Tag Archives: First World War

Some corner of a foreign field

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Parisian Fields

To the memory of Raymond Hummel, 1886–1916, and John Sieber, 1893–1917, and to the 166 men and 1 woman of Perth Academy who died in the Great War. The remains of my great-uncle Raymond Hummel lie in France, in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Family history, World War I | Tagged Colincamps, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Dar-es-Salaam, First World War, Flowers of the Forest, John Hardie, John King Morrison Hardi, John Lonsdale Sieber, Perth Academy, Raymond Hummel, Royal British Legion, Sucrerie Cemetery, University of Leeds, War diaries, West Yorkshire Regiment | 26 Comments

Paris in the First World War

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Parisian Fields

It’s that time of year again. The poppy-sellers are out on the streets of Toronto, and soon, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we will stop what we are doing for a minute or … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris churches, Paris history, Paris postcards, Paris streets, World War I | Tagged Big Bertha, Brigadier Bidault, Eugene Bailly, First World War, Margaret Macmillan, Menilmontant, Nantes, Paris 1919, Paris Gun, Peacemakers, rue Mathurin Regnier, St-Gervais, Zeppelin | 21 Comments

A French family in wartime

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Parisian Fields

Today, November 11, is the anniversary of the end of the First World War. In France the Jour de L’Armistice or le Jour du Souvenir is a day of military parades and ceremonies. But there is more to remembrance than … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris history, Paris postcards, World War I | Tagged Armistice Day, Bernigaud family, First World War, French postcards, Henri Bernigaud, Jeanne Bernigaud, Jour de L’Armistice, Jour du Souvenir, Louise Bernigaud, Lyon, Montreal, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, Vimy Ridge, World War I, Yvonne Michaud | 13 Comments

The bouquinistes and the photographer of shadows

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Parisian Fields

To quote from last week’s blog by Norman: “The sense of continuity is part of the fascination of learning more and more about Paris.” But it’s not just about the continuity of major monuments and landmark buildings. It’s also the … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris bookstores, Paris postcards | Tagged bouquinistes, David Downie, Dominique Lesbros, Editions d'Art Yvon, First World War, gargoyle, Kurt Ulrich, L'Illustration, La Carterie, Les Editions Yvon, Notre Dame, Paris postcards, Pierre Petit, Quai de la Tournelle, Quai Malaquais, Robert Stevens, vintage postcards, Yvon, Yvon's Paris | 12 Comments

Tall tales and some Paris-Marseille rivalry

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Parisian Fields

Tall tales abound in every culture. When Philippa and I set out to explore our new neighbourhood in May, we never suspected that we would learn more about tall tales in France. On the nearby Rond-Point des Champs Elysées, a … Continue reading →