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The Royal Family & Canadian Forestry Corps

The Windsor Great Park is the estate which surrounds Windsor Castle. As an official residence of King George V, the Royal Family often visited the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot on Smith's Field. The members of the Royal Family were often invited guests at sporting events held in the camp. In April 1917, the Forestry Corps named their recreational hut in honour of Princess Victoria, King George V's favourite sister. In recognition of the contribution of the Canadian Forestry Corps to the war, King George V renamed Smith's Field in the Windsor Great Park "The Canadian Camp". The Canadians then erected a log cabin beside Windsor Castle to serve as a memorial to the Forestry Corps.

Baseball game attended by H.M King George V
and Queen Mary
Base Depot, Canadian Forstry Corps, Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Berks., September 1917


Duke of York, Princess Victoria, Major General A. McDougal, The King, Queen Mary, Lieutenant Colonel J.L. Penhorwood, watching a baseball game.
September 1917

Sir Robert (Borden) congratulates Bandmaster E.G. Reddit. Base Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps, Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great Park, Berks., July 1918

Officers in front of Princess Victoria Recreation Hut
Canadian Forestry Corps, Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great Park, 1917.

Hut built as a memorial to the Canadian Forestry Corps.
Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great Park, March 1918.
(left to right) Col. White, Maj.-Gen. A. McDougal, Sir Edward Kemp, Col S.L. Penhorwood, Capt. D.F. Hepburn.

Typed letter naming the Recreation Hut after Princess Victoria. April, 1917.

Right: Letter to Penhorwood from Col. Claude Willoughby re: the name change of Smith's Lawn to Canadian Camp. April 26, 1919