Canadian Servicewomen: Picture Thread

[McCoy]

Vimy ridge n' Ortona deserves remembrance to name a few.

[Biscuit]

Originally Posted by PatBC

For many different reasons Canadian have not been great flag wavers, especially about our military history.

The issue with Quebec has frequently meant that service personnel did not wear their uniform in public in Quebec. There have been times where that was the case even in the rest of Canada.

I remember the first Remembrance Day Parade (1994) I was on where the military received applause it surprised me as I had never seen that before.

Until the last few decades few Canadian veterans wrote memoirs and most were negative. In addition some Canadian Generals wrote scornfully about their soldiers. Arthur Currie who was one of the greatest military minds Canada ever produced was Character assassinated for political reason that had nothing to due with the military.

I hope that in future Canada remains rightfully proud of the it accomplishments

Pat,

I have to confess that I am largely ignorant on Canadian history. What is the issue with Quebec, if I may ask?

[PatBC]

Quebec felt WWI was a European war and they should not have to fight on the side of the of British Imperism. The Canadian Government introduce concription in 1917. That was the beginning.

In WW2 the cry in Quebec was the same. Quebec also had a pro-fasicist, Anti-semtic minority chearing the Nazis hoping it would lead to the destruction of the British Empire. Canada held off conscription till 1944. In the end only 2,463 (from across Canada, not just Quebec) reached units in the field before the end of the fighting. 69 died in battle.

[Whiterook]

Yeah, my whole family was born in Nw Brunswick, Canada (except for me, born here in the US), and we used to go up to Canada every Summer. I remember my uncle explaining to me the whole flag thing one day when I commented how I liked the simplicity of the Canadian flag, and that was back in the 70's! I was shocked to hear of any country not proud of their flag, but I later realized how dear and engrained our flag is to us here in the United States....well, to most, anyway.

When my Dad died a few years ago, I was shocked that the flag used on his coffin was re-used over and over by the funeral home, and not given to the family. My Dad served with honor in the Canadian Army in WWII, and at the least, I thought he deserved a flag of his very own. It still bothers me. The funeral parlor director, whom I've known forever, explained the same thing my uncle did...strange concept to folks in the US.

[Biscuit]

Originally Posted by PatBC

Quebec felt WWI was a European war and they should not have to fight on the side of the of British Imperism. The Canadian Government introduce concription in 1917. That was the beginning.

In WW2 the cry in Quebec was the same. Quebec also had a pro-fasicist, Anti-semtic minority chearing the Nazis hoping it would lead to the destruction of the British Empire. Canada held off conscription till 1944. In the end only 2,463 (from across Canada, not just Quebec) reached units in the field before the end of the fighting. 69 died in battle.

It sounds like it might be analogous to some of the harsh feelings that still exist in my country between North and South.

[PatBC]

There is a big difference I think. Of course I am Canadian trying to judge north/south relationship.

The different is the majority of Francophones in Quebec voted twice to separate from Canada (1980 and 1995). I do not think there is even a large minority of the south that would vote to leave the US. Maybe I am wrong about that it does not appear on US network TV or printed press.

The referendum took place in Quebec on October 30, 1995, and the motion to decide whether Quebec should secede from Canada was defeated by an extremely small margin: 50.58% "No" to 49.42% "Yes"

Quebec referendum, 1995 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It was only defeated by Anflophones, Aborigine and Inuit Quebecs.

[Biscuit]

I think they may well be analogous, though much more pronounced in Canada and I didn't realize how much so until you posted that they were still voting to cecede. Wow!

But here is a little pic to get us back on track....

Canadian Women’s Army Corps
marching past reviewing stand on University Avenue
during official V-J Day ceremony
August 1945
City of Toronto Archives

[PatBC]

Originally Posted by Biscuit

I think they may well be analogous, though much more pronounced in Canada and I didn't realize how much so until you posted that they were still voting to cecede. Wow!

But here is a little pic to get us back on track....

Canadian Women’s Army Corps
marching past reviewing stand on University Avenue
during official V-J Day ceremony
August 1945
City of Toronto Archives

My Mother served in the RCAF from 1956-1960 (then if you married you had to release) but I do not know any relatives of mine who served before her. I am pretty sure there was none.

[Whiterook]

Interesting background on that...see the reviewing stand and the two styles of salute. You know, I never thought of this previously, but, did the Canadian Army use the same style salute as the British Army? ANd are those American sailors?

[PatBC]

I know Canada did use the British salute but when it changed I do not remember. We now use a salute more like the American one, not sure if the motion is the exactly the same