The Valour and the Horror

World War Two, saving private ryan, Second World War, W.W.II

As signs of war increased, Prime Minister King instituted a number of modest budget increases for the Canadian military. A Cabinet Defence Committee was established to coordinate military planning, and in March, 1938, the government signed a contract for 7000 Bren guns to replace the outmoded Lewis guns currently in use. "The contract was not tendered, and the press yelled foul. Although a subsequent investigation revealed no wrong doing, King was stung by the Bren Gun Scandal and became even more reluctant to acquire modern equipment for the army. Still, appropriations for the army were about doubled between 1935 and the outbreak of the war, and the size of both the Permanent Force and the militia was expanded."(Bercuson 1995: 10)

"Although Canada did not declare war until 10 September, 1939, the armed forces began to gear up for the coming conflict in late August. The governments Defence Scheme No. 3 called for the formation of a mobile force to defend Canada and, on 25 August, a number of militia units were activated to assist in the protection of federal property, to guard essential communications, and to man coastal defence installations. On 1 September -- the day Germany invaded Poland -- an order was issued to establish the Canadian Active Service Force, consisting of two infantry divisions and ancillary troops. Canada's three Permanent Force infantry regiments -- the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the Royal 22e Regiment (the Van Doos), and the Royal Canadian Regiment -- were mobilised with one battalion in each brigade of the 1st Division to give that division a professional core. The best fourteen militia regiments (infantry, armour, and artillery) from across Canada were also mobilised to form the balance of the two divisions. On 19 September King announced that the 1st Division would be available for overseas service if required (if requested by the British), and that the 2nd Division would be kept under arms in Canada for the time being. (Bercuson 1995: 16)