Canada Goes To War!!!
Overview
Why would Canadians, want to
volunteer to fight in war which was
being fought thousand of kilometers
away?
Many Canadians could not even
locate Serbia on a map?
 Invasion of Belgium
Canadian PM Sir Robert Borden
The War Began…
On the night of August 4, 1914, Great
Britain declares war on Germany!
The NEW Conservative
Government
• The next day, August 5th
1914, the Governor-General
of Canada issued a
document which began…
“Whereas a state of war now
exists between this country
(Canada) and Germany…”
Sir Robert Borden-had the
responsibility of rallying the
nation to Britain’s side
during WW1.
The First Canadian Contingent…
• 33,000, Canadian soldiers reached England soon
after the outbreak of war in 1914. Furthermore,
fighting escalating later in the second battle of
Ypres.
• The four divisions of the Canada Corps earned an
outstanding reputation as a fighting force. More
significant, however, was the fact that Canada
was playing a respectable role on the world stage,
a role that would soon help undo its colonial
status!!!!!!
Volunteers!
 The Canadian forces at the outset were made up wholly of volunteers.
Casualties and the rapidly accelerating pace of the war made the bitter
question of conscription a major issue by 1917.
Canada Prepares to Defend the Empire!
 Canada was ill-prepared to fight this war and Borden knew
that he had to act quickly to change the situation.
 He appointed Sam Hughes as his minister of militia and gave
him orders to establish, organize and train a Canadian
contingent to support the British forces.
 However, he was suspicious of the French Canadians—he felt
that many did not contribute their fair share during the Boer
War.
 Hughes established a training base at Valcartier, Quebec, and
soon the first group of volunteers arrived.
 Once the men were deemed ready they were placed on troop
ships and to England.
The War Measures Act!
The law was meant to protect the nation from threats of war
for the security, defense, peace, and order of Canada.
The War Measures Act enabled the
government to:
Censor and suppress publications,
writing, maps, plans photographs and
means of communication.
Arrest, detain, exclude and deport
persons.
Controls harbors, ports and territorial
waters of Canada and the movements
of vessels.
Control the transport of persons and
things by air, land, or water.
Control trade
Dispose of property and the use
thereof .
The War Measures Act
and Prejudice
German and Austrian Descent
• The act gave the Canadian
government wide ranging
powers.
• Including putting
restrictions on Canadians
citizens of German and
Austrian descent.
• Newspaper carried stories
demanding that all such
immigrants be arrested or
deported!
Canadian Contribution on
the War Front!
Canada’s first group of soldiers arrived in
Britain on October 14, 1914.
Gas Attack!!
• Along with troops was a
• The troops were sent to Ypres
contingent of women who
area (France) and occupied a
were nurses, ambulance
series of trenches between
drivers and clerks in staff
the British forces and French
offices.
colonial forces.
• In all 2000 women worked • The Germans released their
as nurses and 6000 worked
secret weapon—and when the
for the civil service in a
gas reached the first line of
number of essential
trenches young Canadian were
government positions.
victims of the first gas attack in
history.
Canadian Soldiers
Battle of Ypres
Canadian Soldiers Dig In
 The trenches were dug in a zigzag
patters to avoid an entire line of
troops from being killed if an
artillery shell it a section.
 The trenches were organized into
front line trenches and connected
by communication lines.
 The second line of trenches
included medical areas, latrines
and rest areas.
 The trenches were quickly filled
with sea water and many men
suffered from a condition called
trench foot.
Next Lesson…
War in the air
War at Sea
Vimy Ridge
Propaganda
On the Home Front
Women in the War