The true author of this story is Percy Emmanuel. Percy’s journal from the First World War is the backbone of this project.

Percy Emmanuel was born in England in 1890 and grew up in Kings Cross, just outside of London. He studied architecture at the London Polytechnic Institute. In 1909 he followed his two half-brothers Henry and Frank to Canada, eventually they settling in Vancouver. A few years later, his younger brother Eric would join them in Canada.

He took up land surveying and was articled to his brother Frank. He was commissioned as a BC Land Surveyor in 1914.

He was 24 years old when he enlisted for the Canadian Expeditionary Force alongside his brother Eric. He would take part in several important battles including Hill 70, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. He would eventually be promoted to Lieutenant. In 1918 he received the Military Cross. He was decommissioned in 1919 after spending parts of 5 years serving in France and Belgium. He embarked on HMT Olympic (sister ship to the Titanic) at Southampton 6th of June 1919 on repatriation to Canada.

During the First World War he kept a journal as a form of escape from the horrors of war that was surrounding him. His war journals would go on to inspire “The Road to Vimy Ridge”.

After the war he returned to Canada, moving to Vancouver Island. He was married a few years later and he had one son – Henry (my Grandfather) – eventually settling in Maple Bay. He retired from the forestry service in 1953. He enjoyed peace in his final years. He died in 1973 and his remains are buried in Maple Bay, British Columbia.

In the 1980’s, Percy’s War Journal was donated to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada. Before it was donated, my Grandfather had a typist copy out the entirety. There were two of these copies that have been passed down through the family, along with his Military Cross, and it was this journal that inspired this project.

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Robert Gordon was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1982. He studied history and creative writing in college before beginning a career in the service industry. He has traveled to over 35 countries around the world. He is a self-taught photographer and has been writing for a travel blog since 2017 (travelaroundthegalaxy.com).

He currently lives in the Riviera Maya in Mexico, on the island of Cozumel where he is writing the story of Percy’s journey through France and Beligum, “The Road to Vimy Ridge”.

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