First World War

Banting's letter to his mother, written with his left hand.

Letter from the Front

A note home from Captain Frederick Banting illustrates soldiers’ tendency to downplay injuries and hardship

University of Toronto Archives B1975-0015/010P (11) or (38)

An Artist at War

A sculptor by profession, Frederick Coates, who also taught at U of T, used his modelling skills to help surgeons rebuild shattered faces

Farmerettes from U of T dug a few “trenches” of a different sort.

Farmerettes Help at Home

In 1917 and 1918 hundreds of U of T women spent the summers picking and packing fruits and vegetables, filling in for farmers who were away at war

Photo of John McRae and Bonneau the dog.

Animals, the Forgotten Warriors

Millions of animals served on both sides of the conflict. Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae developed close bonds with his horse Bonfire and dogs Bonneau and Mike

Photo of the Anti-Toxin Lab.

Waging War on Infection

In 1914, 32 per cent of the British wounded contracted tetanus. The British and Allied command looked to the University of Toronto for help

Gas rattle at Soldiers’ Tower.

Objects of Salvation

In the trenches the only criteria for alarm devices were that they be loud and distinctive – but as a bonus, rattles didn’t require use of the lungs