LEICA CAMERA AG

The Leica Freedom Train

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

Adolf Hitler had no sooner come to power in 1933—appointed after a series of Nazi Party electoral victories, no less—than Ernst Leitz II acted.

The German industrialist, whose father revolutionized photography with his iconic 35mm Leica rangefinder camera, and daughter Elsie Kuehn-Leitz started covertly “transferring” the firm’s Jewish workers to far-flung Leitz company offices in France, Britain, Hong Kong, the United States—anywhere but Germany, where hostility and persecution of Jews had been simmering for more than a decade.

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Korea: The war without end

Explore the Unforgettable: Canada’s Role in the Korean War In this video narrated by Chris Jericho, we delve into the remarkable story of how Canada answered the call for peace and played a pivotal role in the Korean War. Discover the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of Canadian soldiers as they joined the international effort to defend democracy and uphold global stability. Join us as we honor the valiant contributions of Canadian forces and commemorate their legacy that continues to inspire generations.

MASTER CORPORAL PHIL TOBICOE/PPCLI ARCHIVES/20.39.06

Fighting Medak monsters

STORY BY PAIGE JASMINE GILMAR

Something seemed off about the Croatians biding for more time. Bombs bursting behind them, the Croats claimed their forces were exploding old mines.

But as the sounds of rifle fire mixed with the rising smoke from the villages beyond the roadblock, the Canadians imagined what this meant: the Croats were killing Serbs in the communities.

It was Sept. 16, 1993, and the hot midday sun beat down on Sergeant Sjirk Ruurds (Rudy) Bajema’s 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI). During the Yugoslav Wars, a 1991-2001 conflict between the six former republics of Yugoslavia, the battalion had been tasked with securing Medak Pocket, a farming region off the Adriatic coast. Later known as Operation Medak Pocket, the mission was the most-significant combat Canadian forces had participated in since the Korean War. Its importance remains 30 years later.

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Family/Valour in the Presence of the Enemy 

Jess Larochelle: A Canadian soldier

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

Wounded warrior Jess Larochelle, whose magnificent defence of a strongpoint in Afghanistan earned him Canada’s second-highest award for valour and spawned a campaign to upgrade it to a Victoria Cross, has died. He was 40.

“He was found in his shop and there wasn’t anything that could be done for him,” his brother Andrew wrote in a social media post from their home in Commanda Lake, Ont. “As per Jess’s wishes, there won’t be a funeral and services.

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Explore the Unforgettable: Canada’s Role in the Korean War  In this video narrated by Chris Jericho, we delve into the remarkable story of how Canada answered the call for peace and played a pivotal role in the Korean War. Discover the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of Canadian soldiers as they joined the international effort to defend democracy and uphold global stability. Join us as we honor the valiant contributions of Canadian forces and commemorate their legacy that continues to inspire generations.

Wikimedia

The bulldog bearer

STORY BY PAIGE JASMINE GILMAR

“The life of a stretcher-bearer during The Great War was a series of carries­—mostly of the living, often of the dying,” staff sergeant John Heeg wrote to the Kansas University Medical Center. “[They] experienced life and death on static battlefields unlike any others in history.” And on Sept. 2, 1918, life and death was undoubtedly on Private John Francis Young’s mind.

The 25-year-old stretcher-bearer persevered amid the fury of German shelling and machine-gun fire, risking life and limb to save his comrades on the battlefield and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions. And 105 years later, Young is still remembered as the Canadian bearer with a bulldog spirit.

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Stephen J. Thorne

The 2023 Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships: Part 2

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

As if the Aug. 11-13 gathering of more than 900 teenage athletes wasn’t enough to reinforce the value of the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships, two hammer throwers who cut their athletic teeth on the annual competition won world championships in August.

A week after the 2023 youth competition ended in Sherbrooke, Que., Nanaimo, B.C., native Ethan Katzberg, who competed in the Legion Nationals at Brandon, Man., in 2017, and Richmond, B.C.’s Camryn Rogers, who competed at Surrey, B.C., in 2015 and Sainte-Thérèse, Que., in 2016 took gold at the worlds in Budapest.

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EDWARD AUGUSTUS INGLEFIELD

Roll with the punches

STORY BY PAIGE JASMINE GILMAR

Some people roll with the punches, while others pack them—but flying ace Clennell Haggerston (Punch) Dickins did a little bit of both.

Also known as “Bush Pilot,” “The Snow Eagle” and “Canada’s Sky Explorer,” Dickins had about as many flying monikers as he had flying firsts. He was the first to fly the length of the Mackenzie River and across the Arctic Circle, and he established the Winnipeg-Regina-Calgary-Edmonton-Saskatoon-Winnipeg airmail route.

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Canadian homeowners aged 55+ can access up to 55% of their home’s value without having to sell. As a proud partner of the Royal Canadian Legion, HomeEquity Bank offers Legion members $500 cash back* upon funding their CHIP Reverse Mortgage. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3ln5vfo

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