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Invention of the Canadian motor machine gun brigade
Brigadier-General Raymond Brutinel was a French immigrant, he was also the best authority on machine guns in the Canadian forces. He organized the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade with help from Sir Clifford Sifton in 1914. -
Switch from Ross rifle to the Lee enfield rifle
Canadian soldiers first used the Ross rifle. The gun was accurate from long range, but they were easily jammed due to the amount of mud in the battlefield. They then improved by switching to the Lee Enfield rifle which was similar to the ross rifle but just jammed less. -
Military Hospital
The photo shows a military hospital, taken around Christmas time in 1914. Military hospitals were almost always overcrowded and understaffed during WWI because many scientists and doctors quit their job to help serve their country. There usually wasn't enough beds for the wounded. -
Scientist started leaving homeland to fight
After the start of World War 1, many scientists left their homeland to go fight for their country, making Canada’s involvement in scientific research scarce and limited. -
Canadian equipment kit and updated helmets
This picture shows an example of an equipment kit that was carried by Canadian soldiers while overseas during WW1. Canadian uniforms and equipment were usually similar to the British Uniforms. Equipment was changed during the war because of improved gear and the evolution of modern warfare. In March 1916, Canadian troops were issued a two pound Mark 1 steel helmet to protect themselves in the trenches. Some things troops also carried a shovel, rifle, ammunition, knives, and water. -
Increase of annual ammunition output
The annual ammunition output increased from 5.3 million shells in 1915 to 23.7 million in 1917. Canadian companies turned out more than a dozen types of artillery ammunition, plus fuses, primers, explosives and propellants. In 1917, Canada provided about one third of ammunition fired by the British forces on the Western Front. -
Invention of the anti-tank rifle grenades
The different types of grenades that appeared throughout the war provided the Canadian troops with close support. As of 1917, Canadian infantry platoons included specialist hand grenadiers, (bombers) and rifle grenadiers. During the summer of 1918, Canadian soldiers were equipped with experimental anti-tank rifle grenades. -
Transport Ships
The photos show typical ships that were used to transport troops (fresh and wounded), horses and equipment (artillery, ammunition, weapons, etc.), food, volunteers, and any other items needed during WWI. The transport ships in this picture are waiting at Montreal Harbor for an armed convoy to arrive before they embark on their journey overseas.
