The End, Part 2

Hello all,

I've returned recently from my time out of country. I had been serving on my second tour as an historian with NATO's International Assistance Security Force at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. That tour is done. Obviously, I did not post while I was away. I would like to thank Norman Leach for occasionally posting during my absence.

However, when I was away I decided my family and work committments and my desires to pursue other online avenues (including my Soldiers of the 38th blog) in Canadian military history meant it was, again, time to bring The Cannon's Mouth to an end - at least for the foreseeable future. Thanks for reading.

A Handful of Updates

Kingston - On Saturday July 17 the Kingston branch of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service unveiled a limestone memorial in Navy Park, next to the Marine Museum, marking the 100th year of the senior service and Kingston's contribution to it. At the same ceremony, the local branch of the turned the park back over to the city after owning it for seven years, saying there were too few of them and they were too old to continue looking after it.

Ottawa - According to a July 19th report on the CBC Canon Frederick G. Scott's medals have been acquired by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (Jeffrey Hoare Auctions)

The CBC report noted that the Canadian War Museum has bought the medals of Canon Frederick G. Scott, a First World War chaplain and poet, for $28,000.

Jeffrey Hoare Auctions Inc., an auction house that specializes in military memorabilia, sold a set of 10 medals belonging to the war hero last Friday in St. Catharines, Ont.

Among the medals are the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George and the Distinguished Service Order.

Lt.-Col. Scott was senior chaplain with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, but he could not be kept safely in the rear while men were in the trenches. Instead he insisted on being in the thick of the action at Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and the Battle of Arras.

The Anglican priest was mentioned four times in dispatches, according to the Ottawa-based war museum. He was wounded in 1918 and sent to England to recover. He died in 1944 at age 83.

Ottawa — On June 3 the Canadian War Museum (CWM) accepted the donation of a Vindicator II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from Meggitt Training Systems Canada.

According to the Museum’s press release “The Vindicator II was designed in Canada for Canadian use and export as a training system for low-level anti-aircraft defence. It is also used as an introductory trainer for the larger CU-161 Sperwer UAV, currently in use by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. The artefact is an important example of Canadian engineering, and it reflects the history, development and evolution of the Canadian defence industry. The Vindicator II UAV will be displayed in the Museum’s LeBreton Gallery.”

Golden BC - Reporter Carrie White writing in the Golden Star in Golden BC noted that “the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #122 in Golden is taking steps to ensure that they can continue to honour Canada’s veterans and serve local members and the community for another 80 years.

The project includes a partnership with the Golden and District Historical Society (GDHS) to preserve local military history and artefacts. According to the director of the project “The team has been using approved archival methods, assigning, cataloguing and archiving historical artefacts and memorabilia for the Legion and the community.”

Society - The International Military Music Society (IMMS) was founded in 1977 and is a worldwide organization for people who direct, play in, are associated with or are simply interested in and enjoy military bands, their music and history.
According to the organization`s website the objectives of the IMMS
· The encouraging of interest in all areas of military music (brass, concert, tattoos, symphonic, pipes, percussion, ensembles, etc.) of the world including published music, recordings, history, traditions, instrumentation and uniforms.
· The promotion of research in those areas.
· To provide world-wide means of communication between members interested in those aspects and studies and to exchange information.

The IMMS unites not only friends, for which military music is a hobby, but also those who are professionally involved, such as conductors, musicians and composers.

http://www.immscanada.ca/

Kelowna BC - Jennifer Smith writing in the Kelowna Capital News wrote on July 22 that the Okanagan Military Museum, the British Columbia Dragoons and the Whizbang Veterans Association are hoping to have at least a handful of Okanagan artists interested in painting a mural on the wall of Memorial Arena to celebrate the Dragoon’s centennial in 2011.

“What we’re looking for is a legacy project for the B.C. Dragoons centennial that will leave a lasting memorial for the community of the centennial,” said Paul Seguna, mural committee member and Vernon-based museum director.

www.kelownamuseums.ca

Another Event

Found another event happening in Calgary

Lougheed House, a wonderfully restored mansion in Calgary, is hosting its annual history day. This year the house has partnered with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) to host Ride Through Time 2010 - Dutiful, Decorated and Distinguished.

The celebrations will be held on July 24 from 11:00 - 16:00.

See the website at www.lougheedhouse.com for a complete schedule of events.

Events and Exhibitions

The Western Front Association (WFA) www.wfa_usa.org is hosting the following upcoming seminars for 2010. While US based I can personally attest that Canada gets a great deal of "airtime" at these events.

- Sept 10 - 11 the Western Front Association's Annual National Seminar at the Liberty Memorial, the National World War 1 Museum, Kansas City MO. The complete program and registration are on the Association's Website.

- Oct 13 Great Lakes Chapter WFA Seminar Cleveland Gray's Armory, Cleveland OH

- Nov 6 East Coast Chapter Seminar Maryland War Memorial, Baltimore

- Nov 13 New England - New York Chapter Seminar Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library Hyde Park NY


On a more Canadian note the Military Museums in Calgary www.themilitarymuseums.com is announcing the following events:

- On July 11 Vice Admiral D McFadden, head of the Canadian Navy unveiled an authentic Enigma machine at the Naval Museum of Alberta located within the Military Museums. The Enigma machine will be on permanent display.

- The Founders Gallery at the Military Museums is hosting an art exhibit entitled "Prairie Boys at Sea" which will officially open on July 14 and run until August 22, 2010.

CALL FOR INFO

If any of you have info that would be interesting to the readers of the Cannon's Mouth please forward to me at nsleach@telusplanet.net Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the offers of help.

I am grateful for the offers of help I have been receiving over the past week. All offers are accepted with thanks.

While this is very regional thought some of you might be interested:

The Founders Gallery at Military Museums in Calgary has a special exhibit starting on Canada Day. The gallery will be displaying the last Red Ensign to be flown in Canada and the very first Canadian Flag with the Maple Leaf. Check out the Museum's website for more information.

New Writer

Ken

Thank you for your faith in me. To all of you fans of The Cannon's Mouth I hope I can do it justice.

I am looking for any and all story ideas or leads - as long as the focus on Canadian Military History. Please let me know what you might have at nsleach@telusplanet.net

Thanks in advance for your help.

Norman

Great News

Great news! Norman Leach, noted Canadian military historian from Calgary, has graciously agreed to guest write for The Cannon's Mouth during my absence. Best of luck to Norman.

Extended Absence

My apologies for the delay in writing this post. Obviously, I haven't sent written anything for some time. First, it was the Easter holidays, then work that kept me very busy. As it stands right now, my work and family commitments for the next several months means I will not be able to do any posting on the Cannon's Mouth for some time to come. I wish it were otherwise, but there it is.

16th Annual Air Force Historical Workshop

The 16th Annual Air Force Historical Workshop will be held in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (Montreal), Quebec on 1-2 June 2010. Titled "De-Icing Required! The Historical Dimension of the Canadian Air Force's Experience in the Arctic", presenters include:

Dr Sandy Babcock, Centre for Operational Research and Analysis, "Operation CANON: A Case Study of Early Royal Canadian Air Force Arctic Search and Rescue Capabilities";

Colonel (ret'd) Ernest Cable, Shearwater Aviation Museum, "The Air Force: A Leader in Canada's Arctic";

Dr Richard Goette, Queen's University, "Building RCAF Arctic 'Air Mindedness'";

Rachel Heide, Directorate Future Security Analysis, "Frigid Ambitions: The Venture of the Alert Wireless Station and Lessons Learned for the Canada First Defence Strategy";

Daniel Heidt, University of Western Ontario, (with Dr P. Whitney Lackenbauer), "Sovereignty for Hire: Civilian Contractors and the Distant Early Warning Line";

Peter Kikkert, University of Western Ontario, "Creating a Role: The Air Force in the Arctic, 1945-1953";

Dr P Whitney Lackenbauer, St. Jerome's University, "At the Crossroads of Militarism and Modernization: Inuit-Air Force Relations in the Cold War Arctic"; and

Major Ray Stouffer, The Royal Military College of Canada, "A Joint Solution to a Strategic Threat: The RCAF and the Mobile Striking Force, 1948-1955".

For further information contact Major Bill March at william.march@forces.gc.ca or at 613-392-2811 ext 4656.

Canadian Navy Conference at the CWM/MCG

On 5-6 May 2010 the Canadian War Museum will be hosting a conference entitled "The Canadian Navy and the Commonwealth Experience, 1910-2010: From Empire to Independence" / « La Marine canadienne et l'experience du Commonwealth, 1910-2010 : De l'empire à l'indépendance » in its Barney Danson Theatre.

As the press release notes:

Explore new approaches to history in this ground-breaking conference with internationally recognized historians and seasoned naval professionals from Australia, Britain, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States. Organized in cooperation with the Canadian Navy in celebration of its Centennial.

Découvrez des façons novatrices d'aborder l'histoire en assistant à cette conférence révolutionnaire qui réunira des historiens et des professionnels de la marine expérimentés de renommée internationale venus de l'Inde, de la Nouvelle-Zélande et des États-Unis. Rencontre organisée par la Marine canadienne dans le cadre de son centenaire.

The draft programme for the conference includes numerous Canadian and non-Canadian subjects in naval history, some of which are:

Rear-Admiral James Goldrick, Royal Australian Navy, "From Fleets to Navies: The Evolution of Dominion Fleets into Independent Services" (keynote address);

Dr Christopher Bell, Dalhousie University, "Winston Churchill, Dominion Navies, and Imperial Defence";

Dr Isabell Campbell, Department of National Defence, "Canadian Insights into NATO Naval Strategy 1949 to 1964";

Lieutenant (N) Jason Delaney, Canadian Forces, "Towards an Operational Capability: Canadian and Allied Submarine Procurement Programs during the Cold War and After";

Dr Norman Friedman, "The Commonwealth Approach to Atlantic Warfare, 1945-55";

Commodore Richard Greenwood, Canadian Forces, "An Engineer's Outline of Canadian Naval History, 1970-2010";

Commander (ret'd) Peter Haydon, "A Tale of Two Navies: The Canada-US Naval Relationship during the Cold War";

Captain (RN, ret'd) Peter Hore, "Canada from Afar: Reputation and Character";

Dr Rob Huebert, University of Calgary, "The Quest for a Canadian Naval Strategy, 1991-2010";

Commander (ret'd) Ken Mackenzie, "Scare-mongering or Preparedness?: Navy Leagues of the Empire-Commonwealth, 1895-1939";

Dr Roger Sarty, Wilfrid Laurier University, "A Navy of Necessity: Canadian Naval Forces, 1867-2010";

Captain (N) Elizabeth Steele, Canadian Forces, "Commonwealth Logistics Cooperation, 1970-2010"; and

Dr Nicholas Tracy, "Canada's Naval Strategy: Old and New Dimensions of Purposeful Force".

21st Military History Colloquium at WLU

The preliminary programme for the 21st Military History Colloquium, 29 April to 1 May 2010, at Wilfrid Laurier University, has been issued. The programme includes a huge list of presenters, who will discuss a wide range of Canada's military history, including:

Mike Bechthold, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Lost in Normandy: The Epic Tragedy of Worthington Force";

Michael Boire, War Studies, Royal Military College of Canada, "Imperial Armour: 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade and Interoperability in the Eighth Army";

David A. Borys, University of New Brunswick, "The Fight Against Collateral Damage: Civil Affairs in First Canadian Army";

Stephen Bourque, School of Advanced Military Studies, "What we didn't know: The Effect of the Normandy Air Campaign on French Civilians" (keynote address);

Graham Broad, King's University College at the University of Western Ontario, "'When the Bombs Start Dropping, Run Like Hell': Civilian Air Raid Precautions in Canada, 1939-1945";

Mathieu Brosseau and Marie-Hélène Leclerc, Canadian Forces College, NCMPDC, "The Corvette: The Canadian Response to the Convoy Crisis";

Andrew Burtch, Canadian War Museum, "Canada's Survival Army: The Berlin Crisis and the National Survival Militia Training Plan";

Gary Campbell, University of New Brunswick, "Defending New Brunswick during the War of 1812: The Implementation of Captain Gustavus Nicoll's Report";

Kelly-Anne Campbell, War Studies, Royal Military College of Canada, "Oil and Blood for Blood and Oil: The Canadian Merchant Navy in the Second World War";

Zack Cavasin, University of Ottawa, "The Battle to Rebuild: Canadian Military Relations with the Civil Population after the Battle of Ortona";

Tim Cook, Canadian War Museum, "The Madman Revisited";

Terry Copp, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Some Reflections on the Italian Campaign" (keynote address);

Sarah Cozzi, University of Ottawa, "'Where do we go from here?': Soldier-Tourists of the Canadian Expeditionary Force";

Doug Delaney, War Studies, Royal Military College of Canada, "Canadian Corps Commanders, 1939-1945: Observations on Generalship and Staff Training";

Angela Duffett, Carleton University, "Memory, Myth, and Memorials: Public Memory of the First World War in Newfoundland";

Serge Durflinger, University of Ottawa, "Making New Men: The Rehabilitation of Canada's War Blinded of the Second World War";

Alistair Edgar, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Achieving 'Afghan Good-enough?': Canadian Withdrawal from the Long War in Afghanistan";

Michelle Fowler, Wilfrid Laurier University, "'No Age Lives Entirely Alone': The Story of Major Ronald E. Balfour, Civil Affairs, First Canadian Army and his Fight to Preserve Europe's Past";

Andrew B. Godefroy, Character of War Program, Oxford University, "Arguing the Unthinkable: Ideas and Debate on Atomic Warfare in the Canadian Army Journal, 1947-1965";

Richard Goette, Royal Military College of Canada, "Canada, the United States, and the Air Defence of Sault Ste. Marie Canal during the Second World War";

John Grenier, Norwich University, "'The War on the Acadians, 1755-1759': The British Army's Conquest of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick";

Mark Osborne Humphries, "Disease, Health, and the German Army's Collapse in the Summer of 1918";

Andrew Iarocci, Canadian War Museum, "'Tanks are no bogey for the infantry...': Allied and German Approaches to Anti-Tank Defence, 1916-18";

Benjamin Isitt, University of Victoria, "From Victoria to Vladivostok: Canada's Siberian Expedition, 1917-19";

Rebecca Jensen, University of Manitoba, "Reflecting Canada: A Historiographical Look at Canadian Military History since the End of the Cold War";

Geoff Keelan, University of Waterloo, "22nd Battalion in the Great War";

David Kielstra, Wilfrid Laurier University, "The Failure of Soviet Counter-Insurgency Strategy in Afghanistan: Legacies for Canada's Withdrawal in 2011";

Kellen Kurschinski, University of Waterloo, "'Sparks and Chips': The Works Dominion Electrohome Inc from War to Peace";

Christine Leppard, University of Calgary, "The Italian Campaign Sixty-Five Years On: Lessons from the 1st Canadian Field Historical Section";

James Lutz, Royal Canadian Military Institute, "Thomas McKenzie and the Creation of Canada's Professional Army";

Raymond MacKinnon, Queen's University, "'Star Wars, Eh?': Canadian Aerospace Policy and the Militarization of Outer Space";

Craig Leslie Mantle, Canadian Forces Leadership Institute and University of Calgary, "Officer-Man Relations in Microcosm: Batmen in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War";

James McCallum, Carleton University, "'A Courage Unique in Canada's Military History': English-Canadian Newspaper Coverage of Canadian Soldiers in the Congo and the Development of the Canadian Peacekeeping Identity, 1960-1961";

Andrew McEwen, University of Waterloo, "'Not...up to my expectations': Canadians, Australians and Tanks at the Battle of Amiens";

Caitlin McWillians, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Bombers, Brutes, and Babes: Aircraft Graffiti, Nose Art, and Canadian Identity in the Royal Canadian Air Force";

Marc Milner, University of New Brunswick, "To the Far Side of the World: The Canadian Navy's Pursuit of Terrorists, Pirates, and Fleet Capability in the Post-Cold War World, 1990-2010" (keynote address);

Jonathan Minnes, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Ortona in the News";

Heather Moran, The Centre for Community Mapping, "Creating participatory public history relating to the bi-centennial celebrations of the War of 1812";

Tascha Morrison, Carleton University, "Looking Backwards, Looking Forwards: Remembrance Day in Canada";

Jeff Nilsson, University of Waterloo, "'No Patience for the Patriot who Thinks Himself Too Good': The Legion of Frontiersmen and Recruitment in Canada, 1914-1915";

Jeff Noakes, Canadian War Museum, "Mr. Midshipman Brett: Robert Benney Brett's Abbreviated Naval Career, 1915-1921";

William Pratt, University of New Brunswick, "1 Canadian Armoured Brigade and the Battle of Lake Trasimene, 20-29 June 1944";

Cameron Pulsifer, Canadian War Museum (retired), "The Great Canadian Machine Gun Mania of 1915: The Public, the Government, and the Procurement of Machine Guns for the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First Full Year of the Great War";

Béatrice Richard, Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, "Defining One's Own Patriotism: A French Canadian Legionary in the First World War";

John Rickard, Directorate of Army Training, "'On the Way to Normandy': Some Overlooked Aspects of the Canadian Army Prior to D-Day";

Kathryn Rose, University of Waterloo, "The History of the Department of Munition and Supply: The Trials of J. de N. Kennedy";

Roger Sarty, Wilfrid Laurier University, "S.F. Wise and the Writing of Men in Arms: How a Young RCAF Veteran became an Academic Military Historian;

Christopher Schultz, Carleton University, "The Cannon is a Good Converter: Violence on the Western Front and the Spatial-Temporal Shape of War";

Alex Souchen, University of Ottawa, "'You Make the News - We Print It': Battalion Newspapers in the 3rd Canadian Division, June-July 1944";

Matthew Trudgen, Queen's University, "A New Perspective on the US Military Facilities in the Canadian Northwest in the Second World War";

Brent Wilson, University of New Brunswick, "Keeping CEF Battalions Up to Strength: The Case of the 26th Battalion during the Great War"; and

Joseph Zeller, University of New Brunswick, "Redefining the Naval Seascape: The Emergenct of the Motor Torpedo Boat".

Latest Issue of the Canadian Military Journal

Vol.10, no.2 (2010) of the Canadian Military Journal is now online, and contains a few items of direct interest to readers of Canadian military history (as well a lot of other interesting material, as per usual):

Howard Coombs, "In the Wake of a Paradigm Shift: The Canadian Forces College and the Operational Level of War (1987-1995)";

Michael T. Fawcett, "The Politics of Sovereignty: Continental Defence and the Creation of NORAD"; and

Ray Stouffer, "Air Chief Frank Miller: A Civilian and Military Leader"; as well as several book reviews.

2010 Canadian Historical Association Meeting program

The preliminary program for the 2010 Canadian Historical Association Annual Meeting, 30 May to 1 June 2010 at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, is now online. The program includes much of interest, including a fair amount of presentations directly pertaining to Canadian military history, including (in alphabetical order):

Kristine Alexander, York University, "'This War is a Young Man's Job': Youth and Masculinity in the First World War Novels of L.M. Montgomery and Ralph Connor";

Amy Bell, Huron University College, "Murder and the Microscope: The 1942 Case";

George Buri, University of Regina, "Selling Confidence in the Face of Nuclear Annihilation: Civil Defense Propaganda in Canada, 1948-1963";

François Cartier, Musée McCord, « Le journal de James Wolfe devant Québec : controverses autour d'une source majeure de notre histoire »;

Nic Clarke, University of Ottawa, "Northern Supermen or Average Canucks?: The General Health of Canadian Expeditionary Force Recruits, 1914-1918";

Ross Fair, Ryerson University, "'A Standing Moment of Forgetfulness': War of 1812 Centennial Commemorations in Toronto, 1912-15";

Vicki Hallett, Memorial University, "Verses in the Darkness: A Newfoundland Poet Responds to the First World War";

Jeffers Lennox, Dalhousie University, "L'Acadie Trouvée: The Search for Boundaries and Imperial Conflict, 1750-1756";

Jean Martin, Ministère de la defense nationale, « L'histoire en direct : l'historien militaire, témoin des opérations canadiennes actuelles, en Afghanistan et ailleurs »;

Helene Quimper, Commission des champs de bataille nationaux, Québec, « Québec, ville assiégée 1759-1760 ou Le désir de rendre la parole aux acteurs et témoins des événements »;

Beatrice Richard, Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, « Raconter la guerre ou Raconter sa guerre ?: Le dilemme du légionnaire Paul Caron »;

Amy Shaw, University of Lethbridge, "Creating Heroes for the Story: Canadian Soldiers in the Boer War";

Terry Bishop Stirling, Memorial University, "'Such Sad Sights One Will Never Forget': Newfoundland Women and Overseas Nursing in World War One"; and

Laurent Turcot, Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières, « The Surrender of Montreal to General Amherst, (1760) de Francis Hayman : raconter et représenter la victoire anglaise en terre canadienne ».

There will also be business meetings held for the Committee on the Second World War and the Canadian Committee on Military History.

Admiral Sir Charles Kingsmill Lecture

Dr. Marc Milner, with The Gregg Centre, University of New Brunswick, will be presenting the Admiral Sir Charles Kingsmill Lecture: In honour of the Canadian Naval Centennial, 1910-2010, titled "Canada's Navy at 100: What have learned from the first century of this 'costly and hazardous' experiment?", at 1930 hours on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 at the Arboretum Centre Auditorium, University of Guelph. For more information, contact (519) 836-1221 or museum@guelph.ca.

Article about The Memory Project

The Time Colonist has run an article by Sandra McCulloch entitled "Memory project ensures war stories make history" on the Historica-Dominion Institute's The Memory Project. She writes this is an "innovative project [that] hopes to capture and preserve the war-time memories of the remaining 160,000 [Second World War] veterans for the benefit of generations that follow." The project, she continues, "has preserved the memories of 116 veterans so far through recorded interviews and digitized memorabilia, accessible online..." At this point 800 interviews have been completed, including that of Second World War and Korean War naval veteran Peter Fane pictured here (photo credit to Darren Stone, Times Colonist). McCulloch writes: "The interviews are edited, fact-checked, transcribed and translated. The goal is to capture online the memories of 1,000 veterans before funding runs out in March 2011."

Canadian Military History Talk in Video

The good folks at the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies have taken their resources to a new level with the announcement that since the fall of 2009 they have been videotaping some of their public lectures with the attention of making them available online through streaming video. The first such presentation placed online was delivered by Tim Cook, Canadian War Museum, in February 2010, under the title "'Always Look on the Bright Side of Strife': Humour and the Canadian Great War Soldiers". In my humble opinion, this is a fantastic idea and opens up the possibility of bringing the centre's presentations to those of us unable to travel to southern Ontario to see them live.

Latest Issue of The War of 1812 Issue

Issue 12 (November 2009) of The War of 1812 Magazine is now available online, free for the viewing. Articles and columns include:

Donald Graves, "In Memoriam: Robert G. Malcomson 1949-2009";

Donald Graves, "Field Artillery and the War of 1812: Equipment, Organization, Tactics and Effectiveness";

Robert Malcomson, "Dobbs and the Royal Navy at Niagara";

Kamille T.H. Parkinson, "The War of 1812 and the Tourist Encounter in Upper Canada: Eight Watercolour Views by Philip John Bainbrigge, RE"; plus

a pair of book reviews.

Article about Camp X Artefacts

A newspaper in Kitchener, Ontario, The Record, has run a piece by Carola Vyhnak, titled "Historian battling to save 'Camp X' artifacts" in its online edition. Camp X, between Whitby and Oshawa, Ontario, was a Second World War training installation for Allied undercover agents ("top-secret Camp X spy training school"). The article reports that approximately twenty-five percent of a private collection, the Robert Stuart Aeronautical Collection of intelligence and military artefacts, incorporates material originally from Camp X. This collection is currently up for auction by Stuart's family. Local historian Lynn Philip Hodgson is concerned that the collection might be sold to a bidder outside of Canada and the material removed from the Camp X Museum where it is currently on display.

Latest Issue of Canadian Military History

The Autumn 2009 (vol.18, no.4) issue of Canadian Military History is now out and contains, as always, a huge selection of interesting reading for students of Canadian military history, including:

Nic Clarke, "Passchendaele highlights uncounted casualties";

Tim Cook, "The Top 10 Most Important Books of Canadian Military History";

Maxime Dagenais, "'Une Permission ! C'est bon pour une recrue' : Discipline and Illegal Absences in the 22nd (French-Canadian) Battalion, 1915-1919";

Andrew B. Godefroy, "The Royal Military College of Canada and the Education of Officers for the Great War";

Andrew Iarocci, "'A Unique Art': Canadian Anti-Gas Respirator Production in the Second World War";

Robert Spencer, "Military Training in an Academic Environment: The University of Toronto Canadian Officers Training Corps, 1914-1968"; and

my column on Canadian Military History Electronic Resources titled "Canada's Soldiers of the South African and First World Wars at Library and Archives Canada".

Program for the Society for Military History Conference

The Society for Military History's 77th Annual Meeting, scheduled for 20-23 May 2010, will be held at the Marshall Hall, Center for Leadership and Ethics, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia. The schedule for the conference has been issued and contains the following scheduled presentations of direct relevance to students of Canadian military history (and well as oodles of other items of great interest):

Peter Archambault, "Tradition and Pragmatism: Anglo-Canadian Defense Relations after the Second World War";

Tim Cook, "'Goodbyeeeee and Fuck You!': Masculinity, Identity, and Swearing among Canada's Great War Soldiers";

Alexander W.G. Herd, "Preparing to Fight the Bear: The Canadian Army at the Nexus of the North Atlantic Triangle"; and

Michael Whitby, "Doin' the Biz: Anti-SSBN Patrols by Canadian Submarines, 1983-87".

Soldiers of the 38th reaches a milestone

My other main foray into the world of blogging - Soldiers of the 38th - is an attempt at an ongoing mass biography of the officers and men of the 38th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War. I've mentioned this project before as an outgrowth of the (never-ending) research I've been doing into the history of the 38th Battalion, CEF.

Why am I mentioning it again in a moment of self-promotion. Well, recently the total number of posts, i.e. individual biographies, has passed 2,000. I'm still only about halfway to having provided basic biographies to all of the members of the 38th, but the process has been incredibly helpful in understanding the personnel side of the battalion's history, a great way to contact family members, and some small measure of saying thanks to these men of our military past.

New Books List at Library and Archives Canada

The February 2010 New Books List at Library and Archives Canada is now online and features a few items of immediate interest to readers of Canadian military history:

Louis Baratgin, Cartoon Review of the War: Louis Baratgin's World War II Album (Montreal, 2010);

Maria da Silva, Rebels against Tories in Upper Canada 1837 (Toronto, 2010);

Dorothy Farmiloe, Jack Munroe: Canada's Forgotten Hero (Ottawa, 2010);

James G. Fergusson, Canada and Ballistic Missile Defence: Déjà vu all over again (Vancouver, 2010); and

P. Whitney Lackenbauer and Peter Kikkert, comps., The Canadian Forces and Arctic Sovereignty: Debating Roles, Interests, and Requirements, 1968-1974 (Waterloo, ON, 2010).

Latest Issues of the Northern Mariner

This may be a bit repetitive from a previous post some time back, but here are the latest items from The Northern Mariner directly pertaining to Canadian military history:

Robert L. Davison, "A Most Fortunate Court Martial: The Trial of Captain Charles Kingsmill, 1907", vol.19;

Barry Gough, "Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, Naval Victor of Quebec, 1759", vol.19 (2009);

Peter T. Haydon, "Canadian Involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis Re-Considered", vol.17, no.2 (2007);

Sean M. Maloney, "Parry and Thrust: Canadian Maritime Forces and the Defence of North America, 1954-62", vol.18, no.1 (2008); and

Peter MacLeod, "Invisible Admiral: Phillip Durell at the Siege of Quebec, 1759", vol.19 (2009).

Index of Newfoundland and Labrador Studies

I've had a chance to peruse the online index of the journal Newfoundland and Labrador Studies (up to an including the current issue volume 24, number 1, Spring 2009) and have extracted the articles of particular reference to Canadian military history:

Casey, G.J. and Maura C. Hanrahan, "Roses and Thistles: Second World War Bridges in Newfoundland", vol.10, no.2 (Fall 1994): 240-249;

Harding, Robert J., "Glorious Tragedy: Newfoundland's Cultural Memory of the Attack at Beaumont Hamel, 1916-1925", vol.21, no.1 (Spring 2006): 3-40;

High, Steven, "From Outport to Outport Base: The American Occupation of Stephenville, 1940-1945", vol.18, no.1 (Spring 2002): 84-113;

Lackenbauer, P. Whitney, "War, Memory, and the Newfoundland Regiment at Gallipoli", vol.15, no.2 (Fall 1999): 176-214;

MacLeod, Malcolm, "Death by choice or by chance? U-69 and the first Newfoundland ferry Caribou", vol.12, no.1 (Spring 1996): 1-15;

Martin, Chris, "The Right Course, The Best Course, The Only Course: Voluntary Recruitment in the Newfoundland Regiment, 1914-1918", vol.24, no.1 (Spring 2009): 55-89;

Mercer, Keith, "The Murder of Lieutenant Lawry: A Case Study of British Naval Impressment in Newfoundland, 1794", vol.21, no.2 (Fall 2006): 255-289;

Neary, Peter, "The Diplomatic Backgound to the Canada-Newfoundland Goose Bay Agreement of October 10, 1944", vol.2, no.1 (Spring 1986): 39-61;

Neary, Peter, "'A grave problem which needs immediate attention': an American report on venereal disease and other health problems in Newfoundland, 1942", vol.15, no.1 (Spring 1999): 79-103;

Neary, Peter, "Great Britain and the Future of Newfoundland, 1939-45", vol.1, no.1 (Spring 1985): 29-56;

O'Brien, Mike, "Out of a Clear Sky: The Mobilization of the Newfoundland Regiment, 1914-1915", vol.22, no.2 (Fall 2007): 401-427;

Pritchard, James, "'Le Profit et La Gloire': The French Navy's Alliance with Private Enterprise in the Defense of Newfoundland, 1691-1697", vol.15, no.2 (Fall 1999): 161-175; and

Sharpe, Christopher A., "The 'Race of Honour': An Analysis of Enlistments and Casualties in the Armed Forces of Newfoundland, 1914-1918", vol.4, no.1 (Spring 1988): 27-55.

Latest Issues of the Journal of Military and Strategic Studies

It's been a long, long while since (six issues) I've posted about the Canadian military history articles published in the Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, so here we go:

Terry Copp, "Canada's National Army, Canada's National Interest, 1918, 2008", vol.10, no.3 (2008);

David A. Kielstra, "Taking Care of Business: Canada's Forgotten Cold War Conflict in Cyprus, July-August 1974", vol.12, no.1 (2009);

Peter Kikkert, "The Polaris Incident: 'Going to the Mat' with the Americans", vol.11, no.3 (2009); and

Timothy C. Winegard, "The Forgotten Front of the Oka Crisis: Operation Feather/Akwesasne", vol.11, nos.1-2 (2009).

Latest Issue of the Canadian Naval Review

The Fall 2009 (vol.5, no.3) issue of the Canadian Naval Review is out, and an excerpt can be found online at the journal's website. This issue contains a couple of items of particular interest to readers of Canadian military history, as well as other interesting naval information:

Richard Mayne, "'An Art of its Own': Corporate Knowledge, the Canadian Navy and Arctic Operations";

Rob Stuart, "Was the RCN ever the Third Largest Navy?";

War of 1812 in the Western Great Lakes

I realize this makes two in a row for a journal looking for material for a War of 1812 themed issue, but there you have it.

The Michigan Historical Review is looking for article proposals for a spring 2012 special issue "on the War of 1812 in the Great Lakes region, preferably west of Niagara. Articles should be based on original research or reinterpret commonly accepted conclusions relation to the conflict in this region." They're looking for articles about 8,000 words in length (including notes) and would like to see - first - a 300-word proposal re the subject, "probably thesis or conclusions, and types of sources", plus a brief CV, by 30 April 2010. Please send submissions to David Macleod, editor, MHR, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, or mihisrev@cmich.edu.

Call for Articles on The War of 1812

The folks at Ontario History are interested in hearing from historians interested in contributing articles for a special 2012 edition of the journal on the subject of "Ontario and The War of 1812". "Expressions of interest and an abstract of the proposed article" should be sent before 31 May 2010 to guest editor Clare Dale at clare_dale@carleton.ca or to general editor Thorold Tronrud at foxlort@tbaytel.net. The snail mail address for the latter editor is: Ontario History, 353 McKellar Street North, Thunder Bay, ON, P7E 5V1.

Presentation on 1950 crash of B-36 bomber in British Columbia

Norman Leach has sent me a press release with respect to an upcoming lecture series of his concerning an interesting aspect of Canada's military history. As the release notes:

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Feb 14, 1950, crash of the U.S. B36 bomber in the Kispiox, north of the Hazeltons, the Bulkley Valley Museum is hosting a lecture tour by the celebrated Canadian historian, author and U. of Calgary lecturer, Norman Leach, who has written the seminal account of this aviation disaster, "Broken Arrow - America's First Lost Nuclear Weapon". Norman will give a lecture on the crash of the B36 and the controversy of its Fat Man atomic bomb payload at 7:00 pm on Saturday, Feb 13th, at the Old Church. [...] will escort Norman to speak in high schools, libraries and museums between Houston and Terrace. This is all part of the BV Museum's policy of putting the spotlight on our engrossing local history.

For further information, contact the Bulkley Valley Museum in Smithers, British Columbia, by e-mail at info@bvmuseum.com or at 250-847-5322.

New Books List at Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada has posted its New Books list for January 2010, and it contains some items of interest to readers of Canadian military history, including the following:

Lawrence J. Barkwell, The Battle of Seven Oaks: A Métis Perspective (Winnipeg: Louis Riel Institute, 2010);

Gladysann Bryce, First in, last out: Royal Canadian Air Force, Women's Division (Torrance, ON: G. Bryce, 2010);

George H. Cassar, Hell in Flanders Fields: Canadians and the Second Battle of Ypres (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2010);

Adam Day, Témoin de la guerre : mes reportages sur l'Afghanistan de 2004 à 2009 (Ottawa : Magic Light Pub., 2010);

Adam Day, Witness to War: Reporting on Afghanistan, 2004-2009 (Ottawa: Magic Light Pub., 2010);

Benjamin Isitt, From Victoria to Vladivostok: Canada's Siberian Expedition, 1917-19 (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010); and

Dwight Whalen, War Christmas: Letters from Niagara Servicemen 1914-1918, 1939-1945 (Shelburne, ON: Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 2010).

5th Windsor Military Studies Conference

I've received a release concerning the 5th Windsor Military Studies Conference, which will take place at the Major F.A. Tilston VC Armoury, 4007 Sandwich Street, Windsor, Ontario, on 5-6 February 2010. Papers scheduled to be presented include:

Captain (N) Serge C. Bertrand, "Naval Operations in the 21st Century";

Terry Copp, "In the Forests of the Night: The Essex Scottish in the Rhineland, February 1945";

Michelle Fowler, "Remembering the Wrens: The Diary of Marion Swinton, WRCNS";

Peter Kikkert, "Flying the Flag and Sharing Whiskey: The Role of the Canadian Navy in the Arctic, 1945-2010";

Sean Maloney, "The Mechs: Operation Timus Preem, Zhari District, Afghanistan, August 2008"; and

Roger Sarty, "A Uniquely Canadian Battle: The RCN and the RCAF's Defeat of the U-Boat Offensive in the St. Lawrence, 1942-4".

To pre-register, please contact hrgmail@uwindsor.ca or call 519-253-3000 ext 3506.

Latest issue of Canadian Military Journal

The volume 10, number 1 (2009) issue of the Canadian Military Journal is now available online. This issue contains the following items of particular interest to readers of Canadian military history, including:

Larry Aitken, "'First we hold our noses, then we seek justice': The Application of the Soft Approach in the Chapter VII Operations Conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo";

John R. Grodzinski, "The Use and Abuse of Battle: Vimy Ridge and the Great War over the History of the First World War";

Craig Leslie Mantle and Lieutenant-Colonel Larry Zaporzan, "The Leadershio of S.V. Radley-Walters: The Normandy Campaign Part Two"; and

Matthew Trudgen, "Do we want 'Buckets of Instant Sunshine'?: Canada and Nuclear Weapons 1945-1984";

as well as several book reviews of interest.

Scott Sheffield presentation at Univ of Fraser Valley

Dr. Scott Sheffield, Department of History, University of Fraser Valley, will be making a presentation at the University of the Fraser Valley's Abbotsford campus, Room B121, on Wednesday, 27 January 2010, at 1900 hours, titled "Mobilizing Indigeneity: Comparing Settler Societies and Indigenous Participation in the Second World War". The press release notes:

The Indigenous warrior has long captivated the imaginations of Western societies. As 'vicious savages' impeding the march of civilization of loyal allies fighting alongside imperial powers/noble settlers, the be-feathered North American Indian, fierce Maori, and elusive Aborigine have become entrenched in the popular consciousness of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Although pre-war indigenous-settler relationships differed substantially, each Aboriginal population responded when war broke out in 1939 by declaring their support and volunteering to serve. Thousands of Aborigines, First Nations, Maori and Native Americans fought overseas, while on the home front, their families, communities and leadership offered labour, voluntary, monetary and symbolic aid to national war efforts.

Governments that had been working for decades to undermine the cultural vitality and identity of indigenous peoples would, in the exigencies of wartime, explicitly seek to utilize perceived indigenous attributes, languages, knowledge and bushcraft for the national war effort. Whether drawing on 'marital [sic?] race' concepts to support organisation of segregated indigenous units like the 28th (Maori) Battalion, formally or informally using indigenous knowledge of remote regions threatened by attack in Northern Australia or Alaska, indigeneity was enlisted for the Allied cause. Examining such processes in comparative perspective can tell us a great deal about these historical processes, both in the startling similarities across the four countries, and via their clear differences.

"The Past is Not Yet Written" Conference

The History and Classics Graduate Students Association, University of Alberta, is hosting a conference entitled "The Past is Not Yet Written: Innovative Approaches and New Ideas in Historical Research" on 5-6 March 2010 at the U of A. Originally, the conference's focus was to have been restricted to "the application of quantitative methods", but has since been expanded to "innovative approaches and new ideas in historical research", i.e. they are "seeking papers from a broad spectrum addressing different approaches to historical research from all time periods and geographical regions. Papers may address any subject matter as it is the method of approach that is of importance, not the specific subject matter." This call for papers goes until 31 January 2010 and proposals should be submitted to conference.hcgsa@gmail.com. For further information, contact Ian Thompson or Rylan Kafara at the same e-mail address.

Library and Archives Canada and Historians

Terry Cook, Clio Consulting and Archival Studies Program at the University of Manitoba, and under contract with Library and Archives Canada, has posted on H-Canada a request for the input of historians which is being "sought on the current and future relationship of Library and Archives Canada with the Canadian historical research community. Input is invited from academic historians, graduate students, public historians, and professional researchers." (Why the distinctions - how about simply "historical researchers"?). This survey is part of series of "dialogues with key stakeholders about the role of Library and Archives Canada with Daniel J. Caron, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. The series of question in the survey can be found in English and in France.

My Newest Blog

A bit of self-promotion today. I've recently started a new blog, "Colonel Edwards' Army: A History of the 38th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1914 to 1919". It's no secret that I've been researching and writing a full-length history of the 38th for some years now and already have another blog, "Soldiers of the 38th", concerned with the individual members of the unit.

That said, I've been increasingly interested of late in the concept of "live-blogging", i.e. blogging the description of an historical event at the pace at which it originally unfolded. In this case, my intention is to do so ninety-five years after the fact (1915 in 2010, 1916 in 2011, etc., for example, 9 April 1917 on 9 April 2012). In the case of my new project, I've already posted an introduction and information for the December 1914 history of the 38th. During the next couple of weeks I'll post on January 1915. Essentially, this is a distribution of the text I've researched and written for the book in blog form as a type of working history. Initially, the 95-year gap won't be covered daily, but weekly or monthly. Until the battalion actually reached France and Flanders it isn't really possible to write about its history on a daily basis. Expect the history from January 1915 through mid-August 1916 (when the 38th arrives in France) to be issued as a weekly post, after that daily.

Why do this? First of all, because I'm eager to have the results of my research and writing get out there. Is a published book some years from now the only means to do this? I don't think so. Do I hope to have the final product published in the future? Absolutely. My second reason is my conviction that a retelling of the 38th's story on a daily basis (from 13 August 1916 / 13 August 2011) will add a totally different dimension to the story. CEF units did not spend their entire "lives" in the front line trenches. There were periods of sheer boredom, never-ending training, and attempts to rest, recover and reinforce - periods far more numerous in days spent than the nightmare that was combat during the war.

Sure, it's an experiment. And I hope it works. Let me know what you think.

Alberta Family Histories Society's CEF Nominal Rolls

The Alberta Family Histories Society has placed an interesting resource on their website, specifically the nominal rolls of the 50th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, as well as those for the 3rd, 12th and 13th Regiments, CEF. As the site notes, these were compiled "by AFHS member Lt Col W. van der Schee and were published by the AFHS in two volumes in 1994." The published versions of the rolls are still available for purchase via the site. Visitors to the site search the rolls first by choosing the first letter of the individual's surname, which leads to an alphabetized chart - integrating all four units - and containing the information found in the original nominal rolls as printed by the Department of Militia and Defence during the First World War.

Historic films at the National Film Board

Looking for something in the audio-visual realm for your Canadian military history fix? Well, the National Film Board has more than 1,400 films available online, with a comprehensive search ability incorporated in the site. Just one example, on this site you can watch the 1964 film "Fields of Sacrifice" by Donald Brittain. The description notes: "This 1964 documentary returns to the battlefields where over 100,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The film also visits cemeteries where servicemen are buried. Filmed from Hong Kong to Sicily, this documentary is designed to show Canadians places they have reason to know but may not be able to visit. Produced for the Canadian Department of Veteran Affairs by the renowned documentary filmmaker Donald Brittain."

Laurier Centre's Winter Speakers' Series

The Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies has posted its winter speakers' series line-up. Each of the following lectures (and the presentations yet to be confirmed) will take place at the Centre, on 232 King Street North in Waterloo, Ontario:

Thursday, 14 January, 1900 hours, Captain Timothy C. Winegard, University of Oxford, on "And Death Shall Have No Dominion: Indigenous Peoples of the British Dominions and the First World War";

His talk continues with the theme of First Nations and military interaction by comparing the capricious and racially motivated policies concerning, and participation of, the Indigenous Peoples of the Dominions - Canada, Australia, Newfoundland, New Zealand and South Africa - during the First World War.

Thursday, 11 February, 1900 hours, Dr. Andrew Iarocci, "Mechanizing Mars: Transport and Logistics in the First World War";

This talk will give an overview of the tactical uses of mechanical transport during the First World War, with a focus on the integration of motor and light rail transport with traditional animal transport in the Canadian and British forces. The discussion is based on research for an upcoming book on transport in the First World War.

Thursday, 25 February, 1900 hours, Dr. Tim Cook, Canadian War Museum, "'Always Look on the Bright Side of Strife': Humour and the Canadian Great War Soldier";

This talk examines Canadian Great War soldiers' humour. Laughter, jokes, pranks, and merriment are not usually associated with the trench warfare experience. Yet this army of young men, drawn from civilian society, turned to humour as a means to cope with the strain of war. Soldiers' humour also helped to make sense of the war and shape questions of identity and culture.

Thursday, 11 March, 1900 hours, Lieutenant-Colonel John Conrad, Canadian Forces College, "Merlin's Laugh: Canadian Combat Logistics in Afghanistan 2006";

Kandahar Province, Afghanistan - an unfamiliar, non-linear battle space; a battlefield that can pass as a post card where conducting routine logistics is always a combat operation. An entire generation of military leadership is being schooled in the sands of southern Afghanistan. We are only beginning to appreciate the depth of the lessons we are learning. This presentation will share with the attendees many of the hard-earned logistics lessons we have learned, where we have stumbled what we have been doing right all along. This presentation will describe the logistics preparations for Canada's return to sustained combat operations in Kandahar Province in the winter of 2006 - the first sustained combat mission since the Korean War.

Thursday, 1 April, 1900 hours, David Kielstra, Wilfrid Laurier University, "Peacekeeping under Fire: Canada and the United Nations Mission in Cyprus, 1964-1974";

This talk will focus on Canada's peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) which became Canada's longest-serving overseas deployment. The focus will be on the strategic threat that instability in Cyprus had for the NATO alliance, with particular attention paid to the 1974 crisis that put Canadian peacekeepers on the front lines of a war-zone when the island was abruptly invaded. Canadian actions under-fire played a critical role in helping UNFICYP secure key assets, protect civilians, and maintain cease-fires to ease tensions. Canada's decision to augment its peacekeepers by doubling reinforcements and adding offensive weapons also signals a shift towards a more activist foreign policy for the Trudeau government.

Thursday, 15 April, 1900 hours, Lieutenant-Colonel Angelo Caravaggio, Canadian Forces College, "21 Days in Normandy: A Reassessment of the Actions of 4th Canadian Armoured Division and Major-General George Kitching";

To date the assessments of the actions of 4th Canadian Armoured Division and those of its commander Major-General Kitching have been consistently poor. Using war diaries and operations logs this presentation will look at how operational and administrative decisions made in the planning of OVERLORD significantly curtailed Kitching's ability to train his division for the coming battles.

For further information, etc., contact Mike Bechthold at mbechthold@wlu.ca or 519-884-0710 ext 4594.

Niagara Military Museum finally gets a home

Corey Larocque, over at The Niagara Falls Review, has written a piece for that paper on the decision to allow the Niagara Military Museum "after a decade of trying to storm the gates of the Victoria Avenue armoury." The century-old building was declared surplus by the Department of National Defence and later purchased by the City of Niagara Falls. The Niagara Military Museum is to be given three rooms in the building to display its collection consisting "of artifacts that have been collected over the years by Niagara residents with an interest in military history." Larocque further writes: "The museum is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to commemorating both the military history that has occurred in Niagara and the wartime exploits of people from Niagara who fought in Canada's overseas conflicts, especially the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War."

(photo courtesy of The Niagara Falls Review)

Presentation on Canadians in the British Army

Major Andrew Godefroy, PhD, currently a visiting research fellow, the The University of Oxford's Programme on the Changing Character of War, will be making a presentation (Military History seminar) on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 titled "Canadians on Campaign: Officer Recruitment, Command, and Legacy in the Victorian British Army". The press release notes:

This lecture challenges traditional assessments of the evolution of professionalism within Canada's army during the nineteenth century through an examination of the War Office's deliberate recruitment of Canadian officers into the British Army during the late Victorian era. Specifically, it examines the recruitment, command appointments, and most important, the intellectual and institutional legacy created by these officers that had as much an impact on the future of the British Army as it did on the Canadian Army. Finally, through specific case studies, the issues of nationalism, ways of warfare, and schools of strategic and tactical thought will also be addressed.

The challenge? It's at the University of Oxford (1715 hours, Wharton Room, All Souls College). But, if you can make it, I'd sure it'd be well worth the effort.

Latest issue of The Canadian Army Journal

The latest issue of The Canadian Army Journal (volume 12, no.2, Summer 2009) has been published and is available online. As usual, this issue contains some material of direct interest to readers of Canadian military history (as well as lots of other items worthy of reading), including:

Chris Graham, "The Legacy of Major-General James Wolfe: Battlefield Leadership and the Defeat of the French Empire in North America";

Sergeant Kurt Grant, "Biography - Lieutenant Herbert Wesley McBride, MM";

Lawren Phillips Harris, "The Art of War - Major-General J.H. Roberts, CB, DSO, MC, CD (1891-1962)";

as well as several book reviews of note.

I'd also like to congratulate Sergeant Kurt Grant, former colleague at the Directorate of History and Heritage, for his appointment to the journal's staff.

Index of Manitoba History

Among the many good works the folks at The Manitoba Historical Society are busy performing in support of the historical is the publishing of the journal Manitoba History. This journal recently saw the publication of its 62nd number (for Winter 2009). In fact, the tables of contents for the entire series (from No.1 in 1981), as well as many of the earlier articles within, are online at the society's website. A review of these issues for articles on Canadian military history has revealed the following:

anonymous, "National Commemoration for Hangar No.1 of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Brandon, Manitoba", No.51 (February 2006);

Marilyn Baker, "Remembrances of the Great War: The Next-of-Kin Monument in Winnipeg", No.2 (1981);

Michael Bumsted, "From the Red to the Nile: William Nassau Kennedy and the Manitoba Contingent of Voyageurs in the Gordon Relief Expedition, 1884-1885", No.42 (Autumn/Winter 2001-2002);

George Buri, "'Enemies Within Our Gates': Brandon's Alien Detention Centre during the Great War", No.56 (October 2007);

Sarah Carter, "'An Infamous Proposal': Prairie Indian Reserve Land and Soldier Settlement after World War I", No.37 (Spring/Summer 1999);

Ken Coates, "Western Manitoba and the 1885 Rebellion", No.20 (1990);

Robert Coutts, "An Interview with World War I Veteran, Evan Wales Morgan", No.33 (Spring 1997);

Jack Dunn, "The Biggest Day Winnipeg Has Ever Seen: The Northwest Field Force Returns from the Front", No.43 (Spring/Summer 2002);

Gordon Fulton, "Roads of Remembrance", No.31 (Spring 1996);

Phillip R. Giffin, "A Family Memoir: The Men of #2 Company, Princess Patricia [sic] Canadian Light Infantry, 1915", No.53 (October 2006);

Uduak Idiong, "The Third Force: Returned Soldiers in the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919", No.34 (Autumn 1997);

Larry Laliberte, "The 1870 Wolseley Expedition Route", No.52 (June 2006);

Graham MacDonald, "Rachmaninoff in Winnipeg: The Band of the Princess Patricia's Regiment Meets a Russian Master", No.40 (Autumn/Winter 2000-2001);

John Selwood, "A Note on the Destruction of Upper Fort Garry", No.4 (1982);

Jim Suderman, "The Number One Armored Train", No.19 (1990);

Ruth Swan, "'Unequal Justice': The Metis in O'Donoghue's Raid of 1871", No.39 (Spring/Summer 2000); and

Bill Waiser, "Riding Mountain POWs: The Teacher's Tale", No.61 (Fall 2009).

New Books list from Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada has posted its New Books list for December 2009, and it contains a few items of interest to readers of Canadian military history, including the following:

Ted Barris, Deadlock in Korea: Canadians at War, 1950-1953 (Toronto, 2010);

John Boileau, Halifax and the Royal Canadian Navy (Halifax, 2010);

Shawn S. Doyle, Grandpa's War [Royal Canadian Air Force] (Renfrew, ON, 2009);

Sébastien Vincent, Ils ont écrit la guerre [récits personnels canadiens de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale] (Montréal, 2010);

James A. Wood, Militia Myths: Canadian Ideas of the Citizen Soldier, 1896-1921 (Vancouver, 2010);