One of Kelowna’s primary links to D-Day, June 6, 1944, is through the service career of Rodney Frederick Leopold Keller (1900-1954). [See Friendly Fire from Above at okanaganmilitarymuseum.ca for more about General Keller] Major General R.F.L. Keller CBE [Fig....
Canadian troops were at the forefront during momentous events in 1944. Two British Columbia units, the Westminster Regiment (Motor), and the 9th Canadian Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Dragoons), of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division thrust through the breach in...
Jeannie’s cape is like an autograph book!
Imagine how many fascinating people you have met this year alone. What tokens of those encounters do you still have, apart from your memories? This collection of cloth badges from the Second World War reads like an autograph book. Badges, removed from the uniforms of the many British, Canadian and other allied forces men, were given to Nursing Orderly Jean “Jeannie” Daisy Amos. She sewed them inside her nursing cape [Fig. 1] while working at the 106 (British) General Hospital from September 1941 to December 1946 in Peebles, Scotland, Bayeux, France and Antwerp, Belgium. She wore the British Red Cross Society Voluntary Aid Detachment badge like this one on her uniform. [Fig. 2]
Major-General Rodney Frederick Leopold Keller C.B.EBCD-P-1123.21 Canadians, British and Americans landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Canada’s 3rd Infantry Division carried the flag for Canada inland towards Caen, France. Two months later, British and Canadian...
“Few people know this even to this day. Many Japanese Canadians know it. The families of the veterans know it. The veterans know it. Somewhere among their possessions they have medals to prove it.” Years of Sorrow, Years of Shame [unattributed quote] Sgt....
During the Second World War, Prime Minister Mackenzie King aimed to manage the Canadian obligations to the war effort while balancing competing concerns from London and, later, Washington with Canadian needs. He foresaw Canada’s role as an emerging middle power after...