1. CANADA GOES TO WAR

2. Canada Goes to War  Canada automatically entered the war as part of the British Empire

3. Support  Canadian support for going to war in Europe was widespread  Prime Minister Robert Borden decided to whole heartedly support Britain  Canada offered 25,000 men trained, equipped, and paid for by the Canadian government

4. Support  Canada only had 3,000 army soldiers and 2 navy cruisers  In 1914 Newfoundland was not part of Canada  Newfoundlanders joined Canadian regiments, but most joined the Newfoundland Regiment

5. Newfoundland Regiment – WW1

6. Support  10,000 Canadians volunteered for $1 a day  Hundreds of women joined as nurses and ambulance drivers

7. Why Did they Join?  Sense of Patriotism  Felt proud to fight for their country  English speaking Canada felt strong tie to Britain  As war continued PM Border promised 500,000 troops  Most troops came from the Prairies, but for the first few years all of Canada supported the war

8. Why Did they Join?

9.  With the attitudes of pre-WW1 Canadians, lots of young men viewed the war as the ‘great adventure’  They enlisted because they were excited at what could happen in Europe

10. Training the Troops  Sir Sam Hughes was Canada's Minister of Militia and Defence at the beginning of the war  Hughes set up a training camp at Valcartier, Quebec  Troops were given the Ross Rifle (made in Canada) which was good for sharp shooting, but poor in trench warfare

11. WW1 Training Centre - Valcartier

12. Training the Troops  By October 1914, Canadian troops were on their way across the Atlantic  By February 1915 Canadian troops were on their way to the front line