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On This Date: June 2015

OnThisDateLead

JUNE 1, 1943
HMCS Conestoga in Galt, Ont., is commissioned as the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service training centre. Women complete courses in physical training and navy customs and tradition.

JUNE 2, 1866
The Fenian Brotherhood crosses the Niagara River and defeats Canadian volunteers at Ridgeway and Fort Erie. Another Fenian victory against outnumbered Canadians follows that afternoon.

JUNE 3, 1910
Louis-Philippe Brodeur is appointed the first Minister of the Naval Service. He goes on to introduce legislation to create the Canadian Navy.

JUNE 4, 1920
At the end of the First World War, the Allies and newly independent Hungary sign the Treaty of Trianon, a peace agreement that defines and enforces new territorial boundaries for Hungary.

JUNE 5, 1940
Canada’s War Cabinet declares illegal 16 Nazi, Fascist and Communist organizations and jails their leaders.

Members of the Chaudiere Regiment approach Bernières-sur-Mer, France, in a landing craft on D-Day. [LAC/PA-131498]

Members of the Chaudiere Regiment approach Bernières-sur-Mer, France, in a landing craft on D-Day.
LAC/PA-131498

JUNE 6, 1944
Units from across Canada land on Juno Beach to begin the Allied invasion on the Normandy Beaches in France. Supported by ships, planes and paratroopers, 14,000 soldiers rush ashore and capture the beachhead from the Germans in two hours.

JUNE 7, 1872
The Governor General’s Foot Guard, a senior reserve infantry regiment, is established in Ottawa.

JUNE 8, 1972
Associated Press photographer Nick Ut takes the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of nine-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phúc running naked after being severely burned by a South Vietnamese napalm attack.

JUNE 9, 1989
Deanna Brasseur and Jane Foster become the first Canadian female pilots to graduate from the CF-18 jet fighter program.

Benito Mussolini [LAC/PA-130046]

Benito Mussolini
LAC/PA-130046

JUNE 10, 1940
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declares war on France and Great Britain. All Italians living in Britain for less than 20 years and between the ages of 16 and 70 are immediately interned.

JUNE 11, 1940
While evacuating personnel from Le Havre, France, destroyers HMCS St. Laurent and HMCS Restigouche engage German artillery and fire the first shots of the war by a Canadian warship.

Andrew Charles Mynarski, VC [Sharif Tarabay]

Andrew Charles Mynarski, VC
Sharif Tarabay

JUNE 12-13, 1944
Pilot Officer Andrew Charles Mynarski earns the Victoria Cross for trying to help a fellow gunner after the Avro Lancaster Bomber they are in erupts into flames from a German air attack. Unable to free the gunner from his turret, Mynarski jumps with his parachute and clothing on fire. He later dies from his burns.

JUNE 13, 1985
In Manitoba, 4,000 laws are ruled by the Supreme Court as constitutionally invalid because they are written only in English, violating the 1870 Manitoba Act that declares all laws must be written in English and French.

JUNE 14, 2010
A unanimous vote in the House of Commons designates Halifax’s Pier 21 the country’s national immigration museum. Pier 21 was the door to Canada for more than a million immigrants between 1928 and 1970.

Personnel of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve, Victoria, B.C. [LAC/PA-115374]

Personnel of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve, Victoria, B.C.
LAC/PA-115374

JUNE 15, 1920
The Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve is disbanded after the First World War ends. Since its establishment in 1914, more than 6,000 men had joined.

JUNE 16, 1755
After landing ashore at Fort Lawrence, N.S., on June 3, British and New England forces capture Fort Beausejour, N.B., from French and Acadian defenders.

JUNE 17, 1991
The Canadian government announces the establishment of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea as well as the Gulf and Kuwait Medal.

James Madison [Library of Congress/USZ62-16960]

James Madison
Library of Congress/USZ62-16960

JUNE 18, 1812
United States President James Madison signs a declaration of war against Britain and the War of 1812 begins, using Canada as the battleground.

JUNE 19, 2003
After completing 500 missions to deliver reconnaissance and surveillance support to the maritime coalition fleet, the Long-Range Patrol Detachment conducts its last mission for Canadian Forces Operation Apollo over the Arabian Gulf.

JUNE 20, 1877
In Saint John, N.B., 15,000 people are left homeless after a major fire destroys most of the city in just over nine hours.

JUNE 21, 1951
In Chorwon, North Korea, Canadians carry out the first of many large-scale patrols comprised of infantry from the Royal Canadian Regiment, tanks from Lord Strathcona’s Horse, and support from tactical air control and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.

[Legion Magazine Archives]

Legion Magazine Archives

HMCS Halifax

JUNE 22, 1992
The first Halifax-class frigate HMCS Halifax is commissioned in her namesake port CFB Halifax.

JUNE 23, 1961
The Antarctic Treaty enters into force and is originally signed by 12 countries active in Antarctica. It declares the continent a scientific preserve and bans military activity.

JUNE 24, 1762
Under the command of Chevalier de Ternay, a French fleet of 650 soldiers capture Bay Bulls and St. John’s, Nfld. It is recaptured by the British on September 13.

JUNE 25, 1950
The start of the Korean War. Communist North Korea launches a full-scale invasion across the 38th parallel and pours into South Korea toward the capital city of Seoul with 110,000 troops, 1,400 artillery pieces and 126 tanks.

JUNE 26, 1945
In San Francisco, the Charter of the United Nations is signed by 50 countries at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

JUNE 27, 1980
Canadian Parliament passes a bill to adopt “O Canada” as the official national anthem.

JUNE 28, 1914
While driving through the city of Sarajevo, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie are assassinated at point-blank range by a Serbian nationalist, sparking the outbreak of the First World War.

JUNE 29, 1922
The Civil Air Operations Branch of the Air Board merges with the Canadian Air Force.

JUNE 30, 1950
In a unanimous vote, Canadian Parliament supports the motion to help the United Nations counter the North Korean invasion of South Korea.


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