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CANADA DECLARES WAR - Page 2

© Mary M. Alward

The people of Canada will, I know, face the days of stress and strain which lies ahead with calm resolute and courage. There is no home in Canada, no family, and no individual whose fortunes and freedom are not bound up in the present struggle. I appeal to my fellow Canadians to unite in a national effort to save from destruction all that makes live itself worth living, and to preserve for future generations those liberties and institutions which others have bequeathed to us."

After Prime Minister McKenzie made his Declaration of War, thousands of Canadian men flooded the recruiting offices to enlist. Some of those men were members of my family. They felt it their duty to fight for their country.

Canadian soldiers were first sent into battle in 1941. As tension grew in the Pacific, the vulnerability of Hong Kong became apparent. The battalions that represented Canada in Hong Kong were The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. They sailed from Vancouver on October 27, 1941 aboard the Awatea, escorted by the HMSC Prince Robert. The embarkation strength of the force was 96 officers and 1,877 other ranks. Two hundred twelve vehicles assigned to the force left a few days later on the Don Jose. These vehicles never reached Hong Kong. By the time the Don Jose reached Manila, the war with Japan had begun. The United States Forces was given permission to use the Canadian equipment to defend the Philippines.

On November 16, the Awatea reached Hong Kong. The Canadian units were not fully trained for the Front. Since war with Japan was not imminent, they believed they were going to Hong Kong for garrison duty. They felt there would be ample opportunity for more extensive training. Three weeks later, they were the first Canadian soldiers to fight as a unit in WWII.

At an almost simultaneous time, battles were underway at Pearl Harbor, northern Manila, the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island. Japan had brought war to the Pacific.

This first major contact with the enemy ended in disaster. The next major contact would be at Dieppe...but that is another story.

This article is dedicated to veterans everywhere. Many paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that future generations would live in freedom. May we never forget them or the sacrifice they paid.

HIGH FLIGHT by JOHN GILLESPIE McGEE This poem was written by a Canadian fighter pilot who died in action during the Battle of Britain.

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