History Commons^™

70 Years Since The Liberation Of The Netherlands From Memory To Remembrance, H.E. Cees Kole, Andrew Burtch

Canadian Military History

On 16 October 2014, the Canadian War Museum partnered with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to host the first in the Embassy’s national series of lectures “From Memory to Remembrance” in the Museum’s Barney Danson Theatre. The Embassy launched the series in the fall of 2014, with subsequent events in February and April 2015, with Canadian and Dutch scholars helping the audience to follow the Canadian military campaign from the Battle of the Scheldt to the German capitulation at Wageningen on 5 May 1945. Attended by His Excellency Governor General David Johnston, the Ottawa event featured Terry …

“The Battle-Fortune Of Marshal Hindenburg Is Not Bound Up With The Possession Of A Hill”: The Germans And Vimy Ridge, April 1917, Holger Herwig

Canadian Military History

On 9 April 1917 four Canadian divisions and one British division of 170,000 men broke through the “Vimy Group” of German Sixth Army of some 40,000 men. By late afternoon, the Germans had been driven off the Ridge. That day, as Brigadier-General Alexander Ross famously put it, constituted “the birth of a nation.” Rivers on ink have been spilled in the Canadians’ actions that day, but little attention has been paid to “the other side of the hill.” Which German units defended the Ridge? What was the quality of their leadership? Why did the defence collapse so quickly? Why did …

A Portrait Of Raymond Brutinel As A Young Man (Part Ii): The Future Canadian Corps Machine Gun Commander As A Business Entrepreneur In The Canadian West, 1908–1914, Cameron Pulsifer

Canadian Military History

The following carries on from an article on Brutinel’s prewar life in Edmonton, Alberta that appeared in the previous issue of Canadian Military History. That account dealt with his arrival in Edmonton from France, the reasons for his immigration, and his adaptation to life in the newly-created Alberta capital. This included an initial involvement with the Edmonton French community, his editorship of the French language Le Courrier de l’Ouest, and his eventual breaking away from these pursuits into a career of business entrepreneurship. The following is specifically concerned with this latter phase of his career, in which, at the height …

Where Was Canada? The Canadian Military Contribution To The British Commonwealth Second World War Campaign In North Africa, Andrew Stewart

Canadian Military History

The campaign fought by predominantly British Commonwealth forces in North Africa during the Second World War, in many respects, represented a final example of imperial solidarity and unity. Whilst the United States participated during the final stages prior to the surrender of Axis forces in May 1943, it was Britain and its Empire that provided most of the resources and manpower and contested most of the battles. Canada, however, played only a relatively minor part and this paper seeks to examine the associated decision-making process that took place in London and Ottawa and discuss the tensions that arose.

Destroying The Panthers: The Effect Of Allied Combat Action On I./Ss Panzer Regiment 12 In Normandy, 1944, Arthur Gullachsen

Canadian Military History

This article is an examination of the operational record of the World War Two German Panther tank during the Normandy Campaign of summer 1944. Challenging its perception as mechanically unreliable, this article argues Allied combat action was responsible for a large percentage of Panthers that were out of action. Secondly, the inferior resources of the German tank replacement and repair program were no match for superior Canadian Army practices during 1944. To support these arguments the author examines Canadian and German wartime primary documents as well as multiple secondary sources.

“Get Tough Stay Tough: Shaping The Canadian Corps, 1914-1918 (Book Review)” By Kenneth Radley, Brian Douglas Tennyson

Canadian Military History

Review of Get Tough Stay Tough: Shaping the Canadian Corps, 1914-1918 by Kenneth Radley

“The Shadow Of Torture: Debating Us Transgressions In Military Interventions, 1899-2008 (Book Review)” By Katrin Dauenhauer & “America In The Philippines, 1899-1902. The First Torture Scandal (Book Review)” By Christopher J. Einolf, Frank Schumacher

Canadian Military History

Review of Torpedo: Inventing the Military-Industrial Complex in the United States and Great Britain by Katherine C. Epstein

Review of The Shadow of Torture: Debating US Transgressions in Military Interventions, 1899-2008 by Katrin Dauenhauer

“Torpedo: Inventing The Military-Industrial Complex In The United States And Great Britain (Book Review)” By Katherine C. Epstein, Russell Isinger

Canadian Military History

Review of Torpedo: Inventing the Military-Industrial Complex in the United States and Great Britain by Katherine C. Epstein

“War In The Modern World, 1990-2014 (Book Review)” By Jeremy Black, Quentin Holbert

Canadian Military History

Review of War in the Modern World, 1990-2014 by Jeremy Black

“Soldiers For Sale: German “Mercenaries” With The British In Canada During The American Revolution, 1776-83 (Book Review)” By Jean-Pierre Wilhelmy, Kyle Falcon

Canadian Military History

Review of Soldiers for Sale: German “Mercenaries” with the British in Canada during the American Revolution, 1776-83 by Jean-Pierre Wilhelmy

“Worth Fighting For: Canada’S Tradition Of War Resistance From 1812 To The War On Terror (Book Review)” By Lara Campbell, Michael Dawson, And Catherine Gidney, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

Review of Worth Fighting For: Canada’s Tradition of War Resistance from 1812 to the War on Terror by Lara Campbell, Michael Dawson, and Catherine Gidney

“Get Tough Stay Tough: Shaping The Canadian Corps, 1914-1918 (Book Review)” By Kenneth Radley, Chris Buckham

Canadian Military History

Review of Get Tough Stay Tough: Shaping the Canadian Corps, 1914-1918 by Kenneth Radley

“Battleground Africa: Cold War In The Congo, 1960–1965 (Book Review)” By Lise Namikas, Brian Bertosa

Canadian Military History

Review of Battleground Africa: Cold War in the Congo, 1960–1965 by Lise Namikas

“Privateering: Patriots And Profits In The War Of 1812 (Book Review)” By Faye M. Kert, Gordon Bannerman

Canadian Military History

Review of Privateering: Patriots and Profits in the War of 1812 by Faye M. Kert

“Forgotten Trials Of The Holocaust (Book Review)” By Michael J. Bazyler And Frank M. Tuerkheimer, Katelyn Arac

Canadian Military History

Review of Forgotten Trials of the Holocaust by Michael J. Bazyler and Frank M. Tuerkheimer

“Such Want Of Gentlemanly Conduct:” The General Court Martial Of Lieutenant John De Hertel, Eamonn O'Keeffe

Canadian Military History

Analysis of the newly discovered general court martial of Canadian Fencibles Lieutenant John de Hertel offers a remarkable glimpse into the workings of War of 1812-era military justice. After exploring the backgrounds of the principal actors, this article employs witness testimony to vividly reconstruct the fateful altercation between Lieutenants Peach and de Hertel on 22 May 1815 at Fort York in modernday Toronto. Subsequent attempts at conciliation, the trial itself, and de Hertel’s vitriolic defence are examined in detail, followed by concluding reflections on the insight gained through study of this affair and the potential of courts martial as historical …

“Pusser Grub? My God But It Was Awful!” Feeding The Fleet During The Second World War, Sandy Gow

Canadian Military History

When Canada declared war on Germany in September 1939 the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), and Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (RCNR) consisted of perhaps 3,000 officers and men. The RCN was manning six destroyers and seven smaller craft out of Halifax and Esquimalt. While the men of the RCNR had seagoing experience through the merchant navy and the fishing fleets, only a limited number of men from the RCNVR had managed to spend any time in RCN vessels. No reservist from either category that had any significant prewar training or experience in food supply or …

Developing Deadly Skies, John Maker

Canadian Military History

The Canadian War Museum’s exhibition Deadly Skies – Air War, 1914-1918 examines the first air war from the perspective of nine international participants representing Canada, the United States, France, Great Britain, and Germany. Eschewing the romantic mythology of First World War aviation that focuses on the achievements of individual fighter pilots, the exhibition examines four key aspects of the air war: training, observation, bombing, and aerial combat. Adopting an interpretive approach that appeals to intergenerational audiences and that highlights personal experience in the war, the exhibition is presented as a series of life-sized graphic novels, supplemented with key artifacts, photos, …

“Absolutely Incapable Of ‘Carrying On:’” Shell Shock, Suicide, And The Death Of Lieutenant Colonel Sam Sharpe, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

This article examines Canadian social and medical responses to nervous breakdown and suicide in the First World War through the case study of Lieutenant Colonel Sam Sharpe, a Member of Parliament and commander of the 116th Battalion. An historical analysis of Sharpe’s experiences and reaction to war trauma provides wider insights into how shell shock and military suicide represented a potential threat to prewar masculine ideals. Medical and political interpretations of Sharpe’s breakdown initially aimed to preserve social stability and validate the war’s moral justifications but contradictory understandings of shell shock ultimately made for a complicated and unstable process of …

Francophone Enlistment In The Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914–1918: The Evidence, Jean Martin

Canadian Military History

Francophone enlistment during the First World War has been estimated in the past between 35,000 and 50,000, including the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the merchant marine. Information on the language spoken was not recorded at enlistment and those estimates were based on very cautious guesses only. We had suggested in a recent paper (Canadian Historical Review, vol. 96, no. 3) that this participation had been significantly higher, in part due to the contribution of Francophones from outside the province of Quebec. Information have now been extracted from enlistment sheets and one new B database, comprised of 10 …

A Portrait Of Raymond Brutinel As A Young Man (Part I): The Future Machine Gun Commander In Edmonton, Alberta, 1905-1914, Cameron Pulsifer

Canadian Military History

Raymond Brutinel remains one of the Canadian Corps’ most intriguing and little understood senior officers. A fair amount has been written about his service with the Canadian Corps, which generally portrays him as a significant commander and military innovator. But his life before he joined the Canadian military largely remains a mystery, which Brutinel himself did little to clear up. He had emigrated from France to Edmonton, Alberta in 1905 and lived there until the outbreak of war. Yet little is known in detail about this formative period of his life. Based largely upon Edmonton-based sources, the following aims to …

Booze, Temperance, And Soldiers On The Home Front: The Unraveling Of The Image Of The Idealised Soldier In Canada, Fay Wilson

Canadian Military History

In 1916, Canadians were swept up in the rhetoric of a purifying Holy War. The citizen soldier became the embodiment of Christ in the ultimate fight against evil. As the mirror for the nation, he reflected the moral character and aspirations of purity. The behaviour of soldiers stationed in Calgary were publically scrutinised, especially as to their use of alcohol. The evils of alcohol galvanised various groups to move towards Prohibition as the ultimate war measure. This directly affected military recruitment efforts and served to alienate the soldier and the reality of his experiences from the home front.

Law And Justice: Scott V. Canada And The History Of The Social Covenant With Canadian Veterans, Jonathan Minnes

Canadian Military History

In October 2012, supported by veteran advocacy group Equitas, Canadian Forces veterans of the Afghanistan campaign filed a class action lawsuit against the Federal Government. The case, Scott v. Canada, is named after lead Plaintiff Daniel Scott. In Scott, the Plaintiffs allege that under the recently enacted Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, commonly known as the New Veterans Charter (NVC), many veterans receive less support than under the previous Pension Act. Further, they allege that the New Veterans Charter is a contravention of the ‘social covenant’ between Canadian citizens, the Canadian government, and past and present …

Fire Plan: The Canadian Army’S Fire Support System In Normandy, David Grebstad

Canadian Military History

Consigned initially to a decentralized and limited tactical role, the fire support organizations of British and Canadian armies experienced exponential growth during the initial stages of World War II. By D-Day, fire support had become a critical enabler of Anglo-Canadian combat operations and artillery units were numerous, networked, and efficient. Facilitating successful tactical manoeuvre was the goal of the fire support system. This article will explore the ‘ways’ and ‘means’ of that system – the people, procedures, resources, and organizations that combined to produce the devastating battle-winning fire support that contributed to tactical success.

Writing A Canadian High School History Of The Great War: Victoria High School: Challenges, Pitfalls, And Sources, Barry Gough

Canadian Military History

Contained in this article are suggestions on how to write a history of a Canadian high school and the First World War. Included in the discussion is the approach and methodology of the historian, the materials available for use, and knowledge of the background of Canada, the British Empire and the war “for King and Country.” It appeals for an understanding of war and of patriotism Canadian-style as of 1914-1918, as a war they fought and not the one we now think they fought or should have fought. It is an appeal for “sharp end” history. Attention is given to …

An Analysis Of Factors Affecting The Royal Air Force Contribution To The Raid On Dieppe, 1942, David Stubbs

Canadian Military History

This paper seeks to explain the limited options available to Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory when planning the Royal Air Force (RAF) portion of the combined operation raid on Dieppe in 1942. It proposes that a number of constraining influences, some self-imposed, reduced the air support options, so that only an air umbrella over the attacking forces could be provided. It argues that these influences were a consequence of the RAF’s cultural and conceptual environment, which perpetuated Trenchardian notions of offensive spirit in RAF doctrine, together with the refusal to consider options to extend the range of its fighter aircraft. …

"Americans At War In Foreign Forces: A History, 1914-1945 (Book Review)" By Chris Dickon, Tyler Wentzell

Canadian Military History

Review of Americans at War in Foreign Forces: A History, 1914-1945. Chris Dickon. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company Inc., 2014. Pp. 234.

"Canada's Bastions Of Empire: Halifax, Victoria And The Royal Navy, 1749-1918 (Book Review)" By Bryan Elson, Greg Rogers

Canadian Military History

Review of Canada's Bastions of Empire: Halifax, Victoria and the Royal Navy, 1749-1918. Bryan Elson. Halifax: Formac. Pp. 280.

"Experiencing War As The 'Enemy Other': Italian Scottish Experience In World War Ii (Book Review)" By Wendy Ugolini, Adrian Mitter

Canadian Military History

Review of Experiencing War as the 'Enemy Other': Italian Scottish experience in World War II. Wendy Ugolini. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2011. Pp. 288.

"Fighting To Lose: How The German Secret Intelligence Service Helped The Allies Win The Second World War (Book Review)" By John Bryden, Joshua Mccarty

Canadian Military History

Review of Fighting to Lose: How the German Secret Intelligence Service Helped the Allies Win the Second World War. John Bryden. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2014. Pp. 415.