New biography of Paul Triquet, VC

Bruce Deachman, over at The Ottawa Citizen, has published a piece on Paul Triquet, Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross for valour in Italy during the Second World War. In addition to detailing some of Triquet's story, Deachman's piece discusses John MacFarlane's new biography of Triquet, entitled Triquet's Cross: A Study of Military Heroism.

The book is a very interesting read and is certainly a different take on honours and awards and the life of a Canadian soldier.

(In the interests of full disclosure, John MacFarlane is a colleague of mine at the Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence).

New history of Canada's Navy

David Pugliese, defence reporter with The Ottawa Citizen, has posted a review of Richard Gimblett's (editor), The Naval Service of Canada, 1910-2010: The Centennial Story, on his "Defence Watch" blog. The review begins: "The Naval Service of Canada is a first-rate and heavily illustrated volume that will appeal to those currently serving or retired from the navy or anyone with a strong interest in Canada maritime matters."

Richard Gimblett is a retired Canadian naval officer and is currently the Heritage Officer with Maritime Command at National Defence Headquarters.

Veuillez prendre note que ce livre est disponible en français sous le titre : Le Service naval du Canada, 1910-2010 : Cent ans d'histoire.

Portrait of a Hero

Rob Filan has created a fantastic biography of Sergeant Hugh Cairns, VC, DCM over at Rosebud's Early Aeroplanes and Airships. I'm not sure who exactly it's on that particular website, but I'm glad it is. The article contains an in-depth narrative on Sergeant Cairns, photos of him, his medals, his memorials, etc., several maps and the citations of his awards.

(Many thanks to Babbling Brooks over the The Torch for posting this information first).

New Books list from Library and Archives Canada

Sorry, tout le monde, I've been sick for a few days and so haven't posted in a while.

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

Alan J. Buick, The Little Coat: The Bob and Sue Elliott Story (Regina, 2009);

Frank Gogos, Known unto God: In Honour of Newfoundland's Missing during the Great War (St. John's, NL, 2009);

John A. Griffith and Anthony L. Stachiw, Early Canadian Military Aircraft: Acquisitions, Dispositions, Colour Schemes and Markings, volume 1: Aircraft taken on strength through 1920 (Kitchener, ON, 2009);

Tony Maxwell, Searching for the Queen's Cowboys: Travels in South Africa filming a Documentary on Strathcona's Horse and the Anglo-Boer War (Red Deer, AB, 2009);

Michael Palmer, Dark Side of the Sun: George Palmer and Canadian POWs in Hong Kong and the Omine Camp (Ottawa, 2009);

William J. Patterson, Soldiers of the Queen: The Canadian Grenadier Guards of Montreal, 1859-2009 (Montreal, 2009);

Aaron Plamondon, The Politics of Procurement: Military Acquisition in Canada and the Sea King Helicopter (Vancouver, 2010);

Gary H. Rice, A Sketch of Military Medicine in Canada, 1867-2009 (Carleton Place, ON, 2009); and

Marion Swinton, A Duffle Bag, Close Friends, and a Lot of Memories: The Photo Diary of Marion Swinton, W.R.C.N.S. (Waterloo, ON, 2009).

Audio Archive from Veteran Affairs Canada

Among the many items of historical interest within the Canada Remembers pages of the Veterans Affairs Canada website, the visitor can find the First World War Audio Archive, where you can "listen to Veterans as they recall their life and times during the war years." Under the Recollections tab, "Learn about Canada's participation in the First World War by listening to these first hand accounts. These interviews represent events, emotions and observations of how these Canadians and Newfoundlanders lived through the war years."

Hansen makes the Governor General's Literary Awards finalists

Christopher Moore, over at his blog, "Christopher Moore's Canadian History", has posted about the finalists for the Governor General's Literary Awards in the non-fiction category. Said finalists include Randall Hansen, for his Fire and Fury: The Allied Bombing of Germany, 1942-45. The press release from the Canada Council for the Arts describes Hansen's books as follows:

A brave re-examination of a controversial episode in World War II history. Randall Hansen combines meticulous research with an eye for telling human detail to make his case that the Allied bombing campaign didn't help to win the war, and actually prolonged it. A book that offers lessons for today.

Guelph Civic Museum Lecture Series

The Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph, Ontario, is hosting a lecture series in Canadian military history this fall and into 2010 in partnership with the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. The speakers include:

Jonathan Vance, University of Western Ontario, "Spies Like Us: Canadians in Nazi-Occupied France", Thursday, 15 October 2009, 1930 hours;

Eric McGeer, St. Clement's School, "'The war of the poor relations': The Canadians at the Lamone, December 1944", Thursday, 19 November 2009, 1930 hours;

Roger Sarty, Wilfrid Laurier University, "U-boats in the St. Lawrence, 1942-1944: A Most Uniquely Canadian Battle", Thursday, 21 January 2010, 1930 hours;

Geoff Keelan, Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies, "The Search for a Hero: Talbot Mercer Papineau and the Great War", Thursday, 18 February 2010, 1930 hours; and

Mike Bechthold, Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies, "'A brilliant success': The Canadian Capture of Fresnoy, 3 May 1917", Thursday, 25 March 2010, 1930 hours.

For more information, contact the Guelph Civic Museum at (519) 836-1221, on the web at guelph.ca/museum, or by e-mail at museum@guelph.ca.

Symposium on Niagara's Military Past and Present

The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, along with the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies, and Brock University and University of Waterloo history departments, are hosting the 3rd Annual Symposium on "Niagara's Military Past & Present" on 6 and 7 November 2009 at the Lake Street Armouries, 81 Lake Street, St. Catharines, Ontario.

There is a very extensive programme of speakers laid out, including:

Mike Bechthold, "The Canadian Corps after Vimy: Fresnoy, May 1917";

Terry Copp, "The Last Great Battle: The Canadians in the Rhineland, February - March 1945";

James E. Elliott, "Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813";

Geoffrey Hayes, "'The Lincs' Third Generation: The Rhineland";

Heather Moran, "200 Years of Peace: Celebrating the 1812 Bi-Centennial through Public History";

David Schimmelpenninck van der Oye, "Robert Rogers: The Original Ranger";

Elizabeth Vlossak, "Versailles 100 Years Later: Why it is Still Important for Canadians";

Lee Windsor, "Winters in Kandahar: High Season for Canadian Reconstruction, 2006-09"; and

James Wood, "The Good Neighbours and their 'Undefended' Fence: Canadian Militia Visits to the US before the First World War".

For further information, contact Captain R. Bruce Mair, at 9663@nrps.on.ca or by phone at (905) 321-4082 or Geoffrey Hayes, at ghayes@uwaterloo.ca or by phone at (519) 888-4567 ext. 35138.

Historical items from The Canadian Air Force Journal

I don't think I've ever posted about The Canadian Air Force Journal, "an official publication of the Chief of the Air Staff" with the goal of being "a forum for discussing concepts, issues and ideas that are both crucial and central to aerospace power." The six issues published to date include a handful of articles of direct interest to readers of Canadian military history, including:

A/V/M C.L. Annis, "The Evolution of Air Materiel Command", vol.1, no.2 (Summer 2008) [reprint from The Roundel, 1962];

Lieut Steven Dieter, "Through Adversity and More: Looking Ahead towards the Canadian Centennial of Flight", vol.1, no.3 (Fall 2008);

2nd Lieut Nicolas Fortin, "Raymond Collishaw: The Royal Naval Air Services Lead Ace", vol.2, no.1 (Winter 2009);

Maj Andrew B. Godefroy, "From Gentleman Cadet to No Known Grave: The Life and Death of Lieutenant (Observer/Gunner) Franklin Sharp Rankin, 1894-1916", vol.1, no.3 (Fall 2008);

Aaron P. Jackson, "The Emergence of a 'Doctrinal Culture' within the Canadian Air Force: Where it Came From, Where it's at and Where to from Here?: Part 1: Doctrine and Canadian Air Force Culture prior to the End of the Cold War", vol.2, no.2 (Summer 2009);

Maj Paul Johnston, "Staff Systems and the Canadian Air Force: Part 1 - History of the Western Staff System", vol.1, no.2 (Summer 2008);

Maj Paul Johnston, "Staff Systems and the Canadian Air Force: Part 2 - A Convoluted Evolution", vol.1, no.3 (Fall 2008);

MCpl René Paquet, "Supermarine Spitfire - The Famous Elliptical Wing Fighter", vol.1, no.1 (Spring 2008);

Col Randall Wakelam, "A Fine Mess: How Our Tactical Helicopter Force came to be What it is", vol.1, no.3 (Fall 2008);

plus numerous book reviews of interest.

A Canadian medical doctor in Afghanistan

Recently, I've been on a bit of a personal reading spree with respect to Canada's activities in Afghanistan. One of the most interesting of the publications that I've read has been Captain Ray Wiss, MD's, memoirs of his first roto in Afghanistan titled FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan: A War Diary (also here). It seems someone else has taken notice of this book, Nancy J. White interviewing the good doctor for The Toronto Star this past weekend. The National Review of Medicine also published an article on Captain Wiss in April 2008. My thanks to the Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs for this pick.