Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram November 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – This photo of Second Lieutenant Paul Raney (right) and his friend Lt. Pat Alva O'Brien appeared in "Outwitting the Hun" (1918). This book detailing O'Brien's wartime experiences was a top ten bestseller in 1918. O'Brien was an American who joined the American Flying Corps in early 1916, but after 8 months training in San Diego, resigned and joined the RFC in Victoria, B.C. to have a chance to get into the war. He was sent to Camp Borden (Ontario), and in May 1917 left for England. On August 17, 1917, he was shot down during an air fight and taken as a POW to hospital. On August 21st, he witnessed an air fight outside the hospital. According to O'Brien's recollections, in a fight that involved 16 German planes against 4 English, 2 planes from each side were shot down. Raney was killed. This photo was found on Raney's body and given to O'Brien by the Germans. O'Brien escaped from Courtnai prison in Belgium and wrote that he later visited Raney's parents in Toronto to bring them a map of his grave site. He preserved this map through a difficult escape which included swimming through canals, but it appears that Raney does not have a marked grave today.

Newspaper Clipping 2

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Roll of Service – From the "University of Toronto / Roll of Service 1914-1918", published in 1921.

Plaque – 1914-1918 Memorial tablet, Bloor Street Presbyterian Church, 300 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario. This congregation was established in 1887, and in 1925 became the Bloor Street United Church. The tablet was unveiled on May 16th, 1920. It was inscribed: "In memory of the men of Bloor Street Presbyterian Church who went out to battle and died for Freedom's cause. They feared not Death and meeting it they won the Victor's Crown."

Photo of Paul Raney – From: The Varsity Magazine Supplement Fourth Edition 1918 published by The Students Administrative Council, University of Toronto. Submitted for the Soldiers' Tower Committee, University of Toronto, by Operation Picture Me.