04/23/1915
In Belgium, Canadian infantry dig in after attacking Mauser Ridge west of Kitchener’s Wood near St. Julien.
04/24/1915
Deadly chlorine gas is released by the Germans into no man’s land opposite the 15th and 8th Canadian battalions. Waves of German infantry follow the cloud. A barrage in the 8th Battalion’s sector reduces the assault. Men from both units suffer the agonizing effects of the chemical weapon.
04/25/1967
The Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Navy are unified as the Canadian Armed Forces.
04/25/1970
The Canadian aircraft carrier Bonaventure docks at Halifax. In the coming months she will be decommissioned.
04/26/1944
A fierce gun battle at sea develops when Canadian destroyers HMCS Athabaskan, Haida and Huron intercept three German torpedo boats off the coast of France. The three ships sink the lead boat, T-29. The other two escape, but are damaged.
04/27/1967
Expo ’67 opens in Montreal.
04/27/1999
Eight hundred additional Canadian soldiers prepare to depart for the Balkans. This comes a month after Canadian CF-18 fighter jets began participating in bombing missions against Serbian targets. The troops will join 12,000 North Atlantic Treaty Organization soldiers already stationed in Macedonia.
04/28/1945
Italian dictator Mussolini is captured and killed by Italian partisans.
04/29/1944
In the English Channel, the German navy avenges its earlier losses by sinking HMCS Athabaskan. The ship’s captain and 128 men are lost. Eighty-three others are taken prisoner.
