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Large regimental bands first came to Canada in the late 18th century. By 1869, there were some 46 bands in the Canadian militia. The first regular armed forces bands in Canada were formed in 1899. Their main purpose has been to provide music for military or public functions. As of 2023, there were a total of 73 bands in the Canadian Armed Forces: 53 in the Army, 12 in the Air Force, and 8 in the Navy.
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Article
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of the Second World War. It lasted between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. The Atlantic Ocean was important for the Allies because they needed to send supplies and people by ship from North America to Europe. German U-boats (submarines) attacked and sank many of these ships. Canada played an important role in the Battle of the Atlantic. The Canadian navy and air force protected convoys of supply ships and hunted U-boats. The Canadian merchant navy transported troops, food and other supplies. (This is a plain-language summary of the Battle of the Atlantic. If you are interested in reading about this topic in more depth, please see our full-length entry, Canada and the Battle of the Atlantic.)
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Article
The Battle of Normandy was one of the most important operations of the Second World War. It began the campaign to free Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Canadians played a key role in the Allied invasion of Normandy (called Operation Overlord). The campaign began on D-Day (6 June 1944) and ended with the battle of the Falaise Pocket (7–21 August 1944). Thousands of Canadians fought on D-Day and in the Normandy campaign and over 5,000 were killed. (This article is a plain-language summary. If you are interested in reading about this topic in more depth, please see our full-length entry, D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.)
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Memory Project Archive
Agnes Elizabeth Ward served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Al Trotter (1923-2011) served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, under the aegis of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command. He flew 44 operations before his aircraft was shot down in August 1944 and Trotter spent the rest of the war in Europe in German prisoner of war camps. In this excerpt, Trotter discusses the 2 December 1943 bombing mission against Berlin, in which he was part of 101 Squadron, RAF stationed at Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire, England. For more on Al Trotter's story, see Leslie Trotter Zwingli and Lt. Colonel Elmer John (Al) Trotter, DFC, DFM, CD, CM (retired), Against the Odds (Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse, 2009). Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Alan Henry Sunley served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to Alan Henry Sunley's testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Albert Donald served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to Albert Donald’s testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Anatole Côté served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to Anatole Côté’s testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Andrew Carswell served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War. Read and listen to Andrew Carswell’s testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
"The only time I was nervous inspecting a parachute was where they brought it in after a crash and it had burned. And we had to go through it." Anna Dundas (née Mayer) was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women's Division during the Second World War. Read and listen to Anna Dundas’ testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Anthony "Tony" Slugoski served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. See below for Mr. Slugoski's entire testimony. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Arnold Sunny Knox served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. See below for Mr. Knox's entire testimony. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Asa Albert Ace McGuire served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to his testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Atholl Sutherland Brown served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to his testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
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Memory Project Archive
Barry Aikey Caplan served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Read and listen to his testimony below. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.Content warning: This article contains content which some may find offensive or disturbing.
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