Evolution of the Canadian military

Evolution of Canadian Military

The Province of Canada was one of the colonies of the British North of America before the Act of Confederation of 1867. But on the first day of July that same year, through the formation of the Confederation, an act had been passed that resulted to the decision that Canada became a country. Since then Canadians tried to be independent but then they still cannot stand on their own especially when it comes to Canadian defenses. Through the help of British Empire, Canadians slowly build their own forces and joined different kinds of war especially during the Boer War and the Battle of Amiens. They were trained on different kinds of battles that affected the development of their country as Canada but then it increased their countrymen to be patriotic and fought for their rights. According to Cruise, as a result "Canada's Armed Forces matured from a militia of questionable value to a force capable of planning and executing independent operations." The Canadian soldier helped a lot in establishing the sense of patriotism to their country and the formation of their own values and creating their own identity as a country.

The first war the Canadians as a country that faced was when the South Africans discovered gold in Witwatersrand. As soon as they heard this discovery, miners and other people settled in this area until a few years later these two countries formed their own troops and declared war on each other. The war lasted for about three years and it only ended when the African leaders signed the Treaty of Vereeniging.

Canadians participated also during the World War One and World War Two. Below are the two battles of Canadians that helped in the evolution of the Canadian military and known then as an independent Nation.

The Boer War (1899-1902)

In 1814, Britain country acquired the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa and soon the British settled in the area where some Afrikaners were living until such time that resentment between the two arise. The powerful country British Empire wants to dominate the continent of Africa including the Transvaal and the Orange Free State headed by the Higher Commissioner of Cape Colony, Alfred Milner. The reason why he wanted to dominate the Transvaal and the Orange Free State was because of the gold that the Afrikaners discovered in that area and he wanted to rule the African continent through dominating the Cape to Cairo. In Microsoft Encarta Reference Library stated that "in 1899 the recently appointed British governor of Cape Colony, Alfred Milner, who strongly resented the Afrikaners' treatment of British subjects, issued orders to build up the 12,000-man British army contingent then in southern Africa." And before long these forces grew forcing Paul Kruger, the President of South African Republic, to require all British troops to abandon the Transvaal in two days.

Canada was divided into two identities, one as the Imperialist that was believed to be the English speaking Canadians and the other was the Nationalist that was known as the French speaking Canadians. The Nationalist was the most prominent in the country because they were influenced by the British before their separation with this country. Schuszter stated that "Imperialism, strongest in English speaking Canada, considered the Canadian identity to be best served by strengthening ties with Britain and the Dominion should provide full support to British imperial interests abroad and Nationalists, primarily of French Canadian background, felt the nation had no place in an imperial war and Canada should progress towards a cooperative French and English identity." When the tension between the Afrikaners and British were high, Britain asked for troops in Canada to support British military. Canadians supported Britain but then they have asked the country to provide them with necessary expenses and weapons needed for the war. With these conditions, Canadians formed a forces and send out volunteers but upon arrival Canadians was only categorized below British army, even the officers of Canadian were all positioned below the British officers. Even though they were ranked below the British, they joined the war and performed well.

Canadians participation during the Boer War made them improved their Nationalism; they were identified as Canadians not just the soldiers of the British people and would not be ranked as behind the British Army. They performed in the battle very well and made them known throughout countries.

The Battle of Amiens (1918)

In 1917, the Canadians form a group of soldiers fighting on the Western Front and became the attack troop of the British Army. Microsoft Encarta Reference Library stated that "Many Canadians -- including William "Billy" Bishop, Raymond Collishaw, William Baker, and Don MacLaren -- were among the war's top fighter aces." Soon, with their previous attacks they were able to reconstruct their forces to prepare for the next war. The Battle of Amiens started August 8, 1918. The Germans knew about the front of the British troop which was the Canadians and the Australians. Around Amiens, the Canadian Forces assembled and planned for the attack to the Germans, they went even far to the south of Kemmel to attack the target and studied the terrain by wearing the brand of Australians soldiery. The battle began by the aggressive attacked of the Army formed by the British, Australians and Canadian troops during the dark cloudy sky from north to south. They were able to capture some of the Germans through advanced phases of different battalions. In just over 3 hours, the enemy's front line had been overrun, the Allied forces captured 29,144 prisoners, 338 guns, and liberated 116 towns and villages; Ludendorff called 8 August "the black day of the German army." The battle ended when the Canadians captured the Belgian City of Mons.

The First World War has three stages but then during the first stage of the war they were not involved. The second stage of the war was the Battle of Ypres from April 22 to May 4 of 1915 wherein there were 6,000 Canadian forces died. The third stage of the war was the Battle of Amiens where they greatly involved in the initial phase of the formation, planning until the end of the battle. Throughout the war, Canadians showed a remarkable performance and improvement of their allied forces. Soon the Canadian forces became independent and consistently fighting together with the British and Australians.