Canada's Great War

This battle is not remembered well today due to its close proximity in time to the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Nonetheless, Canada still suffered over 1,200 deaths but achieved their objective and held the village of Arleux. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Want to send me something? Craig Baird PO Box 2384 Stony Plain PO Main, Alberta T7Z1X8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are back for season 3! Kicking everything off is the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Rather than rehash the battle itself, which has been done a thousand times, I am looking at the lives of 20 Vimy Ridge soldiers. I will explore their lives before, during and after the momentous battle. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Want to send me something? Craig Baird PO Box 2384 Stony Plain PO Main, Alberta T7Z1X8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the season finale of season 2, I am relating letters sent by Canadian soldiers back home, which were printed in newspapers in 1915 and 1916. Season 3 will debut after season 3 of Pucks and Cups finishes. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This battle, part of the larger Battle of the Somme, would see thousands of Canadian casualties as the troops attempted to take the important Regina Trench. It would also result in an amazing story of a Canadian soldier, the Victoria Cross and the 90 year search for his bagpipes. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clandestine deals in international waters for submarines, ships that couldn't go into coastal waters, and millionaire yachts are all part of the story of the Royal Canadian Navy in the First World War. While the Royal Canadian Navy had a small impact on the First World War, it would go on to have a massive impact on the Second World War and beyond. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back from hiatus due to life events, I'm looking at the Soldiers of the Soil program. With farms in desperate need of workers, and crops needed for the war effort, the Soldiers of the Soil program was created. Over 22,000 teenage boys would sign up. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This battle, fought in September 1916, would decimate several battalions as the Canadians fought to take a critical ridge with the British. As with many other battles for Canada, it came at a great cost. Thank you to Diane for sponsoring this episode with her donation. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 1914-1920, 8,579 Canadians, deemed "enemy aliens" were kept in internment camps where they worked hard labour. Harsh conditions, escapes and suicides were common. It would take almost 100 years for recognition of the intrenment to happen in Canada. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada had some of the greatest pilots of the First World War. They took to the skies and became icons, heroes and celebrities. These Flying Aces, or Knights of the Sky, have names still remembered today, including Billy Bishop and Wop May. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are back for Season 2! Fought for three days in September, Canada would have its first major battle during The Battle of the Somme. The battle would see heavy casualties, the first use of tanks and the creeping barrage. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the space of 30 minutes on July 1, 1916, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment would go over the top of the trench & suffer 85 per cent casualties. Of the 721 who went over on July 1, 68 answered roll call the next day. It remains today, a defining moment in Newfoundland's history. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I am looking at the Battle of Mont Sorrel, fought between June 1 and June 15, 1916. After losing a large stretch of land on June 1 & 2, 1916, the Canadians would reclaim the land over the next two weeks. While they got the land back, it came at the cost of over 8,000 killed, wounded or missing Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For two weeks in March/April 1916, Canadian troops held the line on several massive craters against the Germans. In the end, they would be forced to fall back after suffering 1,300 casualties. This battle would bring major changes that would change the course of the war for Canadians going forward. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From knitting socks, to sending chocolate, to canvassing for the Red Cross and the Victory Bond Program, Canadians of all ages came together to aid the war effort through volunteerism, money and simple homemade goods for the soldiers overseas. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boastful, egotistical, a bit of a bully, obsessed with glory, that was Sir Sam Hughes, the Minister of Defence and Militia during the first two years of the First World War in Canada. While he ensured Canadians fought as one unit, he made many mistakes along the way that would lead to his downfall. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the First World War, 1,200 Black Canadians enlisted to fight overseas, but the number would have been much higher if not for the rampant racism that kept them from enlisting. Even if they were accepted, they often dealt with severe racism in their own battalions on the front lines. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late-May 1915, Canadian troops were tasked with the British to take the Village of Festubert. While the attack would be poorly-planned and executed, it would succeed. That success came at the expense of over 2,000 casualties for the Canadians.  Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mud, lice, rats, snipers, boredom and hard labour were part of the daily life of Canadian troops in the trenches of the First World War. Today, I am looking at what those troops dealt with, with some audio from the soldiers who actually served. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Battle of St. Julien would see terrible casualties unlike anything Canadians had seen so far in the war. It was also the first time Canadians dealt with a gas attack, and the first three Canadian WW1 Victoria Crosses be be awarded during this battle.  Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the first counter-offensive of the war for the Canadians, but while the Battle of Kitcheners' Wood was a victory for the troops, it came at a great cost to the 10th and 16th Battalions, who would suffer 75 per cent casualties. Today, I look at the battle that was a sign of things to come. Support: patreon.com/canadaehx Merch: www.canadaehx.com/shop Donate: canadaehx.com (Click Donate) E-mail: craig@canadaehx.com Twitter: twitter.com/craigbaird Mastadon: @canadaehx@canada.masto.host Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cdnhistoryehx YouTube: youtube.com/c/canadianhistoryehx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices