Those who visit this page regularly are
aware that it’s very rare to make use of this space for the purposes of
editorialising. The focus of “If Ye
Break Faith” has been educational- with a mind to bring a deeper understanding
of the First World War to a broad audience in an engaging and appealing fashion. Within that educational purpose is a desire
to help make comprehensive why such a high value is placed upon our remembrance
of the war, and from that what is intrinsically owed by society to those who
have dedicated a part of their life-or the rest of their lives-to out
collective security. With that in mind,
it has become imperative to draw attention to an issue, lately becoming fractious,
concerning our veteran’s community and which has surprisingly familiar roots in
the outcome of the Great War. Your input in this issue is welcome, and can be made through our Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.
Nearly one hundred years ago, as the
Armistice went into effect, a question for a great number of service personnel was
“what happens now?” The current
government had been installed on a popular platform which had included a broad
assertion to answer those concerns, “in the 1917 election, soldiers had been promised
‘full re-establishment.’”[1]
Soldiers had been away from home, some
for years, and had been separated from the changes which had
Their needs went beyond basic
considerations of work and education.
Many required ongoing medical care, rehabilitation and retraining for
disabilities caused by wounds. Untold
numbers suffered emotionally from the extremes they had been subject to. In an age where stoicism was a highly valued
trait for a man, and coming from a military environment which discouraged redress
of needs not met, many of these men would just cope as best they could on their
own. As such, “the veterans had some
influence in shaping the post-war Canada that they believed was owed to them
for their wartime sacrifices, and a number of them went into politics at the
national and provincial level, they never became a powerful, cohesive force in
Canadian society.”[3]
Not a sense of overt entitlement, the veterans only desired to receive what had
been a motive for them to vote for the current government in the ’17 elections;
“the war did not radicalise veterans; it gave them a special stake in the
nation they had defended.”[4]
“By the end of World War 1, there were a total of 15 Veterans groups
and a number of regimental associations representing former service members in
Canada. Despite their common goal – to help returned servicemen in need – their
efforts were fragmented and largely unsuccessful.”[5] There could have been no clarity of purpose
with so many groups intending to represent a single demographic. A vocal and insistent demand that all who had
served Canada in the war bee given a pay out of $2000 each (the equivalent of
nearly $30k in today’s value) -well beyond the Government’s ability to provide-
undermined the credibility of these disparate groups. The Canadian Legion of the British Empire
Service League formed in 1925 to amalgamate veterans’ groups, giving a
singularity and solidarity to the purpose of lobbying for veterans’ needs. General Sir Arthur Currie, who had commanded
the Canadian Corps, wrote in 1925 “all the splintered veterans’ groups did was
keep up the old shouting that the country owes a living to every returned
soldier. It is always a popular cry, but
makes little impression on anyone except those who feel they would be
benefited.”[6]
Soldiers
are not used to asking for what they need; it is contrary to their nature. Combine that with a bureaucratic system not
easy to navigate, frustrating to individual efforts and ineffectively organised,
it is easy to understand how services are difficult to access and money goes un-dispensed.
In point of fact, 80% of the money set
aside to help veterans and their families through 1919-20 was not spent.[7]
It became clear that the Legion could advocate for veteran’s need because they
received that assent by popular democratic vote from the veterans
themselves. Beyond securing what was
felt to be owed, by building Legion Halls throughout communities it gave those
who intimately understood what it had meant to serve overseas a place to
gather. “While some exorcised old demons
through their writing, many more came together in Legion Halls to drink and
sing and reminisce with old comrades.”[8]
Modern psychology places high value on “talk therapy” and the Hall provided
that fraternal support- as it would be within the military- and at a level only
those who “have been in the machine” can fully understand.
Veterans
require help and support to reintegrate, but should be disdainful of charity
and subsistence which creates a dependence difficult to move beyond and harmful
to society as a whole in the long run. The
Legion is Canada’s largest, Veteran-based community service organization
mandated to serve Veterans and their families primarily through The Legion
Service Bureau. With more than 300,000
members in approximately 1,440 branches in Canada, the Unites States, Europe
and Mexico, the Legion provides a number of programs and services. From offering help through a number of
avenues, it strives to support those who chose to fight for our freedom, along
with their families who continue to support them.[9]
The Legion
is dedicated to perpetuating remembrance, helping veterans and supporting the
local community. This is a holistic
approach that accounts for the veterans as a part within society; an
understanding what effects a part affects the whole-which is something a martial
mindset understands without question. The problem is not that long established
institutions like the Legion are ineffectual, it is that they are not being
used effectively through the complacency of those who have the ability to make
effective use of a democratic advocating body; too often distracted by the
glimmer and promise of charitable groups who assure the veteran and their supportive
community of pay-outs and special treatment.
It might do well to question the motive of these recently created
bodies, as while the Legion’s mandate is clear and sanctioned by charter do
these other organisations truly have altruistic motives or is a popular concern
being used to a personal advantage? Contrariwise,
Tom Eagles, the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion
President states “To this day, even with numerous changes over the
years, including the adoption of our current name, the Royal Canadian Legion
has never faltered in our efforts to improve the lot of veterans, ex-service
members and their families. It has been our principal objective since day one,
and we will continue to work for it every day forward.”[10]
With new
and emerging concerns resulting from more recent Forces commitments, the Legion
still remains a relevant and dedicated body.
However, the concerns of latter day veterans can only be addressed if
those advocating on their behalf are made aware of those concerns. It becomes imperative that these men and
women who have made a contribution to Canada continue to contribute by becoming
active within the Royal Canadian Legion; by supporting its executive and
democratically expressing the needs of this community.
[1] Morton,
D & JL Granatstein, “Marching to Armageddon: Canadians and the Great War
1914-1919 Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1989 pg 253
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