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The prince of wales hunting in Manitoba

A tale and a picture from the Prince of Wales’ Manitoba hunting trip

April 3, 2014 — 

With the tabloids and monarch-watchers still enjoying the glow surrounding the recent birth of Prince George to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, his royal namesakes, George V and George VI come to mind.

Collectively, they ruled from 1910-1952, leaving a period of a year between the two in 1936. This short year was the reign of King Edward VIII, one of the shortest reigning monarchs in British history (20 January – 11 December, 1936).  During a tour in Canada in 1919, Edward, then the Prince of Wales hunted at Delta Marsh. Located at the south end of Lake Manitoba, the former Fairfield Lodge property was owned by Winnipeg businessman George F. Galt. The University of Manitoba’s archive has a large framed image of the Prince of Wales in Delta Marsh after this hunt in 1919, taken by photographer L.B Foote, donated by Nancy Jane Gates.

Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, stands by Delat Marsh, a gun slung across the crook of his right arm, his left arm holds a cigarette. Canteens lay at his feet. he had just returned from a hunt.

Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, after hunting at Delta Marsh, MB.

The framed image has the following caption:

“As Prince of Wales, during his first visit to Western Canada in 1919. The duck hunting lodge at Lake Manitoba was a quarter of a mile from the boats. Indian guides had to break a channel through the ice at 5 a.m. for the parties’ boats. On his return, the prince, after being refreshed and warmed by a cup of coffee and sandwiches (thoughtfully provided by the photographer) said to the camera man: ‘Now my friend, you may take your shot.’ – With the above result.”

The photographer L.B. Foote moved to Winnipeg in 1902 and for almost half a century documented everything form royal visits to the daily lives of Winnipeggers. His important legacy on Winnipeg’s history was recently documented in Imagining Winnipeg: History through the Photographs of L.B. Foote by University of Manitoba’s historian Esyllt Jones in 2012.

In May, the University of Manitoba Press was recognized by the Association for Manitoba Archives for their blog, “Lost Foote Photos” in which they asked Manitobans to look within their family archives for Foote photos. In response to this, the picture of Edward Prince of Wales was found which currently sits at the entrance of the University of Manitoba archives. This photo is a reminder of the short reign of King Edward VIII, the long and successful career of L.B. Foote and the importance of archival community outreach.

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4 comments on “A tale and a picture from the Prince of Wales’ Manitoba hunting trip

  1. Cecile hull

    well written and interesting articale especially at this time when his namesake is being enjoyed by a nation of royalites

  2. c hull

    well written articale love the picture especially the cigarette. Very glamourus for the time period. Interesting articale written at this time to coincide with the birth of the new royal baby

  3. Pingback: Article by Nicole Courrier now available online! | ACA U of M Student Chapter

  4. Darryl St. Goddard

    My Great Great grandfather guided the Prince of Wales at the Fairfield Lodge during the 1919 visit.
    Really enjoyed this article.

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