|
CANADA IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Canada in the Second World War - Visit the Juno Beach Centre's online museum about the Canadian Second World War effort.
http://www.junobeach.org/main.html
Veterans Affairs Canada - Features a great deal of information for everyone, such as history links, news stories, guides to the Canadian war memorials, a youth page and teacher resources.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/
Canadian Virtual War Memorial - This web site, built and maintained by Veterans Affairs Canada, contains information about more than 116,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who have lost their lives in major conflicts since 1884. In addition to being a tribute to the men and women who served and gave their lives for Canada, the web site has a searchable database and the facility for members of the public to contribute to the memorial by submitting images, letters and other memorabilia.
http://www.virtualmemorial.gc.ca/
The Canadian Battlefields Foundation - This Foundation was established in 1992 to educate and actively promote public awareness of Canada's role in both World Wars. The Foundation has established and maintains a Memorial Garden, on the grounds of Le Mémorial, in Caen, France, to recall the Canadian participation in the Battle of Normandy. Two battlefield viewing areas and memorial sites have also been established in Normandy: one at Point 67 south of Caen and one at St. Lambert-sur-Dives. Visit the CBF website to learn more about the foundation's objectives and their annual European battlefield study tour for university students.
http://www.canadianbattlefieldsfoundation.ca/
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - The British Commonwealth War Graves Commission, established by Royal Charter in 1917, marks and maintains the graves of the members of the forces of the Commonwealth who were killed in the two world wars, builds memorials to those who have no known grave, and maintains records and registers. The register can also be searched for details of the 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second World War. Visitors can search the database for details of grave site, date of death, age, etc. of a family member.
Details of 1.7 million members of UK and Commonwealth forces who died in the 1st and 2nd World Wars and other wars, and 60,000 civilian casualties of WWII. Gives details of grave site, date of death, age, usually parents/widow's address.
http://www.cwgc.org/
National Archives of Canada: War - A substantial and sophisticated site, with virtual exhibitions, on-line publications, and the on-line research tool called ArchiviaNet, which provides access to finding aids and thematic guides to manuscripts and government records.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/war-military/index-e.html
Royal Canadian Legion - Canada's largest veterans', ex-service persons' and community service organization with more than 500,000 members and more than 1,600 branches in Canada, the USA (21) and Germany (3).
http://legion.ca/Home/SiteHome_e.cfm
Remembrances: Canada and the Second World War (Virtual Museum of Canada) - Trivia and Games, Canada's role in the Second World War, 3D Corvette Virtual Tour...
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Militaris/
Canadian Department of National Defence - Provides a comprehensive study of Canada's involvement in major wars, as well as peacekeeping initiatives.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/index.html
CBC - Videos of the Juno Beach Centre Inauguration and D-Day - CBC's website has some excellent information on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Most interesting are the newsreel footage and clips on the Juno Beach Centre opening on June 6, 2003.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/dday/media.html
The Canadian Letters & Images Project - The Canadian Letters and Images Project is an online archive of the Canadian war experience, from any war, as told through the letters and images of Canadians themselves. The objective of the Canadian Letters and Images Project is to let Canadians tell their own story in their own words and images by creating a permanent online archive which preserves Canada's wartime correspondence, photographs, and other personal materials, from the battlefront and from the home front.
http://www.canadianletters.ca/
Canadian Military Journal - Canadian Military Journal is the official professional journal of the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence.
http://www.journal.forces.ca/
Canadian Military History Gateway - An online service that provides access to websites and digitized resources about Canada's military history.
http://www.cmhg-phmc.gc.ca/
The Canadian Wartime Experience: The Documentary Legacy of Canada at War - This site is maintained by the University of Manitoba. It provides free access to a collection of several thousand digitised pimary source materials: such as documents, newspaper articles, letters, photographs and prints relating to the experience of Canada and Canadians during various wars from 1899-1970s. They include the Boer War (1899-1903); First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945); Korean War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1957-1975). They cover information relating to military movements, battles and training well as oral history accounts from soldiers and servicemen/women. The site also includes a section for educators with suggested classroom activities. Rights information is available from the web site.
http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/canada_war/
Heroes Remember - Heroes Remember is a special website that offers Canadians and others of all ages the chance to learn about history through the eyes of those who lived it. On the site, you'll find video and audio conversations recorded with hundreds of Canadian Veterans over the past 30 years.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/hrp
Wings for Freedom - RCAF - Learn about the history of Canada's Air Force on this website.
http://www.wingsforfreedom.com/
The Memory Project - A campaign to support the efforts of Canadian veterans to share their experiences. The Veterans Archives contain stories about Canadians whose lives were touched by war. The Memory Project is a print and Internet initiative of the Dominion Institute.
http://www.thememoryproject.com/?Lang=en-CA
Comrades and Colleagues - Database of those who served in 5938 military Units in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
http://www.comradesandcolleagues.com/
Canada's Military Heritage - Chronology of war, photos & facts, dispatches from the front, educational resources and operation legacy.
http://www.waramps.ca/military/home.html
Camp X Historical Society - Established in recognition of the courageous men and women who were trained in subversive warfare and covert techniques, those who fought behind enemy lines, who lived in the shadows, or who served at Camp X.
http://www.campxhistoricalsociety.ca/
Allied Merchant Navy of the Second World War - Articles about the role of the Merchant Navy, including CPR ships, in the Second World War; stories and anecdotes from merchant sailors; notices and news for veterans; message board and related links.
http://merchantships.tripod.com/voyage1.html
CANADIAN SECOND WORLD WAR MUSEUMS IN CANADA
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon, Manitoba)
Virtual tour and history of Manitoba museum dedicated to the Second World War. Song and video tribute to these veterans.
http://www.airmuseum.ca/
Canadian War Museum - The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa is "dedicated to both education and remembrance." The Gallery Tour takes you through the Colonial Period, the Victorian Era, the First and Second World Wars, right up to modern-day Canadian peacekeeping missions. The information is presented in easy-to-read, bite-sized chunks that allow you to move through the site quickly. The essence of this museum is captured well online. Take a look at an early camouflage uniform from the Canadian Expedition to the Nile in 1884 or trench signs from the First World War.
http://www.museedelaguerre.ca/splash.html
NORMANDY TOURIST INFORMATION
Courseulles-sur-Mer (French only) - To learn more about the seaside town of Courseulles-sur-Mer where the Juno Beach Centre is located, please visit the town's official website. You will also find information on the local government, upcoming events, hotels, restaurants, etc.
http://www.courseulles-sur-mer.com/
Normandy Tourist Board Official Website - Visit this site to find a hotel, map, calendar of events and for other practical information about Normandy.
http://www.normandie-tourisme.fr/site-grand-public-109-1.html
Bayeux-Bessin Tourist Office - Visit this website for tourist information (maps, restaurants, hotels, etc.) for Bayeux and the Bessin region.
http://www.bessin-normandie.fr/web/index.php
Caen Tourist Office - Visit this website for tourist information for the Caen area. ses environs.
http://www.tourisme.caen.fr/
  Normandie Mémoire - Website of the Association, whose purpose is to further develop understanding of the events of June 6th and of the Battle of Normandy and to commemorate the anniversaries of the D-Day landings. It displays an annual program of events and helps you to prepare your visit to the historic sites and museums in Normandy.
http://www.normandiepass.com/uk/index.html
 Normandie Qualité Tourisme - The Juno Beach Centre recently obtained the "Label Normandie Qualité Tourisme" which is awarded by the Normandy Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Visit their website to discover the hotels, restaurants, campgrounds and tourist sites that have been awarded this prestigious prize for the quality of the reception, services and tourist information offered to visitors.
http://www.normandie-qualite-tourisme.com/uk/index.php
Normandie Sites (in French only)
http://www.normandiesites.com/
Gites de France - Visit this website to find a Bed & Breakfast in the Normandy region.
http://www.gites-de-france-normandie.com/
Mapquest - Visit this website to get directions to Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy and the Juno Beach Centre.
http://www.mapquest.com/directions
SOME SECOND WORLD WAR MUSEUMS IN NORMANDY& ELSEWHERE
Memorial Pegasus - Inaugurated on June 4th, 2000, by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the Memorial Pegasus is dedicated to the men of the 6th Airborne Division, including the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.
http://www.memorial-pegasus.org/
D-Day Museum Arromanches - Inaugurated in 1953 and located in Arromanches in front of the vestiges of the artificial harbour (Mulberry B), this museum is devoted to the incredible feat of technology achieved by the British in building and setting up the artificial harbour.
http://www.musee-arromanches.fr/accueil/index.php
Memorial Montormel - Monument and museum recounting the final stage of the long and bloody Battle of Normandy. Polish soldiers distinguished themselves against desperate attacks from the German troops who were surrounded.
http://www.memorial-montormel.org/
America Gold Beach Museum - Museum commemorating two momentous events of the 20th Century. 1) The America Museum commemorates the first official Air Mail link between the United States and France on July 1st, 1927, as well as the early days of the Air Mail service. 2) The Gold Beach Museum explains the detailed preparations for the Landings on June 6th, 1944.
http://www.goldbeachmusee.org.uk/
Normandie Mémoire - Further information on Battle of Normandy sites can be found on the website for Normandie Mémoire.
http://www.normandiememoire.com/
Silent Wings Museum - West Texas, USA
The Silent Wings Museum, a public institution, preserves and promotes the history of the World War II military glider program by creating an environment for collecting, documenting, interpreting and exhibiting artefacts and information for public education and enjoyment.
http://www.silentwingsmuseum.com/info.htm
GUIDED VISITS OF D-DAY AND THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY SITES
There are numerous Normandy-area companies that operate tours of the D-Day beaches and Battle of Normandy sites. Most companies are based in Bayeux or Caen and some have developed special tours for Canadians (see below). While there are many tour companies in Canada, France, England and other countries offering tours of the Normandy battlefields and D-Day sites, only a few offer battlefield tours of Juno Beach and the Canadian sector with stops at the Juno Beach Centre. Below, is a list of tour companies we recommend to visitors looking for tours of Normandy and the Canadian sector:
Battlebus WWII Battlefield Tours - This Bayeux-based company specialises in tours of the D-Day beaches; although other areas of the Normandy battlefields are also covered. Owned by an Englishman, who is a well known Second World War re-enactor, tours are conducted in an eight seater minibus. Pick-up in Bayeux. Reservation advised.
http://www.battlebus.fr/
Normandy Sightseeing Tours - This Normandy-based company now offers a tour of the Canadian sites in Normandy. Daily tours start from Bayeux near the tourist office and, upon request, other pick up locations are available. Reservation advised.
http://www.normandywebguide.com/
D-Day Academy - This Normandy-based association offers tours of the D-Day Landing beaches in Second World War vehicles. Operated by a Frenchman who is a very knowledgeable collector and who speaks excellent English, tours can be tailored for Canadians. Reservation advised.
http://www.ddaca.com/
D-Day Tours (Perception Travel Co. Ltd) - D-DayTours.com offers in-depth private D-Day Normandy tours directed in English by Michael Phillips, a professional English guide. This company caters to travellers looking for personalized service and customized tours. Visit their website for sample tour itineraries and additional information.
http://www.d-daytours.com/
Battle Honours Ltd. - This British-based company offers tailor-made tours for individuals, families, small groups and/or clubs, as well as large coach tours which allow you to join a group of like-minded people wishing to visit the battlefields in Northwest Europe. They offer battlefield tours of both the First and the Second World Wars accompanied by expert guides. Clients from all over the world are welcomed. Reservation advised.
http://www.battle-honours.co.uk/
Holts Tours - This British-based company with over 30 years of experience offers History and Battlefield Tours for adult groups as well as school groups. Their tours are carefully designed and cover World War I, World War II and Napoleonic History. Visit their website for sample tour itineraries and additional information.
http://www.holts.co.uk/schools/
There are also day tours of the D-Day landing beaches leaving from Paris, but we do not have information about these companies. You may find them by searching the Internet.
EDUCATION
Follow this link education
The Juno Beach Centre does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites. Each link opens in a new window.
|
Juno Beach Centre |
Canada in WWII
