City of Vaughan

12/15/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/15/2021 12:07

From the archives: Battle of the Somme

​Learn more about the city's history from the Vaughan Archives

From the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island, to a farmland community, to a bustling city centre and everything in between - Vaughan's transformation is a story worth telling. As part of a monthly series, the City of Vaughan is releasing historical content from the Vaughan Archives, Office of the City Clerk. Citizens are encouraged to scroll through memory lane, learn about the city's past and explore the places, people and events that were pivotal to the development of the city of Vaughan we know today.

On the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, the German Second Army suffered a serious defeat. They were pushed back by the British and French Fourth and Sixth Armies. The casualties suffered by the British - approximately 19,000 deaths - were the worst in the history of the British Army. Most of the British casualties were suffered in the area of the Albert-Bapaume Road and Gommecourt to the north, which was where the principal German defensive effort was made. The battle became known for the importance of air firepower and the first use of the tank, but these were exceedingly unreliable technologies.

The City has postcards and photographs from the Mackenzie Family fonds that document the service of both Addison Alexander ("Lex") Mackenzie and his younger brother, Donald Ross Mackenzie, at the Battle of the Somme. Lex initially led a reconnaissance mission and then later led his men in an assault on German soldiers. He also sent a postcard of the area to his family back home in Woodbridge to demonstrate the devastation of Europe. While Lex eventually returned home, despite being severely wounded at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Donald Ross was reported missing and eventually confirmed as killed in action in 1918. In 1936, the family attended the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial, which is inscribed with the names of the roughly 11,000 Canadians who died in France with no known graves. Along with postcards, letters and photographs from wartime, the Mackenzie Family fonds contain letters from Lex's sword and scabbard, badges, ribbons and medals.

ABOUT VAUGHAN ARCHIVES

Established in 1988, the City of Vaughan Archivesis home to more than 600 collections, consisting of both City records and cultural records about Vaughan from 1860 to present day. Records include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • City business records with long-term legal and administrative value, such as Council meeting minutes, by-laws, assessment rolls, financial records, reports and official correspondence
  • church, community and school records
  • census records
  • historical photographs
  • land records
  • historical maps, plans and aerial photographs
  • newspapers
  • personal papers of past residents and founding families, such as diaries, family histories, journals and letters
  • records of local organizations both past and present

VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!

As part of the City's COVID-19 response, Vaughan City Hall remains closed to the public - but the City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are now available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:

  • Featured Artists of Vaughan
  • Historical Families of Vaughan
  • Historical Figures: Lord Beaverbrook
  • Historical Photography
  • Recollections of Rural Vaughan
  • The Mary Wood Collection
  • The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
  • Vaughan Working Environments
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Music
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Sports and Recreation
  • Stories of Remembrance
  • Vaughan's Forgotten Heroes

A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a certain image, original file, primary source record or more, contact the Vaughan Archives by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing [email protected].

By managing and preserving both City and community records, the Archives and Records Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.

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