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National Patriots’ Day: A Military History
Since November 2002, the late-May holiday has been recognized as National Patriots’ Day by the Quebec government. Previously known by other names such as the Fête de Dollard, or the Queen’s Birthday, this day…
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Lena Hayakawa and her internment in Canada
In 1942, a few months after the start of the Pacific War, thousands of Japanese-Canadians were expelled from their homes and sent to internment camps across the country. During the war, Lena Hayakawa spent…
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Operation UNIFIER: Canada in Ukraine
In 2022, we had the great good fortune to interview Captain Nathalie Gareau, who was deployed to Ukraine in 2019 and tells us about her participation in Operation UNIFIER.
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Winnie Roach-Leuszler – Canadian Athlete
CWAC member Winnie Roach-Leuszler made history by becoming the first Canadian woman or man to swim the English Channel. Discover her feats! Winnie Roach-Leuszler was born in Port Credit, Ontario, in 1926. One of…
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Isabel May McDonald – Teacher, Typographer, and Telegrapher
Isabel May McDonald was one of the many women who enlisted in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service. In this article, find out how her work contributed to the Allied victory in the Second…
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The French-speaking soldiers of “C” Force
Thousands of French Canadians served in the Canadian Army during World War II. Among them, many were mobilized into Force C: the Canadian force sent to defend the British colony of Hong Kong. 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…
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Canadian Nurses in Hong Kong
Two Canadian nurses accompanied the C-Force sent to Hong Kong in 1941: Kathleen Christie and Anna May Waters. When the colony was captured on December 25, 1941, the two nurses were also taken prisoner.…
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The prisoner of war camps in Hong Kong and Japan
With a 100% casualty rate after the terrible battle of Hong Kong, virtually all of the soldiers in Force C were killed in action. The rest were imprisoned in Japanese camps. However, the hardest…
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Gander – The dog of the “C” Force
It is very common for a regiment to adopt a stray animal as its regimental mascot when its men are deployed. This was notably the case with Gander, who first accompanied the Royal Rifles…
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The final assault on Stanley Village
From the outset, the Battle of Hong Kong, from December 7 to 25, 1945, was considered a losing battle. However, the Canadian soldiers of C Force distinguished themselves many times over in their attempts…
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Holiday Reading (2021)
The Je me souviens team is back this year with a new series of suggestions for books, films, TV series and documentaries for the holiday season! From the First World War to the conflict…
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The Battle at Wong Nai Chung Gap
The Battle of Hong Kong was one of the worst defeats of the Second World War for the Canadian Army. Nevertheless, Canadian soldiers from “C” Force distinguished themselves many times during this terrible confrontation,…
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John K. Lawson – Commander of the C Force
After an illustrious career in the First World War, John K. Lawson established himself as a competent and respected officer in the service of his country. In 1941, faced with a potential Japanese invasion,…
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The “C” Force
“C” Force was the Canadian force assembled to fight in Hong Kong in 1941. This article offers a brief portrait of the regiments that made up this contingent. “C” Force is the name given…
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The Diefenbunker
Do you know about the fallout shelter Diefenbunker? Located in Carp, Ontario, just outside of Ottawa, this shelter was commissioned to protect Canadian government officials during the Cold War in the event of a…
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Music in the Canadian Armed Forces
Whether at a ceremonial event or simply on the evening news, we have all seen military music performed at one time or another. You often hear about the combat role of the military, but…
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The Hercules: A Flagship Aircraft of the RCAF
When we think of military aircraft, a machine that inevitably comes to mind is the mighty C-130 Hercules! This leviathan of the skies is highly versatile and essential for many missions at home and…
