I am a Canadian and I am very proud of our nations military servace in the Seccond World War. But I do have one regret, Canada, for all her sacrafice, lost out on most of the glory.
B of A, I too am a proud Canadian. I am just back from a tour of the Normandy area. Our flag is right there beside the American and British Flags. From a land of just eleven million citizens we had a million men and women in uniform during ww2. At the end of the war, Canada had the third largest airforce and the fourth largest navy. Not bad, eh? Cheers
B.of A.; There is an old adage that "Glory is in the minds of old Veterans", what need of Glory when we have Pride. Pride in what this young Nation accomplished in the Boer War, both World Wars, Korea, and as the greatest PeaceKeeper around and lastly what we have accomplished in Afghanistan. We are a peaceful people but when the Hounds of War are slipped we are there to do our duty unboastful and proudly. Pride and Rememberance far outweight Glory. Let the others beat their chest and strut there stuff. We here in the greatest country on the planet will quietly remember. Slainte, Camac
The Canadians sacrificed in Italy, Normandy and Holland as well as at the tragedy that was Dieppe - they will not be forgotten. Also the Canadian Navy made a significant contribution to the Naval war and Candians served in all theatres with SOE with distinction.
B.of A.; There is an old adage that "Glory is in the minds of old Veterans", what need of Glory when we have Pride. Pride in what this young Nation accomplished in the Boer War, both World Wars, Korea, and as the greatest PeaceKeeper around and lastly what we have accomplished in Afghanistan. We are a peaceful people but when the Hounds of War are slipped we are there to do our duty unboastful and proudly. Pride and Rememberance far outweight Glory. Let the others beat their chest and strut there stuff. We here in the greatest country on the planet will quietly remember. Slainte, Camac Well said David!
I was looking at a Dutch book on the Canadians in Action (and at leisure) in Holland at the BL today - the best was a Canadian soldier in a cartoon telling his Dutch girlfriend 'Canada is much too cold for you to come to - snow and polar bears' Some of the images were first rate especially one of a trailer-mounted MLRS
B.of A.; There is an old adage that "Glory is in the minds of old Veterans", what need of Glory when we have Pride. Pride in what this young Nation accomplished in the Boer War, both World Wars, Korea, and as the greatest PeaceKeeper around and lastly what we have accomplished in Afghanistan. We are a peaceful people but when the Hounds of War are slipped we are there to do our duty unboastful and proudly. Pride and Rememberance far outweight Glory. Let the others beat their chest and strut there stuff. We here in the greatest country on the planet will quietly remember. Slainte, Camac David, On that theme, you'll like this video. Fields of Sacrifice Footage - Canada at War
I am a Canadian and I am very proud of our nations military servace in the Seccond World War. But I do have one regret, Canada, for all her sacrafice, lost out on most of the glory. Glory for old politicans and historians, perhaps. But, for me, this is far more important. I know this has been posted on this forum before, but if this doesn't bring a tear to your eye, then nothing will. [YOUTUBE]YouTube - Little Belgian boy saluting Canadian Troops‏[/YOUTUBE]
Canada's contribution in WW2 was immense. From the Battle of the Atlantic, were towards the end they contributed almost half the convoy escort fleet; to North Africa and Italy; the battle of Hong Kong and the storming of the Normandy beaches and beyond. They also donated a billion pounds to Britain's war effort with no strings attached, and contributed to the loan package at the end of the war. A great effort!
Thank you for these posts I live not to far from Pier 21! Being a ww2 reenactor, that place has a special meaning to me. I also attended a memorial service for a member of the 1st Can Para who had a remarkable career during ww2 and received a medal from the French government, it was like the frenchs equivalent of the VC.
May 10th 1945, German Submarine U-889 was spotted off the coast of Newfoundland by a RCAF aircraft steaming at 10 knots and flying the black flag of surrender. The aircraft radioed to Western Escort Force W-6 and intercepted it an hour later, U-889 was ordered to head to Bay Bulls, Newfoundland. 24 hours later, U-889 was handed over to the frigates HMCS Buckingham and HMCS Inch Arran, who escorted her to Shelburne Harbour, where she was boarded and her Commanding Officer made a formal surrender. On the 14th of May, she was commissioned in to the RCN (Royal Canadian Navy) and decommissioned in December 1945. She was later scuttled at the end of 1947.
we yanks might give the canadians a hard time aboot(lol) a lot of things, but one thing we never do is insult the canadian military forces, or at least anybody who spent any time at all with them that is. i once spent a few days with some of the princess pats, they were some cool guys, problem was they could never find enough labatt or molsen.
we yanks might give the canadians a hard time aboot(lol) a lot of things, but one thing we never do is insult the canadian military forces, or at least anybody who spent any time at all with them that is. i once spent a few days with some of the princess pats, they were some cool guys, problem was they could never find enough labatt or molsen. GB, I have read that the PPCLI were never referred to a 'Princess Pats'. For some reason the "Patricia" was never shorted to "Pats". And, knowing the Canadian love for more than a few beers...I am sure a shortage of Molsons and Labatts would cause some angst among the troops. Cheers from just to the north of Joplin
The first Canadian infantryman to die in WW2 was Private John Gray who was captured and executed by the Japanese on December 13, 1941 in the Battle of Hong Kong which lasted from December 8-25. Troops from "C" Force of the Canadian Brigade were the first to see action and also the last POW's to be released. Hope this doesn't come off as rude, not trying to be... actually, the first Canadian to die in WWII was L/Cpl Ralph W. Connor. Connor was killed in a train accident in Truro, Nova Scotia on the 18th of December in 1939. He was a member of the RCR (Royal Canadian Regiment)
my apoliges ,17thdyrch, but that's how the master cpl referred to them. but this was back in 96 or 97 or so.
