American Infantry Weapons on Dec 7, 1941

American Infantry Weapons on Dec 7, 1941

 

On 0755 hours Sunday morning December 7, 1941 the United States Navy’s Pacific
Fleet was attacked by Imperial Japanese Naval forces. By 0945, just shy of 2 hours, the attack was over, leaving in it’s wake all of the USN Pacific Fleet 8 battleships either sunk, capsized, or run aground. It’s three aircraft carriers were saved by not being in harbour that day.
In total of the 96 ships in harbour that day, 18 were sunk or heavily damaged. 188 Naval and Army Air Corp planes were lost and a total of Naval, Army, Marine and civilian casualties for the day were 2,403 dead and 1,178 wounded.
On Monday, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan and the US had
entered World War 2.

Pearl Harbour in Retrospect

Pearl Harbour in Retrospect

 

On the evening of Dec. 7th, 1941 the Canadian Prime Minster announced that Canada was at war with Japan. The British garrison at Hong Kong had been attacked and even though Canada had been at war since 1939, it was the first time the Canadian Army had gone into action. On Christmas Day the garrison fell and of the 1,975 Canadians that were part of the defense force, 290 were killed in action and those who survived the battle became POW’s and their ordeal was just beginning, another 287 would die in the camps.

The Seige of Jadotville

The Seige of Jadotville

 

A movie review by Don Thomas.

The movie is based on the true story of A Company, 25th Infantry battalion of the Irish Defense Forces. It takes place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sept. 1961. A Company is part of a larger UN Peace keeping force sent to the Congo during its Civil War and is Ireland's first international military deployment.
A Company under the command of Commandant Pat Quinlan is deployed to the small mining town of Jadotville as a protection force for the local settlers. As soon as they arrived Commandant Quinlan has the men dig defensive positions and site the few support weapons that he has which consisted of a couple of water cooled Vickers machine guns and 60mm mortars.

Upcoming 2017 VEMRA Events

Just a quick post to list the upcoming events for 2017.  There will be more information for each event in the Events Calendar.

Bunker Bash--> Feb. 25 & 26 --  Fort Rodd Hill

Vimy-->  April 8 & 9   --  Fort Rodd Hill and Bay Street Armoury

Heritage Tea ->  April 22--  Fort Rodd Hill

May Encampment-->   May 19 - 22 -- Fort Rodd Hill

Macaulay Walkabout -->  May 27 --  Macaulay Point Park

Women on the Homefront/ D-Day-->  June 17 & 18 -- Fort Rodd Hill

Canada Day -->  July 1 & 2 -- Fort Rodd Hill

Naval Museum Open House --> July 8 --  CFB Esquimalt Naval Museum

BC Air Museum Open House -->  July 29 -- BC Air Museum, Sidney

Agrifair Event -->  Aug 4 - 6--  Abbotsford

Fab Forts -->  Aug 19--  Fort Rodd Hill

Battle of Britain --> Sept 17-- BC Air Museum, Sidney

Lantern Tour --> Sept 23 --  Fort Rodd Hill

Annual Gun Show --> Oct 28 & 29 -- Saanichton Fairgrounds

 

The list will be updated as we have more info...