Anyone who has spent hours ensconced in historical documents and archives likely will have experienced the disappointments and delights of finding something not looked for. Those mixed emotions have twice been mine in connection with the First World War internment camp located at Morrissey, near Fernie. On the first occasion—a quarter of a century ago—I was surprised to learn of the camp's very existence when I was looking into the history of mines abandoned by the Crow's Nest Pass Coal Company long ago. My second Morrissey surprise is much more recent. One day, Lorne Hammond of the Royal British Columbia Museum told me that an album of photographs left by a guard at the Morrissey internment camp was held at the Ashton Armoury Museum, in Victoria. Knowing how few photographs are available in connection with the camp at Morrissey, I was indeed keen to take a look. Covid conspired to delay a visit to the armoury for two years, but the day finally arrived when the museum's archivist, Lt. Col. (Retired) Ted Leaker, was able to invite me for a viewing.
Upon my arrival at the Ashton Armoury, Ted explained that there was no album. And as the loose photographs were laid before me, I realized the only image pertaining to Morrissey was an undistinguished snapshot of a building used to accommodate garrison officers. I had not found my anticipated treasure, but I was
