W force : the Canadian Army and the defence of Newfoundland in the Second World War
In 1934, with the virtual collapse of its economy, Newfoundland surrendered representative and responsible government to a commission appointed by the government of the United Kingdom. At the same time technology such as the airplane was increasing Newfoundland's strategic worth and making its...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Memorial University of Newfoundland
1995
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://research.library.mun.ca/5557/ https://research.library.mun.ca/5557/1/Kavanagh_RobertL.pdf https://research.library.mun.ca/5557/3/Kavanagh_RobertL.pdf |
| Summary: | In 1934, with the virtual collapse of its economy, Newfoundland surrendered representative and responsible government to a commission appointed by the government of the United Kingdom. At the same time technology such as the airplane was increasing Newfoundland's strategic worth and making its security an important factor in the defence of North America. Yet, on the eve of World War II Newfoundland had no local defence forces and depended for protection on the distant and overextended resources of Britain's Royal Navy. -- When the international situation deteriorated during the late 1930s Canada became concerned about Newfoundland's military weakness but was reluctant to become involved in the colony's defence. With the fall of France in 1940 Canada's relationship with Newfoundland underwent a fundamental shift. Changing strategic considerations and the country's own defence requirements led directly to Canadian intervention. The despatch of military and air force units to secure Newfoundland's vital airfields represented the first stage of an extended commitment to the island's defence. -- A greater extension of Canadian control over Newfoundland's defence came with the establishment of W Force. Comprised of elements of Canada's expanded wartime army, W Force was assigned responsibility for defending the island against enemy incursions and providing security for existing and proposed defence facilities. -- The American decision to station troops in Newfoundland in 1940 posed a threat to Canada's pre-eminent role in the island's defence. The Canadian response was to hedge American command responsibility, to increase the Canadian commitment and to integrate Newfoundland into the Canadian defence orbit. -- Newfoundland became less important to North American defence as the war effort shifted towards Europe and the Allied invasion of German-occupied Europe. This led to a reduction of Canadian Active Service Force units in Newfoundland and their replacement with personnel conscripted under the National Resources ... |
|---|