Collingwood's rich part in Canadian military history
GLEANINGS:
Posted By ISABEL GRIFFIN
Posted 2 months ago
THE COLLINGWOOD & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY was honoured to have J. E. (Chic) Simonato as speaker at its November meeting.
A Collingwood veteran of the Second World War, he was assisted by his wife, Mary Lou. Melissa Shaw from the Collingwood Museum and Suzanne Purdy from The Depot at Craigleith were also welcomed.
COLLINGWOOD'S MILITARY HISTORY: (foreward--there isn't enough time at a meeting to give as much detail as I will do here. However, in his several binders, about 860 pages each, I'm sure Chic has dealt with that.)
FENIAN RAIDS: Collingwood's military history goes back to at least 1865 when the Fenian Raids took place.
The Fenians were a secret revolutionary group organized in Ireland in 1858. Famine in Ireland caused many people to emigrate to America. Among them were those who wanted to achieve independence from British rule.
They decided to take over New Brunswick and make it an independent Irish republic.
Word spread that the Fenians were gathering in Chicago to attack Toronto from the rear, via Collingwood.
Collingwood troops were marshalled under command of A. R. Stephen, the town's first doctor, and the lake was watched day and night. Fortunately, nothing happened.
RIEL REBELLION: The next call-to-arms was the 1885 Riel Rebellion. The Hudson's Bay Co. territory was transferred to Canada. This caused some Indians and Metis to believe they'd lost title to their lands in Saskatchewan.
Collingwood, as a major railway centre, was a gathering place for the troops of the Simcoe Foresters. Men from Collingwood again volunteered.
Riel was taken captive, and the rebellion ended.
BOER WAR (1899-1902): Dutch
farmers (Boers) began settling in British South Africa around 1849.
Gradually, the British expanded to other parts of the country, such as Natal, Swaziland, and Rhodesia.
The Boers resented this and, eventually, war broke out.
This was Canada's first involvement in foreign battles. The 35th Regiment of the Simcoe Foresters, under Col. G. E. McLean, prepared for action.
Britain sent troops and, finally, with Lord Kitchener as chief-of-staff, British rule was established (Columbia Encylopedia, 1956).
FIRST WORLD WAR (1914-1918): By 1914, Collingwood (pop. 7,000) had become a busy shipbuilding centre, but not too busy to heed a call-to-arms.
One of the first families to become involved was the Ridgways. Each of the six sons enlisted.
Tom received special honours for his service at the battle of Vimy Ridge. This, as Mr. Simonato mentioned, was a real turning point in the war.
Aug. 21, 1919, was a special day for Collingwood citizens as they held a 'Welcome Home' party for the troops.
SECOND WORLD WAR: Just 21 years after the end of World War I, dictator Adolf Hitler of Germany had restored that country's military might.
On Sept. 1, 1939, he ordered the invasion of Poland and the Second World War had begun (Columbia Encyclopedia, p. 901).
The army, navy and air force were all involved.
To traditional weapons, bombs had been added, along with special planes.
Women also served, in the WRENS, Red Cross, and on hospital ships. In Collingwood, some women went to work in the shipyard, so men could enlist.
One group which hasn't received much recognition is the Merchant Navy, the cargo ships which took supplies overseas.
Three were built in Collingwood, and 20 Collingwood men joined this group.
Dr. Storey served on a hospital ship.
D-DAY: Perhaps the 'key' battle in this war was Normandy, in France, now referred to as D-Day. -to be /p>
