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Clarence David Lapierre – Paratrooper, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
Clarence David Lapierre was one of the first soldiers to land in France during the Second World War as a paratrooper with the 1st Canadian Battalion. However, many people are still unaware of the…
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The Carty brothers – Artisans of a tradition
Following in their father’s footsteps, the Carty brothers all enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Overcoming the obstacles of the time, the five young men all distinguished themselves…
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The No. 2 Construction Battalion
Did you know that there was a battalion of black soldiers in the Canadian Army during the First World War? Long ignored, the members of the 2nd Construction Battalion contributed enormously to the war…
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The Courtney Brothers: A Case-Study on Enlistment of Black Soldiers in the First World War
Enlistment in the First World War did not come easy for most Black Canadian soldiers. Acceptance into the military was the responsibility of local recruitment officers, who had the power to deny individuals for…
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Congo – Canada as a Member of the United Nations
In 1960, the Congo gained its independence, but ethnic and political tensions remained high, prompting the United Nations to intervene. Canada answered the call, deploying troops to stabilize the situation and assist civilians in…
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Black soldiers during the French regime
To protect its large occupied territories in North America, it was not unusual for the 17th and 18th century French regime to enlist some freed slaves under its banners. Explore this practice further in…
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When the World Revolution Converged in Montreal
The “Hemispheric Conference to End the Vietnam War” was held in Montreal from November 29 to December 2, 1968 and attended by a delegation from the Black Panther Party, representatives from North Vietnam, and…
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African Canadian soldiers in the War of 1812
More and more attention is being given to African Canadians’ participation in 20th-century conflicts. However, years before the two world wars, many African Canadian soldiers had already paid the ultimate sacrifice during the War…
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Richard Pierpoint – An unsung leader
A veteran of the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Richard Pierpoint led a very full life! After arriving in North America as a slave, Pierpoint went on to become a respected…
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The First World War in Sub-Saharan Africa (1914-1918)
Major battles were waged in sub-Saharan Africa during the First World War. This second article in our two-part series on the non-European theatres of this war provides an overview of different military fronts in…
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Edwin Erwin Phillips – Mechanic for the Royal Canadian Air Force
A sergeant in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, Edwin Erwin Phillips had a distinguished career and was destined to a promised life before his tragic death in Poland. Edwin Erwin…
