1917 - A rare June 8th, 1917, hand-drawn battle of Arras map belonging to Pte (Signaler) James (Jimmy) 'Smiley' Blair 144500 - 87th Battalion (CGG) - Part of the estate lot and group of important CGG documents (one of 10 Artifacts)

Object/Artifact

-

Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

1917 - A rare June 8th, 1917, hand-drawn battle of Arras map belonging to Pte (Signaler) James (Jimmy) 'Smiley' Blair 144500 - 87th Battalion (CGG) - Part of the estate lot and group of important CGG documents (one of 10 Artifacts)

Description

For Museum records only - Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection *** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION *** 1917 - A rare June 8th, 1917, hand-drawn battle of Arras map showing the advance and objectives of 'A' / 'B' / 'C" Companies of the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF that belonged to Signaler Private James (Jimmy) 'Smiley' Blair 144500 - 87th Battalion (CGG). This is part of his estate lot of important CGG documents and artifacts directly form the family (one of 13 Artifacts) ABOUT THE CGG SOLDIER - 144500 Signaler (Pte) James (Jimmy) 'Smiley' Blair Signaler James (Jimmy) ‘Smiley Blair was born in Belfast, Ireland on Oct 19th, 1896. Living in Smith Falls, ON., he enlisted with the 77th Battalion (GGFG) on 31st July 1915. With the disbandment of the 77th Bn CEF upon arrival in the UK, he was automatically transferred to the 87th Battalion (CGG) on July 4th 1916. He was sent to complete his visual signals course (Signals sleeve badge visible in his photo) on 6 August and after 4 days, was sent to France to join the 87th Bn. He served with distinction with CGG and earned a Good Conduct Badge on 31 July 1917. On 21 September, he was transferred to the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade to act as Signaler. While there he received the C-Form message about the cessation of the war (11 November 1918.). He was highly distinguished as a signaler and was awarded a CGG certificate for his gallantry and distinguished devotion to duty while serving with the 87th Battalion, signed by the last acting LCol Commanding, Lieut.-Colonel Roberts Bickerdike, Jr., DSO in 1919. He returned with the 87th Bn to Montreal in 1919 but almost immediately moved to Vancouver where he lived until he passed in 1938. List of the 76 items (medals, documents, and artifacts) from the collection of 144500 Pte James 'Jimmy Blair: - 9 Diaries (mentions Vimy ridge, seeing a tank for the first time, picking up shrapnel and getting burned, picking nits, and seeing bodies for the first time, that people back home wouldn’t believe it. Mentions “Mundell” possibly a cousin, my grandpa, Jimmys son’s middle name was Mundell, maybe after this person? There’s also an additional note in one passage after leave that just says “some dame!” lol) - 4 Books of postcards (unused) - 1 Permanent pass 1915 - 1 Photo 1918 SJ Williams (unsure who this is, a friend?) - 20 Used postcards and Calling cards - 1 address book with poetry and notes on French food prices - RARE - 1 address book with four leaf Clovers and pressed Poppy from Vimy Ridge - 1 map of France - 4 negatives of fourth Canadian dominion day, 1914 - 1 photo of 144500 Pte James 'Jimmy' Blair, (seated) and friends - 1 Newspaper clipping Edith Clavel (apparently kept in wallet) - 1 Newspaper clipping armistice 1918 - 1 Matchbox cover - 1 Program Christmas concert 1919 - 1 Chisholm Trail poem by Jimmy? - 1 Photo of 87th Battalion (CGG) Lens Headquarters - 1 Poem clipping very small - 1 Pay book April 29 1915 - 1 87th battalion discharge certificate signed by LCol Robert Bickerdike, Jr. (87th CO) - 1 Letter from Belgium family that billeted James 1919 - 1 Leather wallet with 1920 receipt (unsure if was Jimmy’s) - 1 Players cig box with one campaign medal, one victory medal, piece of Shrapnel (mentioned in diary that burned fingers) Lead grenade ball? Dog tags and hand drawn trench map of Lens - 3 Cap badges, brass crown badge, one button and paper tag - 1 Postcard book with propaganda cards - RARE - 1 End of war message and personnel assignment message - 1 Silk 64th Battalion CEF pennant - 1 Zouaves Mystery letter 1899 with translation by Jimmy Blair (dying to know about this one, where did Jimmy get this letter? Why did an Irish kid who grew up in Vancouver speak French?) - 1 clipping book with postcards and pressed Maple leaves - 1 White envelope of negatives - 4 Four photos trenches, and Dominion day (again) - 1 Partial Letter from Elizabeth Blair - 1 Book “fighting men of Canada”

Created By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Create Date

May 29, 2025

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

June 19, 2025