Friday, September 30, 2016

Robert McKay Brebner

Robert McKay Brebner was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on October 18, 1855 to Alan Ramsey Brebner and Francis Ann (McKay) Brebner. He moved to Alberta in 1882 and secured a homestead in Spruce Grove. In 1890, he visited Scotland and returned to Spruce Grove with a camera with which he would document his life.

In 1894 or 1895, he was joined by Emily Wynn Wrench, a friend of his family, and the two were married in Edmonton. They lived in Robert's original log cabin on the Spruce Grove homestead. After the birth of their first son, Alan Ainslie, in 1896 a new two-story house was built on the farm. A second son, Alexander Blaikie, was born in 1897 but died after 11 days. Robert and Emily had two more children, Mary Elizabeth Bruce in 1899 and Robert Wynn in 1900.

The Brebner family returned to Scotland in 1908. Robert eventually returned to the Spruce Grove homestead alone where he died suddenly on November 9, 1909 before his family returned. Robert was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Spruce Grove. Emily remained on the homestead, running it with hired help until Alan took over operation of the farm at the age of 17. Emily eventually moved to White Rock, British Columbia, with her daughter, Mary, and died in 1937.

Alan and Mary Brebner on a sleigh, ca. 1905
  
Brebner children in the woods, ca. 1900
  
 Robert Brebner on a horse-drawn carriage with family members, ca. 1900
  
 Robert Brebner with son [Robert?] with plow team, ca. 1900
  
Town celebration. Possibly Dominion Day, ca. 1900
 

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Stalingrad, 1942

The Battle of Stalingrad was arguably the bloodiest single battle in history (the Somme in World War I is perhaps a close second). Lasting for months (August 1942-February 1943), Stalingrad's casualty count was up to 2 million killed, wounded or captured. It also remains the greatest and most horrible instance of urban warfare ever. This set of photos, all from 1942, capture both sides of the struggle.

 A German heavy mortar crew advance behind an infantry company 
they support during the Battle of Stalingrad. September 1942
  
 A German sniper takes aim with a Karabiner 98k rifle with mounted Soviet 
Mosin Nagant PE scope on the outskirts of of Stalingrad, September 1942
  
 A German Wehrmacht Oberstabsfeldwebel (Sergeant-Major) and a non-commissioned Stabsfeldwebel officer (First Sergeant, or Master Sergeant equivalent) battle enemy Soviet troops outside of Stalingrad, just prior to the Battle of Stalingrad, 10 June 1942
  
 A rare moment of compassion is shown at the Battle of Stalingrad. A German soldier tends to a wounded Russian woman and shelters her infant a German trench. October 1942
  
 A Soviet soldier prepares to launch an RGD-33 stick grenade 
at a German position during the Battle of Stalingrad. November 1942
  
 German Infantrymen pause in the ruins during heavy fighting with 
Soviet forces during the Battle of Stalingrad. September 1942
  
 German soldiers advance through the factory district 
during the protracted Battle of Stalingrad. October 1942
  
 German soldiers moving through the ruins of Stalingrad, October 1942
  
 Portrait of a Soviet soldier with Degtyaryov machine gun in one of the 
thousands of destroyed houses during the Battle of Stalingrad. 10 December 1942
  
 Red Army unit trying to set down a field telephone line in Stalingrad.1942
  
 Soviet Army soldiers fire a 82-BM-37 mortar into German positions 
during the Battle of Stalingrad, 21 October 1942
  
 Soviet Army soldiers of the Stalingrad Front inspect two abandoned German six-barrel 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launchers during the Battle of Stalingrad, December 1942
  
 Soviet soldiers advance on German positions during 
the first days of the Battle of Stalingrad. August 1942
  
 Soviet machine gunners take up positions against Axis forces in a destroyed factory during the Battle of Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest and most destructive battles in the history of warfare
  
 Soviet soldiers advancing on German positions at the Battle of Stalingrad, 1942
  
 Soviet soldiers firing at German positions in Stalingrad
  
 Soviet soldiers move through the trenches amongst the 
ruins during the Battle of Stalingrad. October 1942
  
 Soviet troops armed with light machine guns attack German 
positions during the Battle of Stalingrad. 26 November 1942
  
Soviet soldiers take the opportunity to clean their weapons during 
a lull in fighting at the Battle of Stalingrad. December 1942

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Misc New Zealand

 A tram, full with children, advertising the objective "500 boys in jobs before Xmas", Wakefield Street, with Oriental Parade in background, ca. 1932
  
Group alongside a Gipsy Moth biplane, ca 1931
  
 Montage of photographs depicting Christmas shopping 
crowds in Wellington, 24 December 1932
  
 Procession of unemployed workers marching along Willis Street, Wellington, 1932-33
  
 Swimmers diving into Wellington Harbour at the start of the 
long distance handicap Peck Shield Harbour Race, 12 February 1934
  
Thomas Hugh Tingay - Couples dancing at a garden party, ca 1930s
 
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Inger Schulstad

 Dr. Schulstad with envoys from the US Air Force Medical Department, 1952
[Archive reference: Tor.H49.B01.B1054]
  
 Dr. Yang and group from Seoul City Hospital with Dr. Schulstad, 1952
[Archive reference: Tor.H49.B01.B1020]
  
 Helmets on! On the way to the front. Dr. Schulstad on right, 1952
[Archive reference: Tor.H49.B01.B1043]
  
 House for three, Korea, 1952
[Archive reference: Tor.H49.B01.B1023]
   
Korean house, 1952
[Archive reference: Tor.H49.B01.B1077]
 

Monday, September 26, 2016

Walter McClintock

 Blackfoot woman sewing with child nearby
  
 Coming Running with her children
  
 Drummers opening the ceremony of the Grass Dance
  
Front view of McClintock's Traveling-Lodge
  
 Hunting party
  
 
Indian in eagle-feather bonnet dancing in a circle of seated Indians
 

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Newell Family Album

 Boy and girl among snow covered trees
  
 Channing and Florence on rocks in Onset Bay
  
 Children at play (Channing and Florence)
  
 Onset Bay, Mass. Channing & Florence with two girl friends
  
 The Neighborhood Club
  
The Newells in the Pine Grove
 

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Revelle Jackson

 Fourmyula promotion girls, in Charles Begg's music shop
["Fourmyula" was a New Zealand rock group. Here them here.]
  
 Heretaunga college open day; gymnastics; trampoline display, 11 November 1965
  
 Marines RSA visit, 1968
  
 Maymorn School group, awaiting railcar for Castlepoint holiday, November 1965
  
 McCracken wedding
[Mom's look says, "What just happened?"]
  
 Rosina Anderton 21st birthday party, June 1973
  
Silverstream School; Primer 4 children and pet lamb, November 1965