Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Colonial Figures: Memories Of Street Traders In The Colonial And Early Post-Colonial Periods, Sheri Lynn Gibbings, Fridus Steijlen

Global Studies Faculty Publications

This article explores post-colonial memories about street traders among individuals who lived in the former colony of the Dutch East Indies. It argues that these narratives romanticize the relationship between Europeans and indigenous peoples. Street vendors are also used to differentiate between periods within colonial and post-colonial history. The nostalgic representation of interracial contact between Europeans and traders is contrasted with representations of other figures such as the Japanese and the nationalist. A recurring feature of these representations is the ability of Europeans to speak with street traders and imagine what they wanted and needed. The traders are remembered as …

O! Call Back Yesterday, Joy Trott

Books

When VE Day was announced in 1945, twenty-one year old Joy Trott was halfway across the Atlantic Ocean with a newborn daughter who had yet to meet her father. Armed with a trunk and a pram, Joyce embarked on a new life alongside her Canadian husband.

In her memoirs, Trott recounts her early childhood in Depression-era Great Britain and the death of her parents, her life as a teenaged volunteer in the Auxiliary Territorial Service of the British Army, and her immigration to Canada as a young war bride. Interwoven into this personal narrative are anecdotes and reflections on class, …

Memories From Vii World Congress Of Music Therapy, Vitoria Gasteiz, 1993, Heidi Ahonen, Diane Austin, Ruth Bright, Leslie Bunt, Ginger Clarkson, Janice Dvorkin, Jane Eisler, Suzanne B. Hanser, Sarah Hoskyns, Joanne Loewy, Joseph Moreno, Helen Odell-Miller, Serafina Poch, Jackie Robarts, Clive Robbins, Patricia L. Sabbatella, Marilyn Sandness, Alan Turry, Gabriela Wagner, Auriel Warwick, Barbara L. Wheeler

Music Faculty Publications

Some of the participants share their memories and photos from the VII World Congress of Music Therapy, held in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain in 1993.

The First World War Between Memory And History: A Conference Retrospective, Christopher Schultz, Jonathan Weier

Canadian Military History

Long after the guns of the First World War went silent on 11 November 1918, the war continues to spark debate. The many points of contention were on full display at the “From Memory to History” conference, hosted by Western University in London, Ontario, over three days in November 2011. Scholars and enthusiasts from around the world gathered to share, debate, and ultimately demonstrate that the war’s many legacies are still open to interpretation, even as the centenary of the war’s outbreak approaches. Perhaps the most crucial lesson learned is that both memory and history are malleable concepts, prone to …

Crossing The Canal: Combined Arms Operations At The Canal Du Nord, Sept–Oct 1918, David Borys

Canadian Military History

The crossing of the Canal du Nord stands as one of the most impressive Canadian tactical operations of the First World War. Incorporating a risky battle plan, emphasizing combined arms operations and utilizing the recently re-organized Canadian Engineers, the battle stands as benchmark for the evolution of 20th century combat. Although sustaining high casualties, the Canadian Corps overcame one of the strongest German defensive positions along the Westner Front in an operation that foreshadowed the mobile, combined arms doctrine of the Second World War.

S.L.A. Marshall And The Ratio Of Fire: History, Interpretation, And The Canadian Experience, Robert Engen

Canadian Military History

The famous “ratio of fire” data proposed by S.L.A. Marshall claims that no more than 15-20 percent of soldiers fired their weapons in combat. This article examines whether or not historians can treat Marshall’s ratio of fire data as veracious, and if so what interpretations one can assign to the phenomenon of combat non-participation. The article contends that based upon the Canadian experience it is premature to universalize Marshall’s findings beyond his specific historical subjects, and that studies of human behaviour in war need to look beyond the ratio of fire data as a paradigm for understanding the conduct of …

“A Useful Accessory To The Infantry, But Nothing More”: Tanks At The Battle Of Flers-Courcelette, September 1916, Andrew Mcewen

Canadian Military History

The Battle of Flers-Courcelette is chiefly remembered as the combat introduction of tanks. The prevailing historiography maligns their performance as a lacklustre debut of a weapon which held so much promise for offensive warfare. However, unit war diaries and individual accounts of the battle suggest that the tank assaults of 15 September 1916 were far from total failures. This paper thus re-examines the role of tanks in the battle from the perspective of Canadian, British and New Zealand infantry. It finds that, rather than disappointing Allied combatants, the tanks largely lived up to their intended role of infantry support.

The Battle Of Hong Kong: 70 Years Later, Tyler Wentzell

Canadian Military History

Tyler Wentzell, a Canadian infantry officer and the author of a recent article on Brigadier J.K. Lawson, visited Hong Kong last summer. He had the opportunity to range over the former British colony and explore the area where the Canadian fought and died in December 1941. This feature provides a “then and now” look at those battlefields.

The Canadian War Museum And Bomber Command: My Perspective, David J. Bercuson

Canadian Military History

This article based on David Bercuson’s keynote address at the 22nd Military History Colloquium held at the University of Waterloo in May 2011. Bercuson discusses his role in the controversy over the panel text about the Combined Bomber Offensive at the new Canadian War Museum. Arguing the the original text was not wrong, but reflected older scholarship, he concludes by observing that no serious scholar, whether a single author or a museum staff, should be saved from the age-old processes of historical review, revision and re-writing to reflect more recent research when it is more accurate.

Side-Steppers And Original-Firsts: The Overseas Chevron Controversy And Canadian Identity In The Great War, Andrew Iarocci

Canadian Military History

Badges of rank, qualification, and achievement can play significant, it not always explicit, roles in military culture. In late 1917 the British War Office instituted a new award, overseas service chevrons, to recognize service abroad for all ranks and branches of the Empire’s expeditionary forces. This article considers evolving Canadian attitudes toward the chevrons throughout 1918 and in the postwar years. Rather than boost the morale of rank and file soldiers in the Canadian Corps, the chevrons appear to have caused much resentment. Some front liners believed that the award should somehow be distinguish between combat and non-combat service. After …

Rearranged Snowdrops: The Construction Of Memory At The Abbaye D’Ardenne, Vanessa Mcmackin

Canadian Military History

The construction of memory regarding the Second World War is a field in Canaidan historiography that requires further exploration and research. The memorial at the Abbaye d’Ardenne in Normandy provides a case study that speaks to larger patterns of collective commemoration of the war by Canadians and the local population. Memories of war must be examined in the context of their construction. Several factors have given the Abbaye prominence among the many monuments to Canadian the many monuments to Canadian soldiers in Normandy. The monument itself, the physical space it occupies, the motives of those who create and sustain it, …

“Truly They Died That We Might Be Free”: Remembering The Westlake Brothers, Jean-François Born

Canadian Military History

This article examines Canada’s Second World War memory through the experiences of the Westlake family of Toronto. George, Albert and Thomas Westlake were killed in action in Normandy, within a period of four days. Their story is fascinating in terms of the representation of Canadian war casualties of the Second World War. In addition, the article sheds light on one family and how it remembers and has acted to prevent the fading of memory. The Westlake family has ensured that George, Albert and Thomas are honoured and will be remembered. Examining this family provides a new perspective on the Second …

The Fall Of Hong Kong: The Condon Report, David Macri

Canadian Military History

David Macri recently defended his PhD thesis “Hong Kong in the Sino–Japanese War: The Logistics of Collective Security in South China, 1935–1941” at the University of Hong Kong. The thesis raises new and important questions about the strategic background to the events of late 1941. Dr. Macri is also interested in operational and tactical issues and this report from the US National Archives is of special interest to Canadians. The author, Major Reynolds Condon, was an American assistant military attaché in Hong Kong who witnessed the battle before being released back to the US. His report, while not always factually …

Making The Department Of National Defence Work In The 1970s: The Deputy Minister And The Cds Remember, J.L. Granatstein

Canadian Military History

In the aftermath of unification, the Canadian Forces were struggling to deal with the changes that overtook them, not least the Trudeau government’s relative indifference to the military, the impact of bilingualism, and massive reorganization. General Jacques Dextraze, who became chief of the defence staff in 1972, and Sylvain Cloutier, the deputy minister in the Department of National Defence from 1971 to 1975, played key roles in managing the changes. Interviews conducted by J.L. Granatstein in 1988 indicate where they agreed—and disagreed—and tell us much about the characters of these two key figures.

Brigadier J.K. Lawson And Command Of “C” Force At Hong Kong, Tyler Wentzell

Canadian Military History

Brigadier J.K. Lawson, the commander of the Canadian contingent at the Battle of Hong Kong, has been the subject of only a few statements in any work concerning the battle. These statements, as false and misleading as they are, have been referenced many times and are generally taken as fact. This article seeks to rectify this affair by providing a biographical profile of Lawson based on archival data and interviews with his family. Contrary to other accounts, Lawson was a professional soldier with substantial education and experience in his craft and he was extremely well–suited to his appointment to command …

Ch-147d Chinook Nose Art In Afghanistan, Ed Storey

Canadian Military History

Nose art is an important component of any combat aircraft’s markings. Nose art not only helps to boost crew morale, esprit de corps and instill pride in the service, but it also adds a distinct character to the aircraft. Although the subject of current nose art has changed since the classic “pin up” girls of the 1940s, today’s artowrk is just as interesting and worthy of study. With the help of imagery taken in Afghanistan and first–hand study of the artwork, this article catalogues and explores the meaning of the artwork now used.

Preparing For War: The 25th Battalion In Halifax, 1914–15, Robert N. Clements, Brian D. Tennyson

Canadian Military History

The 25th Battalion was authorized in November 1914 and recruited men from throughout Nova Scotia before departing for England in May 1915. It spent the winter and early spring of 1914–15 in Halifax, where it was based at the Armoury and on the Common. Robert Clements, a native of Yarmouth, enlisted in the battalion in November 1914 and served in it throughout the war, rising to the rank of lieutenant. Many years later he wrote an informal history of the battalion, giving a colourful account based on his personal experiences and observations. These excerpts from his soon to be published …

“When You’Re A Long, Long Way From Home”: The Establishment Of Canadian-Only Social Clubs For Cef Soldiers In London, 1915–1919, Sarah Cozzi

Canadian Military History

This article examines the off–duty activities of Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) soldiers in Britain during the First World War. For many CEF soldiers abroad, Britain became their “home away from home,” with London serving as their main leave–time destination. Although thousands of CEF soldiers visited the English capital, Canadian federal and military authorities maintained a hands–off approach to the off–duty lives of the men. Fearing for the men’s well–being, Canadian philanthropist, Lady Julia Drummond, established the Canadian–only King George and Queen Mary Maple Leaf Club. Founded upon middle– and upper–class moral standards the Maple Leaf Club emphasizes the role of …

“Canada’S Roll Of Honour”: Controversy Over Casualty Notification And Publication During The Second World War, Timothy Balzer

Canadian Military History

During the Second World War, the Canadian Army’s announcement of casualties to next–of–kin and the press often caused controversy. Even though the army tried to notify the family and public as quickly as possible, it could not always do so. Unofficial communications with the family, procedural failures, and more frequently press and censorship errors, cause occasional mistakes in casualty reporting. Moreover, the interests of Canada’s allies often prevented the timely publication of casualty names and figures, as in the aftermath of the Dieppe Raid, Sicily campaign and Normandy landings. These delays were often for alleged security reasons, sometimes with questionable …

No Easy Thing: Senior Command In The Canadian Army, 1939–1945, Randall Wakelam

Canadian Military History

There is relatively little Canadian military history which looks specifically at the questions and themes surrounding senior command (commanders of large formations of troops—normally generals or lieutenant–generals). Current interpretations call for a trilogy of abilities: the ability to defend national interests in the highest military (and often political) circles; the ability to organize and manage forces both before and during combat; and the ability to lead both directly and indirectly those who have to implement the plans. Were Canadians then, and are historians today, right to apply this multiple standard? This article looks at the three officers who commanded First …

Destroying Hitler’S Berghof: The Bomber Command Raid Of 25 April 1945, Oliver Haller

Canadian Military History

This paper examines the Royal Air Force raid on Adolf Hitler’s Berghof on the Obersalzberg in April 1945. Arthur Harris, the head of Bomber Command, wanted to emphasize the air power’s decisive role in the defeat of Nazism. However, Winston Churchill and Bernard Montgomery, among others, questioned the usefulness of destroying Berchtesgaden so late in the war. Unlike traditional explanations that focus on post–Dresden guilt, this article contends that British politicians grew increasingly concerned with the economic state of postwar Germany and the potential costs of the upcoming occupation. The continuation of area bombing at this late stage of the …

Table Of Contents

Canadian Military History

No abstract provided.

Memories: A Photo Feature, Doug Mcintyre

Canadian Military History

Canadian Military History is pleased to introduce a new feature that will showcase never-before-seen photos. This issue presents photos from the wartime scrapbook of Doug McIntyre, who served in the Essex Scottish Regiment during the Second World War.

Analysis Of 75 Mm Sherman Tank Casualties Suffered Between 6th June And 10th July 1944: Report No. 12

Canadian Military History

Long before the war it was evident that science would have much to contribute to the development of military equipment, and it was no surprise that research found such wide applications to the technically difficult but fundamentally amenable problems of Radar, Anti-aircraft and Fragmentation, to name only a few. These problems offered great possibilities to the well-established methods of the physical sciences. By contrast, the complexities of military tactics proved for a long time intractable, since even the smallest battle is a bewildering compound of variables, and new methods had therefore to be worked out before there could be any …

“Black, White And Grey”: Wartime Arguments For And Against The Strategic Bomber Offensive, David Ian Hall

Canadian Military History

The strategic bomber offensive against Nazi Germany has attracted more than its fair share of attention, most of which has been highly critical, both on moral as well as pragmatic grounds. Scholarly articles and books, in addition to a much larger number of sensationalized popular accounts, have appeared at a steady rate since the end of the war.¹ More recently, journalists and television producers—capitalising on the fiftieth anniversary commemorations of the Second World War—have taken an interest in this controversial yet highly marketable and therefore profitable subject. Partly revisionist, and deliberately emotive, their “factions” (part fact and part dramatic …

Table Of Contents

Canadian Military History

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Canadian Military History

No abstract provided.

Prisoners Of War As Library Users, Jean Langdon-Ford

Canadian Military History

One does not usually associate libraries and study classes with amenities provided for internees in Prisoner of War camps in the First World War. It was surprising then for me, as Librarian/Archivist of the Canadian War Museum, to find evidence in our Library/Archives of well-organized libraries in the First World War internment camps in Germany. My introduction to POW library users in this war came about as I was undertaking a preliminary inventory of the rich resources of the Canadian War Museum (CWM) Archives. In the CWM Archives are two files related to libraries in POW camps in Germany. One …

Dr. Strangelove Visits Canada: Project Rustice, Ease, And Bridge, 1958–1963, Sean M. Maloney

Canadian Military History

During the Cold War, many NATO governments developed highly secret contingency plans to maintain the continuity of government (COG) during and after nuclear attack. Canada was no exception. COG planning generally consisted of several elements including legal mechanisms and constitutional matters; document duplication and storage; skeleton bureaucracies; dispersion; transportation; and shelter. All were necessary to keep Canada functioning as a nation in the face of an attack by Soviet atomic and hydrogen bombs. The most misunderstood element of COG planning has been the shelter component. Critics of civil defence programmes argued that protecting government leaders in shelters and not providing …

Table Of Contents

Canadian Military History

No abstract provided.