This will not be a history lesson. November 11th. An important day for Canadians. Some may say for all the wrong reasons. Canada has fought wars as part of an Empire and as an independent nation going back to 1866. For those who are about to ask "what about the war of 1812?". Well I am the first to incorrectly say that Canada kicked the American's butt in that bit of nastiness. I believe mostly because I grew up in an around many of the battlefields along the Niagara River. Truth be told, we were not a country until 1867 and were just a colony of Great Britain until that time.
We also have a proud tradition as a peace keeping force since 1956. Where there was a need Canada would put on the Blue UN Peacekeeping helmets without hesitation. These action were not without their costs as well.
Truth be told, many Canadians recognize November 11th as the date for which the armistice of peace took place to conclude The Great War (1914 - 1918) and the Second World (1939 - 1945) war after that . It is said Canada came of age during that time. Welead the charge and pursued victory in the quagmire that was Passchendaele and defeated the Germans at the impregnable Vimy Ridge. Canadian's along with the still independent Newfoundland Regiments were obliterated during the Battle of the Somme. (Read And on we go - Will Byrd for a first hand account.) The Battles of Ypres, Amiens, Sanctuary Wood, the list of WW1 battles is as long as they are grotesque in both victory and defeat. A very well done documentary series For King and Country narrated by Norm Christie is a must.
Canadians had major roles in WW 2 as a part of the BEF, the Italian campaigns and Ortona where they were given the ill advised nick name of the D-Day Dodgers. We landed at Juno and Dieppe. To this day Canadians are revered in Holland and Belgium for their actions in liberation. We and found on land, our RAF and Naval forces impressive. We fought hard in Hong Kong and Singapore and the boys suffered in their capture and imprisonment to Japanese forces.
As I said, this is not a history lesson and I could not even scratch the surface trying to talk about Canadians Military History. What I can talk briefly about are my experiences visiting various battlefields, memorials and cemeteries in and around France and Belgium.
I have spent time at Dieppe, Arras, Amiens, Vimy Ridge, Passhendaele, Sanctuary Woods, Juno Beach (as well as Omaha, Gold and Sword). I have been to Caen and Ypres where EVERY NIGHT at the Menin gate they perform the Last Post. Almost 100 years later it is moving and heartbreaking at the same time.
I have walked the rows of headstones at Tyne Cott, Adegem, Vimy and Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery at Juno. I crawled the tunnels and reconstructed battlefield trenches of Vimy and viewed the still crater marked battleground of Beaumont-Hamel, walked the fields into Passchendaele among countless other places in and around the Belgium Salient including the Field hospital and grave marker for Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. I stood in Flanders Fields.
I do not know much but what I do know is each place was emotional. I will filled with both overpowering sadness and enormous pride. In Dieppe I shared beer with Canadian Veterans who were making the pilgrimage in 2004 as a part of the 50 years of the D-Day. I shut up, bought beer and listened. They told their stories about being a part of the Dieppe landing and I felt smaller and smaller with each one. Smaller in courage not as a person.
Let me tell you my friends. Those were generations that had balls the the size of boulders. They knew sacrifice. We would all like to think we would have stepped up if it was our time but again that was a different time and I am sure we would have. To this day though, most of us would not even help the person next door or that guy hungry on the street if they needed it.
I stood on those fields not knowing if I could have done it. Being raised in this generation because of what those generations did is never ever lost on me. Most people who know me know that this day is the most important day of the year for me. I quietly do my thing and remember in my own way. That will never change.
Here is my challenge. If this day is as important to you as you say it is. Take the time TODAY, right NOW if possible, and as much as you need to memorize Flanders Fields by John Mcrae. If you already know this poem learn something, anything else about Canada's military history. You may know our flying Ace Billy Bishop but what about Raymond Collishaw or William George Barker. How Donald Curry changed the war with his forward thinking battle plans or read about any other WW 1 heroes not at the front of the hero line. You know Laura Secord (pre canada) but do you know any of the prominent suffrage leaders like Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy and Flora MacDonald. Do you know what a suffrage is/was? All I am saying is do more than wear a poppy (do you know when the poppy was first used) and post something moving on FB then go about your day. Spend some time and just talk with a veteran or group of veterans. Trust me it will be something that can change your life and it will become a part of your routine. Don't tell anyone about it or FB it. Own it and make it yours. Learn, try to understand, get moved and inspired.
The Canadian military and it's history deserves 30 minutes of your attention today.
Flanders Fields
--- Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
*** from Wikipedia ***
Canada has been involved in 14 "wars". 5 of these wars were as part of the British Empire, 3 of them as part of NATO. Of these wars only 1 was initiated by Canada.
1866-1871 - The Fenian Raids (attacks against Canada by the Fenian Brotherhood) - fought as Canada alone
** There are plaques and memorials for this near Fort Erie, Ontario
1870 - Wolseley Expedition (started by Canada in response to the Metis establishing an independent "Red River Colony" in British territory, resulted in the establishment of Manitoba as a Canadian Province). - fought as Canada alone
1884-1885 - Nile Expedition - fought as part of the Empire
1899-1902 - Second Boer War - fought as part of the Empire
1914-1918 - The Great War (WWI for my American friends) - started as part of the Empire but given autonomy of operation during the course of the war
1918-1920 - Armenin-Azerbaijani War - fought as part of the Empire
1918-1920 - Russian Civil War - fought as part of the Empire
1939-1945 - The Second World War (WWII) - fought as Canada
1950-1953 - Korean War - fought as Canada
1990-1991 - Persian Gulf War - fought as Canada
1992-1995 - Bosnian War - fought as NATO
1998-1999 - Kosovo War - fought as NATO
2001-2014 - Afghanistan War - fought as Canada
2011 - Libyan Civil War - fought as NATO
2014-ongoing - ISIL intervention - fought as Canada
Canadian Peace Keeping Efforts
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