Counterpoints Ch. 2 Canada and the First World War p. 42-44 The War in Air and at Sea Counterpoints Ch. 2 Canada and the First World War p. 42-44

The War in the Air During WWI, planes were still a new invention and being a pilot was incredibly dangerous. Life expectancy of a pilot during the war= weeks. Parachutes were not introduced until late in the war. Thousands were killed- many while still in training. Royal Flying Corp Canada- Branch of Britain’s Royal Flying Corp. Formed after Britain recognized it needed more men. Training bases in Southern Ontario.

Royal Flying Corp Royal Flying Corp Canada- Branch of Britain’s Royal Flying Corp. Formed after Britain recognized it needed more men. Training bases in Southern Ontario.  During the First World War, some 20,000 Canadians served in the Imperial Flying Services (Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force). Approximately 1,500 lost their lives.

Image source: Google Images- https://www. google. ca/search

At the beginning of the war, pilots flew alone. Involved in reconnaissance- photographing and reporting on enemy troop movements. Pilots had to be sharpshooters as they had to fly, and fire a gun at an enemy. Aerial dogfights were spectacular scenes. Air Ace= fighter pilot who has shot down five enemy aircraft. Canada’s top ace in WW1- Billy Bishop who shot down 72 German aircraft. Second highest number of “kills” in WWI

Billy Bishop Image source: Google images- https://www.google.ca/search?q=wwi+biplane&safe=off&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=607&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwiZss-Ir73OAhUI5GMKHc31C1gQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1#safe=off&tbm=isch&q=billy+bishop&imgrc=EV87gdjyz008YM%3A

The War at Sea When the war broke up, world leaders expected huge battles to be fought at sea. In 1910, PM Laurier had introduced the Naval Service Act which authorized the building of Canadian Warships. The ships would be under Canadian control, but would be turned over to the British if war broke out. This displeased many French Canadians who felt that Canada should not automatically be involved in supporting the British in war.

Britain relied on the navy to protect freighters that brought troops and supplies to the Western Front. The Canadian navy was small and unable to contribute much to the war effort. However, Canadas merchant marine (civilian ships and sailors) played a significant role in the war by doing the dangerous work of transporting munitions and food to Britain. Many in the merchant marines lost their lives crossing the dangerous waters of the North Atlantic.

German U-boats (submarines) were dangerous weapons as they could travel underwater without being detected. Equipped with torpedoes, the U-boats took their toll on Allied warships and the merchant ships. Allies developed a convoy system and a underwater listening device that helped them locate and destroy U-boats. In 1915, the Germans sank the Lusitania, a British passenger liner, killing close to 1200 passengers, many of whom were Canadian and American.

Image source: Google Images- https://www. google. ca/search Video clip- http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history/videos/u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-1915

In February 1917, Germany announced that U-boats would sink any ship within the war zone around Britain- including ships not from Allied countries. They hoped this move would put a stranglehold on Britain and end the war. Instead it prompted the United States to enter the war on the side of the Allies, on April 2, 1917.