Nov 11th - Rememberance Day

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GouRonin

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On the 11th day of the 11th month on the 11th hour the armistice ended the first world war. Also known as the great war. We use this day to commemorate the soldiers of all wars. The poppy is the symbol of the day, taken from the famous poem, "In Flanders Fields." (Written by a Canadian by the way)

The First World War 1914-1918
Notable battles involving Canadians included Ypres in April 1915, when some of the 1st Canadian Division faced the world's first poison gas attack. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Canadians, the Germans failed to break their line.

At Easter 1917, the Canadians captured Vimy Ridge, a seemingly impregnable German position in northwestern France, with careful planning, innovative tactics and scientifically planned artillery barrages. This after 2 attemps by British/US forces and an attempt by the French.

While Canada took only a minor role in naval matters, they were prominent in aerial fighting. Billy Bishop, with 72 victories, and William Barker, with 53 victories, were among the top allied aces. Both won the Victoria Cross.

Second World War 1939-1945
In December 1941, two ill-equipped, poorly trained Canadian battalions of about 2,000 men were lost in the doomed battle of Hong Kong. The survivors suffered unspeakable torment in Japanese captivity.

Canadians also joined the invasion of Sicily and Italy and played a key role in the 1944 invasion of Normandy and opened a drive through the Rhineland. The Canadians eventually liberated much of the Netherlands.

At sea, the green Canadians in the Royal Canadian Navy went through tremendous growing pains in the Battle of the Atlantic against German U-boats. In the last years of the war, the Canadians bore the brunt of the convoy escort duties in the Atlantic vs the dreaded U-boats.

Korea 1950-1953
In April 1951, near the village of Kap'Yong, the brigade and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry came under heavy assault by Chinese troops, who had entered the war the previous November. While an Australian battalion fell back, the Canadians called down artillery fire on their own positions and held their ground. They were awarded a distinguished unit citation by the United States.

Make sure you take the time to thank someone for the freedom you enjoy today and remember those who gave you that freedom. November 11th is a day specifically for that.






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