Memory and Valour

In December 1914, British and German soldiers stepped out of their trenches to share songs, handshakes, and a brief moment of humanity in the frozen silence of No Man’s Land. This episode explores the Christmas Truce through the voices of the men who lived it; a fragile flicker of peace that stayed with them for the rest of their lives.

In this episode, we step inside the trenches of the Western Front, where soldiers lived every day with mud at their boots, fear in their lungs, and the constant thunder of artillery overhead. Through their routines, their hardships, and the rare moments of fragile humanity, we explore what life was truly like for the men who endured one of the harshest environments of the First World War. From sta...

In this episode of Memory and Valour, we confront one of the darkest legacies of the First World War: soldiers executed by firing squad. Beyond Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele lies another roll call—twenty‑five Canadians condemned for “cowardice,” “desertion,” or “disobedience.” Through voices like Private Walter Underwood and Medical Officer Maberly Esler, we uncover the machinery of discipline, fro...

In this episode, we shine a light on the extraordinary story of Private Hughie John McDonald of the 49th Battalion, Edmonton Regiment. He was a courageous runner who survived the First World War, and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in the Battle of Passchendaele. His legacy lives on not only through history but also through the book I've written about his remarkable journey. To brin...

Step into the haunting silence of No Man’s Land—the deadly stretch between opposing trenches in World War I. In this episode, we explore the hauntings, human stories, and lasting symbolism of this desolate battlefield. From the soldiers’ daily struggles to the eerie myths that grew out of the mud and wire, discover how No Man’s Land became both a physical space of terror and a powerful metaphor fo...

Amid the thunder of artillery and the chaos of August 1917, Canadian soldiers fought fiercely to seize Hill 70. The Battle of Hill 70 & The Milburn Sacrifice is not just a story of strategy and victory, it is a story of family. This episode honours the courage and loss of my great‑grandfather and his nephew, who gave their lives in the struggle. We get into the heart of the battle, where sacri...

In this episode of Memory and Valour, we journey into the heart of the First World War to uncover the extraordinary courage and innovation of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Amid the chaos of battle, stretcher bearers braved gunfire to rescue the wounded, nurses offered compassion and skill in field hospitals, and doctors pushed the limits of medicine to save lives under unimaginable conditions....

In this debut episode of Memory and Valour, we reflect on Remembrance Day through two deeply human stories from the Canadian Expeditionary Force. We remember Private George Price, the last Canadian soldier to die in the First World War, whose death came just minutes before the Armistice. We also honour the Adkins brothers of Edmonton’s 49th Battalion, three siblings who served together and whose e...