Canadian militia highland regiments. Local volunteers came from Winnipeg’s 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada.

British war medal (l.); Allied victory medal (r.). Awarded to Corporal S.S. Cuzner who was killed while with the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The war medal was given to personnel who left Canada on active service. Those who served in a theatre of war received the victory medal.

Spurs worn by Sgt. Wilford Eggleston, Canadian Army Service Corps. The Army Service Corps supplied troops at the front.

Princess Mary’s 1914 Christmas gift to troops serving at the front. The box contained tobacco and either a pipe or cigarette papers.