The Khaki University of Canada - A Great Innovation

Diana Beaupre, Independent scholar, Diana Beaupré and Adrian Watkinson are independent researchers who specialise in the lives of the Canadians who died during the First World War and are commemorated in Great Britain. As a mature student, Diana studied Canadian history as part of her degree in American Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, graduating in 2007 with 1st Class Honours.
Adrian Watkinson, Independent scholar, Adrian graduated from Hendon College of Technology in 1969 and has expanded his lifelong interest in history into their current project. They are now nearing the end of a major ten-year study entitled ‘Far From Home’, which has located and recorded the details of every known Canadian serviceman and woman from the Great War buried in Britain – currently a total of 3898 casualties found in 868 locations. They have also published several articles about the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War.

Diana Beaupré and Adrian Watkinson (independent scholars) - This paper documents the far-reaching educational experiment set up during World War One for all serving Canadians. From dugouts on the Western Front, to more formal school rooms in the UK and overseas, the opportunity to study at ‘The Khaki University’ was offered to all. Many Canadian soldiers were unable to even read or write when they enlisted. For others, it was the chance to resume their interrupted studies at school or university. This forward-thinking concept was intended to assist men to gain employment when they returned to civilian life in Canada. The courses on offer spanned from basic literacy and numeracy, the practical skills of mechanics, farming and languages, to University Degrees. It also created the option to train for a different occupation or career. The presentation aims to shed some light on this little-known aspect of the Great War.

Oscar Martinez
+44 (0)2031089721 | ucl-ia@ucl.ac.uk

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