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Trophy

965.1054.1

Name
Trophy
History Category
Significant Dates
1914
Provenance
Kismet was one of James "Boy" Dunsmuir Jr. favorite horses. Following his education at Loretto School, Musselburgh, Scotland, James worked as a private secretary at the Bank of Montreal, bank in Quebec. Kismet, gray in colour, was an excellent show jumper purchased in the United Kingdom and shipped to James Jr. in Montreal. In the book "From Coalmine to Castle; the Story of the Dunsmuirs of Vancouver Island", it is recorded that Kismet won the open jumping competition at the Montreal Horse Show. Kismet also won a jumping competition at the Mount Royal Riding Academy local horse show in Westmount, Montreal, Quebec. Both "Kismet" trophies are engraved 1914.

James "Boy" Dunsmuir, the son of former BC Premier and Lieutenant Governor the Honourable James Dunsmuir and his wife Laura Miller Dunsmuir, joined the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2 January 1915. James had previously served for four months with the 2nd Squadron of the B.C. Horse. On 16 April 1915 James resigned his commission, to accept a commission in the Royal Scots Greys of the British Army. James lost his life, enroute to England, as a passenger on board the RMS Lusitania that was sunk 7 May 1915. It is believed that Kismet also died in the sinking.

Images of Kismet and James "Boy" Dunsmuir Jr. are included in the collections of Royal Roads University Archives, Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society Kismet was one of James "Boy" Dunsmuir Jr. favorite horses. Following his education at Loretto School, Musselburgh, Scotland, James worked as a private secretary at the Bank of Montreal, bank in Quebec. Kismet, gray in colour, was an excellent show jumper purchased in the United Kingdom and shipped to James Jr. in Montreal. In the book "From Coalmine to Castle; the Stoy of the Dunsmuirs of Vancouver Island", it is recorded that Kismet won the open jumping competition at the Montreal Horse Show.

James "Boy" Dunsmuir joined the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2 January 1915. James had previously served for four months with the 2nd Squadron of the B.C. Horse. On 16 April 1915 James resigned his commission, to accept a commission in the Royal Scots Greys of the British Army. James lost his life, enroute to England, as a passenger on board the RMS Lusitania that was sunk 7 May 1915. It is believed that Kismet also died in the sinking.

Images of Kismet and James "Boy" Dunsmuir Jr. are included in the collections of Royal Roads University Archives, Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society and the BC Archives.
Quantity
1
Dimension
Height: 13.8cm | Diameter: 6.7cm | Diameter: 6.0cm
Catalogue Number
965.1054.1
Discipline