Chronology of Canadian Military History Canadian Military History, Colonial Period, New France, First Peoples, Seven Years War, French Indian War Canadian Military History, British North America, American Invasion, War of 1812, Dominion of Canada, Riel Rebellion, South African War Canadian Military History, World War 1 History, 1914-1918, Canadian Armed Forces, conscription Canadian Military History, World War 2, 1939-1945, Battle of the Atlantic, conscription, invasion, Dday, Normandy, Germany, axis, allies, Hong Kong, Dieppe 1946-today
Canada and the 
First World War
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The First World War
The Canadian Expeditionary Force
Vimy Ridge
Recruitment and Conscription
The Canadian Corps: Spearhead to Victory
Canadians on other Fronts
Canada and the Air War
Canada and the War at Sea
The Aftermath
Canada between the Wars
Canada in World Affairs

THE FIRST WORLD WAR (1914- 1918)

Early Moves 1914-1915

Because Canada was not yet an independent international actor, Britain’s declaration of war was also binding on Canada.

In August 1914, Britain and France went to war with Germany. The Canadian government immediately offered Britain troops for overseas service, although Ottawa controlled the level of Canada’s military participation. Most Canadians greeted the outbreak of war with enthusiasm, especially those born in the British Isles who volunteered in large numbers. They were unaware, along with the rest of the world, of the horrors that twentieth-century warfare would bring.

Recruits were gathered and given basic training at the hastily-built camp at Valcartier, Québec. On October 3, the first 32,000-strong contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force sailed for Britain. The British colony of Newfoundland also sent 500 troops at this time.

The First World War


THE FIRST WORLD WAR
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Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M8
1-800-555-5621