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Canada has had a long military history

More than 1.8 million Canadians have served over the years
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Orchard Dump Cemetery in France is one of many beautifully and lovingly maintained military cemeteries of both world wars in Europe. (Government of Canada photo)

During the years, CanadaÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s military has been present in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions around the world.

Here is a glimpse into CanadaÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s participation in times of war and unrest.

South Africa War 

(1899-1902) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ Approximately 7,000 Canadians served. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 267 died in action. 

First World War 

(1914-1918) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 628,736 Canadians served. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 66,573 died in action. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 138,116 were wounded. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 2,818 Canadians were taken prisoner of war. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 175 merchant seamen died as a result of enemy action. 

Second World War 

(1939-1945) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 1,031,902 men and 49,963 women served. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 44,927 died in action. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 53,145 were wounded. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 8,271 were taken prisoner of war. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 1,146 merchant seamen died as a result of enemy action. 

Korea 

(1950-1953) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 26,891 Canadians served. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 516 died. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 1,588 were wounded. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 33 were taken prisoner of war. 

First Gulf War 

(1991) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ 3,837 men and 237 women served. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ There were no Canadian casualties. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ No Canadians were taken prisoner of war. 

Afghanistan 

(2001-2014) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ More than 40,000 Canadian soldiers served. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ A total of 158 Canadian soldiers were killed while on duty in Afghanistan. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ More than 1,800 were injured. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ Two non-military Canadians died as a result of the conflict. 

Peacekeeping 

(1947-present) 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ More than 125,000 Canadians have served in various peacekeeping missions since 1947. These have included Afghanistan, the Balkans, Cambodia, Congo, Cyprus, East Timor, Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Haiti, Rwanda, Somalia and Syria. 

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¢ Around 130 Canadians have died during peacekeeping service around the world. 



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

I have worked as a newspaper journalist since 1989 and have been at the Summerland Review since 1994.
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