Reid E Beckett's Explaination of His War Experiences in a Letter to Leila McGee

The Conscription crisis was one of the most divisive crises in Canadian history and the most serious test of confederation in its first 50 years. It was divisive because the English Canadians were for the war and French Canadians were not for the war. They felt that World War I was a British against European war. They did not want to support conscription because they would be leaving their Farms, They would be leaving their wives and families and they felt racism and discrimination. French speaking Canadians did not want to support the Canadian overseas military commitments, they had responsibilities they needed to deal with on their own.

The award-winning novel by Stephen Ambrose, Band of Brothers: Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest, discusses one of the greatest examples of mission command in the form of 1st Lieutenant Richard Winters and his role in the Brecourt Manor Assault. This battle is a textbook example of how to fight against a superior enemy force that outnumbered the unit by four times as much. Facing overwhelming odds with just 16 paratroopers against over 60 German Soldiers, 1LT Winters nevertheless prevails and succeeds in achieving his objective while minimizing casualties to just three Soldiers lost. Looking back further into the American Revolution, the Battle of Bunker Hill on the American side is one of

At the start of World War I in 1914, Currie was chosen to command the 2nd Infantry Brigade. By February of 1915, he and his men were fighting in France. In the face of German poison gas attacks, Currie and his brigade held their line against the advancing German troops. As a result, he was promoted to major-general and commander of the 1st Canadian Division. He was also given the first order of knighthood, the Companionship of the Bath, a great honor bestowed to soldiers demonstrating the highest caliber of service. Additionally, the French government made him a commander of the Legion of Honor. At the battles of Festubert and Givenchy in 1915, Currie led the 2nd Brigade. He then became commander-in-chief of the Canadian Corps. Shortly after this, King George V of England made him a Knight-Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. During the war, Currie wrote an analysis on his strategies in battle, which became required for study

In “The Face of Battle,” John Keegan analyzed the experiences of the individuals involved in the battles of the Somme and Waterloo; he thoroughly examined the advancements of industrialization in warfare and battle strategy between 1815 and 1916. The industrialization of modern warfare during the battle of the Somme, while progressive, was very much still in its experimental stages. While the inventions during this time period were later evolved into much more useful products, it seems as though the organized warfare in Waterloo was much more effective; the soldier’s mediocre training for the Somme was obvious in the chaotic events that occurred. While each battle was disastrous in their own ways, industrialization certainly improved means of warfare and the experience that the soldiers had.

The Royal Canada Army Service Corps (RCASC), established November 1, 1901 and decommissioned in February 1, 1968, was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army during World War II. Throughout the war, the RCASC supported the Canadian Army Formations that fought in Hong Kong, Italy, North West Europe and Germany. Support was given through the form of maintaining transport for the armies on land and commanding and maintaining a ship-borne

Pierre N. Thibodeaux enlisted in the United States Army November 9, 1986 as an Indirect fire Infantryman (11C). He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then assigned to the 3rd Battalion 32nd Armor, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. In 1990 he was sent to Berlin Germany assigned to B Co. 6th Battalion 502nd Infantry while there helped Berlin rejoin under one flag as well deployed to Operation Desert Storm (01/21/1991- 05/08/1991). He was in Germany until 1993 then reassigned to HHC, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia until 1995, he deployed with this unit to Operation Restore Hope (10/21/1993 - 02/8/1994). He transferred to B Company,

Canada’s first contribution to the war was a division, only after heavy political pressure forced their hand. In the two years following five divisions totaled overseas. In April of 1942 the First Canadian army was established under, General A.G.L. McNaughton, a Canadian General. Canada did not see any initial involvement in the first few years, and McNaughton wished to keep it that way. He wished to use Canada’s army for a final decisive battle. However, the Canadian government and Britain had other plans, engaging Canada in a joint attack on Sicily. Although the command of the Canadian army was left in the hands of a Canadian, it was clear the decisions were not coming from Canada, but Britain. Britain still influenced much of Canada’s decision

This battle happened in Ypres, Belgium on April 22 ,1915. The Canadian first division was assigned to the front line to hold 3.5 kilometers. It was a day with gentle breeze blowing in the direction of Allied lined and suddenly there was green cloud. The Germans unleashed the first gas attack in history using chlorine gas. This new method of warfare killed 5200 Canadians . The gases burned the eyes, throat, and lungs. Some soldiers survived the attack by using rags soaked in urine. This battle is very significant to Canadians because when the French- Algerian soldiers fled, Canadian troops stayed there for four days. Canadian troops gained the reputation of being courageous fighter. This battle

From Elderhostels in New Zealand, to stories about a plane crash in Gander, Newfoundland I have heard it all. I have had the most wonderful opportunity of hearing extraordinary life stories from my Great Grandparents, John and Georgie Narburgh. They both lived amazing lives full of incredible experiences and I am grateful that they were a part of my life. For several years, John and Georgie were members of a Senior Citizen’s writing club. As a result, their work has been compiled into books and their stories will never be forgotten. My Great Grandmother titled her writings “Creative Essays” by Georgie and John called his writings, “Keep ‘em Crossed” Memories and Letters From WWII. These stories have given me a new understanding of who they were and the importance of their legacy.

Late autumn saw news come thick and fast concerning soldiers of the Isle. Driver T. W. Arrand, only son of Mrs. R. Arrand of Beltoft accepted the Military Medal for his gallantry and bravery on the battlefield. Private A. H. Sibborn, grandson of Mrs. A. M. Sharp of Grove House, Epworth received the same medal for guiding a platoon from the front, ‘through an enemy barrage of great intensity.’ It is likely, however, that the death of Private Ernest Beadle, only son of Mr. Henry Beadle of Crowle, was caused by the inhalation of the latest terror weapon - mustard gas. Ernest had gone ‘missing’ for several days during training, and had been discharged from the Army in November 1914 as, ‘not being likely to become an efficient soldier.’ He re-enlisted the following year, using his late father’s name Henry. Poison gases, such as chlorine and

The beginning of the nineteenth century found the British army already engaged for the last seven years in a war with the French. This war to oppose Napoleon would last until 1815, by which time the British would be victorious. This triumphant British army, although successful throughout their campaign with the French, was not openly considered a humble and advantageous force for society. In fact, the common stereotype and popular image of the British soldier was negative, as the Duke of Wellington stated the soldiers were “the scum of the earth” who have “all enlisted to drink”.1 For the majority of the soldiers, this label was given inappropriately and carelessly. The Autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence, a British soldier who fought in the Peninsula and Waterloo Campaigns during his fourteen-year military career, offers an insight into the lives of the labelled soldiers and interpretation of whether this label can be deemed accurate.

The Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong failed due to the insufficient training of the soldiers, which impaired their fighting effectiveness. When selecting troops to deploy to Hong Kong, Major General H. D. G. Crerar chose two infantry battalions, the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada, from a list of units deemed unsuited for deployment. “Instead, Crerar chose the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers from category C, defined by Lawson as “those units which, due to either recent employment or insufficient training, are not recommended” to be deployed at the present time.”[ Pages 13-14, The Damned] Due to the recent deployment of these troops to Jamaica and Newfoundland, and their need for refresher training,

Despite its challenges, enduring four years in the Atlantic did not come without its romances. One winter, my grandfather’s Corvette was stationed in Halifax over Christmas. Due to the severity of confidentiality, my grandfather was not allowed to tell my grandmother that he was home. Eager to see her, Bernard snuck out of his base and traveled all the way to Hamilton, Ontario. To their delight, my grandparents spent Christmas morning together. Bernard returned to his base without anyone ever knowing he had been gone.

Contained here there are two letters, there was only intended to be one. I could not write to you earlier because I greatly overestimated the power of our artillery. Our infantry has become so obsolete that any form of attack from the Triple Entente has always succeeded. The British General Foch agreed on a proposal by British Field Marshal Douglas Haig, the commander of the BEF, to strike on the River Somme, east of Amiens and south-west of the 1916 battlefield of the Battle of the Somme, with the intention of forcing our Germans away from the vital Amiens–Paris railway. We have lost many men, many more lay wounded in the trenches. The most devastating effect of this chain of events was the fact that we lost a large