by Anthony Imbrogno, a volunteer with The Calgary Heritage Initiative Society/Heritage Inspires YYC
To all those who have served to protect our freedom, we are forever grateful.
During the South African War (1899-1902), Lord Strathcona formed a mounted regiment of cowboys and former NWMP officers. King Edward VII awarded the title of Royal to the NWMP. The RCMP went on to police the Klondike Gold Rush.
At Central Memorial Park National Historic Site, the “Horseman of the Plains” statue commemorates the war. Its creation paved the way for the other memorials.
World War I (1914-1918) saw thousands of Canadians volunteer. A military camp dubbed Sarcee City trained 45,000 soldiers. Before departing, they created rock art on Signal Hill.
One Calgarian enlistee was William Ware, who served in France as part of an all-black unit. Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry served at the Somme and Vimy Ridge. Today, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a symbol of national unity.
Meanwhile, Southern Alberta Light Horse fought in history’s first tank attack while others were in the last cavalry charge in Canadian history.
During the war, Mewata Armouries was built with medieval castle features. Suspicions about immigrants from enemy countries led authorities to establish internment camps at Cave and Basin, Banff.
A sanatorium was built in Bowness in 1918 to treat returning soldiers. Baker Park is named for its head doctor.
Memorial Drive was created in 1922 as a “Road of Remembrance” to honour fallen soldiers.
The world was again at war in September 1939, with 1.1 million Canadians serving.
Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry landed in Sicily and was the first Allied force to enter Amsterdam, while Calgary Highlanders liberated Dieppe.
Alberta was home to pilot training under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. President Roosevelt called Canada the “aerodrome of democracy”. Vulcan, AB supported a training station but is famous for its connection to beloved Star Trek character, Mr. Spock.
A drill hall was constructed at McCall Field, while Renfrew’s Rutledge Hanger became a training base.
In 1998, Currie Barracks closed and became a new residential neighbourhood, including Garrison Woods.
At Burnsland Cemetery, a Field of Honour holds the graves of soldiers.
May they rest in peace.
All copyright images cannot be shared without prior permission
“Lord Strathcona’s Horse en route to Boer War in South Africa.”, [ca. 1900], (CU1195484) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. Aboard S. S. ‘Monterey’. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1SM0NSC.
“Central Park [Memorial Park], Calgary, Alberta.”, [ca. 1914-1919], (CU183768) by Reader W. R.. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OWOTYK?WS=SearchResults.
“137th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force leaving by train, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1916-08, (CU183747) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OWOOII?WS=SearchResults.
“Canadian soldiers at Vimy Ridge.”, 1917, (CU178364) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1OBRU7X?WS=SearchResults.
Vimy Ridge National Memorial, France, March 2007. Photo courtesy of Anthony Imbrogno.
“William J. Ware in military uniform, Calgary, Alberta.”, [ca. 1916-1918], (CU1174787) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1SVRJK3.
Battalion Park, Calgary, 2007 (Chuck Szmurlo, via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battalion-Park-Szmurlo.jpg.
“Internment camp at Banff, Alberta.”, [ca. 1914-1918], (CU192396) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1O1XJTU?WS=SearchResults.
Memorial Drive, Calgary, November 2013, davebloggs007 via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Memorial_Drive_Calgary_(10764720245).jpg.
“Battle of Britain day, Calgary, Alberta.”, 1954-09, (CU1139806) by De Lorme, Jack. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1FYEC6M?WS=SearchResults.
Canadese militair omringd door drie vrouwen uit Marken (Canadian soldier surrounded by three women from Marken), Amsterdam, 8 May 1945 (Nationaal Archief, via Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canadese_militair_omringd_door_drie_vrouwen_uit_Marken.,_Bestanddeelnr_900-2854.jpg. https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/fotocollectie/ac087730-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84.
“Formation flying near No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School, High River, Alberta.”, [ca. 1941-1945], (CU1129912) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R3BF1FR0BA9?WS=SearchResults.
Statue of the Constitution-class Federation Starship USS Enterprise, Vulcan, AB, August 2023. Photo courtesy of Anthony Imbrogno.
“Field of honour, Burnsland cemetery, Calgary, Alberta.”, [ca. 1920-1923], (CU183830) by Unknown. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary. https://www.calgary.ca/arts-culture/heritage-sites/scripts/historic-sites.html?dhcResourceId=239.
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