Lives measured in kilograms:
Mitigating the soldier’s load

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

In March 2002, on a mountain near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border known as the Whale’s Back, a company from the vaunted U.S. 10th Mountain Division joined 400 Canadian troops and a handful of U.S. Navy Seals on an assault to clear enemy positions, bunkers and suspected cave complexes of Taliban and al-Qaida fighters. It could have been the 10th Mountain’s Waterloo, not so much for the enemy they faced as the baggage they carried, both literal and metaphorical.

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Into icy waters
Story by Tom MacGregor

Fifty years ago, on May 8, 1968, 26 parachutists jumped from three Buffalo aircraft expecting to land in a drop zone on the Mattawa Plains, a flat sandy stretch of land on Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. Instead, rough winds caught them, sending 22 of them into the frigid Ottawa River. Seven drowned before rescuers could reach them.

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May 8, 1945

Streets across Europe erupt in celebration of the news that
the Second World War in Europe has come to an end.

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Liberation of the Netherlands
Featured Poster | Only $44.95

The Second World War in Europe ended officially on May 7, 1945, with the unconditional surrender of all German forces. But for the First Canadian Army, it had ended two days earlier. On May 5, German General Johannes Blaskowitz surrendered the 120,000-strong Twenty-Fifth Army to Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes, commander of I Canadian Corps, at Wageningen in the Netherlands. The coming of peace sparked an eruption of public rejoicing that neither the Dutch nor the Canadian soldiers would ever forget. More than 7,600 Canadian airmen, sailors and soldiers gave their lives for Dutch freedom—and are buried in Dutch soil.

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Tulip Legacy
Watercolour Prints | Only $34.99
Painted by artist Jennifer Morse

The Canadian army played a big role in liberating the Netherlands and we have been best friends ever since. May 4 became Remembrance Day in the Netherlands. It remains a solemn occasion and one the Dutch mark with ceremonies at the Canadian War Cemeteries of Bergen op Zoom, Groesbeek and Holten. At Holten, children from the area lay yellow tulips before each of the 1,393 headstones. In Groesbeek, thousands of Dutch citizens walk in silence at sundown to the cemetery to pay their respects to the more than 2,300 Canadians buried there. Because the town of Bergen op Zoom was liberated during the Scheldt fighting on October 27, 1944, commemorations at the cemetery there are held on that date. A highlight is the Wageningen parade and festival in the town where the Germans surrendered.  Crowds of more than 120,000 people attend—reaffirming the strong memory of the events of war that forever bind Canada and the Netherlands together.

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Coming soon….
Canada and the Second World War: The Battles

The next issue in the award-winning series Canada’s Ultimate Story is Canada and the Second World War: The Battles. The Battle of Britain, the Battle of Hong Kong, the Dieppe Raid, the Italian Campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic, the Invasion of Normandy, the Battle of the Scheldt—these were some of the most important and costly conflicts of the Second World War where Canadians played pivotal roles. To witness what those brave Canadians experienced, pick up a copy of Canada and the Second World War: The Battles on newsstands across Canada May 7 or step into Canada’s rich history by subscribing to Canada’s Ultimate Story before May 7! Plus, you get a free poster inside your issue!

Coupon code not valid on Spring Mugs as they are discounted already.

Coming soon….
Canada and the Second World War: The Battles

The next issue in the award-winning series Canada’s Ultimate Story is Canada and the Second World War: The Battles. The Battle of Britain, the Battle of Hong Kong, the Dieppe Raid, the Italian Campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic, the Invasion of Normandy, the Battle of the Scheldt—these were some of the most important and costly conflicts of the Second World War where Canadians played pivotal roles. To witness what those brave Canadians experienced, pick up a copy of Canada and the Second World War: The Battles on newsstands across Canada May 7 or step into Canada’s rich history by subscribing to Canada’s Ultimate Story before May 7! Plus, you get a free poster inside your issue!

Coupon code not valid on Spring Mugs as they are discounted already.

Blooming dandelions:
Taking strength from adversity

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

Researcher Sarah Dentry-Travis made an interesting discovery while on two polar treks alongside some of Canada’s wounded warriors: great adversity can bring out the best in the most unexpected people. She joined a North Pole expedition launched by the True Patriot Love Foundation. Billed as the largest manpowered trek of its kind ever mounted, 12 veterans, 35 civilians and six guides skied more than 100 kilometres to the magnetic pole.

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Are you a veteran with dual entitlement?
A veteran with dual entitlement is someone who has been (or may be) granted disability entitlement under both the Pension Act and the New Veterans Charter (NVC). The combined disability pension and disability award(s) paid to veterans with dual entitlement cannot exceed 100 per cent of the disability evaluation. For some veterans, it may be more beneficial to receive decisions on claims under the Pension Act before proceeding with claims under the NVC, or vice-versa. While each case is unique, veterans should consider some factors before proceeding with a new disability benefits application or a reassessment.

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April 25, 1945

No. 6 Group, RCAF bombs coastal defences at
Wangerooge, Germany, in the group’s final bombing attack.

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