PlanesThis war also had another first: planes started to be used to deliver bombs. Planes were armed with machine guns, bombs, and cannons. The damage was devastating.

Plaque commemorating a Zeppelin raid on 61 Farrington Road, London in 1915

Pilots were known to fight enemy aircraft in the air in “dogfights” to protect the men on the ground.

A German plane shot down by American machine gunners

Billy Bishop

Most famous Canadian fighter pilot during WWI

Was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery

In charge of recruiting Canadian fighter pilots during WWII years later

They were even used for reconnaissance work. Blimps were also commonly used for this.

German reconnaissance balloon being shot down by Allied aircraft

End of the Great War

The last three months of WWI became known as the Hundred Days.

Canada proved themselves in the battles at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele and continued their successes during the Hundred days. It was the first time Canada was really considered separate from Britain.

Vimy Ridge

The Canadians at Vimy Ridge Captured German soldiers

Realizing they were defeated, an armistice (agreement for cease fire) was signed by the Germans. Germany finally surrendered and World War I ended on November 11, 1918.

The terms of the agreement called for the end of fighting along the entire Western Front to begin at precisely 11 AM that morning.

The date was immediately declared a national holiday in many allied nations to commemorate those members of the armed forces who were killed during war.

Armistice Day

Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918

Armistice Day in Philadelphia

Armistice Day in Toronto

Armistice Day in Toronto

Armistice Day in Winnipeg

Armistice Day in London

Armistice Day in London

Armistice Day in London

Armistice Day in New Zealand

Europe’s New Map 1918

Statisticso More than 625 000

Canadians had fought in the war.

o More than 61 000 Canadians had died.

o More than 154 300 Canadians had been wounded.

How could injuries such as these affect the lives of soldiers during peacetime?

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is celebrated to honour those who fought and died during WWI and the wars that came afterwards.

It is observed on November 11, the day of the armistice. People take a two minute moment of silence at 11am as a sign of respect.

John McCrae

o Born in Guelph, Ontarioo Trained as a doctor but

wrote poems and short stories in his spare time

o Among the first to enlist when war broke out

o Worked on men affected by the chlorine gas in Belgium

In Flanders Fields

McCrea’s poem lifted soldiers’ and civilians’ spirits during the war.

It also raised money for the war effort, became the war’s best known poem, and is still recited around the world more than 90 years after it was written.

This poem is one of the main reasons why the poppy was chosen as a symbol to remember soldiers who have lost their lives fighting for their countries.

This cemetery contains 5,923 graves - 3,579 are for unknown soldiers.

Canadian WWI Cemetery in Vimy Ridge

John “Jack” Babcock

John Babcock, the last WWI veteran, died in February, 2008. He was 109 years old.

Assignment

As you watch the interview with Jack Babcock, answer these three questions:1. Why did Jack join the army?2. What did they discover about Jack during his

physical after he enlisted?3. Why does Jack think he doesn't deserve a state

funeral when he passes away?

There is no one left from this war to remind us of why it’s important to remember, so we must take a leading role and continue to honour them.

WWII veteran speak of the sadness of war and why we should remember