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Kushoo Thoms: An Assyrian Canadian in the First World War
Kushoo Thoms (AKA Kushoo Thomas) was born in Urmia, in northern Persia (Iran) in 1893. While we don’t have records of his exact immigration date, he arrived in Canada around the year 1913. He settled in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), where he worked as a…
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Canadian submarines during the First World War
Did you know that Canada acquired its first submarines during the First World War? When the war started, the Canadian navy was pretty small and mostly focused on the war in the Atlantic. This meant the whole west coast was vulnerable to enemy attacks! So, Canada…
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Matron Margaret Fraser and the tragedy of the Llandovery Castle
Matron Margaret Marjory Fraser, from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, was a nursing sister working aboard the Canadian hospital ship HMHS Llandovery Castle when it was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-Boat U-86 on June 27, 1918.
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The Reality and Myths of Black Service in the Great War: No 2 Construction Battalion
Since their rediscovery, there has been a growing amount of misinformation about the service of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. These myths diminish the contributions of these men. We owe it to them to be truthful and frank about their significant war effort and sacrifices.
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Too young, far too young: Canada and Child Soldiers
Throughout history young men and women have stepped forward to answer their country’s call. In an unfortunate number of conflicts both past and present, very young children have been used as foot soldiers. For Canada, however, in both world wars, there were clear rules about who…
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The Tragedy in Triumph: John GW Gibson
On April 9, 1917, a battle began that would become part of Canada’s national narrative. On that day all four divisions of Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) began their assault on the heavily fortified Vimy Ridge. The units had been preparing for months. The artillery was carefully…
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1.7 Million Commemorations
With the Armistice to end the Great War, there came the question: what now? The entire population of the British Empire had contributed to “total war”. Massed armies, mass equipment and mass casualties created unique challenges. In the past, most enlisted soldiers had been buried in…
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Age is just a number: Avoiding age requirements during First World War enlistment
During the First World War, thousands of Canadians went to their local recruitment office to enlist. However, not everyone was eligible to join. The Canadian Expeditionary Force had specific requirements on what made a soldier fit for service. One requirement that stopped many individuals was age.…
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The 107th Battalion (Timber Wolf)
Thousands of Indigenous, Métis and Inuit people enlisted in the Canadian army during the Great War. In Europe, many of these men were scattered from one unit to another. In 1915, however, the Canadian government authorized the creation of a dedicated unit for indigenous people: the…
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Honorary Captains
In the Great War we have a tendency to focus on the men with weapons performing heroic deeds and facing the enemy. Our reminisce forget there were other people besides combatants in the War. The Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC), Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC), Canadian Army…
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Twice Sacrificed – Unaccounted Loyalty
Private Nuinosuke Joseph Okawa enlisted for the First World War in 1916 and fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Although he proved his loyalty to Canada, his military service did not prevent him from the effects of the anti-Japanese policies of the Second World War.…
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Henry Thomas Shepherd: Canada’s first Black Regimental Sergeant Major
Henry Thomas Shepherd was a remarkable individual. A veteran of both world wars, Henry made history when he became Canada’s first Black Regimental Sergeant Major in 1935. Besides his military achievements, Henry continues to be remembered as a role model and a pillar of the Georgetown…
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The First World War in Asia (1914-1918)
The First World War was not just a European conflict. This first in a two-part series on the war outside Europe gives an overview of the various Asian fronts of this war.
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Charles Lightfoot Roman – A True Trailblazer
Father, distinguished surgeon, soldier, author, researcher, and lecturer: these are the many hats worn by Charles Lightfoot Roman, a man whose life was a remarkable journey.
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The Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Corps (1918-1919)
In 1919, with the outbreak of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Canada sent a large force of soldiers to combat this new perceived threat. However, the mission did not turn out as expected, as the Canadian soldiers, who thought they would be fighting Bolsheviks, found themselves…
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Len and Cub: An Uncovered 2SLGBTQ+ History of the First World War
The early 20th century was a time of severe persecution for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Homosexuality wasn’t decriminalized until 1969 and same-sex couples hid their affection in public in fear of being jailed or persecuted. For many individuals, it was difficult to speak openly about their experiences, even…
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The Courtney Brothers: A Case-Study on Enlistment of Black Soldiers in the First World War
Enlistment in the First World War did not come easy for most Black Canadian soldiers. Acceptance into the military was the responsibility of local recruitment officers, who had the power to deny individuals for service. Considered a “White Man’s War”, recruitment officers often prevented Black individuals…
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Food and the First World War
Have you ever heard the old saying “an army marches on its stomach”? During the First World War, Canada produced millions of pounds of food that was sent to the warfront. But how did this impact Canadian Kitchens? Let’s take a look at some of the…
