In the lead up to Nov. 11, we are featuring photographs from our military collection. Today we have a photo of soldiers disembarking from the SS Corona, circa 1915, arriving for military training at Niagara Camp. During the navigation season (May to November), steamships were the most popular means for transporting troops to Niagara. Within two hours of boarding the boats at the Toronto wharf, the soldiers could be marching into camp. There was a great air of anticipation as the soldiers disembarked and then marched with much fanfare by their battalions’ brass and bugle bands through town to their designated campsites.

Huge crowds of family, friends, fellow soldiers and townsfolk turned out as the men would later embark for transport across the lake on their way to the front. In Toronto, they would either be assigned to other camps or connect to trains for Montreal or Halifax.  Many would never return.