If you’ve been studying a subject for as long as I have, you might not think there is anything left to discover or surprise. I’ve been studying World War I and how it changed the lives of ordinary people since I was a teenager. When I embarked on writing A Tale of Two Nations, my […]
The Tale of HMHS Llandovery Castle
Noncombatant servicemen and women are not free from danger. Such was the case of the medical corps during World War One. Medical units were located close enough to the front to see and hear bombardments. Sometimes camps were bombed — either accidentally or on purpose — ambulances hit land mines, and hospital ships were sunk. One […]
The End of World War One is Near: the Hundred Days Offensive
In the summer of 1918, the end of World War One was at hand. Military commanders previously had been planning for the conflict to extend into 1919 and even 1920, but it was becoming increasingly clear to the Allies that victory was in sight. The Central Powers, conversely, were facing humiliating defeat. The period between August […]
The Capture of Mons: Town Liberated on the Final Day of the War
The capture of Mons, Belgium, took place November 11, 1918. It was part of the Hundred Days Offensive, Allied attacks forcing the German Army into defeat. The nations involved were Canada and Germany. “The Germans had occupied the town for four years,” Encyclopedia Britannica says. “Mons was a regional centre for coal mining, and its resources had been used throughout […]
Canal du Nord: Prevent the Germans from Regrouping
The Canal du Nord was fought September 27-October 1, 1918, in the Calais region, France. The attack was part of an Allied offensive to prevent the Germans from regrouping and launching their own attack. “On 27th September, 1918, the day after the start of the Meuse-Argonne offensive began, Allied forces attacked the German frontline at the Canal […]
Battle of Amiens: Black Day of the German Army
The Battle of Amiens was fought August 8-11, 1918, near Picardy, France. It was part of an Allied counteroffensive after several German offensives failed in the spring. The battle also is known as the Third Battle of Picardy. It is the first battle in what would later become known as the Hundred Days Offensive. The […]
Boer War Veterans Fought in World War One
Many of the soldiers who fought for the British Empire in World War One, including those in Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, were veterans of the Boer War, also known as the South African War or the Anglo-Boer War. What is the Boer War? It was two wars that occurred in South Africa involving the Boers, […]
Battle of Oppy Wood: Casualties were Less than 2,000
The Battle of Oppy was fought May 3 and June 28, 1917, in Arras, France. The skirmishes were part of the large Battle of Arras. Capturing the highlands was of strategic advantage, offering a view of the surround area. The nations involved were Canada, Great Britain and Germany. “Two infantrymen stand to the left of the dug-out entrance, one […]
Titanic: The Halifax Connection
Everyone knows the story of the Titanic: The largest ship ever built, on its maiden voyage, hits an iceberg and sinks. There weren’t enough lifeboats on board, resulting in more than 1,500 passengers and crew dying. But how many people know the story of what happened after the Carpathia rescued the survivors? Recovery The CS […]
Battle of Passchendaele: Controversial in 1917 and Today
The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was fought July 31, 1917-November 10, 1917 in Flanders, Belgium. The goal of the attack was to gain Allied control of the ridges around the city of Ypres and to force the Germans to divert resources from the channel and their U-boat bases. The nations […]
Kinmel Park Riots: Treat Us More Humanely and Send Us Home
The Canadian Corps served admirably in World War One. One thing, however, marred its reputation: the Kinmel Park riots. After Armistice, there was no official policy to send the troops home. The Canadian army and government disagreed over the best course of action. The government wanted a “first over, first back” system while Gen. Arthur […]
Khaki University: Steering Soldiers Away From Vice
Canada, near the end of World War One, devised an idea to keep its soldiers occupied during their down time, steering them away from vice, and preparing them for post-war life. This idea was Khaki University. The program, originally called Khaki College, was the brainchild of Dr. Henry Marshall Tory. The National Council of the YMCA […]