What Conflicts Are Being Remembered

The South African War
More commonly known as the Boer War, the South African War began on October 11th 1899 between the British and the South African Boers over territory. The British Empire wanted control of South Africa, while the Boers wanted to maintain their independence. 
Debate began in Canada as to whether assistance should be offered to the British and it was eventually decided that Canada would help to support the British by providing volunteer troops and equipment as well as transporting soldiers to South Africa. In exchange the British were responsible for paying any Canadian soldiers who participated and returning them to Canada following the end of their service. 7,368 Canadians served in The Boer War. Roughly 280 died while serving and 250 were injured. Of those who died, 89 men were killed in combat, while 135 died of illness due to lack of hygiene and sanitation. The remaining 56 died in accidental situations.
World War One

The Great War (1914-1918) involved 30 nations and over 65 million men; it was unlike anything the World had ever seen before. Fighting was predominantly done in trenches, with small swaths of land being disputed territory for months at a time. Battles for these ridges and hills raged day and night for weeks or months on end and were the site of some of the greatest acts of heroism in modern times. The Canadian forces made their name as an important force for the Commonwealth during the Great War.
Canada was a small country of just 8 million people in 1914, and 619, 636 men and women served as members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian death toll was high at 66,655 members killed. For every ten soldiers engaged in combat only nine made it home to their families. Over 172,950 Canadians were wounded in the War. There are an estimated 19,660 Canadian casualties that have no known gravesite.

World War Two

The Second World War (1939-1945) saw the enlistment of more than one million Canadians of which 45,000 made the ultimate sacrifice.
This war cemented Canada’s image as a strong and reliable military power. Despite having a population of just 11 million people Canada boasted a six division army, the third largest navy, and the fourth largest Air Force of the Allied powers. Canadian soldiers served everywhere, against every type of enemy, and in every terrain from the North Atlantic to the North Sea, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, North Africa, and Hong Kong where they were engaged to protect British assets in the territory.

The Korean War (1950-1955)

The Korean war, also known as the Korean Conflict, was a new type of war for the Canadian Army. Initially engaged against the Communist North who perpetuated an act of war against South Korea (by crossing the 38th parallel with their army), Canadians were brought in as part of a United Nations Peacekeeping mission that quickly devolved into all out war fighting. Korea was unique for the Canadian soldiers as it was their first taste of guerrilla warfare: Gone were the days of lining up in trenches and taking pot shots at the opposing force, now soldiers had to patrol the forests and seek out their enemies. The first Canadian troops to be engaged in Korea were the crews of three Royal Canadian Navy Destroyers and six aircraft from 426 squadron, that flew resupply missions to the troops on the ground. 26,791 Canadians served in the Korean conflict and another 7,000 served in the theatre between the cease-fire and the end of 1955. Of the 490,000 casualties only 1,558 were Canadians.
UN Peacekeeping
Canada and her soldiers built a reputation as a peacekeeping nation following involvement in the Suez Canal crisis of November 1956, Canadian soldiers have been foremost in numerous UN peacekeeping missions and are one of the first nations appealed to when mandated by the UN. Since 1956, Canadian peacekeepers have donned the UN Blue Beret in Egypt, Cyprus, Syria, the Persian Gulf, Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Moldova, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Eritrea, East Timor and Afghanistan. Since 1956 if there has been strife, civil war or internal conflict, Canadian soldiers have likely been called in to support and enforce UN mandates. All told, approximately 125 Canadian soldiers have lost their lives in the name of International Peace.

Afghanistan

The Canadian involvement in Afghanistan began following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York City and the Pentagon by al-Qaeda; a branch of Muslim extremists with ties to The Taliban, formed as a strong arm replacement to the tribal government of Afghanistan and put in place by the Soviets following their defeat to the Afghani people in the late 1970's early 1980's. Canadian soldiers have been in Afghanistan since early 2002, making this the longest combat mission Canadian soldiers have ever been engaged in. Canadians are based primarily in Kandahar at Kandahar Airfield and also at Ma'sum Ghar, fighting Taliban insurgents in Kandahar province. However they are also building schools and other infrastructure through the Provincial Reconstruction Team, a Civilian Military Cooperation effort to help improve the quality of life experienced by the Afghan people. This war is difficult for Canadian and other NATO troops to fight, the insurgents are using unconventional tactics and are hiding behind law abiding citizens to try and conceal their movements and attacks on coalition forces. To date, 133 Canadian soldiers have lost their lives fighting against the Taliban. Of the 133 soldiers killed 111 have been killed due to enemy action and 22 by friendly fire incidents.


Who Is Being Remembered?

Remembrance Day is a time to reflect upon the sacrifices made by those who served in Canadian Conflicts or peacekeeping roles. We remember those who served on the front lines, those Canadians who work or worked diligently to help those injured in battle and those at home who worked in factories.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Merchant Mariners, Nurses and Doctors, and the families left behind all deserve acknowledgement.
During both of the World Wars young boys under 16 lied about their age to join the military, many serving with siblings or cousins on the far away battlefields of Europe. Some served in World War One as teenagers and in World War Two as much older men.


How Remembrance Day Began

November 11th, 1918, Armistice Day, marks the end of the First World War at 11am; this is significant as it is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. On the 11th of November 1919 the first Armistice Day was held throughout the British Commonwealth to commemorate the end of the War. Between 1923 and 1931 it was held on the Monday of the week in which November 11th fell and then in 1931 a Bill was introduced to hold Armistice Day on the same day every year and to officially re-name it Remembrance Day.
Prior to the Bill’s passing, Thanksgiving and the Armistice were celebrated the same day, but following the approval of Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving was moved to October 12th 1931.


How is it Commemorated?

Canadian Remembrance Day is a National holiday. It is also recognized as a statutory holiday in many Canadian provinces, the exceptions being Quebec, Ontario, NFLD and the Northwest Territories.
Elementary and secondary schools hold ceremonies on the day before or the day of depending on the province. There are ceremonies held at Cenotaphs across the country ranging in size.
The largest ceremony is held in the Nation’s Capital, Ottawa, at the National War Memorial. The Governor General of Canada presides over the ceremony and it is broadcast on television across the country to those who cannot attend.
The Armistice is commemorated in most countries although not always on November 11th.
In the United States, November 11th is a statutory and national holiday known as Veteran’s Day but there is more emphasis on Remembrance near the May Memorial Day holiday.
France and Belgium commemorate sacrifices of war on Armistice Day, November 11th
In Italy, November 4th is recognized as a day to remember fallen men and women. Ceremonies are usually held on the first Sunday of the month.
In the Republic of Ireland, November 11th is not a public holiday. Fallen Irish men and women are remembered on the National Day of Commemoration each July. Those who served as part of the British Commonwealth in WWI recognize November 11th as a day of Remembrance.


Significance of the Poppy

In the early days of November the jackets of Canadians are adorned with pins of poppies, the red and black flowers that grew in the battlefields of Europe during World War One. The red colour is said to be symbolic of the bloodshed associated with trench warfare.
The tradition of wearing a poppy is related to In Flanders Field, the poem by Canadian doctor John McCrae.
These pins have been worn in Canada since 1921 and are sold by members of the Royal Canadian Legion to raise money for Canadian War Veterans. The poppy is intended to be worn on the left side as near to the heart as possible.
Poppies distributed in Canada are red felt with black centres and fastened to clothing with stick pins. Several interpretations of the Poppy are worn in many other countries as symbols of remembrance.


Memorials and Cenotaphs

In the post World War One era many Canadian communities struggled to come to terms with the loss of life. Community resources were pooled to allow for the erection of monuments honouring the war dead. In many small Canadian towns and cities, there are small monuments, often near churches or legions, honouring the sacrifice of community members.
Cenotaphs are designed to honour those who are buried elsewhere and provide the opportunity to honour the dead whose bodies remained overseas.

Crosses and other religious symbols, such as Madonna and child, are often featured on war memorials. Often the original monuments were small in size with brief inscriptions about WWI and then the names of those who had fallen. Following the Second World War many monuments had additional material added on to make room for the addition of new names.
There are also larger monuments that honour the losses of larger communities, such as soldiers belonging to a specific army regiment or sailors and their ship. An example of this type of monument can be seen in Point Pleasant Park. The Sailors Memorial, erected in 1967, honours the 3,257 men and women who were lost at sea during the World Wars and other Canadians as well. The monument features a large granite Cross of Sacrifice that is visible to all ships entering the harbour.