Archive for September, 2004

Those who got in at the right time made fortunes, literally overnight. And it all came from farming—farming with a furry twist. The name of the game was fox farming or ranching, and for several years it remained the hottest industry on Princ e Edward Island.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought hard economic times to many Islanders. Some 30,000 residents left the province between 1870 and 1900. By 1924, the population had shrunk […]

In 1919-20, the British government presented hundreds of airplanes and associated equipment to several of its dominions. In Canada and Australia, these assets enabled nascent domestic air forces to be established and pioneering flights conducted. This Imperial Gift arose from motives both altruistic and self-serving on both sides.

During most of World War I, Canadian cabinet ministers studiously ignored aviation. At least 25,000 Canadians had joined the British flying services, but […]

Part 5

As war clouds gathered over Europe in July 1914, the Royal Canadian Navy’s only East Coast ship—HMCS Niobe—lay mouldering alongside the dockyard in Halifax. More than twice the size of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Rainbow and requiring 700 officers and men, the RCN’s flagship was simply too big and too expensive to operate in the grim years prior to 1914.

Moreover, unlike the West Coast, which was half a world away from […]

The last elements of 1st Canadian Infantry Division left the Ypres salient on May 4, 1915, having suffered just over 6,000 casualties. One Canadian battalion, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, (PPCLI), serving with 27th British Div., was, however, in action throughout the last three weeks of those battles and suffered a further 678 casualties, two thirds of the battalion’s strength.

The Princess Pats were not involved in the chaotic struggle to seal […]

The Canadian Forces has changed its regulations to allow recently retired members who received medals just prior to their retirement to have them formally mounted at public expense.

Called court mounting, it was once required for veterans meeting royalty. Medals are grouped and mounted on a stiff bit of cardboard or plastic to be pinned or affixed to a uniform or formal jacket. This improves the appearance and prevents the medals from banging into each other […]

by Natalie Salat

On a day when most Canadians were concerned with voting in the federal election, a couple hundred dignitaries, veterans, widows, Canadian Forces members and members of the public gathered at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa to commemorate the site’s third anniversary and to unveil a tri-service monument.

It was the perfect day for the June 28 unveiling, sunny and mild with a smattering of clouds, but not so perfect a day for Defence Minister David Pratt, […]

by Natalie Salat

From the blood-soaked fields of Flanders and terrible beaches of Dieppe to merciless Korea and landmine-rife Afghanistan, the doctors, nurses and medical personnel of the Canadian Armed Forces have tended to their comrades under the most trying of circumstances. This year, the Canadian Forces Health Services has been commemorating 100 years of service as an official part of the country’s military organization.

“Medical support is a vital part of any military,” observed […]

Two new medals have been approved by the Queen for Canada’s military and civilians who serve in the face of an armed enemy.

Governor General Adrienne Clarkson announced in Ottawa July 7 that approval has been given to create a General Campaign Star and General Service Medal.

The General Campaign Star is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces and members of allied forces working with the Canadian Forces who are deployed into a defined theatre of […]

by Ray Dick

After about two decades of false starts and no small amount of political wrangling, the government has finally announced it will replace the military’s fleet of aging Sea King helicopters at a cost of $3.2 billion.

Defence Minister Bill Graham said the government will purchase 28 Sikorsky H-92s to replace the1960s era Sea Kings, aging choppers that now require about 30 hours maintenance for each hour of flying time.

The first of the new Sikorskys, still in the design stage, will […]

by David J. Bercuson

A column written six times a year can go stale before it is read. This piece is being composed less than a week after the federal general election of June 28, 2004. From the short perspective of just six days, the most significant outcome of the election for the Canadian defence picture seems to be “Martin plus Layton minus Pratt equals Canadian Disarmament.”

That is certainly one gloomy scenario that has been mooted in the […]