Canada Joins WWI

By dobennie

  • Franz Ferdinand Assassinated

    Franz Ferdinand Assassinated
    Serbian Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand nationalist group, assassinated Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, in Sarajevo, setting off a chain of events leading to the First World War. This led to tensions and eventually war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and eventually their allies as well.

  • WWI begins

    Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, beginning World War I.

  • Canada and Newfoundland Enter the First World War

    Canada and Newfoundland Enter the First World War
    After Britain’s ultimatum to Germany to remove its army from Belgium expires at midnight on the third of August, the British government declared war on Germany the next day. As dominions of the British Empire, Canada and Newfoundland are also at war automatically. Britain would give Canada the choice of helping by provided money, men or munitions (weapons and supplies). Canada chose to do all 3.

  • Russia enters World War One

    Austria-Hungary invaded Russia. Russia had promised Serbia to defend them against Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary was promised by Germany that Germany would assist them against Russia.

  • First Internment Camp for “Enemy Aliens”

    First Internment Camp for “Enemy Aliens”
    The first internment camp for “enemy aliens,” meaning people residing in Canada who were born in enemy countries, opened in Fort Henry, ON (now Kingston). Those interned were people of Ukrainian descent (forming the majority of internees), as well as people of German, Turkish, Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian origin because they came from countries Canada was at war with. You did not have to do anything to get sent there except have been born in those countries.

  • First Canadian Contingent

    First Canadian Contingent
    The First Canadian Contingent of soldiers sailed from Québec City for England. It was largest convoy of ships for military purposes that had ever to crossed the Atlantic. It included over 31,000 troops on 31 ocean liners escorted by Royal Navy warships. Also sailing in this convoy was a contingent from the British Dominion of Newfoundland, which was still separate from Canada at that time. When they got to England they would continue training on Salisbury Plain.