This short essay focuses on education within schools and universities during the Second World War in order to explore the relationship between war and learning. In elementary schools, high schools,…
Learning
Introductory Essay
Canada’s participation in the First World War has often been described as a coming-of-age – a trial by fire that transformed an immature colonial polity into an independent adult nation. Yet despite…
Battle in the Atlantic
This comic focused on the cooperation between Canadian airmen (in this case, the crew of a Sunderland flying boat) and British sailors of the destroyer HMS Drury in fighting the war against German U-Boats.
Sub busters.pdf
(44.61 MB)
A Yank in the RCAF
Oklahoma native Claude Weaver joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, became an ace, was shot down in Italy, and escaped from a German prison camp.
Thrill Hunter.pdf
(1.9 MB)
An infantry hero
Earl McAllister was rejected as physically unfit by the Royal Canadian Air Force, but earned fame by capturing dozens of German soldiers during the campaign in Normandy in 1944.
Scotty Sent Us.pdf
(46.66 MB)
Splendid Aircraft
This book, which combined full-colour artwork and detailed technical drawings, must have been a delight to children raised in an era when aviation occupied such a prominent place in popular culture.
Splendid Aircraft.pdf
(4.9 MB)
Mackenzie King, comic book hero
This comic, probably published in the United States early in 1942, introduced children to prime minister Mackenzie King and the war policies of his government.
King of Canada.pdf
(2.64 MB)
Posters to collect
These posters, featuring graphic art by Ted Harris, were probably distributed as a product premium during the Second World War.
Fighting the war in schools
Like most children, the students of Lord Roberts School in London, Ontario, were deeply involved in supporting the war effort, through collecting scrap paper, raising money for the Canadian Red Cross Society, or donating money to buy airplanes.
Recognizing children's contributions
Certificates like these were given to schoolchildren as a way to recognize their contribution to the war effort, and to ensure that they felt included in the struggle.
War in Canada's high schools
Courses in defence training were mandatory for boys and girls in most Canadian high schools during the Second World War, although certain elements of the course for girls (such as "Healthful Living, Rhythmics, Dances, etc") were not covered in this textbook.
DT 2 - Knots and Lashings.pdf
(970.9 KB)
DT 3 - Small Arms Training.pdf
(6.32 MB)
DT 4 - Model Building.pdf
(3.81 MB)
DT 5 - Aircraft Recognition.pdf
(5.59 MB)
DT 6 - Civilian Protection.pdf
(7.46 MB)
DT 7 - War Gases.pdf
(2.23 MB)
DT 8 - Map Reading.pdf
(7.39 MB)
DT 9 - Fieldcraft and Woodscraft.pdf
(6.58 MB)
DT 10 - Internal Combustion Engines.pdf
(7.19 MB)
DT 11 - Signalling.pdf
(3.87 MB)
DT 12 - First Aid.pdf
(7.05 MB)
DT 13 - Army Specialization.pdf
(14.85 MB)
DT 14 - Air Navigation.pdf
(7.67 MB)
DT 15 - Airframes.pdf
(5.63 MB)
DT 16 - Flight Theory.pdf
(3.99 MB)
DT 17 - Airmanship and Basic Drill.pdf
(2.15 MB)
Fighting ships of the world
Like other sets in the Fighting Forces series (and the World in Arms series on which it was based), this one featured naval vessels from Allied as well as enemy fleets: US battleship "Mississippi"; French battleship "Dunkerque"; British torpedo boat "Hornet"; Japanese destroyer "Fubuki"; Italian cruiser "Zara"; German submarine; US heavy cruiser "Indianapolis"; Spanish cruiser "Canarias"; motor torpedo boat; Japanese aircraft carrier "Akagi"; British battleship "Rodney"; Italian M.A.S. boat.