Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Remembrance Day at Hatley Castle

Hatley Castle

Watercolour and ink

©2009 Charlene Brown

In 1906, B.C.'s Lieutenant Governor, James Dunsmuir, built this 40-room home in the Scottish baronial style popular in the Edwardian Period. The Dunsmuirs also created beautiful formal gardens on the estate, which is situated on a lagoon near the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour, west of Victoria.

At the outbreak of World War II, plans were made for the King and Queen and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, to reside in Canada. Hatley Castle was purchased by the federal government in 1940 for use as their residence. However, the Royal Family decided to tough it out in London and the estate was converted into a naval training facility. The name was changed to Royal Roads Military College in 1948, and in 1995 it was designated a National Historic Site, and became Royal Roads University.

My husband was a cadet at Royal Roads when it was a Military College, and we will be attending the Remembrance Day Service there today.