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Léo Major – A Quebec Military Hero
Military legend Léo Major is best known for single-handedly liberating the Dutch city of Zwolle. The multiple retellings of his story have portrayed him as a true hero.
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The signing of Japan’s surrender
Did you know that Canada came close to ruining the signing of Japan’s surrender document? On September 2, 1945, representatives of the Japanese and American governments met to formalize Japan’s surrender and the end of the war. However, this historic event of great importance was almost…
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The Simpsons Department Store Roll of Honour
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Canadians from all walks of life left their jobs to volunteer for military service. After the war, the schools, workplaces and organizations to which these volunteers belonged erected memorials to remember their service and sacrifice. One such monument…
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Bicycles and the Normandy landings
While almost everyone knows how to ride a bicycle, not everyone knows that these machines were also deployed during the infamous Normandy landings. In this short article, Julien Lehoux describes the Canadian Army’s wartime use of these two-wheeled machines.
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The Battle of Ortona
From December 20 to 28, 1943, the Canadian Army experienced its “little Stalingrad” in Ortona, Italy. Famous for its strategic impact, the Battle of Ortona remains one of the Canadian Army’s greatest victories of the war, albeit at terrible cost.
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Miriam Freedman – Travelling the Roads of War
Between 1939 and 1945, Miriam Freedman served with the British army and then the Canadian army. Her service exemplifies the incredible journey of many Canadian women away from the beaten path during the Second World War. Find out more in the post below!
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‘So it looks as if there must be some mistake’…Flying Officer Carl H. Howald
On February 4th, 1945, engine 3 of PA219, a Lancaster of the 433 Squadron (Porcupine) began its start up. The right-hand inboard Rolls-Royce V12 Merlin coughed to life, followed in succession by engines 4, 2 and finally 1. With all four propellors spinning, the Avro bomber…
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Two Brothers, Part II: Elvin ‘Byng’ Tozer
On June 6th,1944, Operation Overlord, the largest sea-borne invasion in human history took place on the beaches of Normandy. The operation to open the western front of Europe took the form of an assault on the Nazis’ Atlantic Wall at five beaches: Gold, Juno, Sword, Omaha…
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Two Brothers, Part I: Lorne Tozer
On June 6th,1944, Operation Overlord, the largest sea-borne invasion in human history took place on the beaches of Normandy. The operation to open the western front of Europe took the form of an assault on the Nazis’ Atlantic Wall at five beaches: Gold, Juno, Sword, Omaha…
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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 Lost Ship: SS Nerissa
Most of us have never heard of the SS Nerissa. She is an obscure ship named after an equally obscure character from the Merchant of Venice. A small passenger and cargo steamer with a re-enforced hull purpose built to deal with possible ice. Commissioned by the…
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A Modern 48th Highlander’s perspective: Visiting the Netherlands on the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Apeldoorn
We are proud serving members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada. We know the names of our fallen forefathers now buried in Holten War Cemetery. We learned about the regiment’s role in Operation Cannonshot and their crossing at Ijssel. We read of the mad 200-yard crawl…
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The 48th Highlanders and Operation CANNONSHOT
The 48th Highlanders were part of Operation CANNONSHOT, the operation to cross the Ijssel River and free the city of Apeldoorn. In broad strokes, the 2nd Canadian Corps would advance first. They proceeded north and east, with the Ijssel River on its western flank. With the…
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Clarence David Lapierre – Paratrooper, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
Clarence David Lapierre was one of the first soldiers to land in France during the Second World War as a paratrooper with the 1st Canadian Battalion. However, many people are still unaware of the role that Canadian paratroopers played in the war’s largest landing assault.
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Regiment in the Rhineland: The Queens Own Rifles in Operation Blockbuster
The Queens’s Own Rifles were among the regiments that took part in Operation Blockbuster. As part of the 3rd Canadian Division, they played a significant role in clearing the Rhineland of German troops. However, German forces would not leave the Rhineland without a fight and the…
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The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and Their Heroic Role in the Liberation of Holland
The final months of the Second World War were marked by intense fighting as Allied forces pushed to liberate occupied territories and bring the conflict to an end. Among the many brave Canadian regiments that played a crucial role in these efforts, The Queen’s Own Rifles…
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Force 136: The real story that inspired the picture book Endgame
As an immigrant of Chinese heritage, I assumed there was not much to know about the contributions of Chinese Canadians to early Canadian history beyond the construction of the railroad. However, sometime in the lead up to Remembrance Day in 2017, I learned about Force 136…
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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…
