Charlie Wilcox by Sharon McKay

1. Charlie Wilcox
Mother / Daughter Book Club
November 2015

2. Some background...
• The Great War: 1914 -18
• For the first time in its history, Canadian forces
fought as a distinct unit under a Canadian-
born commander.
• Canada's total casualties stood at 67,000 killed
and 173,000 wounded.

3. Brigus, Newfoundland (1)

4. Brigus, Newfoundland (2)

5. Brigus, Newfoundland (3)

6. General Hospital, St. John’s

7. New recruits

8. Heading to France

9. In the trenches

10. Stretcher-bearers at work

11. Red Cross Dressing Station

12. Discussion Questions (1)
• When we first meet Charlie, do you have any
indication as to what a fine soldier and loyal
friend he will turn out to be?
• In Chapter 7, as he is under anaesthetic for his
operation, Charlie has a strange dream about
dead cats surrounding him in the water. This is
called ‘foreshadowing’. Why do you think the
author uses this technique?

13. Discussion Questions (2)
• In Chapter 9, Aunt Maude says “I knew a
German once. Nice enough fellow. As the war
keeps going on, I expect we’ll come to believe
that all Germans are monsters. It’s easy to kill
a monster now, isn’t it? If we thought they
were just like us, with wives and children and
such – well, how would we shoot them?”
How much truth is there in this statement?

14. Discussion Questions (3)
• In Chapter 12, the C.O. says to Charlie
“... you’re as good a man as you’re ever likely
to be.”
• Is this true? Is your character ‘set’ by the time
you are fourteen years old? How would
serving in the army change your perception of
the world?

15. Discussion Questions (4)
• In Chapter 18, Charlie gives his ticket to
England to Mac. Do you agree or disagree
with his decision?

16. Discussion Questions (5)
• Throughout this book, Charlie often lies. Can
we justify lying in certain situations? And is
Charlie’s lying justified throughout this novel?

17. Discussion Questions (6)
• Why do you think it’s important for us to
observe Remembrance Day?
• Who should be remembered on November
11?

18. Based on a True Story
• See Fact or Fiction endnote in Charlie Wilcox.
What’s true? What’s not true?

19. What’s true?
• Born in Brigus, NF.
• Weighed 2lbs at birth (this is very small!).
• Had a club foot.
• His father, Samuel Wilcox, was a fine captain.
• He did have an operation on his foot.

20. What’s not?
• He never went to war.

21. What happened next?
• Charlie and Claire both attended McGill
University, graduating in 1926.
• Charlie became a doctor.
• They were married and had two sons, a
daughter and six grandchildren.
See Charlie Wilcox’s Great War for more on their
story...

22. Sharon McKay
• Historical fiction author
• Our Canadian Girl series
• Charlie Wilcox and Charlie Wilcox’s Great War
• War Brothers
• New novel: Thunder Over Kandahar
• Official War Artist for the Canadian Military;
regularly away in the Middle East on
assignment

23. Sharon McKay
Author visit in the new year!

24. Follow-up reading
• Please see handout for students and moms.
• Charlie Wilcox’s Great War by Sharon McKay
Find out what happens when Charlie returns
to Newfoundland, and his adventures in
France during the Great War.

25. From Charlie Wilcox’s Great War...
“(He was) a good-looking lad, tall and broad-
beamed for all his seventeen years. He had
the regal bearings of his father, Captain
Samuel Wilcox, but colouring all his own,
blonde hair with blue, regarding eyes. Away at
war three years, give or take. His antics at the
front were well known. He should have come
home a decorated hero. But then, maybe it
was enough just to come home.” (p. 2)