Young Canadian’s Ignorance of their own history.

Heroes Remember

Young Canadian’s Ignorance of their own history.

Transcript

I don't think people understand the degree of ignorance of Canadians on the subject of World War II, I don't think they understand. And I always in my talks to people end up giving it an illustration, the article that was in The Globe and Mail in the Spring of 1995, written by a lawyer in Toronto who had been asked to give a lecture to the graduating class of Harbord Collegiate in Toronto. The class had all been accepted, this class, had been accepted for the Toronto, University of Toronto Law School. So these were the future Supreme Court judges, because that's where they had come from, of Canada. And he was asked to give a lecture on the Nuremberg Trials. Well, this being the most sophisticated piece of jurisprudence in the history of mankind he thought he should find out what these kids knew about the trials and their origins of the Nazi Party etc. He found they knew nothing. They had never heard of World War II. He starts asking them questions like, "Have you ever heard of Joseph Stalin?" "no." "Have you ever heard of Winston Churchill?" One kid put up his hand, and he said, Oh would you tell the class what you know about Mr. Churchill?"The kid said, "I don't know anything about Winston Churchill, it's the name of a street in Toronto." So at this point he abandoned the idea of discussing the Nuremberg Trials, and decided to go into, to take the hour to explain the origins of the Nazi Party and the origins of the Holocaust and the origins of World War II. Well these kids never had, had never had been exposed to any of this. So they were fascinated with this and they started throwing up their hands asking questions so he ran out of time very, very quickly, the hour was up. And on the way out one of the kids, boys said, "That was very interesting, sir, but what's it got to do with Canada?" He had forgotten to mention that Canada had gone to war. Now those are our Supreme Court

judges and by now they're out in,

either practising law or in, you know, in the, the training they take, on the job, as it were. Article. They're either, they are already there, but they never heard of Winston Churchill.

Description

Mr. Blackburn talks of his concern about young Canadians’ ignorance of their own history.

George Blackburn

George Blackburn was born in Wales, Ontario, on February 3, 1917. His father started out as a steam shovel runner in building the railroads in the United States. George also worked in journalism for a little while. In 1940 after the war had broke out he decided it was time to join the services. He was rejected from the navy and the air force because of his poor eye sight. It was then that he joined RCA. He went through training and it was there that he learned valuable lessons. George was part of the 4th Regiment. He experienced the Battle of Normandy. There he was a gunnery officer. Upon his return to Canada, Mr. Blackburn made Ottawa his home. His list of occupations include newspaper reporter, Director of Information of the Federal Labour Department, and Director of Fair Employment Practices. In addition, he has been a radio producer, an award-winning documentary scriptwriter, an award-winning playwright, published author, and a lyricist and composer. Mr. Blackburn also earned his Military Cross helping to save the Twente Canaal bridgehead in Holland.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 03:26
Person Interviewed:: George Blackburn
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Northwest Europe
Battle/Campaign:: Normandy
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: 4th Battery
Occupation:: Gunnery Officer

Related Videos

Enlisting

Mr. Blackburn talks about what prompted him to enlist when he did (in 1940).

Joining the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA)

Mr. Blackburn talks about why he ended up in the RCA, versus the navy or the air force (or the infantry).

Lessons learned in Training

Mr. Blackburn talks about valuable lessons he learned in training.

Motorcycle Convoys

Mr. Blackburn talks about the dangers of riding a motorcycle in a convoy.

Tough days

Mr. Blackburn talks about how tough it was being in their first gun position, with dead bodies scattered around them, some of which had been there for a month. They are then moved into a very vulnerable position in full view of the enemy.

Difficulty for wives and mothers when their sons went overseas

Mr. Blackburn talks about how difficult it was for wives and mothers back in Canada when their sons and husbands were overseas.

Fatigue and accepting your fate

Mr. Blackburn talks about fatigue and accepting your fate when in action.

Date modified:: 2019-04-03