Christmas and the holidays were always a difficult time for prisoners of war interned in camps around the world. The holidays often emphasized the great distance between prisoners and their loved ones and, with mail – delayed by weeks or months – the only bridge between them, morale was often low. But one thing theContinue reading “Christmas and the War Prisoners’ Aid”
Author Archives: Michael O'Hagan
Why Were You Spared? – Remembrance Day 1946
On November 10, 1946, the day before Remembrance Day, the German prisoners of war in Camp 133 (Lethbridge) held a memorial service to honour their dead. With the war over and most of the camp’s population transferred to the United Kingdom, the remaining 1,300 POWs in camp knew their time left in Canada was short.Continue reading “Why Were You Spared? – Remembrance Day 1946”
Nellie and Neys – A Case of Mistaken Bear-dentity
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, POWs in internment camps and labour projects throughout Canada adopted, kidnapped, and acquired through various means an assortment of domesticated and wild animals and kept them as pets and mascots. Camp 100 at Neys was no exception. Here, POWs found themselves a black bear and photos, such as theContinue reading “Nellie and Neys – A Case of Mistaken Bear-dentity”
Prisoners and Prints: A Linocut from Camp 44 (Grande Ligne)
For the many talented artists who were interned in Canada during the Second World War, their internment provided them with opportunities to continue and hone their craft. Thanks to aid organizations like the War Prisoners’ Aid of the YMCA and the International Red Cross, prisoners had access to art supplies in internment camps and manyContinue reading “Prisoners and Prints: A Linocut from Camp 44 (Grande Ligne)”
Changing of the Guard: The Veterans Guard of Canada in Ottawa
Today, May 24, 2023, marks the eighty-third anniversary of the establishment of the Veterans’ Home Guard, which was later renamed the Veterans’ Guard of Canada. As such, here’s a short post looking back at the first anniversary of the Veterans’ Guard in 1941. When Canada declared war on Nazi Germany on September 10, 1939, theContinue reading “Changing of the Guard: The Veterans Guard of Canada in Ottawa”
Waiting Out the War on the Shore of Lake Superior: Camp 100 (Virtual Lecture)
For those who missed my virtual lecture for the Thunder Bay Museum, my presentation on the history of Camp 100 (Neys) is now available for streaming. If the embedded video is not working, you can access it here: https://vimeo.com/791187355 A special thanks to Michael Dejong and the Thunder Bay Museum for hosting and to allContinue reading “Waiting Out the War on the Shore of Lake Superior: Camp 100 (Virtual Lecture)”
Virtual Lecture: Camp 100
I am happy to announce that on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, I will be presenting a virtual lecture on the history of Prisoner of War Camp 100 (Neys) as part of the Thunder Bay Museum’s virtual lecture series. This presentation will explore the history of Camp 100, an internment camp situated on the coast ofContinue reading “Virtual Lecture: Camp 100”
In Photos: POWs and the Swanson Lumber Co. – Clearwater, British Columbia
In December 1944, thirty-nine German prisoners of war stepped off the train at Clearwater, British Columbia, a small settlement roughly halfway between Kamloops and Jasper. Although small, this group of POWs was notable — they were the first combatant POWs to live and work within British Columbia. Employed by Swanson Lumber Co., the POWs wouldContinue reading “In Photos: POWs and the Swanson Lumber Co. – Clearwater, British Columbia”
London Calling: The Veterans Guard in Great Britain
In October 1941, the General Duty Company of the Veterans Guard of Canada arrived in Great Britain, becoming the first men of Veterans Guards to serve on foreign soil. The General Duty Company, later known as the No. 1 General Duty Company, was established in mid-1941 with the intention of sending representatives of the VeteransContinue reading “London Calling: The Veterans Guard in Great Britain”
A Day in the Life of a POW Woodcutter
As of April 1946, almost 9,000 German combatant POWs, Enemy Merchant Seamen (EMS), and Civilian Internees were employed in logging and pulpwood operations in Ontario alone. And hundreds, if not thousands, more had spent some time in a bush camp between July 1943 and July 1946. The majority of these bush camps were operated byContinue reading “A Day in the Life of a POW Woodcutter”
