Canada Joins the Great War

Why did we join?

Although we were our “own nation” (since 1867,

remember? ), we were still strongly tied to the British

Commonwealth

“There is in Canada but one mind and one heart… When Britain is at war, Canada is

at war also.”

-Wilfred Laurier

“It is Canada’s duty to contribute within the bounds

of her strength… to the combined efforts of France

and England.”

-Henri Bourassa

When Britain joined the War, WE joined the War…

Some men were without jobs, and this was seen as an

opportunity…

Privates signed up and were paid $1 per day…

Everyone believed the War wouldn’t last long.

“I’ll be home by Christmas…”

Who could have believed it wouldn’t end for 4 years, involving over 400 000

Canadians!

The government used propaganda to stir up emotions among all

Canadians

The C.E.F. (Canadian Expeditionary Force) was

formed…

The fact that they often fought as an independent

CANADIAN unit contributed to our country’s growing

sense of identity…

Sam Hughes“Minister of Militia”

Continually askedfor a Victoria Cross for actions he “supposedly” had taken in fighting…

Keep in mind, he published his own accounts of that

war.

Canada’s WWI Prime Minister, Robert Borden, decided to appoint this

“hero” as our “Minister of Militia”

His ill treatment of Francophone Canadians

during training (forced them to speak English) resulted in

few numbers of French-Canadian volunteers.

He also insisted that our soldiers carry Canadian-made “Ross rifles” which

often jammed during rapid fire…

Canadian soldiers in the war took higher quality British

rifles off the bodies of dead British soldiers

Hughes was “knighted” in 1915

And died in 1921…

His cottage in Ontario was made into a ski chalet, and

the resort is named “Sir Sam’s”

Not only white Canadian men contributed to the war effort…

Patrick Riel (Louis’ grandson) was one of 4 000 Natives and Metis who served

Jerry Jones, an African Canadian, wiped out a machine gun post at Vimy Ridge.

These minority groups had to overcome resistance and racism to serve their country.

Women were encouraged to jointhe war effort too…

but at home.

Preparing for War

□Prime Minister Borden assured Britain of Canada’s full support.

□The Canadian people were behind their prime minister in his promise.

□Parliament quickly passed a War Measures Act giving the government extraordinary powers.

□A nation wide recruiting campaign was organized by Sam Hughes, the Minister of Militia.

“ , , ”Ready aye ready

Canada and the Outbreak of War

The Canadian Expeditionary Force

□ A large training camp was established at Valcartier, Quebec.

□ Troops were armed with the questionable Ross Rifle and outfitted with equally questionable Canadian manufactured equipment.

□ Over 30,000 Canadians sailed for England in late September of 1914.

□ The first Canadian troops arrived at the front in February of 1915.

First Ten Men to War 1914Medicine Hat, Alberta

Documentation - A Canadian Recruit – John Inglis Boyd

The Diary of Stanley Brown -November 1917

We left Montreal on Nov. 20th Tuesday on S.S. Megantic.Only the 79th and some R.F.C (Royal Flying Corps) men went on board there. We anchored (and) went on board on the evening before. We left the docks at 5:30 A.M. and that evening about 5 P.M. we anchored near Sorel for the night.