Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques

Camp Hughes Military Training Site
NE 34-10-16 W, 10 kms west of Carberry,
R.M. of North Cypress

The open landscape close to the Canadian Pacific Railway’s main line made this site attractive for summer training camps for artillery, infantry and cavalry units. Established as Sewell Camp in 1909, it was renamed after Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, Canada's Minister of Militia and Defence, in 1915. During World War I (1914-1918), more than 38,000 troops of the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained there. Many of the soldiers later distinguished themselves at the battle of Vimy Ridge, in April 1917.

Extensive trench systems, grenade and rifle ranges, and military structures were built in 1915 and 1916. A variety of retail stores on a double-avenued area close to the main camp formed a lively commercial midway. Camp Hughes was dismantled in the 1930s as part of an unemployment relief project.