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21 on the Home Front a Veteran Remembers 327-340 120820 11/2/04 12:53 PM Page 327 Chapter 21 On the Home Front A Veteran Remembers Today, World War I seems a long time ago. I’ll tell you a thing But for veterans of the war, the memories or two.” are still alive and Remembrance Day is a I would try to very special event. In 1999, Veterans Affairs explain what some Canada estimated that there were about 600 of these men went Canadian World War I veterans still living. through. Some in Many are close to 100 years old. This is how hospitals through- World War I veteran, Mr. B. Ham, remembers out the country the war. are still suffering. We have to remem- Every November 11th my wife shines my ber those fellows. medals, I dress myself up, and we go “Suppose some- to . take part in the [Remembrance thing happened and Day] service. So many things go through your father had to my mind. All those men who were killed. go to war.You’d feel How unnecessary. That they couldn’t have badly if he were died an ordinary natural death. A very killed in action or terrible thing that a man has to give his lost an arm or a A World War I veteran life. leg.” People don’t realize that these men “Just think it over. Consider yourself who enlisted didn’t even realize what they darn lucky to be a Canadian, living in a were getting into. Maybe I was one of free country. And it was fought not only them. Anyway, they went. Some gave their by the Canadians and the British, but by lives, others gave their limbs. People don’t Americans, Australians, and New Zeal- seem to realize the sacrifices these men anders. They all helped to preserve the made. freedom which you have today.” The meals they had to contend with—bully beef (corned beef). Cold Reflecting weather—unprotected in pouring rain. No 1. The stories of veterans can tell us a home to go to. Maybe a barrack room or great deal about the real long-lasting an ordinary tent. Maybe no tent at all. effects of the war. If you could talk Maybe standing in a trench—muddy, cold, with a World War I veteran, what and miserable. questions would you ask? I would feel very compassionate 2. World War I ended over 80 years ago toward any teenager who considers and no fighting ever took place any- November 11th just another holiday. I’d where in Canada. Nevertheless, the war had a major effect on Canada. say,“Well, I don’t blame you for feeling that How does this veteran’s message way. You’re young. Maybe if I were you I’d reveal why the war was so important feel the same way. If you’ve got a minute to Canadians today? or two to spare, come and sit with me and 327 327-340 120820 11/2/04 12:53 PM Page 328 328 Unit 4: Canada and World War I, 1914-1919 Changes in Everyday Life Canadians at home supported the troops CANADA'S PRODUCTION 1914 $ 28 165 OF WAR SUPPLIES overseas in many different ways. People made sacrifices to help ensure victory in 1915 $ 57 213 690 Europe. Many people planted “victory gar- dens” to produce as much food as possible. 1916 $ 246 505 260 Canadians were sending large amounts of food to the fighting forces and the people of 1917 $ 388 213 550 other Allied countries. At home, families tried not to waste anything and to reduce the 1918 $ 260 711 750 amount of food they kept for themselves. On the prairies, many of the farm workers Production by industries reached new heights were overseas fighting. Students in schools during World War I. Especially important was the were often dismissed early so that they could go production of munitions (military weapons and out and work on the farms. Groups of women equipment). Factories manufacturing airplanes, of all ages met regularly to organize community shells, and ships sprang up across the country. By fundraisers, roll bandages, and prepare parcels 1918, 300 000 Canadians were working in these for the troops. Every community held card factories. One-third of the shells fired by the games, dances, and variety shows. The profits armies of the British empire were made in Canada. from these evenings were used to send soap, writing paper, pencils, and candy to the troops. government for the war effort. After the war, the bonds could be cashed in at a profit. The Economics of War Business owners also loaned over $1 billion to By 1918, the war was costing Canada over $1 the government. The loans would be paid back million a day! Workers helped to pay the enor- with interest when the war was over. mous costs by buying Victory Bonds. Victory Children played a part by buying Thrift Bonds were issued by the government. By buy- Stamps. Each stamp cost 25¢. It was stuck on ing them, citizens were loaning money to the a card. When $4.00 worth of stamps were DISASTER! Early on the morning of 6 December 1917, a terrible explosion rocked the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Halifax was a major shipping port for war supplies.The Mont Blanc, a French ship carrying ammunition, collided with the Belgian vessel Imo in the harbour.Almost 3000 tonnes of explosives were set off.The blast flattened large sections of the city. Fires roared through wooden buildings.A huge tidal wave swamped other ships in the harbour and tossed them in pieces onto the shore.Two thousand people were killed.Thousands more were injured or left homeless.The Halifax Explosion was the worst disaster in Canadian history. It brought the horrors of the war to the doorsteps of Canadians at home. 327-340 120820 11/2/04 12:53 PM Page 329 Chapter 21: On the Home Front 329 collected, the child received a War Savings Stamp. A War Savings Stamp could be cashed in for $5.00 in 1924. The Canadian government also introduced income tax during World War I. The purpose was to help finance the war. Income tax was supposed to be a “temporary measure.” But as we know, income tax has never been abolished. Women During the War Years World War I brought great changes to the lives of Canadian women. As soon as the war began, hundreds of Canadian women volunteered to work overseas as nurses or ambulance drivers. Many women worked in field hospitals just They experienced the horrors of the war first- behind the front-line trenches. One operating hand and worked long hours to care for the room nurse wrote in a letter home,“We ... wounded. had 291 operations in ten nights, so that will Women also played an important part in the give you a fair idea of a week’s work.” war effort at home in Canada. The number of women working in jobs outside their homes increased dramatically because so many men keynote feeling all through that First World War. were away fighting. Women drove buses and Everybody was extremely patriotic, and every- streetcars. They also worked in banks, on body wanted to ‘do a bit.’ If there’s anything we police forces, and in civil service jobs. Thirty could do to help, we must do it.” thousand Canadian women worked in muni- tions factories and other war industries. These jobs in heavy industry would have been considered unsuitable for women before 1914. Groups of women of all ages met regu- larly to knit socks for the soldiers. They packed gift parcels to be sent to the troops. Working conditions for women in the factories were difficult and sometimes One woman said, “You dangerous. One woman recalled: see, everybody felt they I had a very hard job. I had to run a machine of weights into the shell, and had to do something. You the weight had to be just exact. just couldn’t sit there. It was interesting work but very hard on your nerves. I was afraid the There was a phrase, shells might blow up.There was a machine went on fire.This friend was on ‘Doing your bit.’ Well, the machine that blew up, and I ran to her and we had to go down on our that was pretty well the hands and knees and crawl out of the place. So we had a little experience of what it was like to be right in a war. 327-340 120820 11/2/04 12:53 PM Page 330 330 Unit 4: Canada and World War I, 1914-1919 Culture Link War Posters t the time of World War I, offices and other public places Atelevision had not been where everyone could see them. invented. There were radios, but They were also printed in maga- not everyone had one. Colourful zines and newspapers. The posters were the most effective Canadian government used the way of getting a message across posters to encourage people to to a large number of people. support the war effort. Examine Posters were put up in post the posters on these pages. 327-340 120820 11/2/04 12:53 PM Page 331 Chapter 21: On the Home Front 331 1. List the different purposes for which the 6. Design your own posters. In groups, create posters were used. posters which could be used to: 2. What major images are used in each poster? • recruit soldiers Why do you think these images were used? • encourage people to buy war bonds 3.
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