world war one: canada prepares to defend the empire

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World War One: World War One: Canada Prepares to Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire Defend the Empire

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Page 1: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

World War One:World War One:Canada Prepares to Canada Prepares to Defend the EmpireDefend the Empire

Page 2: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Canada’s ReactionCanada’s Reaction

► Former Prime Minister Wilfred Former Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier stated, Laurier stated, “Let the friends “Let the friends and foes of Britain know that and foes of Britain know that there is in Canada but one there is in Canada but one mind and one heart, and that mind and one heart, and that all Canadians stand behind the all Canadians stand behind the mother country, conscious and mother country, conscious and proud that she has engaged in proud that she has engaged in this war to save civilization this war to save civilization from the uncontrolled lust of from the uncontrolled lust of conquest and power.”conquest and power.”

►When Britain declared war on Germany on Aug. 4, When Britain declared war on Germany on Aug. 4, 1914, Canada and the rest of the British Empire were 1914, Canada and the rest of the British Empire were automatically at war, too--Canada pledged 25000 automatically at war, too--Canada pledged 25000 soldiers – both French and English Canada seemed soldiers – both French and English Canada seemed supportivesupportive

Page 3: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Early Stages of PreparationEarly Stages of Preparation

► Canada was caught Canada was caught unprepared to fight a war so unprepared to fight a war so Prime Minister Robert Borden Prime Minister Robert Borden acted quicklyacted quickly

► Borden appointed Sam Hughes Borden appointed Sam Hughes as Minister of the Militia to as Minister of the Militia to establish, organize and train a establish, organize and train a Canadian Expeditionary Force Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)(CEF)

Sam Hughes

Page 4: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

►Hughes created a training base at Hughes created a training base at Valcartier, Que.Valcartier, Que.

►Of the 33,000 men assembled at Of the 33,000 men assembled at Valcartier, the great majority were Valcartier, the great majority were civilians without any previous training civilians without any previous training in warfare.in warfare.

Page 5: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire
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Page 9: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Sam Hughes: An OverviewSam Hughes: An Overview► A general in Canada’s reserve armyA general in Canada’s reserve army► An energetic, determined organizerAn energetic, determined organizer► A very stubborn manA very stubborn man

Had a narrow-minded attitude towards black, Had a narrow-minded attitude towards black, native and French-Canadian soldiersnative and French-Canadian soldiers

Insisted that Can. soldiers be equipped with Ross Insisted that Can. soldiers be equipped with Ross Rifles which ended up being unsuitable for the Rifles which ended up being unsuitable for the wet, muddy battlefrontwet, muddy battlefront

Gave military supply contracts to friends – faulty Gave military supply contracts to friends – faulty equipment receivedequipment received

Insisted on Macadam shovelsInsisted on Macadam shovels

for soldiers – didn’t workfor soldiers – didn’t work

Page 10: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Ross RifleRoss Rifle► It had a long barrel and was It had a long barrel and was

difficult to use in the trench's difficult to use in the trench's confined spaces, and it confined spaces, and it frequently jammed. frequently jammed.

► It was a good weapon - on a It was a good weapon - on a firing range under controlled firing range under controlled conditions. conditions.

► But the First Division's stand But the First Division's stand at Ypres in the face of a gas at Ypres in the face of a gas attack, Canadian soldiers attack, Canadian soldiers threw away their Ross rifles in threw away their Ross rifles in despair and frustration, and despair and frustration, and picked up weapons from dead picked up weapons from dead British soldiers on the British soldiers on the battlefield.battlefield.

Page 11: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Macadam ShovelsMacadam Shovels

► It was intended to be It was intended to be used as both a shield used as both a shield and a shovel. and a shovel.

► It was a complete It was a complete failure:failure: the handle was to short, the handle was to short, the shovel to dull to dig the shovel to dull to dig

with, with, the hole in the blade was the hole in the blade was

to low to shoot through to low to shoot through and worst of all it was and worst of all it was

not bullet proofnot bullet proof

Page 12: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

War Measures ActWar Measures Act

►By passing this act, the government By passing this act, the government gave itself increased powers to:gave itself increased powers to: Censor publications, communications, Censor publications, communications,

photosphotos Arrest, detain, exclude, deport personsArrest, detain, exclude, deport persons Control harbours and movements of vesselsControl harbours and movements of vessels Control transport of persons/things by land, Control transport of persons/things by land,

air or waterair or water Control trade, production and manufacturingControl trade, production and manufacturing Seize and dispose of propertySeize and dispose of property

Page 13: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Combat ReadinessCombat Readiness

►October 1914 first troops of the October 1914 first troops of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) left for Britain for further training on left for Britain for further training on 32 ships32 ships

►Early 1915 Canadians ready for action Early 1915 Canadians ready for action in Europe in Europe

The officers and members of the 26th Battalion of the Second Canadian Expeditionary Force prior to embarking for Europe

Page 14: World War One: Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire

Marching down King St., Berlin (Kitchener)

Training in Victoria Park, Berlin (Kitchener)