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The Korean War – 1950 to 1953 |
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Modern military conflict has seen Canadians acting as peacekeepers as part of larger international forces. Shortly after the Second World War ended, Canadian soldiers, including more than fifty from Lambton, supported American-led United Nations forces during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. This UN intervention began Canada's international role promoting peace and Canadians remained in Korea as military observers until 1957. |
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The Suez Crisis – 1956 |
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When Britain joined France and Israel to invade Egypt during the Suez Crisis of 1956, Canadian ideals were showcased to the rest of the world. Canadian Minister of External Aairs Lester B. Pearson proposed a unique peacekeeping mission which successfully deescalated the conflict. For his work, Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 and Canada was held up as a world peacekeeping leader. Over 125,000 Canadians have served on close to 50 UN missions since that time. |
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War in Afganistan – 2001 to 2014 |
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After the attacks of September 11th, Canada sent soldiers to Afghanistan to combat global terrorism and support the deployment of aid and humanitarian support. This NATO mission, which ran from 2001 to 2014, included both combat against the Taliban and al-Qaeda and the training of Afghani soldiers and police. The mission saw more than 40,000 military personnel serve overseas and cost 158 Canadian lives, including two from Lambton. Peacekeeping missions have helped to save lives and protect civil rights. They have become the proud focus of Canadian military and diplomatic activities. Military personnel from Lambton County have contributed towards the establishment of peace around the world. |
Stories
Brent Poland of Plympton Wyoming
Brent Poland was born on October 26, 1969 and grew up in Camlachie, Ontario. As a young boy he enjoyed sports, the outdoors and was an avid downhill skier. Brent developed a love of history and graduated from York University with a degree in Arts History. In 2002, at the age of 32, Brent joined the Canadian Armed Forces to, as his family remembers, “follow his heart and his passion.”
Determined to join the infantry, Brent resigned his officer’s commission and re-enlisted as a Corporal as a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment. In April 2007, Corporal Poland’s “Hotel Company” was serving with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, providing security for massive convoys of soldiers and material in Afghanistan. Canadian forces were posted in Afghanistan in late 2001 under the command of NATO. Canada took a larger role in 2006, and some 2,500 men and women were stationed in the country at the height of the conflict.
In the spring of 2007 NATO forces were attempting to re-open a local Afghani hydro-electric dam in order to supply the Helmand region with electricity. On April 8, 2007, Brent’s Battalion was escorting a convoy of troops and supplies through the desert to British soldiers in Helmand province when his light armoured vehicle struck a roadside improvised explosive device. Corporal Poland and five other comrades from 22 Bravo section were killed.
~Submitted by Don Poland, Camlachie
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