Lancelot de Sausmarez Duke, DFC, was born in Ceylon in October 1896. He was educated in England and Canada and moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where his father was a doctor. Duke initially enlisted with the 88th Battalion, Victoria Fusiliers, in May 1915. Duke then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps with whom he served until the end of the war. He flew with the 84th Squadron and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The collection currently consists of letters from Duke, photographs, and his diary from 1918.