The collection of artifacts the RCA Museum received contained hundreds of photographs — mostly in three photo albums dated from 1939 to 1942. One photo album dating from March 1941 to July 1942 was particularly engaging. He was stationed in Britain when the photos were taken. Great care went into constructing BGen Wright’s wartime photo albums. It seems at any given time, he would take out his camera, point-and-shoot, and capture a quick snapshot of posed military colleagues, scenic urban or rural settings, or images of the war effort. Sometime after taking the pictures, either during the war or after, he packed these albums full of pictures, and then probably filed them away as a keepsake to his wartime experiences. His black and white images are like snapshots from the war, thru his lens.
Andrew Oakden
Stag Special
Years ago, the RCA Museum received a box containing a significant number of artifacts which belonged to the late BGen Harold E. Wright.
The box was sent to us by his daughter, Marilyn Janay.
At the start of the Second World War, then Maj Wright served as Second in Command (2IC) of the 6th Canadian Field Regiment which was part of the 2nd Canadian Division.
The collection of artifacts the museum received contained hundreds of photographs — mostly in three photo albums dated from 1939 to 1942.
One photo album dating from March 1941 to July 1942 was particularly engaging. Maj Wright was stationed in Britain when the photos were taken.
Great care went into constructing BGen Wright’s wartime photo albums. It seems at any given time, he would take out his camera, point-and-shoot, and capture a quick snapshot of posed military colleagues, scenic urban or rural settings, or images of the war effort.
Sometime after taking the pictures, either during the war or after, he packed these albums full of pictures, and then probably filed them away as a keepsake to his wartime experiences.
Looking back more than seven decades later, these photographs tell a fascinating story. Each photo represents a mini-slice or thread to reveal a general theme.
Together they become an animated, yet informal essay on one man’s selective experiences during the Second World War. It is clear by the photo record, he took great pains to take photos which exemplified the Canadian gunner experience in Britain during the Second World War.
The RCA Museum has a rather large and varied collection of artifacts. A significant portion of our collection are Second World War artifacts, including many guns and vehicles.
Many of the same guns and vehicles the museum use for outreach events to reflect the spirit of the Second World War Gunner are photographed in BGen Wright’s album, such as a Bren Carrier, Field Artillery Tractor with limber and 25-pounder, 40mm gun, and 15-cwt trucks.
In one of Maj Wright’s many photographs it shows him inspecting a 25-pounder gun. The gun in the picture is almost identical to our museum example housed in our National Artillery Gallery. The unique platform below the gun allowed the gun to traverse 360 degrees.
The majority of the photos show the RCA in field training. Of note, BGen Wright took many photos of Canadian gun positions and Gunners on the move.
There are numerous pictures of Canadian soldiers competing in track and field, including sprinting and tug-o-war. He took a photo of bombed commercial buildings in Portsmouth dated Aug. 31, 1941. He also snapped photos of various London streets, the Tower of London as well as the Thames.
He has numerous photos of grinning military associates, some with captions below the photos with nicknames, standing in front of local hotels, private dwellings, rural roads and farm fences.
He also took a photograph of one of Canada’s great wartime commanders, Gen Henry D.G. “Harry” Crerar dated March 1942. At the time of the photo, Gen Crerar commanded 1 Canadian Corps, and later he assumed command of the First Canadian Army in March 1944.
The RCA Museum is fortunate to have a number of artifacts which belonged to Gen Crerar, including a number of field and mess uniforms, personal honours and awards, as well as personal photographs.
The 6th Canadian Field Regiment was in part tasked with defending Britain from a possible German invasion. This began a long period of training and settling in to the routine.
Gunners provided anti-aircraft defence as the Battle of Britain was fought in the skies from July to October 1940.
Canadian gunners also helped deal with the aftermath of German bombing raids, the Blitz from September 1940 to May 1941, which are demonstrated in his photographs.
In 1942, BGen Wright was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took command of the 11th Army Field Regiment, RCA in Britain. He later led the 11th Army Field Regiment during the Invasion of Sicily and Italy, and during the liberation of North-West Europe.
His collection of photos provides an excellent first-hand perspective on the experiences of one Canadian soldier.
For more Second World War photos, visit our museum website at www.rcamuseum.com
