This is a photo of a group of approximately 60 men in the Russian forestry service, "Forsteidienst". It is the Alt Berdyan detachment from the years 1910, 1911, and 1912. Here young Mennonite men were obliged to complete 3 years of forestry and tree nursery service. The picture was taken in October, 1912 at Forester Siewitsky's anniversary celebration (Jubelaeumsfeste). He had served in the forestry service at Alt Berdjan, Altagir for 35 years. On this day the highest government title of Sir Excellence (Sir Exellens) was bestowed on him. The men are dressed in military style uniforms. Three distinguished looking older men sit in the center of the first row. They are also in uniform but of a somewhat different style including longer coats. The group poses right in front of a large brick building with a tiled roof and some windows. Several trees can be seen between the house and the men. Following are the names of the Forstei recruits:
First Row left to right: 1. ? 2. ? 3. Heinrich Lepp ( Muntau) 4. Wittenberg (Altenau) 5. Peter Penner, (Muntau) 6. Heinrich Enns (Tiegenhof) 7. Nikolai Enns, minister and agriculturalist (Okonom) 8. His Sir Excellence the forester Siewitsky 9. Aleksaef, the forester's assistant 10. Starskii, Warkentin (Crimea)

11. John Dick (Altenau) 12. Loewen (Old Colony) 13. Jakob Janzen (Ackerman) 14. Peter Rempel (Paulsheim) 15. David Hamm (Spat Crimea)

Second Row: 1. John Renpenning (Lindenau) 2. Kornelsen (Friedensruh) 3. Regehr (Sparau) 4. Fast (Tiegenhof) 5. John Enns (Brazil) 6. David Wedel (Gnadenheim) 7. John Martens (Margenau) 8. Heinrich Foth (Gnadenfeld) 9. Tiesen (Rudnerweide) 10. Harms (Tiegerweide) 11. Heinrich Janzen (Konteniusfeld) 12. John Langemann (Spat, Crimea) 13. Franz Heinrichs 14. John Doerksen (Kleefeld)

15. Franz Quiring 16. John Braun (Muntau) 17. John Boldt (Friedensruh) 18. Guenther (Old Colony).

Third Row: 1. Peter Enns (Fuerstenwerder) 2. John Reimer (Tiegenhagen) 3. Jakob Neufeld 4. Loewen (Memrik) 5. Friesen (Memrik) 6.Heinrich Willems [bishop?] 7. John Derksen (Fischau) 8. Abram Heide (Gnadenheim) 9. Heinrich Wiebe (Djurman, Crimea) 10. Hans Epp (Rosenort) 11. John Friesen (Halbstadt) 12. Jakob Dueck (estate owner) 13. Jakob Willems (Halbstadt) 14. John Dueck (Crimea)

15. Peter Goertzen (Halbstadt) 16 Isaak Wiens (Terek) 17. Jakob Enns (Tiegenhagen) 18. Jakob Fast (Alexanderkron).

Fourth Row: Johann Martens (Tiegenhagen) 2. Jakob Willems (Fuerstenwerder) 3. Peter Ewert (Fuerstenwerder) 4. Peter Poetger (Lichtfelde) 15. Johann Dick (Fischau) 6. Jakob Neufeld (Friedensruh) 7. Gerhard Toews (Fuerstenau) 8. Peter Harder (Fischau) 9. Abram Harder (Lichtfelde) 10. John Klassen (Fuerstenwerder 11. Peter Kliewer (Schoensee) 12 David Klassen (Rownopoll) 13. Johann Klassen (Schoensee) 14. Johann Tjart (Tillensky) 15. Wilhelm Schultz (Krim) 16. Jakob Wiens (Blumenort) 17. Teichroeb (Blumstein) 18. Gerhard Enns (Taschenak) 19. Jakob Rogalsky (Krim) 20. Isaak Rempel (Rosenort)

This photo shows conscientious objectors receiving a meal at a forestry service camp in Russia.

A group photograph of men in the "forstei" (forestry service), the alternative service program for Russian Mennonite conscientious objectors. Written on back: "N. Fransen (oberste Reihe, der 6th von Rechts) geboren den 1879 in Mariawohl, Sued-Russland. Aufname in Iswar, bei Leningrad, dienste daselbst von 1915-1917." Translation: N. Fransen (top row, 6th from right) born 1879 in Mariawohl, South Russia. Taken in Iswar near Leningrad, served there from 1915-1917.

Tree felling instructor and expert logger Stu Jepson. Caption in album reads: "Stu Jepson—Tree falling instruction expert local logger, 6/42." Caption on back of photo reads: "Stu Jepson our former snag falling instructor."

Composite photograph of the Lake Mechasie saw mill site, with Lake Cowichan visible in the background. Caption in album reads: "Composite photo of Lake Mechasie saw mill site + Lake Cowichan in back ground C-4."

This is a photo of men and a horse drawn cart in front of a building. There are two men standing behind the cart, four are sitting on the cart and one is standing by the horse. At the Asov Forestry camp.

This is a photo of men standing along a fence surrounding several buildings. On the right is a n A-frame structure with a ladder and some ropes attached. There are three men on the ladder and two men on the small platform attached to the ropes. At the Asov forestry camp.