We only have a few veterans left from the second world war and none from
the first world war so if you encounter a veteran be sure to thank him
or her for their sacrifice so that we may enjoy the freedom we have
today. "All gave some, but some gave all!"
The first world war, "A WAR TO END ALL WARS" was sadly not enough of an
impact on Canada and its allies to actually make it such, as on Sept 11,
1939, Canada again declares war.
Below are two articles firstly from the Port Arthur daily news and
another article from a Fort William newspaper both printed in August of
1914. If you click once or twice on these and all the other pictures,
they can be read and seen in better resolution.
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| Canadian Soldiers in the trenches....would you want to be there? |
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| "THEY DIED THAT WE MAY LIVE" |
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| "A different 9-11 back in 1939" |
This is an incredible photo of the Algonquin Regiment leaving Port
Arthur, Ontario on June 4th 1941. In the background is a steam engine
at the Port Arthur Canadian Pacific Railroad station torn down many
years ago and today, Water Street near Marina Park runs right through
this property. Off to the left in a gold square is the Hydro
sub-station which still exists today as seen in the next photo. Look
hard and you may recognize someone you love....also look at those young
faces heading off to fight for our freedom.
Click on photo for a closer look!
The Hydro sub-station as seen today.
The following picture is an unknown regiment. They are gathered to
march in McKellar Park. McKellar Park's present location is where
McKellar Park school is today, just to the north of the Fort William
Curling Club...be sure to look at the rest of the photos below. These
soldiers are marching with Lee-Enfield British rifles (a closer photo of
one is below).
When I was in sea cadets back in the 1950's we would shoot these in
rifle range at the old Fort William Armory which would be located to
the right and behind in the following photo.
These rifles weighed 8.8 lbs...so imagine carrying one of these around
on parade or in the battle field with all the other gear a soldier would
have to wear. I could barely lift it to take one shot!
This McKellar Park field was used for local baseball, football, and was
the starting point for many a Fort William Parade. Off in the distance
with a gold square is the Sweet Caporal score board for the sports
field...more data on that below.
Below is an old Sweet Caporal cigarette package which actually displayed
WWII planes so as to help identify what you may see flying overhead.
My father(still living today at 94 years) was a Sergeant in the Canadian
Army then and stationed in Victoria, BC. where they were guarding the
west coast after Pearl Harbor was bombed. They thought the Japanese
were going to do the same to Canadian Naval bases along the coast.
While there, he also taught an aircraft recognition course.
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| McKellar Park and school as it looks today. |
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| Sweet Cap aircraft recognition package WWII. |
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| Here is a colored picture of a Sweet Caporal Cigarettes scoreboard. |
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| THE LEE-ENFIELD BRITISH BOLD ACTION RIFLE. |
You can also view other years of Remembrance Day posts with some incredible local photos on this blog as follows -
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS OF ALL WARS for their unselfish service....
Below is an old Sweet Caporal cigarette package which actually displayed
WWII planes so as to help identify what you may see flying overhead.
My father(still living today at 94 years) was a Sergeant in the Canadian
Army then and stationed in Victoria, BC. where they were guarding the
west coast after Pearl Harbor was bombed. They thought the Japanese
were going to do the same to Canadian Naval bases along the coast.
While there, he also taught an aircraft recognition course.
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