Bertram Ellison’s Photo Album

This leather album contains photographs taken by Bertram Ellison between 1941 and 1946. He was Second Lieutenant in the Canadian army and promoted to the rank of Major during the war. Bertram participated in the liberation of Europe, from Normandy to Berlin.

Being Part of the Liberation of Europe

1

Album containing photographs taken by Bertram Ellison between 1941 and 1946. He participated in the liberation of Europe, from Normandy to Berlin. (Photo: Peter Berra)

2

Bertram Ellison in front of the ruins of a train station in Münster, Germany.

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First page from Bertram Ellison's album.

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This page from Bertram Ellison's album depict the Normandy landings.

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Photographs on this page depict the state of the city of Münster, Germany, after the war.

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Album page depicting the departure from Europe.

Bertram Ellison’s War Journey Illustrated in this Album

Bertram Ellison was born in 1909 to a Montreal Jewish family. He enlisted in the Canadian army on June 5, 1941. Between 1941 and 1945, Bertram received six military medals, including the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire medal. He was part of the 21^st Army Group, a combined British and Canadian unit, and arrived at the Bergen-Belsen camp shortly after its liberation. He returned to Canada on the R.M.S Queen Elisabeth on December 8, 1945.

Bertram’s niece, Marilyn Berman, donated this photo album to the Montreal Holocaust Museum in 2013.

This project is part of the implementation of the Plan culturel numérique du Québec.