Carla-Jean Stokes
@carlajeanstokes.bsky.social
Historian of First World War photography 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 | Museum Jill of all trades | author of: The Taking of Vimy Ridge: First World War photographs of William Ivor Castle
https://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/The-Taking-of-Vimy-Ridge
https://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/The-Taking-of-Vimy-Ridge
In November 1916, William Ivor Castle became credited as the first Great War photographer to take photographs of "tanks in action."
November 25, 2025 at 3:49 PM
In November 1916, William Ivor Castle became credited as the first Great War photographer to take photographs of "tanks in action."
Nom nom nom 😋
November 16, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Nom nom nom 😋
Baby Girl turns 5 today! 🥳🍪
Happiest birthday wishes to my smart, curious, sweet, kind girl who will never read this and is not allowed on social media for about 30 more years.
Happiest birthday wishes to my smart, curious, sweet, kind girl who will never read this and is not allowed on social media for about 30 more years.
November 16, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Baby Girl turns 5 today! 🥳🍪
Happiest birthday wishes to my smart, curious, sweet, kind girl who will never read this and is not allowed on social media for about 30 more years.
Happiest birthday wishes to my smart, curious, sweet, kind girl who will never read this and is not allowed on social media for about 30 more years.
There's nothing like a photograph that bears the evidence of its past use.
Residents of Knocke, Belgium, talking with personnel of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 5 November 1944, photograph by Donald I. Grant, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3229761.
Residents of Knocke, Belgium, talking with personnel of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 5 November 1944, photograph by Donald I. Grant, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3229761.
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
There's nothing like a photograph that bears the evidence of its past use.
Residents of Knocke, Belgium, talking with personnel of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 5 November 1944, photograph by Donald I. Grant, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3229761.
Residents of Knocke, Belgium, talking with personnel of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 5 November 1944, photograph by Donald I. Grant, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3229761.
Taking a look at #SWW photographs this morning. If I was strictly posting in real time, this beaut would have had to wait until the end of the month.
But I couldn't wait that long, because come on. Details in ALT.
But I couldn't wait that long, because come on. Details in ALT.
November 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Taking a look at #SWW photographs this morning. If I was strictly posting in real time, this beaut would have had to wait until the end of the month.
But I couldn't wait that long, because come on. Details in ALT.
But I couldn't wait that long, because come on. Details in ALT.
On the morning of 11 November 1918, Canadian official photographer William Rider-Rider was in Mons photographing the scenes he witnessed as the armistice was announced.
A Canadian Battalion marching through the Grand Place, Mons, 11 November 1918, Archives of Ontario Collection, I0004854.
A Canadian Battalion marching through the Grand Place, Mons, 11 November 1918, Archives of Ontario Collection, I0004854.
November 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
On the morning of 11 November 1918, Canadian official photographer William Rider-Rider was in Mons photographing the scenes he witnessed as the armistice was announced.
A Canadian Battalion marching through the Grand Place, Mons, 11 November 1918, Archives of Ontario Collection, I0004854.
A Canadian Battalion marching through the Grand Place, Mons, 11 November 1918, Archives of Ontario Collection, I0004854.
I had custom postcards made of my favourite (ha! 😝) war photograph.
November 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I had custom postcards made of my favourite (ha! 😝) war photograph.
The first Canadian platoon to enter Valenciennes from the west, advancing towards the Canal
and
Canadian Patrol crossing the railway in Valenciennes under heavy machine gun fire, both by William Rider-Rider, November 1918, LAC O-3504 & 3507.
and
Canadian Patrol crossing the railway in Valenciennes under heavy machine gun fire, both by William Rider-Rider, November 1918, LAC O-3504 & 3507.
November 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The first Canadian platoon to enter Valenciennes from the west, advancing towards the Canal
and
Canadian Patrol crossing the railway in Valenciennes under heavy machine gun fire, both by William Rider-Rider, November 1918, LAC O-3504 & 3507.
and
Canadian Patrol crossing the railway in Valenciennes under heavy machine gun fire, both by William Rider-Rider, November 1918, LAC O-3504 & 3507.
Canadians who advanced recently on Passchendaele in billets, William Rider-Rider, November 1917, LAC O-3780.
November 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Canadians who advanced recently on Passchendaele in billets, William Rider-Rider, November 1917, LAC O-3780.
Happy Halloween!
If FWW photography is good for anything, clearly it's men playing dress-up (I kid, I kid). (Although also, I'm not kidding. It really is great).
Here are some snaps by Rider-Rider of a Maple Leaf Party in France, dated September 1917, LAC O-2012, 15, 16.
If FWW photography is good for anything, clearly it's men playing dress-up (I kid, I kid). (Although also, I'm not kidding. It really is great).
Here are some snaps by Rider-Rider of a Maple Leaf Party in France, dated September 1917, LAC O-2012, 15, 16.
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Happy Halloween!
If FWW photography is good for anything, clearly it's men playing dress-up (I kid, I kid). (Although also, I'm not kidding. It really is great).
Here are some snaps by Rider-Rider of a Maple Leaf Party in France, dated September 1917, LAC O-2012, 15, 16.
If FWW photography is good for anything, clearly it's men playing dress-up (I kid, I kid). (Although also, I'm not kidding. It really is great).
Here are some snaps by Rider-Rider of a Maple Leaf Party in France, dated September 1917, LAC O-2012, 15, 16.
Here is one more of Ivor Castle's October 1916 photographs.
And one of these days I'll get around to creating some sort of comparative analysis of all of the photographers' approaches to this subject 😅
And one of these days I'll get around to creating some sort of comparative analysis of all of the photographers' approaches to this subject 😅
October 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Here is one more of Ivor Castle's October 1916 photographs.
And one of these days I'll get around to creating some sort of comparative analysis of all of the photographers' approaches to this subject 😅
And one of these days I'll get around to creating some sort of comparative analysis of all of the photographers' approaches to this subject 😅
The photographers returned time and again to re-photograph the so-called "Leaning Virgin" to document her stages of destruction and eventual demise.
![Ivor Castle, Albert Cathedral Showing [Fallen Virgin], October 1916, LAC O-871.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:s7itmlo3sagpxpxsp4r6wbbq/bafkreibuep6wdjxn6a6xzfsd4h5udbecao2pu4uijkc3vzv6z7xxwrrza4@jpeg)
October 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The photographers returned time and again to re-photograph the so-called "Leaning Virgin" to document her stages of destruction and eventual demise.
Some subjects along the Western Front had the ability to capture the imagination of numerous photographers.
The Albert Cathedral was no exception. British and Canadian war photographers returned to it over the months and years.
The Albert Cathedral was no exception. British and Canadian war photographers returned to it over the months and years.
October 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Some subjects along the Western Front had the ability to capture the imagination of numerous photographers.
The Albert Cathedral was no exception. British and Canadian war photographers returned to it over the months and years.
The Albert Cathedral was no exception. British and Canadian war photographers returned to it over the months and years.
4th CMR Resting in a Barn, October 1917, William Rider-Rider, Library and Archives Canada.
October 20, 2025 at 5:42 PM
4th CMR Resting in a Barn, October 1917, William Rider-Rider, Library and Archives Canada.
A Happy Scene at a Canadian Ammunition Dump, William Ivor Castle, October 1916, Library and Archives Canada.
October 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A Happy Scene at a Canadian Ammunition Dump, William Ivor Castle, October 1916, Library and Archives Canada.
October 16 marks the anniversary of (what appears to be) the first publication of Ivor Castle's iconic series showing Canadians "going over the top."
This series of 4 photographs was used repeatedly for the remainder of the war, often w/ fabricated captions or as illustrations for other events.
This series of 4 photographs was used repeatedly for the remainder of the war, often w/ fabricated captions or as illustrations for other events.
October 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
October 16 marks the anniversary of (what appears to be) the first publication of Ivor Castle's iconic series showing Canadians "going over the top."
This series of 4 photographs was used repeatedly for the remainder of the war, often w/ fabricated captions or as illustrations for other events.
This series of 4 photographs was used repeatedly for the remainder of the war, often w/ fabricated captions or as illustrations for other events.
Abbé Thuliez holding Thanksgiving Service in Cambrai Cathedral, William Rider-Rider, Sunday, October 14, 1918. This print belongs to the Archives of Ontario.
October 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Abbé Thuliez holding Thanksgiving Service in Cambrai Cathedral, William Rider-Rider, Sunday, October 14, 1918. This print belongs to the Archives of Ontario.
Skipped the middle-man and made trays of sandwiches for Thanksgiving dinner.
On homemade focaccia, of course.
On homemade focaccia, of course.
October 13, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Skipped the middle-man and made trays of sandwiches for Thanksgiving dinner.
On homemade focaccia, of course.
On homemade focaccia, of course.
(The canvas breech covers on their rifles were replaced with battle-ready rifles, and shell bursts were added to the background).
You can see those breech covers in this spread from the Illustrated War News (bottom photo, right).
You can see those breech covers in this spread from the Illustrated War News (bottom photo, right).
October 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
(The canvas breech covers on their rifles were replaced with battle-ready rifles, and shell bursts were added to the background).
You can see those breech covers in this spread from the Illustrated War News (bottom photo, right).
You can see those breech covers in this spread from the Illustrated War News (bottom photo, right).
William Ivor Castle's series showing Canadians "going over the top" turns 109 this month!
I love seeing variants of this image in different collections. But what does that mean?
I love seeing variants of this image in different collections. But what does that mean?
October 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
William Ivor Castle's series showing Canadians "going over the top" turns 109 this month!
I love seeing variants of this image in different collections. But what does that mean?
I love seeing variants of this image in different collections. But what does that mean?
Brigadier General Draper with his staff in Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522330.
October 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Brigadier General Draper with his staff in Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522330.
Detachment of Canadians advancing through Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William
Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522332.
Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522332.
October 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Detachment of Canadians advancing through Cambrai, October 9, 1918, William
Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522332.
Rider-Rider, LAC MIKAN 3522332.
Though they were sent on 11 October, the photographs were taken #onthisday on 9 October 1918.
October 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Though they were sent on 11 October, the photographs were taken #onthisday on 9 October 1918.
On October 11, 1918, Canadian official war photographer William Rider-Rider sent a telegram to the Canadian War Records Office in London. In it, he stated that he had just handed his negatives to the censor of photographs taken in the burning town of Cambrai.
October 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
On October 11, 1918, Canadian official war photographer William Rider-Rider sent a telegram to the Canadian War Records Office in London. In it, he stated that he had just handed his negatives to the censor of photographs taken in the burning town of Cambrai.
Canadians making practise attack with tanks, William Rider-Rider, October 1918, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3404586.
October 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Canadians making practise attack with tanks, William Rider-Rider, October 1918, Library and Archives Canada MIKAN 3404586.