Paul G. Allen’s legacy:
Uncovering history from the deep ocean

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen (1953-2018) will be remembered for many things, his contribution to the personal computer revolution among them, but his role in uncovering historic shipwrecks and resurrecting their stories is captivating to many who have followed ocean exploration and naval history through the ages. Allen died a year ago from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was just 65, but he lived a big life.

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George Pearkes and the Battle of Passchendaele

Story by Sharon Adams

In 1917, the British wanted to destroy U-boat bases on the Belgian coast before the Germans could mount a blockade that would cripple Allied efforts. Capturing the ridge at Passchendaele, the highest point in the area, would give them an advantage. The Canadian Corps, which had fought in a dozen battles after its success capturing Vimy Ridge in April, was ordered in October 1917 to help capture the ridge at Passchendaele.

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November 6, 1914

Record cold and rain plague 1st Canadian Division as it trains on England’s Salisbury Plain.

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IRIS is proud to provide exclusive vision care benefits to members of The Royal Canadian Legion.

To register visit iris.ca/benefits or call 1-800-663-3937 ext 224

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Military Moments | D-DAY
Narrated by Barry Pepper

This year marks the 75^th Anniversary of the greatest military operation in history: D-Day. To mark this significant milestone in the lead-up to Remembrance Day, Legion Magazine has collaborated with Emmy-award winning Canadian actor Barry Pepper to present the next video in our award-winning video series – Military Moments | D-DAY.

The video takes us back to the spring of 1944. The Allies could not wait any longer. It was time to roll the dice on the greatest military operation in history. Together, the Allies—British, American, Canadian—would land on five beaches on France’s Normandy coast in the early hours of June 6—D-Day. Often overshadowed by our American and British bretheren, the video highlights Canada’s triumph and sacrifice at Juno Beach.

There are few artists today who can lend insight into the sacrifices made at D-Day like Pepper. He starred as U.S. Private Daniel Jackson, a sniper, in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 epic war film Saving Private Ryan alongside co-stars Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. In the years after, Pepper went on to star in feature war films like We Were Soldiers (2002) and Flags of our Fathers (2006), and this year in The Painted Bird which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September.

For four years now, Legion Magazine has collaborated with notable Canadians in sharing the history of our home and native land with our web series: Military Moments. These educational videos have featured a stellar roster of Canadians such as Dan Aykroyd, William Shatner, Mike Myers, Alex Trebek, David Suzuki, Gordon Pinsent, The Honourable Mayann Francis, Linden MacIntyre, Alan Doyle and the late Leonard Cohen. Military Moments is available to watch free to the public on our YouTube Channel.

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Spain and Britain settle a trade war

Story by Sharon Adams

Spain and Great Britain once nearly went to war over what is now a part of Canada. The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore and claim the Pacific Northwest. In 1493, Pope Alexander VI granted Spain a claim to any lands they discovered west of the Azores not already held by a Christian prince.

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John McCrae and the Battles of Flanders
– On newsstands Nov. 1

John McCrae—doctor, gunner and poet—was shaken by the battlefield death of a friend in May 1915, and wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields” in tribute. The poem took on a life of its own, and remains today a renowned symbol of remembrance. As a surgeon, McCrae also saved the lives of countless Canadian soldiers, wounded in the fierce battles on the muddy, cratered fields of Belgium’s Flanders region.

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Raeder’s defence: German admiral
fights for his doomed fleet

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

Nazi Germany’s top naval commander mounted an epic defence of his sailors and their ships before an outraged Führer in January 1943, boldly predicting catastrophe if Hitler followed through on threats to scrap his high-seas fleet.

Documents seized by Allied forces at the end of the Second World War cast a light on the continuing struggle Hitler’s senior military officers had in waging war and reasoning with their wilful boss.

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October 31, 1975

At CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, No. 419 Squadron is established as a training squadron.

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