Camp Hughes in North Cypress – Langford Municipality, Manitoba — Canada’s Prairie Region (North America)

Camp Life / La vie de camp

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2022

1. Camp Life / La vie de camp Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[English] During the Great War, Camp Hughes became the 2nd Largest “city” in Manitoba, second only to Winnipeg. By 1916, the camp was divided into five brigade areas: Central; South Central; West; North-East and South-East Camps. Each battalion's “lines” comprised row upon row of Bell tents, marquee tents and temporary buildings. Troops dined in the open on rough wooden tables and benches.

The administrative area contained the Headquarters building and various other support services including the Engineer Stores, Mechanical Transport Garage, Pay Office, and an outdoor in-ground swimming pool with showers. On the Ridge running west/east through Central Camp stood the Commandant's Hut, and the tents of the senior staff officers, positioned to oversee the entire camp.

The rail centre was a hive of activity as supplies arrived daily and troops arrived and departed. On Family Days, special trains brought thousands of visitors. Parents, spouses, relatives and friends flocked to the Camp for what would be for many, a final farewell. The Depot area comprised the CPR station, section house, storage sheds and the numerous

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sidings and platforms required to service a small city.

Several cafes and canteens were located in camp, including the Club Cafe and the 2nd Field Troop, Canadian Engineers Canteen.

(Background photo)
The "Midway" at Camp Hughes provided diversion for troops during their free time, and included six movie theatres: the Twin A&B, the Empire, Dominion, Allies, Imperial and the Strand, and many other retail shops including: Russell Laing Books; Dingwall Ltd.(Jeweler); Rembrandt Studio (photographer); E.H. Brown; J.R. Inglis (military goods); Winnipeg Associated Laundries; Military News Agency; The Hudson's Bay Company; W.J. Clubb (Wholesale Tobacconist); Henry Birks & Son/Watch Repairing and E.L. Drewrey, to mention a few.

[Français] Deuxième « ville » en importance au Manitoba, après Winnipeg, en 1916 le camp Hughes est divisé en cinq grandes aires de brigades (les camps du Centre, du Centre-Sud, de l'Ouest, du Nord-Est et du Sud-Est). Tentes coniques, tentes-marquises et bâtiments temporaires décrivent les « lignes » de chaque bataillon. Les soldats se restaurent à découvert sur des tables et des bancs de bois grossiers.

L'aire d'administration comprend le bâtiment du quartier général et divers services de soutien, comme l'entrepôt d'ingénierie, le garage de transport mécanique, le bureau de la paie et une piscine

Marker detail: Mess, Camp Hughes, 1915 image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Mess, Camp Hughes, 1915

Mess of the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Camp Hughes.
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Mess du 44^e Bataillon d'infanterie canadienne, camp Hughes.

creusée extérieure avec douches. La résidence du commandant et les tentes des officiers supérieurs s'élèvent sur la crête d'ouest en est au long du camp du Centre, donnant ainsi une vue sur tout le camp.

La gare bourdonne d'activités à l'incessant va-et-vient de matériel et de troupes. Aux journées familiales, des trains spéciaux transportent des milliers de visiteurs. Parents, épouses, amies et cousins descendent sur le camp dire ce qui sera pour bon nombre un dernier au revoir. L'aire du dépôt comprend la gare du CPR, l'abri pour matériel d'entretien, des entrepôts, de nombreuses voies d'évitement et les plateformes nécessaires au service d'une petite ville.

Plusieurs cafés et cantines, y compris le Club Café et la cantine de la 2^e Troupe de campagne des Canadian Engineers, agrémentent le camp.

(Photo à l'arrière-plan)
La « Foire » du camp Hughes, où l'on peut passer son temps libre, comprend six salles de cinéma (le Twin A&B, l'Empire, le Dominion, Allies, l'Imperial et le Strand) et de nombreuses boutiques de détails, notamment, Russell Laing Books, Dingwall Ltd. (bijoutier), Rembrandt Studio (photographes), E.H. Brown, J.R. Inglis (matériel militaire), Winnipeg Associated Laundries, la Military News Agency, la Baie d'Hudson, W.J. Clubb (tabagiste), Henry Birks & Son (horloger) et E.L. Drewrey.

Topics. This historical marker

Marker detail: Bell Tents / Tentes coniques image. Click for full size.

3. Marker detail: Bell Tents / Tentes coniques

Bell tents of the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Camp Hughes, 1915. Troops slept eight to a tent on straw-filled mattress with two woolen blankets each, sometimes more in severe weather. Each tent was provided with a smokeless oil heater. —————Tentes coniques du 44^e Bataillon d'infanterie canadienne, camp Hughes, 1915. Les soldats dorment huit par tente sur des matelas de paille avec deux couvertures chacun, parfois plus par temps de froid extrême. Une chaudière sans dégagement de fumée chauffe chaque tente.

is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 49° 52.816′ N, 99° 33.444′ W. Marker is in Camp Hughes, Manitoba, in North Cypress – Langford Municipality. Marker can be reached from Camp Hughes Road (Road 91 W) 1.6 kilometers south of Provincial Road 351. Marker is located in the Camp Hughes National Historic Site interpretive kiosk, just west of the Camp Hughes Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Camp Hughes MB R0K 2A0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Training For War / L'entraînement de guerre (here, next to this marker); Camp Hughes National Historic Site of Canada / Le camp Hughes Lieu historique national du Canada (here, next to this marker); Trench Warfare / La guerre de tranchées (here, next to this marker); Camp Hughes (a few steps from this marker); Camp Hughes / Le Camp Hughes (a few steps from this marker); The Hospital / L'hôpital (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Camp Hughes — Overview / Tour d'horizon du Camp Hughes

Marker detail: Sand Table / Table de sable • 1915 image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Sand Table / Table de sable • 1915

Members of the 10th Canadian Mounted Rifles clean their dishes on a sand table, 1915.
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Des membres de la 10^e unité des Fusiliers canadiens à cheval nettoient leur vaisselle à la table de sable, 1915.

(approx. 0.6 kilometers away); The Soldier's Recreation / Les moments de loisir des soldats (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camp Hughes.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Camp Hughes National Historic Site

Marker detail: Club Café, 1916 image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: Club Café, 1916

The Club Cafe provided refreshments and diversion for the troops during off duty hours, 1916.
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Aux heures hors service, les soldats se divertissent au Club Café qui offre des rafraîchissements, 1916.

Marker detail: Football team / Équipe de football • 1916 image. Click for full size.

6. Marker detail: Football team / Équipe de football • 1916

Football Team, 179th Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), Camp Hughes, 1916. Sports kept the men fit, while providing much needed diversion from the routine of camp. ————— Équipe de football, 179^e Bataillon d'infanterie (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), camp Hughes, 1916. En plus d'aider à garder la forme, le sport est un divertissement nécessaire à la routine du camp.

Marker detail: Camp Hughes swimming pool /<br>Piscine du camp Hughes • 1915 image. Click for full size.

7. Marker detail: Camp Hughes swimming pool /
Piscine du camp Hughes • 1915

Camp Hughes swimming pool. Headquarters building in background.
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Piscine, camp Hughes. Le quartier général figure derrière.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2022

8. Camp Life / La vie de camp Marker

Camp Hughes National Historic Site in background
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Lieu historique national du Camp Hughes en arrière-plan

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on March 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.