What did the British really think of Canada's efforts during the Second World War?
"Canada stood by us in the dark days..." or "a well-worn theme?"
On November 19, 1945, Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, gave a joint address to the Canadian Senate and House of Commons. This was just eight days after what was then called Armistice Day, and about a month and a half since the end of the Second World War.
Attlee's speech was about 3,400 words long, and he dedicated 700 of those words to Canadian efforts in the recently concluded war. It was a well-written and touching overview of Canada's contributions to the war in the air, on land, and at sea. The tribute section ended with Attlee saying, 'Everyone who fully realizes what Canada did throughout the war must acknowledge that it was a major contribution to the common cause.'
Well, almost everyone.
Records in the National Archives of the United Kingdom reveal that the Dominions Secretary did not think such a tribute was necessary. They also tell the story of how the Prime Minister's chief of staff and personal representative to the Chiefs of Staff Committee, General 'Pug' Ismay, pushed back against the Dominion Secretary to ensure Canada received a full tribute.
Lord Addison, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, wrote to Attlee with advice ahead of the speech. Attlee was already in Ottawa at this time, having come from a meeting in Washington. Addison wanted Attlee to speak about the state of affairs in the United Kingdom, particularly the domestic side, rather than referencing Canada or Canada's efforts during the war. He wrote, “I expect that a general tribute to Canadian effort need only be brief, as it must be a well-worn theme.”
Instead of paying tribute to the Canadians, he suggested the PM begin with a “homely description of the difficulties of British housewives, e.g., shopping shortages and general inconveniences endured for several years.” He wanted Attlee to mention the “immense destruction of homes, shops, factories, etc.” Perhaps only by the end of the speech, the PM might make a general comment “paying tribute to the way in which the Dominions have assisted us with supplies during the war.”
The very next day, Attlee received another message from London.
This was from Ismay, who had “learned that the Dominions Secretary has suggested that the Prime Minister should make only the briefest reference to the Canadian war effort on grounds that this has been so amply covered.”
Ismay said that he had reviewed Churchill’s speeches to the Canadian Senate and House of Commons in December 1941; Churchill’s broadcast from Quebec on August 31, 1943; and a special message to the Prime Minister of Canada from Churchill on December 16, 1942. Ismay thought none of these remarks were sufficient.
He suggested the Prime Minister “decide to make a rather fuller reference to the Canadian war effort than the Dominion Secretary suggests.”
And he would give him the ammunition.
Ismay consulted with the Chiefs of Staff Committee and gathered their views on Canada's contribution to the war effort, and sent their reports in three telegrams to Ottawa.
I’ve reproduced much of the three telegrams below. I think they are worth reading in full, on this Remembrance Day and nearly 78 years after Attlee delivered his remarks in Parliament. They were the factual basis for Attlee’s remarks — remarks that, without Ismay’s strong intervention in London, might have been much shorter.
Excerpt from Horizon No. 44 (Dominions Office No. 2027 to High Commissioner, Canada).
From Ismay.
Air Staff Suggestions
(a) Achievements of R.C.A.F. Generally
Canadian achievements in the war in the air deserve special mention. Units of the Royal Canadian Air Force played a distinguished part in every phase of air warfare, in every Command in the United Kingdom in and in every [lines missing in my copy.] … they achieved in this highly technical form of warfare. Perhaps the biggest single achievement of the R.C.A.F. was the provision of an entire Group - the famous No. 6 Group - of Bomber Command.
Both in the conduct of air operations and in the staff work connected with them, a remarkably high degree of integration with the Royal Air Force was achieved. The R.A.F. will also never forget the debt which it owes and the close ties formed with many Canadians who served individually with R.A.F. Squadrons.
(b) The Empire Air Training Scheme
One of the Canadian’s greatest contributions to the air war lay in the Empire Air Training Scheme. The play as first conceived provided for no less than 16 Advanced Flying Training Schools for pilots out of a Commonwealth total of less than 40, and proportionate numbers of other Schools. The first output of pupils in the Autumn of 1940 came just in time to sustain us when our aircrew situation was becoming critical - a result of the Battle of Britain. The Scheme expended progressively until 1943, by which time the number of pilot schools had risen to 29 and roughly one third of the British, Dominion and Allied output of aircrew were trained in Canada.
This was not only a major factor in maintaining squadrons in the line at a time when the enemy was causing serious interruption to training in the U.K., but it also saved the R.A.F. well over 100,000 ground personnel at a time when manpower was a limiting factor.
Lastly, the development of Radar is now well known to everybody, but it is not so generally known that, thanks to the assistance of the Canadian Universities, and to the establishment at Clinton of what was at that time the only large scale Radar Training Institution in the world, the Dominion of Canada provided the R.A.F. with its main source of highly skilled Radar technicians, at a time when skilled British sources had been almost exhausted. I might also mention that it was at Clinton that the first large scale training of Radar mechanics for the U.S. Air Force was started.
Canadians can be justly proud of their share in the Empire Air Training Scheme and we should pay full tribute to their generosity and efficiency in the way in which they met the varying requirements that arose from time to time in connection with this scheme.
(c) Aircraft Industry
Linked to the above, a tribute should be paid to the Canadian aircraft industry. Starting from small beginnings, this industry was developed until it became a most potent factor in the Commonwealth production of aircraft. Apart from the training types produced, the Canadian aircraft industry produced large numbers of such famous operational types as Hurricanes, Mosquitos, and Lancasters. No one is in a better position than the British Government and people to realise and appreciate the effort that is required to expand such an industry so efficiently and so largely as Canada did.
Effects of (b) and (c)
Thus, from Canadian efforts of Empire Training and in their aircraft industry, the Commonwealth reaped a great benefit and great military value from the common doctrine, training, equipment, organisation, etc., that we were able to achieve throughout our air forces. This was a potent factor in our joint efficiency in the air, and this is a point that we hope will not be lost sight of in the days of peace ahead of us, more particularly because modern developments will require an even quicker reaction to a common danger in the future.
Excerpt from Horizon No. 45 (Dominions Office No. 2028 to High Commissioner, Canada).
From Ismay.
Herewith Admiralty … suggestions.
Royal Canadian Navy
1. The Royal Canadian Navy has developed during the war from a small force including some destroyers up to a Navy which includes 2 cruisers, a force of destroyers and many frigates, corvettes and minesweepers. The larger proportion of the smaller vessels have been built in Canada to common design with the Royal Navy. Many frigates and corvettes have also been built in Canada for the Royal Navy to man and fight alongside the Royal Canadian Navy - some also for the United States of America.
2. The Royal Canadian Navy's contribution to the winning of the Battle of the Atlantic was very considerable and is fully recognised, not only by the Royal Navy but also by all of us living in England and depending on the Atlantic life-line for our food and supplies. The great forces of the Commonwealth and of our American Allies which launched in the culminating offensive across the Normandy Beaches, had good cause to acknowledge the endurance of the men and the ships which broke the back of the enemy's submarine war in the wide ocean. Many lives were lost in the winning of this great battle of the Atlantic without which Europe could never have been freed from Nazi domination - the Royal Canadian Navy played its full part in this triumph, as well as in the invasion itself.
3. Had the war in the East been carried to the point where the Allies stormed the shores of Japan, men of the Commonwealth would have been carried in Canadian built vessels, covered and protected by ships of the Royal and the Royal Dominion Navies.
4. [This short section is garbled in my copy.]
5. The personnel achievement of expanding the Canadian Naval service from some 1,800 to rather over 95,000 at the peak of expansion was truly remarkable and shows the great vigour and determination with which the problems were tackled.
6. Canada is a great country, part of a great Continent which is separated from the rest of the world by wide oceans. Should mortal danger threaten Canada again within the foreseeable future, war at sea and the security of communications by sea will be of the same supreme importance to Canada.
7. So long as this remains true, and it will remain true for many years to come, I hope that Canada will think it necessary and right to maintain a fleet commensurate with her increasingly important position in world affairs ready with the Royal Navy to maintain the security of all peaceful ships on the High Seas. We want to foster the close partnership between the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Navy which existed before the war, and which has become even closer under the stress of our common war effort.
Excerpt from Horizon No. 47 (Dominions Office No. 2030 to High Commissioner, Canada).
From Ismay.
Herewith note on Canadian participation in campaigns in North West Europe and in Italy.
1. From the time when the 3rd. Canadian Division landed on the left wing of the British forces in Normandy on D-Day, the Canadian element (later expanded into First Canadian Army) was on the left flank of Field Marshal Montgomery's Forces until final victory.
2. Caen
Canadian and some British forces by hard fighting formed the pivot on which the Allied armies turned to make their breakthrough in France.
3. Channel Ports
Certain of Hitler’s "suicide garrisons" in the Channel Ports fell to the Canadians to mop up.
4. The Low Countries
Perhaps the hardest task that fell to the Canadians was the clearing of the Dutch Coast and (with the Royal Navy) the opening of the port of Antwerp. This involved, inter alia, the very difficult landing on Walcheren. For their work in Holland, the Canadians earned the special gratitude of the Dutch, for whom (after the fighting was over) they provided much needed supplies, relief, and assistance.
5. Reichswald
First Canadian Army Headquarters was in control of the battle of the Reichswald, which (in Field Marshal Montgomery's language) was the "dogfight" preliminary to the Rhine crossing and breakthrough.
6. Occupation
[Line missing my in my copy of telegram.] … the victory was recognized by the inclusion of a Canadian detachment in the victory celebrations in Berlin.
7. Canadians in Italy
The First Canadian Infantry Division, sailing direct from England, landed in Sicily on D-Day, and participated throughout this successful campaign. On 3rd. September 1943, they were again included in the spear head of the attack, this time onto the mainland of Italy at Reggio. By the end of the year, they were joined by the 5th. Canadian Armoured Division. During 1944 and early 1945, the Canadians fought their way North along the Adriatic, across the Apennines, and then to Ravenna. In March 1945, they were transferred from Italy to Holland to be engaged in the final stage of German defeat there.
8. Defence of United Kingdom
Canada stood by us in the dark days of 1940-41, and the Canadian Forces in the United Kingdom during the period after Dunkirk formed the backbone of the defence against invasion.
***
These files are in CAB 120/199, NAUK. Thanks to Jessi Gilchrist.
Definitely worth reproducing these telegrams. And what Ismay would not have referred to, but was very much in Attlee's mind at this particular time, was Canada's key role in the atomic project.
"For their work in Holland, the Canadians earned the special gratitude of the Dutch“
Who fed the starving? let's omit to look at Why they were starving... Tulips for all!
This remains true to this day, and it was Vladimir Pizdets particular dishonour to draw the Canadaians, most especially from Manitoba, and the Dutch together again to fight to our deaths against the fascist aggressor!
As seen, I have strong but honest feelings...