Image of men's track and field team, point winners. Names: John Ross MacPherson, Frederick James Fife, Peter George Makaroff, Donald Sutherland MacMurchy, Reuben John Haney, Ernest L. Spencer, Frederick J. Freer, Wilfred Louis Cushing. The [Cairns Cup] is on a stool at centre.

J.S. Thomson, University President, and Major John Wesley Joyce inspect COTC cadets outdoors; winter scene.

COTC cadets marching as they pull a gun carriage on a downtown Saskatoon street. Store fronts and signs in background.

Elevated group photograph of COTC officers and cadets in dress uniforms and standing at attention at Saskatoon Armouries..

Three rows of men in suits and hats standing in front of the College Building. Men identified: Professor William A. Carrothers, Economics; Professor Joseph H. Thompson, Accounting; Professor W.B. Francis.

COTC band members seated and in uniform, seated in bleachers at [Rutherford Rink].

Five COTC cadets at table studying and reading a map; indoor scene.

Cadets marching during winter on the University of Saskatchewan campus. College Building visible in background.

Elevated view of six COTC cadets standing at ease dressed with packs, helmets and holding rifles; at Rutherford Rink.

Canadian Northern Locomotive No. 2487, pulling the Better Farming Train, with smoke issuing from the engine's stack.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

Eight COTC officers in uniform without hats. Seven men identified: H.A. Jones, Benson, [W. Hasner], Herman H. Ferns, Joseph H. Thompson (professor of Accounting), Arthur E. Potts (professor of Dairy Science), William A. Carrothers (professor of Economics).

Three rows of COTC officers in uniforms and hats. In front row: Lt. R.R. Rankin, Capt. J.P.R. Brown, Maj. J.H. Thompson, Col. Arthur E. Potts, Maj. R.M. Ferguson, Capt. H. Williamson, Capt. P.W. Mundell. Indoor scene.

Bio/Historical Note: "One of the chief prices which Canada paid in the last war for her lack of preparation was the tragic waste of thousands of her best young men killed while fighting in the ranks because they had not been previously trained for a more useful career as officers. It is to prevent such a waste in any possible future war that every Canadian University is now giving facilities to its students to qualify as officers during their undergraduate course. Our own contingent of the C.O.T.C. came to life in January of this year and is already recruited up to a strength of 170." (The Spectrum, 1921) The Canadian Officers' Training Corps was a unit in the Active Militia of Canada. The Corps prepared university students for the examinations for a Lieutenant's or Captain's Commission and the universities granted course credit for COTC work. Senior commissions were held by faculty while all junior commissioned and non-commissioned ranks were open to undergraduates. Interest in the Corps declined in the 1950s and came to an end in 1964.

Three rows of COTC warrant and non-commissioned officers in uniforms and hats; winter scene with bare trees and building in background.

Head and shoulders image of Lt. Col. J.H. Thompson in COTC uniform and hat.

Bio/Historical Note: Born in Nottingham, England, Joseph H. Thompson received his early education in Saskatoon. Enlisting for service in the Great War, he joined the RAF overseas. Badly injured in a crash he lost the sight of one eye and the other was seriously impaired. He later became an accountant with his own practice in Saskatoon until 1938 when he became an accounting instructor at the university. Thompson became dean of the School of Accounting in May 1940 and also took over command of the COTC that same month. He continued as dean of the newly named College of Commerce from 1944-1951. Thompson’s command came to an end 21 March 1947 having served with the COTC since 1921 (with the exception of Active Service in Regina from 1939 to 1940). In addition to being Dean of Commerce he was chairman of the Board of Governors of Emmanuel College. He had retained his military affiliations as aide-de-camp to lieutenant governors J. M. Ulrich and William J. Patterson and was also Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the COTC. Thompson died suddenly on 9 March 1952 at 55 years of age.

Saskatoon Light Infantry return by train. A crowd of military, R.C.M.P. and civilians look on as soldiers stand at attention shouldering rifles with bayonets. Houses and automobiles in background