Subject: Unknown Soldier-Armbands

[james.hanna@ca.pwcglobal.com]

From: Ian Edwards <iedwards@home.com>
With reference to the Rocket, according to an editorial in yesterday's Globe and
Mail
by Tom Axworthy, Richard did volunteer for overseas duty, but was turned down on
account of poor ankles and wrists (I assue due to hockey injuries).  While an
NHL player
may be "healthy", they've certainly been through a lot,and  given the high
medical standards,
I can see the army not wanting individuals prone to injuries, so the NHL's
escape may have been more innocent.
 As for the Rocket, he apparently spent the war building tanks during the day,
and from what I understand in the editorial,
he earned the respect of all Canadians for volunteering, even though he was not
accepted.
With respect to the other threads on the concription crisis, I've heard that the
volunteer rate for Quebec (and French-Canadians)
was nearly, if not exactly, the same as for English-Canadians, although I have
not seen any statistics.  If anyone knows the facts,
I think it would help the debate.  My understanding of the issue is that
French-Canadians were opposed to being forced to go into
what was considered a European affair, while in fact they volunteered at the
same rate as other Canadians.  The ties to France discussed here
were largely built up in the  last 50 years, mostly by separatists and
nationalists.   In the years leading up to the two wars there was not a lot of
strong feeling for France - indeed, if you go back, there was a recognition of
the total abandonment of the colony by France after the "Conquest" (curiously,
this is where the phrase "Je me souviens" comes from).    French-Canadians
didn't have many ties in those days to France, so fighting for France, or
Britain, to them seemed much more a foreign war.  For English-Canadians, on the
other hand (and to counter the point about no news from Britain) the ties to
Britian were very strong.  I remember last year the Globe ran the front page
from a past issue, and if you look at the pages from the first 35 years, there's
almost as much, and sometimes more, news about the British parliament than the
Canadian.
The second conscription crisis (WWII) was fanned in large part by the fact that
this was the second time the same thing happened in 30 years, along with a
pseudo-fascist government in Quebec City, and a growing sense of nationalism in
the political elite.  Opposition to conscription was done almost on principle;
I recall reading that Trudeau (who was an officer in the Fusiliers de
Mont-Royal) had volunteered, but then withdrew because
conscription was imposed.  On the other hand, my Dad told me Trudeau spent the
war driving around on a motorcycle wearing a German helmet...
I suppose I could ask him - he works in my building :-).
From: Ian Edwards <iedwards@home.com>
Subject: Unknown Soldier-Armbands
I watched CBCs half hour special on Sunday Report on the entombing of
the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa. Very moving ceremony, very well done.
One question arose in my mind. Why were the Officers of the CF and RCMP
wearing black armbands (brassards)? I am reasonably sure that, until
recently at least, the wearing of the black armband by commissioned
officers was restricted to mourning the death of a member of the Royal
Family (possibly a serving GG as well). Would seem that CFAOs or
whatever must have changed. I don't have a problem with the changing of
the regulations, just wonder what qualifies nowadays?
Rather ironic (to me only perhaps) that the country mourns the death of
Maurice (Rocket) Richard at the same time. It was never clear to me how
he managed to escape conscription during WW2. Although truly a great
hockey player many of his records were made/started during WW2. Not to
imply francaphone bias I wonder how the NHL as a whole managed to exist
during wartime when the two Cdn teams (Habs and Leafs) were located in
Canada and the old four US teams were then comprised solely of Canadian
players. I can't imagine anyone as "healthy" as an NHL player.
- --------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which
it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material.  Any
review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action
in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the
intended recipient is prohibited.   If you received this in error, please
contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
--------------------------------------------------------
NOTE:  To remove yourself from this list, send a message
to majordomo@cipherlogic.on.ca from the account you wish
to remove, with the line "unsubscribe army" in the
message body.