Image credit: Dept of National Defence
The Gulf War of the early 1990s was a struggle that is well-known to many. More than 4,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served in the Persian Gulf region in 1990-1991 as part of the international Coalition of countries that came together to drive the invading forces of Iraq out of Kuwait. In the aftermath of the conflict, Canadians would continue to serve with peacekeeping and embargo-enforcement efforts in the region for several years.
On this day, 28 February, we remember our Forces service and sacrifice in the Gulf War.
Full details can be read at Veterans Canada
Image credits: Department of National Defence ISC90-5050 and Legion Magazine
The month of February gives us all the chance to celebrate the diversity and achievements of Black people in Canada. However, it is also a time to reflect on Canada's painful history and the distinct challenges that Black people in Canada continue to face in their daily lives, such as systemic barriers, racism and discrimination.
Many Black Canadians have served in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and continue to do so. At Maple Ridge Legion we acknowledge and celebrate their service to our country.
Photographs: Serviceman in the First World War. Canadian War Museum, George Metcalf Archival Collection
2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War and the Holocaust.
The Holocaust shows what happens when hatred, dehumanization and apathy win.
Its remembrance is a bulwark against the denigration of humanity, and a clarion call for collective action to ensure respect for dignity and human rights, and the international law that protects both.
Holocaust remembrance safeguards the memories of survivors and their testament of life before the Holocaust – of vibrant communities, of traditions, of hopes and dreams, of loved ones who did not survive.
Legion Member Cheryl Moore's grandfather served in World War I as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. William James Taylor was wounded on June 1, 1916, invalided out and returned to Canada in May 1919. He died in 1942 and is buried at the Mt Royal Cemetery in Montreal, QC.
Cheryl made the trip to Belgium to experience the battlefields, the cemeteries, memorials and museums in remembrance of her grandfather and wanted to share some of her reminders of an emotional visit.
You can read more about Hill 62 (Santuary Wood) on the Veterans Canada website
If you live in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows and would like to share a story and images of a Veteran of any age, please contact us, we want the act of Remembrance to live on.
For many years nurses have played a large part in the armed forces in Canada and abroad. The most famous being Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, where she trained and managed nurses and significantly reduced death rates by improving hygiene and living standards.
The modern armed forces have nurses as a vital part of the healthcare team, along with medics, surgeons, anaesthetists and other support services. Nursing Officers can be part of the Regular Force, or part of the Reserve Force. Most medical staff in the armed forces are Reservists, who can be mobilized to war zones or peace keeping missions to support the Regular medical staff.
Head over to the Legion Magazine website to read Sister Act, a story is about Canadian nurses in the First World War, who were stationed in hospitals or casualty clearing stations, which were nearer the front, often well within range of enemy fire. Here's a snippet...........
Canadian Nursing Sister Anna Stamers of Saint John, N.B., bound for England aboard Metagama, pondered her fate across the ocean.
Having graduated from her local nursing school in 1913 before accumulating two years’ relevant work experience, the Maritimer appeared prepared for the challenge ahead that June 1915—at least on the surface.
The reality, as is so often the case with conflict—regardless of specific roles and duties seldom matched expectations.
Indeed, for Stamers and the 2,844 other nurses who served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) during the First World War, destiny brought many of the same horrors witnessed and experienced by soldiers on the front lines.
And like those soldiers, not every nurse would sail home.......... (continue reading on Legion Magazine)
Nurses and other medical professionals are part of all armed forces, the Navy, Air Force and Army. Although not in a combat role, they are crucial to the function and safety of the forces, and are still much valued armed forces veterans.
In this month's veterans feature, we return to January 2006. After serving three tours in Bosnia, Master Corporal Christopher Harding began the first of two tours in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry.
On the 8th of July he was involved in a fierce battle with the Taliban, as part of Operation ZAHAR, and following intense fighting he risked his life to rescue a severely injured soldier who had been shot in the neck.
“I remember looking through the haze and I saw Corporal Christopher Klodt lying there on his back. So I crawled over to where he was.”
See the full story below.
In this month's veterans feature, we return to January 2006. After serving three tours in Bosnia, Master Corporal Christopher Harding began the first of two tours in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry.
On the 8th of July he was involved in a fierce battle with the Taliban, as part of Operation ZAHAR, and following intense fighting he risked his life to rescue a severely injured soldier who had been shot in the neck.
“I remember looking through the haze and I saw Corporal Christopher Klodt lying there on his back. So I crawled over to where he was.”
See the full story below.
Today we remember those who fought on the beaches, in the air, on the land and at sea this day, 80 years ago. D-Day.
Allied Airborne troops secure the flanks of the invasion area in Normandy in order to cut off access for the Germans. British 6th Airborne Division were successful in their operation.
Then the American Airborne drop began as aircraft carrying 13,000 Paratroopers flew to the Cotentin Peninsula in northwest Normandy. 101st Airborne were the first, preceded by elite pathfinder units, then an hour later 82nd Airborne jumped into Normandy.
They were met by heavy anti aircraft fire and bad weather but succeeded in achieving many of their objectives. There were high casualties, with 2,500 men killed, wounded or missing by the end of D-Day. Of this number 338 were killed.
The British 3rd Parachute Brigade’s 9th Parachute Battalion had a special mission to destroy the German Artillery battery at Merville to protect those landing at Sword Beach. Despite anti-aircraft fire they were successful at destroying the guns, but with a cost of 75 casualties.
The Naval bombardment of German defences began to protect the troops landing on Normandy Beaches. HMS Belfast and HMS Orion among the first at Gold sector beach. After 2 hours the landing craft surged up the beaches and troops from the 7th Battalion Green Howards found smashed German bunkers with shellshocked troops inside due to the bombardment.
American troops from the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions, and units of elite Army Rangers began to land on Omaha Beach. Omaha was the largest of all five Allied landing beaches, stretching 6 miles in length. The objective was to secure 5 beach exits off the beach, but there was heavy defence with German machine guns, mortar and artillery strongpoints, as well as obstacles and mines on the beach.
As soon as the landings started there was chaos, many men forced to leave their boats in deep water with heavy equipment drowned, and units were landed far from their designated landing points. Almost all the amphibious tanks sank, and from one landing craft all 32 men were killed as they moved up the beach. The commander of American ground forces, General Omar Bradley, considered withdrawing the troops and diverting to Utah and the British beaches.
Slowly the situation stabilize, by the end of the day 34,000 troops had landed on Omaha, at a cost of 2,400 killed, wounded or missing.
Utah, the westernmost of the five Allied landing beaches was half the length of Omaha and had flat sandy dunes that made it harder to defend. This task fell to the US 4th Infantry Division. There was lighter resistance here partly because of the earlier airborne landings behind the beach, by the end of D - Day over 20,000 American troops had landed at Utah at a cost of 197 casualties.
Landings at Sword and Gold Beaches. Sword Beach was taken by several Regiments, the East Yorkshire and South Lancashire, the Royal Engineers and the 22nd Dragoons. By the end of the day 3rd Division and 27th Armoured Brigade were ashore, amounting to 28,845 soldiers, with 630 casualties.
Landings at Juno Beach.
Juno beach stretched from La Riviere to St Aubin and H-Hour there was slightly later than Gold and Sword beaches so that the incoming tide gave a few more inches over the rocks on either side of the small fishing port of Courseulles. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles landed on Mike Beach from 07:45 hours, but as the supporting armour were delayed, they had no covering fire and suffered heavy casualties. The Regina Rifle Regiment landed on Nan Beach. Once they took the beach they were involved in house to house urban fighting for Courseulles. By early afternoon Courseulles had been taken and the Canadians were heading south towards Reviers.
Landing among partially submerged beach obstacles, the commanders of the landing craft bringing men to the beaches were forced to decide whether to try to avoid the obstacles or go forward and hope for the best. Amidst rough seas and effective incoming mortar fire, some 30% of the landing craft were either destroyed or damaged.
D-Day has come. Early this morning the Allies began the assault on the north-western face of Hitler's European Fortress.
On 12 June, Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski of the Royal Canadian Air Force was serving as a gunner on board a Lancaster, flying a mission over France. His plane was hit by enemy fire and the crew were ordered to abandon it – but as Mynarski headed to the escape hatch, he saw the rear gunner had become trapped in his turret. He attempted to free his colleague, even as his clothes and parachute caught fire. The rear gunner told him to try to save himself.
‘Reluctantly P/O Mynarski moved to the escape hatch and there, as a last gesture, turned towards the trapped gunner, stood to attention in his flaming clothing, and saluted before jumping,’ the London Gazette reported.
Mynarski suffered severe burns and died from his injuries. The rear gunner survived, able to escape the aircraft after it crashed to the ground.
For his ‘conspicuous act of heroism’, Mynarski was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
The source for this post is the Imperial War Museum website.
Today we remember those who fought on the beaches, in the air, on the land and at sea this day, 80 years ago. D-Day.
Allied Airborne troops secure the flanks of the invasion area in Normandy in order to cut off access for the Germans. British 6th Airborne Division were successful in their operation.
Then the American Airborne drop began as aircraft carrying 13,000 Paratroopers flew to the Cotentin Peninsula in northwest Normandy. 101st Airborne were the first, preceded by elite pathfinder units, then an hour later 82nd Airborne jumped into Normandy.
They were met by heavy anti aircraft fire and bad weather but succeeded in achieving many of their objectives. There were high casualties, with 2,500 men killed, wounded or missing by the end of D-Day. Of this number 338 were killed.
The British 3rd Parachute Brigade’s 9th Parachute Battalion had a special mission to destroy the German Artillery battery at Merville to protect those landing at Sword Beach. Despite anti-aircraft fire they were successful at destroying the guns, but with a cost of 75 casualties.
The Naval bombardment of German defences began to protect the troops landing on Normandy Beaches. HMS Belfast and HMS Orion among the first at Gold sector beach. After 2 hours the landing craft surged up the beaches and troops from the 7th Battalion Green Howards found smashed German bunkers with shellshocked troops inside due to the bombardment.
American troops from the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions, and units of elite Army Rangers began to land on Omaha Beach. Omaha was the largest of all five Allied landing beaches, stretching 6 miles in length. The objective was to secure 5 beach exits off the beach, but there was heavy defence with German machine guns, mortar and artillery strongpoints, as well as obstacles and mines on the beach.
As soon as the landings started there was chaos, many men forced to leave their boats in deep water with heavy equipment drowned, and units were landed far from their designated landing points. Almost all the amphibious tanks sank, and from one landing craft all 32 men were killed as they moved up the beach. The commander of American ground forces, General Omar Bradley, considered withdrawing the troops and diverting to Utah and the British beaches.
Slowly the situation stabilize, by the end of the day 34,000 troops had landed on Omaha, at a cost of 2,400 killed, wounded or missing.
Utah, the westernmost of the five Allied landing beaches was half the length of Omaha and had flat sandy dunes that made it harder to defend. This task fell to the US 4th Infantry Division. There was lighter resistance here partly because of the earlier airborne landings behind the beach, by the end of D - Day over 20,000 American troops had landed at Utah at a cost of 197 casualties.
Landings at Sword and Gold Beaches. Sword Beach was taken by several Regiments, the East Yorkshire and South Lancashire, the Royal Engineers and the 22nd Dragoons. By the end of the day 3rd Division and 27th Armoured Brigade were ashore, amounting to 28,845 soldiers, with 630 casualties.
Landings at Juno Beach.
Juno beach stretched from La Riviere to St Aubin and H-Hour there was slightly later than Gold and Sword beaches so that the incoming tide gave a few more inches over the rocks on either side of the small fishing port of Courseulles. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles landed on Mike Beach from 07:45 hours, but as the supporting armour were delayed, they had no covering fire and suffered heavy casualties. The Regina Rifle Regiment landed on Nan Beach. Once they took the beach they were involved in house to house urban fighting for Courseulles. By early afternoon Courseulles had been taken and the Canadians were heading south towards Reviers.
Landing among partially submerged beach obstacles, the commanders of the landing craft bringing men to the beaches were forced to decide whether to try to avoid the obstacles or go forward and hope for the best. Amidst rough seas and effective incoming mortar fire, some 30% of the landing craft were either destroyed or damaged.
D-Day has come. Early this morning the Allies began the assault on the north-western face of Hitler's European Fortress.
On 12 June, Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski of the Royal Canadian Air Force was serving as a gunner on board a Lancaster, flying a mission over France. His plane was hit by enemy fire and the crew were ordered to abandon it – but as Mynarski headed to the escape hatch, he saw the rear gunner had become trapped in his turret. He attempted to free his colleague, even as his clothes and parachute caught fire. The rear gunner told him to try to save himself.
‘Reluctantly P/O Mynarski moved to the escape hatch and there, as a last gesture, turned towards the trapped gunner, stood to attention in his flaming clothing, and saluted before jumping,’ the London Gazette reported.
Mynarski suffered severe burns and died from his injuries. The rear gunner survived, able to escape the aircraft after it crashed to the ground.
For his ‘conspicuous act of heroism’, Mynarski was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
The source for this post is the Imperial War Museum website.
