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ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and collectively they accounted for 20,000 of the 70,000 soldiers that landed in Gallipoli, Turkey in April 1915.

ANZAC Day was first observed in April 1916, one year after the Gallipoli landings in which 8,700 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders were killed over the next eight months, before eventually withdrawing at the end of 1915. Since 1916, ANZAC Day is the National Day of Commemoration of Australia and New Zealand for victims of war and for recognition of the role of their armed forces. It marks the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

The Friends honour our Commonwealth allies on this solemn day and pay tribute to the bravery, courage and fortitude of the soldiers who gave so much of themselves.

Private Hugh W. McWhirter was the first member of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment to be killed in the First World War.

In preparation for its Gallipoli mission, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment embarked from Devonport, England on August 20, 1915 and arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on September 1. It then travelled by train to Cairo. The men spent two weeks in Egypt, acclimatizing to the stifling heat they would encounter at Gallipoli and changing into lighter uniforms.

On September 14, they set sail for Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli peninsula. Most of the men were happy to finally have completed their training and preparations, but there was also an awareness of the pending danger.

"We have had a very good time all along so far, but we all know that the hardest part has now to come," Lieutenant Owen Steele wrote in his journal on September 18, 1915. "The place where we are to land is shelled all day long, and the last Division which went there lost 1,200 men and 36 officers the first day, and that, without having fired a shot, nor seen a single Turk, so we have heard."

Buckam Singh was born on 5 December 1893, in Mahilpur, Punjab, India and immigrated to Canada as a labourer. With the onset of the First World War, Buckam enlisted in the Army. There is little information published about the role of Sikhs in the Canadian military during the First World War, but with the discovery of Buckam Singh’s Victory Medal and some historical digging, his legacy has been reclaimed by his community, which commemorates him with an annual Remembrance Day service.

Sikhs had a long and distinguished record of military service with the British military, but there is little information regarding their service in Canada. The Sikh population in Canada at the turn of the 20th century was very small, but military records indicate that 10 Sikh Canadians voluntarily enlisted to serve in the First World War, even though they were denied many of the basic rights of Canadian citizenship.

Of the 10 Sikh Canadians who enlisted, eight served in Europe, two of whom were killed in action. Buckam Singh was wounded and returned to Canada, but succumbed to his wounds on 27 August 1919, in Kitchener, Ontario.

Hear more on Private Singh

On April 3, 2023, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the next crewed space mission, Artemis II. The crew of four will be comprised of three Americans and one Canadian, Astronaut Jeremy Hansen. 

This milestone will see Jeremy Hansen be the first Canadian to leave earth's orbit, and with his colleagues, conduct a three-week journey to the Moon and back in 2024. Artemis II will not land on the Moon but will do a flyby.

Colonel Jeremy Hansen served as a CF-18 fighter pilot and has held the position of Combat Operations Officer at 4 Wing in Cold Lake, Alberta. His responsibilities included ensuring the effectiveness of NORAD Air Defense Operations and the operability of Deployed and Forward Operating Locations (Bases).

Jeremy will join an ultra-small group of individuals, 24 in total, who will have seen our planet in its entirety.  

The Friends salute Jeremy and wish him all the best on this incredible journey.

Caroline Dromaguet, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum, received a significant honour from the Government of Belgium. During a special ceremony, Caroline received the Order of the Crown, awarded for artistic, literary or scientific merit, or to persons who have promoted the commercial and industrial interests of the country, or who have rendered services to the country. The honour was presented to her by His Excellency Patrick Van Gheel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Canada. Also in attendance was General Wayne Eyre, Canadian Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Michel Hofman, Belgian Chief of Defence, as well as Caroline’s own parents and family.

Embassy of Belgium in Canada Press Release

Since its creation in 1905, the Musée de l’Armée has enriched its military collections over its 100 plus years of existence to become one of the premiere museums in Europe and around the world in terms of military collections. To visit the Musée de l'Armée is to view French and indeed military history from a different perspective.

Société des Amis du Musée de l'Armée or SAMA is one of the oldest organisations to have supported the Musée de l'Armée in various ways since its creation in 1909. The Friends are proud to say that La Société des Amis du Musée de l'Armée receives our Newsletter.  

Dr. Jack Granatstein, in memory of Prof. Michael Marrus

Mr. William Abbott, in memory of Russel Morey

Mr. Larry Capstick, in recognition of all Volunteer Interpreters, both past and present, who work to make museum visits a special experience

Mrs. Helen Edwards, in memory of John C.S. Edwards

Mr. Robert S Elliott, in memory of Lt. NS Marguerita A M Medforth

Major Thomas Graham (Ret'd), in honour of FO (Ret'd) Ernest Allen RAF/RCAF, a pilot in the RAF during WWII who came to Canada to serve in the RCAF in the 1950s.  He lives in Ottawa and will soon be 101 years old.

Dr. Jack Granatstein, in memory of Mark Collins

General Paul Manson (Ret'd), in memory of Brigadier-General James Torck

Mrs. Judith Neale Holtzhauer, in memory of  Jarrott Holtzhauer

Mrs. Ida Schjelderup, in memory of Colonel Roger Schjelderup, DSO, MC w/bar, CD, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.  In proud memory from his family.

Major Kenneth Seeley (Ret'd), in memory of Major Bill Smith, RCD

Mr. Daniel A.F. Spry, in memory of Major-General Daniel C. Spry, CBE, DSO, CD

Mrs. Barbara Steele, in memory of Robert Farrell, on the birthday of one of his Granddaughters