Accession Number

989.006a

Description

A framed sepia-toned photograph of Lt. James Dunsmuir (1894-1915) facing the camera directly, the background lightest in colour and without pattern, the subject in military tunic, his thin hair combed back with a side part, his gaze serious, the Victoria, BC photography company “Gibson” embossed at bottom right.  

Narrative

A grandson of Joan Dunsmuir of Craigdarroch, and son of former B.C. Premier and Lieutenant-Governor Hon. James Dunsmuir, James Dunsmuir Jr. resigned his commission as a lieutenant in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion in Victoria on 19 April, 1915 in order to join a regiment that would see action at the front as soon as possible. He sailed for England from New York aboard the RMS Lusitania and was lost at sea when German U-boat 20 torpedoed the steamer off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. 1,193 passengers lost their lives in the sinking, including other Victorians, resulting in rioting on Victoria streets and the destruction and looting of businesses with German-sounding names.

This image is a duplicate of 983.904a.

History of Use

unknown

Date

circa 1914

Dimensions

19.4 cm x 11.7 cm

Photograph Type

Gelatin silver process

Subject/Image

William James Dunsmuir (1894-1915), also known as James "Boy" Dunsmuir, also known as Lt. James Dunsmuir

Medium

Photographic

Support

Paper, Photographic paper; Cardboard

Country of Origin

Canada