SCAA - Saskatchewan in Two World Wars

Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists - AN EXHIBITION

Veterans

After both European conflicts, Canadian veterans returned to a country irrevocably altered by war. Despite rationing and other measures, shortages remained after peace was declared - in foodstuffs, certain materials and supplies, and facilities, particularly housing. Nevertheless, a number of veterans' assistance organizations were formed and a wide variety of government programs were initiated to ensure that at least the basics to life were available. Education and training opportunities were created, employment of returned armed service personnel was aggressively encouraged, and several steps were undertaken to meet the greatly increased demand for single and married housing.

Veterans were sometimes greeted by royalty and other times by impressive signs.

HRH George V greets World War I veterans in Saskatoon, 1919. [135]

A sign in the middle of Twenty-First Street East in Saskatoon welcomes returning soldiers, 1945. [136]

A report on the problems to be faced following the Second World War, 1943. [137]
Click for larger image.

The Great War Veterans' Association Building in Saskatoon, c. 1925. [138]

The Saskatchewan Command of the GWVA, 1922.
Click for larger image. [139]

Teaching positions available to returned soldiers, 1922. [140]
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A place - with rules - for returned service personnel, 1919. [141]
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A dinner to recognize war veterans from 1840 to 1940. [142]
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Although invalided home, J.G. Diefenbaker was infinitely more fortunate than many other service men and women.

Diefenbaker in Regina on his return from overseas, 1917. [143]

Soldiers attending a flag-draped coffin outside the Saskatoon Funeral Home, 1941. [144]

After the First World War, many veterans performed farm related duties while enrolled in education and training courses offered by the University of Saskatchewan.

Returned soldiers operating a disker on the University Farm, 1919. [145]

Motor mechanics and blacksmith training at the University, 1917. [146]

Veterans rebuilding a Case automobile, 1917. [147]

Veteran employment report for June 1918. [148]
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The massive influx of veterans after the Second World War exceeded the capacity of the University of Saskatchewan and so a number of former hangar and other buildings from around the Province (originally constructed for use under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan) were disassembled, transported, and re-erected on the campus to provide teaching and laboratory space.

The Hangar Building housed the College of Commerce, Drama Department, and Greystone Theatre over the years, c. 1958. [149]

"Annexes" used by the Chemistry Department for a number of years, c. 1960.
[150]

Motor mechanic training course for veterans at the University, c. 1944. [151]

Blacksmith training for veterans at the University, c. 1944. [152]

The Community Apartments, formerly barracks at the Saskatoon airport for air force trainees, became the off campus home of many veterans, c. 1949. [153]

The federal government, in cooperation with provincial and municipal governments, introduced wartime housing programs to construct much needed veteran housing subsequent to World War II.

A wartime home in Saskatoon, c. 1948. [154]

A row of wartime houses in Saskatoon, c. 1949. [155]

A group of war brides who made their homes in Saskatoon after the war, c. 1950s. [156]

The provincial government accounted for its contributions to the First World War and a World War II veteran reported what he would do for the people of Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan's efforts in World War I, 1919. [157]
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Campaign poster, 1949. [158]

NEXT: MEMORIALS


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