12/10/1943
In Italy, Brigadier B.M. Hoffmeister orders the Loyal Edmonton Regiment to secure an intermediate objective half way across the San Leonardo plateau. The regiment is ordered to push on to the Cider Crossroads, a key intersection near Ortona.

12/10/1943
First Canadian Infantry Division continues its assault across the Moro River in Italy as the first step in a drive on the town of Ortona.

12/11/1941
German and Italy declare war on the United States.

12/11/1941
Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr. of 412 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force is killed when his Spitfire collides with another aircraft during a training mission. Magee is best known as the author of the sonnet High Flight, one of the most famous poems of the Second World War. One of the poem’s most quoted lines is: “Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.”

12/12/1944
In Italy, Canadian forces fight across steeply diked watercourses. After 10 days of combat, the Canadians reach the Senio River, successfully diverting German reserves away from the main Allied effort near Bologna.

12/12/2003
The largest cache of weapons to date is discovered by the Canadian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team in the Chahar Asiab area of Kabul.

12/13/1943
The Canadian River-class frigate Saint John is commissioned.

12/13/2001
Gunmen kill at least a dozen people and wound several others in an attack on the parliament building in New Delhi, India.

12/14/1943
Major Paul Triquet earns the Victoria Cross for his valour and bravery during the fighting at Casa Berardi near Ortona, Italy.

12/14/1967
While flying a CF-104 Starfighter, Wing Commander R.A. White sets a Canadian altitude record of 100,110 feet.

12/15/1956
The Canadian destroyer Saguenay (2nd) is commissioned.

12/15/2006
In Afghanistan, Canadian forces are sent into the village of Howz-e Madad as part of Operation Baaz Tsuka (Falcon Summit).

12/16/1972
Huron (2nd), a Tribal-class destroyer, is commissioned into the Canadian navy.

12/16/1979
The supertanker Kurdistan breaks in two off Nova Scotia. Her crew are rescued by 413 Squadron.