titleGroup Portrait of First World War Veterans in Uniform with a Banner that Reads, "God Save the King"; Vancouver, B.C.

 

namePhotograph

 

dateCirca 1939

 

descriptionThe image shows twenty-one unidentified veterans in uniform with arm bands. hats and medals, and arranged in two rows, one row standing and one row kneeling. At each end of the rear row, a veteran holds a staff displaying a union jack flag. Above the group is a decorative banner featuring union jack flags, a crown, and a banner reading, "God Save the King." Trees, spectators, and partially obscured buildings are visible behind the group of veterans. This photograph may have been taken in Vancouver for the Royal visit of the King George and Queen Elizabeth of England on May 29, 1939.

 


 

Second from the left in the front row is Sentaro Omoto. He was in the 10th Battalion who enlisted in the 192nd Overseas Battalion and was wounded in battle. He was born on Oct 7th, 1883 and from Oyabu mura, Shiga ken originally, and immigrated in 1903. He lived in Vancouver at the time of enlistment, on September 10th, 1916 in Calgary Alberta. His occupation was laborer and after his return to Canada fisherman. His next of kin was Minokichi Omoto his brother. Sentaro passed away September 11, 1953 at Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver at the age of 70.

 

history of use

 

When the English King came to Vancouver, the veterans worked as guards all over the city. The original owner of this image, Ryuichi Kobayashi was a veteran of the First World War. He is likely in this photo.

 

part ofCanadian Centennial Project fonds
number2010.23.2.4.380

 

organisation

 

Nikkei National Museum
accessOpen