Stories behind the history Canada's History Society

The victory at Vimy Ridge, France, remains Canada's most storied attack of the First World War. Beginning on April 9, 1917, all four Canadian divisions advanced side-by-side for the first time in a single attack. But the victory came at a cost: During four days of fighting, Canada suffered more than ten thousand casualties. Today, war letters offer a window on that long-ago time. Here, in their own words, are the stories of the soldiers who fought, and the loved ones back home who cherished them.

Music credits: 

* Stories Behind the History theme music: "The Red River Jig" performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist. 
* Opening Theme: "The Planets, Op. 32; Jupiter," by Gustav Holst, 1914–1916
* William Bell: "Keep the Home Fires Burning," by Ivor Novello, lyrics by Lena Guilbert Ford, 1914
* B.R. Empey: "Symphony No. 3; A Pastoral Symphony," by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1922
* Maurice Bracewell: "The Planets, Op. 32; Saturn," by Gustav Holst, 1914–1916
* George Broome / Violet Moyer: "Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95; From the New World," by Antonín Dvořák, 1893
* Sydney Winterbottom: "Good Luck to the Boys of the Allies," by Morris Manley, 1915
* Sydney Winterbottom: "Scotland the Brave" – Traditional, Early twentieth century
* Frank J. Whiting: "Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36; Var. IX – Nimrod," by Edward Elgar, 1898–1899
* Frank J. Whiting: "The Last Post" – Military, seventeenth century
* End Credits: "The Lark Ascending," by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1914 (Revised 1920)

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In this special series of episodes we travel to St. John's, Newfoundland, to interview four prominent Newfoundlanders about their memories of the Confederation debate, and ask if they think Newfoundland made the right choice when  it joined Canada. In Episode 3, Life after Confederation, our guests discuss the consequences of Newfoundland's big decision. 

Guests: Former Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former federal MP Richard Cashin.

Host: Canada's History magazine senior editor Kate Jaimet

Art:"Malcolm Rogers' house is towed by a 40hp motor boat from Fox Island to Flat Island during resettlement," Newfoundland, August 1961. Photographer: Bob Brooks. Library and Archives Canada, National Film Board Fonds. Copyright expired.

Sound credits:

"Ode to Newfoundland" – licensed under Creative Commons – wikimedia - https://en.wikipedia/org/wiki/File:Newfoundland_and_Labrador.ogg

"The Red River Jig" performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist

"The Gloom of my Soul" by Harpo Marks, licensed from PremiumBeat.com

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In this special series of episodes we travel to St. John's, Newfoundland, to interview four prominent Newfoundlanders about their memories of the Confederation debate, and ask if they think Newfoundland made the right choice when  it joined Canada. In Episode 2, The Confederation Debate, we hear the voices of Confederation's most ardent supporter, Joseph Smallwood, and its most vocal advocate of independence under responsible government, Peter Cashin. And our guests weigh in on their memories of the debate that rocked Newfoundland.

Guests: Former Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former federal MP Richard Cashin.

Host: Canada's History magazine senior editor Kate Jaimet

Art:"Malcolm Rogers' house is towed by a 40hp motor boat from Fox Island to Flat Island during resettlement," Newfoundland, August 1961. Photographer: Bob Brooks. Library and Archives Canada, National Film Board Fonds. Copyright expired.

Sound credits:

Ode to Newfoundland – licensed under Creative Commons – wikimedia - https://en.wikipedia/org/wiki/File:Newfoundland_and_Labrador.ogg

"The Gloom of my Soul" by Harpo Marks, licensed from PremiumBeat.com

Snare drums: Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution non-commercial license from zagi2 on Freesound.org. https://freesound.org/people/zagi2/sounds/673466/

All archival audio from the National Convention: Public domain. Provided by The Rooms Provincial Archives Division.

Second World War Prosperity (00:00:44 - 00:06:17)

The Great Confederation Debate (00:06:17 - 00:17:16)

The Votes Are Cast (00:17:16 - 00:24:19)

A New Era for Newfoundland (00:24:19 - 00:25:29)

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In this special series of episodes we travel to St. John's, Newfoundland, to interview four prominent Newfoundlanders about their memories of the Confederation debate, and ask if they think Newfoundland made the right choice when  it joined Canada. In Episode 1, Life in a British Colony, we explore life in Newfoundland in the 1930s and 1940s, the years leading up to the Confederation debate.

Guests: Former Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former federal MP Richard Cashin. 

Host: Canada's History magazine senior editor Kate Jaimet

Art:"Malcolm Rogers' house is towed by a 40hp motor boat from Fox Island to Flat Island during resettlement," Newfoundland, August 1961. Photographer: Bob Brooks. Library and Archives Canada, National Film Board Fonds. Copyright expired. 

Sound credits: 

Ode to Newfoundland – licensed under Creative Commons – wikimedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Newfoundland_and_Labrador.ogg

Rule Brittania (MP3 file) – public domain – Free Music Archive https://archive.org/details/RuleBritannia/rule_britannia.mp3

Wearing of the Green (Volume V-10) – John McCormack, Licensed under Creative Commons from musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/43921-john-mccormack-compilation/

Keep the Home Fires Burning – public domain – Library of Congress National Jukebox - https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-15093/

Wearing of the Green - public domain – Library of Congress National Jukebox - https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-121183/

"The Gloom of my Soul" by Harpo Marks, licensed from PremiumBeat.com

In 1948, the people in the British colony of Newfoundland faced a choice. They could become an independent country within the British Commonwealth. Or, they could vote to join Canada in Confederation. In an upcoming series of episodes we travel to St. John's, Newfoundland, to interview former Premier Clyde Wells, artist Kathleen Knowling, writer Bernice Morgan, and former MP Richard Cashin about their memories of the Confederation debate, -- and to ask them if they think Newfoundlanders made the right choice when they joined Canada. 

Wilhelm Rahn was a 19-year-old German naval ensign when his U-boat was torpedoed by a British submarine off the coast of Corsica in 1943. Plucked from the water by the submarine's helmsman, he ended up in a POW camp in the backwoods of Canada. Join Rahn's grandson Sebastian Koester and historical researcher Bernard Wood for a discussion of life in a Second World War Canadian prisoner of war camp.

Sound credits: Claude Debussy, "Dialogue du vent et de la mer," performed by US Air Force band, licensed under creative commons: https://musopen.org/music/14381-la-mer/ 

Scream "Hilfe!" made by Phantastonia, licensed under creative commons attribution license: https://freesound.org/people/phantastonia/sounds/615018/

Scream, licensed under creative commons: https://freesound.org/people/RutgerMuller/sounds/104030/

Waves, North Sea, licensed under creative commons: https://freesound.org/people/inchadney/sounds/129454/

Theme music, "Red River Jig," from the album Métis Fiddling for Dancing, performed by Alex Kusturok, licensed from the artist.