The Grange Family

Edward Rochfort Grange (1892-1988) was the eldest son of a prominent academic family. When war broke out, he had just completed his degree in civil engineering, and was finishing up his summer job as a surveyor in British Columbia. He quickly returned home to Toronto, completed his aviation training, and signed on with the British Royal Naval Air Service. Rochfort served as a pilot until 1916, when he transferred to the newly formed Royal Canadian Air Force, becoming one of Canada’s first flying aces.

Maynard Grange (1894-1985) was Rochfort’s younger sister. Maynard was a young woman at the beginning of the war, and had not yet made plans for her future. Maynard’s letters to Rochfort include an almost daily account of home front activities and events. They convey an element of pride and buoyancy, full of news and best wishes; the ever-present anxiety was reserved for her personal journals. 

Rochfort treasured these letters from home, carried them with him throughout the war, and preserved them for posterity. 

The Grange Family