World War Wednesdays: Profile of a Hero: Lt.-Col. George Harold Baker

     We've been a bit WWII-heavy the past few weeks, so I thought it might be nice to add in a bit of First World War heroism this week! Lt.-Col. George Harold Baker was Canada's only Member of Parliament to have been killed in the First World War, over a hundred years ago.

     Baker was born in 1877 in the town of Sweetsburg in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. His family were United Empire Loyalists and were prominent in the area's political sphere. At the time of his birth, his father, The Hon. George Barnard Baker, had already served in the Quebec National Assembly and been elected three times as the Member of Parliament for Missisquoi, Quebec. George Sr. was later called to the Senate in 1896 and served as a Senator until his death in 1910.

     The younger Baker, whose friends called him 'Harry,' followed in his father's footsteps in pursuing a career in law, establishing a successful practice with his father first in Sweetsburg then in Montreal. In 1911 he was elected as a Conservative MP for Brome, Quebec. In addition to his interests in law and politics, Harry assumed an active role in various militia regiments in the region, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the 13th Scottish Light Dragoons in 1913.

Morning Glory

     At the time, Harry owned a horse called Morning Glory, which he kept at a farm in Brome and used for practicing charges and shooting from the saddle with his men when they were on maneuvers. When war broke out, Harry volunteered for active service and retained his seat in the House of Commons. Shortly afterwards, he was given the authority to raise the 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, a unit comprised of volunteers from the Eastern Townships. When they left for England in 1915, and later that same year to France, Morning Glory was along for the ride. The pair were separated when Harry and his men were reclassified as infantry and sent to the trenches, but Morning Glory was able to escape the fate of so many horses used to drag heavy guns through the mud. She caught the eye of a battalion commander who took her for his personal mount, and Harry even got to see her from time to time. He even mentioned her in a letter home from Belgium in May 1916:
     "I saw Morning Glory day before yesterday; she is in the pink of condition. I hope some day to have her back."

     Sadly, this was the last time Harry ever saw Morning Glory. He was killed around 8:30 p.m. on 2 June, 1916 at Maple Copse in Sanctuary Wood during the Battle of Ypres. 

     At the time, he was planning a leave in London to meet his two sisters who were coming over to visit from Canada. He even had his hotel booked, which he mentioned in letters to the relatives of soldiers who had died under his command while offering to meet with them to offer his condolences. 

     In February 1924, a monument in tribute to Lt.-Col. Baker was unveiled in the Center Block of Parliament by Governor General Lord Byng. The Baker Memorial is dedicated to one man, but it personifies the nation's loss and the spirit of those who served. As for Morning Glory, she returned to Canada at the end of the war and you can read the rest of her story here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/morning-glory-canada-s-own-wwi-war-horse-1.1259736
You can also read more about the Baker Memorial here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/about/house/collections/collection_profiles/CP_Baker-e.htm

     References for this post come from The House of Commons Heritage Collection and CBC's "Morning Golry: Canada's Own WWI War Horse".
     Thanks for reading,
Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: The Maple Leaf Belgium Scrapbook, WWII

WorthPoint.com

     I hope everyone is having a smooth transition back to reality after the holiday season! Don't mean to brag, but I am still enjoying some R&R back at home before my final (!!!) semester of undergrad starts on January 9. While I'm still here, I wanted to share with you a fascinating item I received this week which is a great addition both to my personal collection and this blog. It is a Second World War souvenir scrapbook called "The Maple Leaf," which the cover states was "printed in Belgium at cost price to forces overseas." Essentially, it was a Canadian Army newspaper which kept soldiers informed on what was happening around the world and back at home while they were serving. My copy was given to me by my grandpa, who said that it came in a collection of papers from his parents' house (his father served in WWII). It was quite exciting to have a personal connection to the item since I had thought that his war memorabilia had already been dispersed among distant cousins, and I am always looking for more details on his service (like many other professions, historians can be researching any number of in-depth family histories for other people but have limited knowledge on their own). I've looked into the book a bit online and it appears to be quite rare, although the Toronto Public Library appears to have a copy should you be able to access it for yourself.

     A 2013 post on the online auction site WorthPoint.com includes what seems to be an excerpt from Barry D. Rowland's 1987 book, The Maple Leaf Forever: The Story of Canada's Foremost Armed Forces Newspaper, which gives a nice overview of the paper's history and is definitely being added to my reading list:

     “Captain MacFarlane, I want you to set up a newspaper for the Canadian Army,” said Lieutenant-Colonel R.S. (Dick) Malone, director of Public Relations for 1st Canadian Infantry Division during the Italian Campaign in November 1943.

     LCol Malone was reacting to the wishes of then Defence Minister, Colonel J.L. Ralston — a First World War veteran — who was deeply concerned for the welfare of the troops fighting overseas. But the impetus to deliver a daily Canadian Army newspaper to the frontlines in Italy was not a “top-down” decision; rather, it arose directly from the troops themselves who felt out-of-touch from home.

The Canadian soldier, also known as “Johnny Canuck”, expressed his angst through the chain of command. These concerns reached Minister Ralston’s ears as he arrived in Italy to speak to the troops after five months of hard fighting. Mr. Ralston knew well the fleeting nature of soldiers’ morale and pressed for ideas to shore-up fighting spirit. With Canadian soldiers complaining about their lack of knowledge on the home front, LCol Malone suggested the production of a daily newspaper, delivered directly to the frontlines with the soldiers’ rations.

The paper would be published in Italy with news from Canada and include stories and editorials prepared by military writers and war correspondents attached to the Canadian Division. The paper’s primary audience was the Canadian soldier. In return, the newspaper would not express opinions on domestic issues or report on internal military matters that might detract from morale.

And so Captain (later Major) J. Douglas MacFarlane, a former journalist with the Windsor Star and the Toronto Telegram, was appointed managing editor of the first Canadian Army newspaper. The newspaperman, who became a legendary figure in Canadian journalism following the war, was a natural fit for the job.

Mr. MacFarlane enlisted for wartime service with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment as a provisional reinforcement officer. He embarked on a long and winding military trail, stationed in Wolseley Barracks, the Officers’ Training Centre in Gordon Head, Vancouver Island, and attended the Advanced Infantry Training Centre at Camp Borden. Capt MacFarlane was then summoned to Ottawa and attached to Army Headquarters as a Public Relations Officer. He proceeded overseas in 1943, where he was eventually attached to General Harry Crerar’s headquarters when he got the call from his superior, LCol Malone – another giant in Canadian journalism after the war – informing him of the new publication.

What to call the paper?

LCol Malone suggested The Liberator, The True North, Northern Light, Johnny Canuck, The Beaver, and The Invader. Capt MacFarlane came up with The Maple Leaf, a reference to Canadian identity.

The first edition of The Maple Leaf rolled off the press in January 1944 in Naples, Italy and was a four-page tabloid. Sports, news, a daily editorial and Sergeant Bing Coughlin’s hapless “Herbie” cartoon character were the main features. The papers were flown to a postal distribution centre near the frontline and delivered to the troops by any and all means available: truck, jeep, lorry, aircraft and mule cart.

Curiously, a French-language edition of The Maple Leaf had been proposed but turned down by French-Canadian soldiers as they didn’t want their exploits restricted to French-copy only; they wished English speaking readers to know of their achievements.

At its height, The Maple Leaf printed 16,000 copies per day.

     My edition was printed in Belgium in 1945. Its introduction includes much of the same story as above concerning the paper's history, and also discusses how the "clippings" or articles in the scrapbook were selected from various departments in order to portray the paper's "general tone and spirit." In this regard, the editor-in-chief wrote, "If you don't like the selection write the editors and give them hell." Clearly, this was an informal and much-loved element in the Canadian soldiers' experience, and there is much to be learned and appreciated from these pages.

     Without further ado, I'll give you a little glimpse into the scrapbook (sorry about the poor lighting!):

This page shows how the paper was assembled like a scrapbook, with numerous photos seemingly pasted together on one page

Of course, it is not without its pinups! This page includes the beautiful Esther Williams

"Here's to You, Canucks!"

Even General Montgomery read The Maple Leaf!

     Overall, the scrapbook is a compilation of comics, poetry, news stories, photos, and articles all assembled for the intended enjoyment of Canadian soldiers far from home. It is obvious just by flipping through a few pages how much comfort and entertainment it would have brought them, and I can't help but think of how thrilled my great-grandfather would have been to have that small enjoyment. It's proven to be an amazing souvenir for both him and myself, and I hope you enjoyed this little overview.

     Thanks for reading,

Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: First World War Christmases After the Truce, 1916

British troops celebrating as best they can in a trench, 1916, Imperial War Museums

     I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that there are lots of leftovers for this week! I thought I'd put together a brief post on this World War Wednesday for you to enjoy while relaxing, which is a follow-up to last week's about the 1914 Christmas Truce on the Western Front. Part of why the story of the truce is so spellbinding is the fact that it was never repeated, making it the only period of ceasefire between the start of the war in 1914 and Armistice in 1918. I thought it might be interesting to explore what those other First World War Christmases may have been like, as demonstrated through the London Free Press (curated by @LdnOntWWI on Twitter) and photos from Britain's Imperial War Museums.

     According to a press report of unknown origin from 19th December 1916, the legendary Truce was confirmed as a unique phenomenon which was not to be repeated:

Many Christmas Presents For Men in Trenches, but They Will Fight All Day 

With the British Armies in France, Dec. 18 (Via London from a Staff Correspondent of the Associated Press)-- Thousands upon thousands of packages from "home" are pouring in for the soldiers of the British empire fighting in France, as harbingers of Christmas, but the usually glad season of "peace on earth, good will to men," will bring no cessation of hostilities this year, and Christmas day promises to go down in history as just another twenty-four hours of ceaseless shelling and war activity all along the line.

This promises to be the most bounteous Christmas of the three the British "Tommies" have spent on the foreign field of battle, and the problem of transporting the big and little parcels cross channel and through the various stages of progress to the very front trench itself has been one not easy to solve for even Christmas tokens cannot be allowed to interfere with the real business of the war-- the constant bringing up of shells, shells, shells.

Through rain, fog and darkness, by day and by night, the British guns ceaselessly pound the German trenches. Prisoners recently captured say that the effect of the everlasting drumming of the guns drove them insane. Captured letters written from the trenches speak of the terrors of the constant shelling. "Death is far better than this," wrote one private to his wife.

     

     This message to presumably British and Commonwealth readers appears to be an attempt at boosting morale on the home front and reassuring relatives of soldiers that their men were going to enjoy at least some comfort that Christmas. It also portrays the British as having the upper hand in the battle and generates hope for the coming year. 

British troops purchasing geese for their Christmas dinner in the marketplace at Bailleul, December 1916, Imperial War Museums

    Closer to home, the London Free Press had its own uplifting Christmas message for readers in 1916:

Merry Christmas! Message to People of Forest City

Hope For Victory In War Before Another Yuletide Is Generally Expressed.

_____________________________________

Anglicans Suffer Heavily, Says Bishop

_____________________________________

Leading Citizens and Clerics Join In Kindly Wishes For Their Fellows

_____________________________________

Greetings from official London and from eminent representatives of the clergy of many denominations were communicated to citizens of the Forest City through The Free Press this afternoon.

Three Christmases under war conditions find Canadians with an even more fixed resolve to have their part in bringing the great European cataclysm to a victorious termination, and from all sides come expressions of sympathy with those who have come under the conqueror's temporary sway, of satisfaction that Canada is able to enjoy the blessings of peaceful domestic conditions, and of confidence that before another Yuletide comes, right and justice will have been restored by the overwhelming force of allied arms.

British troops (the soldier on the left thought to be of the Worcestershire Regiment) purchasing mistletoe from women on a market, Montreuil-Sur-Mer, December 1916, Imperial War Museums

   Finally, the Christmas Day 1916 edition of the Free Press published a message to all British empire troops from King George and Queen Mary: "District Headquarters to Communicate Royal Good Wishes to Men in Khaki To-Day:"

King George and Queen Mary Send Greetings to All Troops Of the Empire Confident They Will Achieve Victory

Special Message of Cheer to the Sick and Wounded Wishes Speedy Restoration to Health

______________________________________

Two Christmas messages from the King and Queen to the soldiers and sailors of the empire were received yesterday at district headquarters here for publication.

One of the messages was to troops on land and sea everywhere in the empire. The other was particularly addressed to the sick and wounded. Her Royal Highness the Queen joined in the message of cheer to those suffering from wounds or disease. Both greetings will be communicated wherever possible to the men concerned today. Following are the two messages as received by cable yesterday morning:

"To the sick and wounded:

"At this Christmastide, the Queen and I are thinking more than ever of the sick and wounded among my sailors and soldiers. From our hearts we wish them strength to bear their sufferings, a speedy restoration to health, a peaceful Christmas and many happy years to come.

"George, R. L."

The general message read as follows:

"I send you, my sailors and soldiers, hearty and good wishes for Christmas and the new year. My grateful thoughts are ever with you, for victories gained for hardships endured and for your unflinching cheeriness. 

"Another Christmas has come around and we are still at war, but the empire, confident in you, remains determined to win. 

"May God bless and protect you.

"George, R. L."

     I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the Christmas season exactly a hundred years ago, and I appreciate your taking time out of the relaxing part of the holiday season to read it! Many thanks to @LdnOntWWI on Twitter and the Imperial War Museums. 

     Thanks for reading,

Delany Leitch (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: Haunting Beauty: The Canadian Vimy Ridge Memorial and Adolf Hitler

     I've been thinking a lot lately about a story I heard a few months ago at the Canadian War Museum, and thought I'd look into it this week for a post.

     Considered among the greatest war memorials ever built, the Canadian monument at Vimy Ridge in northeast France has as dramatic a history as the infamous battle it honors. Following the end of the First World War in 1918, the high escarpment at Vimy Ridge was left with ruined trees, artillery craters, and crumbling trenches which still held the remains of some of the 3,598 Canadians who died trying to capture it over four days in April 1917.

Canadians during the Battle of Vimy Ridge

     The Ridge then became one of eight battle sites in France and Belgium where Canada sought and received permission to construct memorials to in remembrance of its 66,000 fallen soldiers in the Great War. While Great Britain, South Africa, and Australia hired the same group of Commonwealth architects to design their battlefield monuments in Europe, Canada chose a different method: Ottawa announced a nationwide competition for the design of its Vimy Ridge memorial, and an undisputed winner was chosen in 1921. The daring proposal was put forward by renowned Toronto sculptor Walter Allward, whose classic South African memorial (which still stands on University Ave. in Toronto) greatly differed from the breathtaking monument he envisioned for Vimy.

     Allward said the idea for the monument was inspired by a dream he'd had during the "blackest" days of the war in which Canadian soldiers were saved by their dead comrades, who rose up in the thousands to rescue the living. The massive twin pylons symbolize both Canada and France, which tower thirty meters over a stone platform, adorned with sculpted figures symbolizing peace, mourning, and sacrifice. It took a total of twelve years to complete, all of which were supervised by Allward himself, and constructed with stone from a Croatian quarry that had also been used by the Romans in the third century. After years of public anticipation, thousands of Canadians traveled across the Atlantic by ship to attend the monument's dedication ceremony, featuring a speech by King Edward VIII. The site instantly became a popular symbol of Canada's achievements during the battle as well as a major tourist attraction.

Aerial shot of the 1936 dedication ceremony, courtesy of flickr

     However, only three years later, Europe found itself again at the threshold of another war. To calm fears about the memorial's fate as France fell under Nazi occupation, Allward revealed that he had always known the area around Vimy could once again become a battleground. "So we carved the figures of stone instead of casting them in bronze," he said at the time. "Bronze figures might be melted down for munitions". By June 1940, Canadian newspapers had begun trumpeting dramatic accounts of the monument's destruction in order to encourage public favor against the Nazis, as can be seen with the Montreal Daily Star's headline: "Vimy Memorial Smashed by Nazi Bombers," which left Canadians appalled and outraged.

     In response to these false allegations, Hitler decided to visit the Vimy Memorial himself as part of his first trip to France since the start of the war in order to prove that the statues were still intact. German newspapers published a series of photos of him and a group of Nazi officers among the white pylons and nearby trenches. As University of Ottawa historian and a great friend of mine, Dr. Serge Durflinger says, "Hitler admires it immensely. he says so at the time. As a result, the Germans respect the memorial all through the war." Regardless, Canadians were not fully convinced of the memorial's survival until after the area was recaptured by the Allies in 1944 and it was reported to be free of damage. The site remains to this day a symbol of strength and humble sacrifice, with its lack of victorious boastfulness being perhaps one of its greatest and most enduring contributing factors.

Information courtesy of Canwest News Service, 2007.

Thanks for reading,
Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: Vimy Ridge Week in Elgin County

     This Saturday, April 9 marks ninety-nine years since the battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. Often considered the battle where Canada came of age as a nation, it was also a significant day for Elgin County. On the first day of the battle, Wallacetown native Ellis Wellwood Sifton single-handedly eliminated a German machine gun emplacement at the cost of his own life, posthumously receiving the Victoria Cross. We reflect on his selfless act each year with pride and gratitude, and the Elgin County Museum holds an annual program to commemorate him. This year, the program will take place at the museum on Saturday at 2pm. It will feature local re-enactors and demonstrations, as well as a number of soldiers' letters to groups across the county who sent their support. In addition, Sifton's original Victoria Cross will be present for viewing, an occasion which only occurs annually on this day. More information available from the St. Thomas Times-Journal:
http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/2016/04/03/a-trip-to-vancouver-for-what-else-pizza

Ellis Sifton

     Since there have been so many years since Vimy, there have been numerous commemorations and ceremonies to observe its anniversary. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at various events in Elgin County that recognized local contributions to the battle through the years!

50th Anniversary, 1967

     This photo shows a Vimy Ridge commemorative service at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 41, St. Thomas on April 10, 1967. The ceremony was covered in the Times-Journal that day with the caption:

"Veterans of Vimy - The Battle of Vimy Ridge was commemorated in St. Thomas on Sunday with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pearl Street Cenotaph. Left to right are, front row: A. B. Ellis, Roy Palmerston, Jack Bentley, Art Cooper, Harry Marshall and A. E. Watts; second row, J. F. Pratt, George Smith, Dan Jackson, Cyril Brown, Chet Smith, Maurice Heath, M. Nicholls; third row, E. B. Martel, Bert Watson, Jim Baron, Ted Bentley and Charles McAvay; fourth row, Reg. Mayne, Ellis Walker, Art Hardy, George Tanner, Rev. Charles Cook, Louis Mann, not identified; fifth row, Bill Crocker, Alex Betterley, Ernie Mitchell, Fred Lawson and George Hambleton; sixth row, J. E. Johnson, Frank Sefton, not identified, Joe Skelding, Stan Robinson, Harvey Pettit and C. W. Ball."

60th Anniversary, 1977

Front from left: Fred Morley, Charlie Cook, Charles Slather, Clarence Silver, Fred White, Herb Tucker, Bob Watson. Rear: George Walker, Dave McKillop, Herb Watson, Tom Watts, Art Freeman, Ernie Mitchell, Max Morriss, Charlie Baldwin, George Stevenson.

The Times-Journal from April 11 of that year describes the commemorative ceremony, again held at the Legion on John Street, St. Thomas:
"For many, the Battle of Vimy Ridge is merely a date in a history book. For Fred White, it remains a very real and tangible experience. Mr. White, now a resident of Westminster Hospital in London, was among over 100 First World War veterans attending an all-day commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, held Saturday at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 41 Hall on John Street.
     Sixty years ago Saturday, Fred White was a 17 year-old private with the 4th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The battalion was one of many massed together for the decisive Vimy Ridge encounter. 
     Looking back on the battle, Mr. White recalls the great suffering of many of the soldiers. "You didn't know whether you were going to eat today or tomorrow," he said. "You had to carry your own rations or you went hungry." 
     Mr. White was a scout and a runner for his battalion at the time of Vimy Ridge. "I had a lot of responsibility," he recalled. The details of the battle itself were harder for Mr. White to pin down. What he did have was a very clear recollection of the feeling of the battle.
     "You've got to watch out for yourself in the mud and the crap," he said. "Got to control yourself; your mind is the main thing. You had to keep your mind ahead of you; if you didn't you've had it."....
     The activities started with a memorial service, followed by movies of the war. There was a luncheon attended by local elected officials, then entertainment in the afternoon."

     These are just some of the ways in which the area has reflected upon its connections to one of the most significant events in Canadian history. How will you be recognizing this anniversary?
     Thanks for reading,
Delany Leitch (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

Information courtesy of Elgin County Archives and the St. Thomas Times-Journal.

World War Wednesdays: Leading Dogs of WWII

     After watching Patton recently, it dawned on me that a lot of major Second World War leaders kept four-legged friends during the most crucial time of their careers. I decided it would be interesting to introduce you to some of these dogs and discuss their role in the lives of their famous owners!

1. General George S. Patton , Jr. and Willie (USA)

     A young tank commander shortly after the First World War, Patton acquired his first bull terrier as a family pet and quickly fell in love with the breed. Willie was the last of his line and was by his master's side as his famous tank corps raced across Europe to liberate Nazi-held territory in 1944. He was named for William the Conqueror, and Patton's officers wondered if the eccentric general believed the gun-shy pup to have been the courageous warrior in a former life. Being the character that Patton was, he let them wonder. As the Allies closed in on Berlin, Patton boasted, “I will personally shoot that [highly descriptive profanity] Hitler, and Willie hopes the little [more of the same] comes back as a fire hydrant!” The ultimate alpha dog, General Patton was surprisingly doting to Willie. He had special G.I. tags made for the dog and even hosted a birthday party for his "second in command." He continued to spoil Willie until his death in December 1945 following a car accident, and the dog suffered separation anxiety for several months afterward. (woofipedia.com)

2. William Lyon Mackenzie King and Pat (Canada)

     Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was given an Irish terrier in July 1924 by his good friends, the Pattesons. He named the dog Pat and quickly became extremely fond of him, as evidenced by the fact that he mentioned Pat in his diary almost every day for seventeen years. A close companion, the two shared morning walks on the grounds at Kingsmere and evening snacks of oatmeal cookies and Ovaltine. On the 25th anniversary of his becoming leader of the Liberal party, King was presented with a statuette of himself and Pat. As the dog grew older, he developed several health problems and died on July 15, 1941. King buried him among the ruins at Kingsmere. Looking back on the events of 1941 in his diary, his most significant reflection was not in regard to Canada's involvement in the Second World War, but to the death of his beloved pet:
"As I think it all over tonight, the event that touched me most deeply of all was perhaps the death of little Pat. Our years together, and particularly our months in the early spring and summer, have been a true spiritual pilgrimage. That little dog has taught me how to live, and also how to look forward, without concern, to the arms that will be around me when I, too, pass away. We shall all be together in the Beyond. Of that I am perfectly sure." (Diary, December 31, 1941) (collectionscanada.gc.ca)

3. Adolf Hitler and Blondi (Germany)

     Hitler's beloved German Shepard was given to him as a gift in 1941 from Martin Bormann. He had previously owned a Shepard during his years of poverty in the 1920s but was forced to lodge the dog elsewhere. When it managed to escape and return to him, he developed a great liking for the loyalty and obedience of the breed. Blondi played a great role in Nazi propaganda, as photographs of her were used to show Hitler as an animal lover. Dogs like her were considered germanischer Urhund, being close to the wolf, and were highly fashionable during the Third Reich. Blondi stayed with Hitler even when he moved into the Fuehrerbunker under the Reich Chancellory on January 16, 1945. By April 29, Hitler had become strong in his resolve not to have himself or his new wife, Eva Braun captured by the advancing Russians. That afternoon, he expressed doubts about the potency of cyanide capsules given to him by Heinrich Himmler's SS, and ordered them to be tested on Blondi. She died immediately and Hitler became completely inconsolable. In 2005, Hitler's nurse said that Blondi's death had affected the people in the bunker more than Eva Braun's suicide. (Wikipedia)

4. General Dwight Eisenhower and Telek (USA)

     While planning for Operation Torch in 1942, General Eisenhower decided that a dog would complete the unofficial family he had started through an extramarital affair with his driver and assistant, Kay Summersby. Having never owned a dog during his military career, he allowed her to choose the breed, and she presented him with two Scotties. Ike chose one and named it Telek, which he told others was a military secret but to Kay he said, "it's a combination of Telegraph Cottage and Kay, two parts of my life that make me very happy." To his wife, Mamie, he wrote: "I'm trying to get me a little dog-- Scottie by preference. You can't talk war to a dog, and I'd like to have someone or something to talk to, occasionally, that does not know what the word means! A dog is my only hope." (Jean Edward Smith, Eisenhower: In War and Peace)

5. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Fala (USA)

     Originally named "Big Boy," the black Scottie went to live in the White House with FDR in 1940. He renamed the dog "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill," after a Scottish ancestor, with the nickname Fala. Every morning the dog had a bone brought up with the president's breakfast tray, and he was given a full dinner every night. A constant companion to the president, he enjoyed travelling and performing tricks for guests. The dog was present at the Atlantic Charter Conference with Winston Churchill in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, in August 1941, toured defense plants and met the Mexican President in 1942-43, and attended both Quebec Conferences. During a 1944 sea trip to the Aleutian Islands, it was rumored that Fala had been forgotten and the president spent millions of taxpayers' dollars to get him back. The president responded with his famous "Fala Speech," in which he said, "These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don't resent attacks, and my family doesn't resent attacks, but Fala does resent them." When FDR died in April 1945, Fala attended the funeral but seemed lost without his master. He went on to live with Mrs. Roosevelt, and died on April 5, 1952. (fdrlibrary.marist.edu)

     Is your dog more spoiled than Willie and Fala? Do you think of them as your children, like Ike and Kay Summersby did with Telek? Do you believe in the eternal connection between pet and owner like Mackenzie King? Would you be devastated to have to test your cyanide capsules on your beloved pet?? (Okay, that one is slightly less relatable)

Thanks for reading!
Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)

World War Wednesdays: World War Women at the Canadian War Museum

     Last week I had the pleasure of taking part in a private tour of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa with a group of Members of Parliament. The tour included the museum's permanent exhibits as well as a walk through their current special exhibit, World War Women, with one of its creators. The museum and its contents probably rank among my top five favorite things on planet earth, and it was a great excuse to finally see the new exhibit! The nature of the group and tours meant that I was unable to take any photos to share with you, but I thought I'd share some interesting facts about the exhibit along with images courtesy of the Canadian War Museum.

     Here's the official description:
"The First and Second World Wars brought enormous changes to Canadian women’s lives. They adapted to the conditions of total war in practical terms – working, volunteering and serving in uniform. In the wake of war’s inevitable tragedies, they also faced other challenges. The contributions made by women to the Canadian war efforts were crucial, and their experiences forged a new understanding of women’s capabilities both within themselves and within society.
Through artifacts, images, audiovisual material, oral history and text, World War Women delves into the personal stories of the women associated with these materials. It is organized in stand-alone thematic zones, each devoted to an element of the wars that particularly involved and affected women."

     These 'zones' are dedicated to each of the areas in which women contributed to the war effort. For example, there is a section for women who worked in factories, ones who served as nurses, ones who served in Women's Divisions overseas, and all around the outside are little windows into the lives of women who wrote and received letters to and from loved ones who were fighting. At the end, we found ourselves in a room plastered with propaganda posters which gave a sense of how inundated women were at home with instructions to ration, save waste, buy war bonds, not spread any important secrets, and do their duties. It was a powerful ending to a truly moving experience!

Here are some of my favorite featured ladies:

Library and Archives Canada / e010785939

     Lillian Grant, at 23 years of age, was the only woman in the world to sport the Pipe Major’s insignia on her uniform sleeve during the Second World War. An experienced piper, Grant was asked to recruit, train and lead the Canadian Women Army Corps’ Pipe Band.

     Another interesting story which unfortunately does not have an image is that of Minnie Jarvis from London, Ontario. While her fiancé was fighting in Europe during the First World War, he sent her a length of handmade lace. Sadly, he was killed shortly after, and Minnie kept the lace in its original envelope for 62 years before donating it to the War Museum.

CWM 20070060-002. Canadian War Museum

     This item has become one of the exhibit's most familiar symbols. It is an apron worn by Miss Canadas, who sold War Savings Stamps to Canadians on behalf of the government during the Second World War. This particular apron was worn by Barbara McNutt, who was only eleven years old when she signed up to canvass her hometown of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Finally, some interesting facts about Canadian women at war (some might sound familiar if you're a regular reader!):

During the First World War, to raise money for prisoners of war, the Ottawa Women’s Canadian Club sold souvenirs made from the debris of the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, which had burned down in 1916. (*** Some great examples of these can be found at the Bytown Museum, Ottawa!***)

During the Second World War, women could purchase pattern books that they could use to knit items for military personnel, including amputation covers.

Women and girls — some as young as 11 years of age — sold 25-cent War Savings Stamps on behalf of the federal government during the Second World War. By the end of the program, they had raised $318 million.

More than 50,000 women served with the Canadian Armed Forces during the two World Wars.

Personnel of the Canadian Women's Army Corps at No. 3 CWAC, collectionscanada

Molly Lamb Bobak was the only female Canadian official war artist sent overseas during the Second World War. She went on to be one of Canada’s most celebrated war artists.

Canadian War Museum

3,000 nurses served in the armed forces, and 2,504 were sent overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War. Canadian nurses were accorded officer status to discourage fraternization and give them authority over patients.

Department of National Defense

During the Second World War, even with a pilot’s licence, women in the Royal Canadian Air Force-Women’s Division were not permitted to fly.

Women's Division, 1942, No. 1 Technical Training School, St. Thomas, Ontario

In 1942, the Canadian Women’s Army Corps established the first all-female military pipe band.

pipesforfreedom.com

During the Second World War, more than 300,000 Canadian women held jobs related to war production.

Defence Industries Limited, Ajax, Ontario

In 1942, more than 100 contestants from Canada’s major military manufacturing plants vied for the title of “Miss War Worker.” The winner, Dorothy Linham, starred in a Palmolive Soap advertisement.

At the end of the Second World War, only three of the 3,000 women employed at the Canadian Car and Foundry plant kept their jobs.

Women soldering and assembling cables for airplanes, Canadian Car and Foundry Co., 1945.

During the two World Wars, approximately 100,000 Silver Crosses were given to the mothers and wives of soldiers who were killed.

  Special thanks to the Canadian War Museum for the information and images (unless otherwise labelled). The exhibit remains open until April 3rd so if you have the opportunity, I highly recommend experiencing it while it's still here!

    Thanks for reading,
Delany (@DLeitchHistory on Twitter)  

World War Wednesdays: Forgetting Remembrance Day

     By now, I think I've seen all the news articles and videos about how today's young people don't know the major facts about the World Wars or the words to In Flanders Fields. I've also seen posts from people my age who choose not to "glorify war" by wearing a poppy in November but instead choosing to wear a "peace button." Before I start discussing my take on these things, I just want to make it clear that I am not one of those angry, militant people you've probably seen on your Facebook who unleash a tirade on every small sign of Christmas before November 11. My goal with this post isn't to make people feel bad about their choices or lack of knowledge surrounding this day, but I do hope that it might make someone stop and think for at least a minute about what it really means to remember on November 11.

     For the people my age who are being portrayed as ignorant, misinformed, and rejecting the concept of Remembrance Day, it is perhaps more unfortunate than any other demographic. What they fail to connect with is that ours is the exact generation that was most affected by these times of conflict, and that we are the ones who would be facing the same situation should history ever repeat itself. When our same generation found themselves on the brink of world war, they reacted the same way that we would react, and that our own children would react in the future-- with fear, disbelief, and in most cases a limited knowledge of the circumstances that had created them.If I were to stretch things just a bit, it could be said that those same concepts are now being reflected when my peers are confronted with the idea of Remembrance Day. Instead of having to deal directly with war, we are dealing with it indirectly, through the recognition and preservation of its memory. Now, just as it was 100 years ago, young people find themselves in control of something that will affect everyone.

     If there's one thing I've learned through what I've chosen to spend my life doing, it's that with every terrible, traumatic thing that came from human conflict, there was always something beautiful and touching that came with it. With the bad comes the good, and a chat with one of the remaining members of the Greatest Generation makes that clear. Yes, Canadian families were torn apart when the men left for service. Yes, rationing, government restrictions, and extra work made life on the home front pretty rough. But what people don't always remember is how much they came together in those times. Neighbors pooled resources to make sure everybody had what they needed. They gathered to listen to the news and talk about it, and if things were bad you could guarantee that everybody understood. Even soldiers had a strong bond and camaraderie with the men they served alongside, and that was a source of encouragement and reassurance. Don't think that it wasn't an extremely tough time, but these people were just as tough.

     I just wish that instead of being so quick to dismiss the idea of remembering this time in our history, my peers would reflect on how similar we are to that same group of people, and how their reactions to war would likely be the same as ours.

They wore ugly Christmas sweaters

And went to the beach with the squad

But ultimately wore a uniform when they had to

      I think they often forget that there were plenty of people then who had their own strong doubts about the idea of throwing men onto the battlefield to solve nations' political problems, and all the senseless destruction that resulted. Please, please just know that they did not have a choice in whether or not this happened. The world was spiraling out of control, they never got the chance to finish school and start their lives, and nothing they could have done would have prevented that,

     The only difference between us and them is that in 2015, we do have the choice. We get to decide whether or not to let what they did slip back into history without future generations knowing it happened. John McCrae's iconic poem isn't a major piece of Canadian remembrance because it encourages conflict, or even because it is a description of war. The reason so many people talk about that one piece every single year is because of these lines:

"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."
 
      He's speaking directly to us with these words, not to continue with the mass killing of innocent men, but to maintain the difficult journey towards what is right and just. We put our faith in these people 100 years ago and again in 1939 to do what it took to stay on that path, and they in turn trusted us to follow them. If you're between the ages of 15 and 25 and did not receive their message through public school history lessons, then I am incredibly sorry. These stories are worth so much more than a dry speech from a worn out teacher and words on a test. All they can ask, and all I am asking, is that you at least make an effort to inform yourself of what it is we are talking about during Remembrance Day, and what you're choosing to ignore when you don't listen. Understand the regular, everyday people involved even if you reject the politicians and leaders who made them so. I think it's not too much to ask for one day where you reflect, say thank you, and keep your own opinions to yourself. After all, they had to do it for up to six long years (WWII).
       Today, more than ever,
Thanks for reading,

Delany

World War Wednesdays: Shattered Innocence: The SS City of Benares

     In case you're wondering why I always seem to write about sunken ships and disasters at sea, my best attempt at an answer is that my interest was piqued with my first taste of history as a child through the story of the Titanic, and throughout my studies I've repeatedly stumbled upon similar tragedies.
     If any of my readers follow History at Western University, you might recognize this week's topic, but I assume most of you understandably do not, so I'll fill you in on how I got acquainted with it!
     A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across a gal named Claire Halstead on Twitter who is a PhD candidate at Western researching British child evacuees in Canada during the Second World War. She recently featured excerpts from original letters and quotes of accounts related to the sinking of the ship the SS City of Benares in 1940. I found these tweets to be especially moving and made a mental note to someday research the topic for a blog, but then I saw in the news the other day that Claire successfully defended her dissertation on the topic two days ago and officially earned her PhD. Congratulations, Dr. Halstead, and thanks for inspiring this post!

World War Wednesdays: One for the Ladies

   This week's post is all about the gals of the Second World War, with a bit of a Scottish twist! Thanks to a great page by Lillian Davis at pipesforfreedom.com, we'll be discussing the Canadian Women's Army Corps Pipe Band.

   
    On 13 August 1941, the Canadian government authorized the formation of the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) for the enlistment of several thousand women in support roles for the armed forces. Despite the Corps not being a formal part of the army, woman trained as drivers, cooks, typists, clerks, stenographers, messengers, telephone operators, and quartermasters.

    Since the CWAC was not an infantry regiment, its pipe band did not take part in the Massed Bands playing at infantry parades. However, it did play a significant role among the Canadian 1st Army pipe bands which played in Europe.

      The band was formed on 8 August, 1942 and accomplished piper Lillian M. Grant of Victoria, BC was recruited as its pipe major. The intention of the pipe band and its sister ensemble, the CWAC Brass Band, was to improve the perception of women in the military and encourage more ladies to join the forces. At its strongest, the band consisted of 27 drummers and pipers.


     Here is a letter written by Pipe Major Grant to former band members in April 1992:

“I shall be pleased to give you information on the Canadian Women's Army Corps Pipe Band of which I was the organizer and Pipe Major.

The nucleus of the band came from British Columbia where six pipers and four drummers began practising in the old Hotel Vancouver. In 1943 we went transferred to Ottawa where we picked another six pipers and four drummers.

The band played a heavy role in recruiting and morale building for the Canadian Forces. After a recruiting tour of Canada covering over 100 cities and towns, we repeated the same tour, more extensively, the following year. In the spring of 1945 we were sent to Pennsylvania U.S.A. to promote their War Bond Drive. While there we played in 25 cities and towns to hundreds of employees outside factories and indoors at concerts and rallies.

On returning to our base in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada we were given the great news that we were to be transported to Holland! Apeldoorn was "home" for seven months. We were put up in a place called "Jasper Lodge" which was across from Wilhelmina Park, if I can remember correctly. I do not recall the street name as the roads all had army connotations and ours was known as "London Up".

     The band was deactivated in 1946 following the conclusion of the war. The CWAC Pipe Band had the distinction of being the only active-service women's military pipe band in the Commonwealth during the second World War, and it remains the only women's military pipe band in Canadian history.

Edmonton, May 31, 1987: 6th. Reunion of the C.W.A.C. Pipe Band

     If you're interested in reading more about the band, including personal memoirs and photos by Lillian Davis and the nominal roll of the pipe band, check her out at http://pipesforfreedom.com/webtxt/0500THE_CANADIAN_WOMEN'S_ARMY_CORPS.htm

 Thanks so much for reading about this amazing group of ladies who faced adversity from both the home front and the Western Front. Theirs is one of my favorite stories of the Second World War, and their legacy is a huge inspiration.

    Until next week,

          Delany