BBR20/21.1 – The Liberation of the Netherlands
In 2019, I completed my first Battlefield Bike Ride (BBR) with Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC). This was BBR19 – Operation Overlord. During the ride we travelled from Dieppe, France to Juno Beach in Normandy. This was the Canadian beach for Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day. We arrived on Juno Beach on 6 June 2019,…
Post BBR22 – Menin Gate, Ypres
As the day after the final ride of BBR22 dawns and a mad panic to find the right bus or train to get home begins. I was lucky that I had other plans – my panic to get to the airport would have to wait. I was on my way to Ypres (Ieper if you…
BBR22 – Final Day
After another warm night, breakfast at the Hotel Hainault was, like the surroundings, outstanding. With a bit of time available, I decided to take a COVID test. I am happy to say that I was a solid negative. This took a lot of pressure off of my mind and allowed me to concentrate on the…
BBR22 – Day 4
After 2 days in the hotel in Arras, it’s time to pack the gear and head to Valenciennes. This will be our longest ride. The guide says it will be 80 km with 529 m of climbing. This is also the hottest day yet, so I hate to think what the final total will be!…
BBR22 – Day 3
Today is a big day. Today I take a short trip back to Canada by bike. Place des Héros, Arras, today. Place des Héros, Arras for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It is getting hotter and the air conditioning in the hotel wasn’t working. Funny that the best a/c that I…
BBR22 – Day 2
Another warm day dawns in Amiens. Today, the plan is to travel north-west to Arras. The published ride details are that we are to cover 86 km and climb 530 m. Stops along the way include the Newfoundland Regiment Memorial in Beaumont-Hamel as well as the Ulster Memorial Tower War Monument. But first, we have…
BBR22 – Day 1
The day dawned sunny and warm. As we gathered for breakfast in the hotel in Amiens, I was struck by the impact that COVID has had on those who were about to engage in this event. The last time that I rode with the Wounded Warriors Canada group, there were 100 of us plus support…
Battlefield Bike Ride 2022 – Let’s Get Started!
The riders from all corners of Canada are starting to arrive in Amiens, France, to start the ride – The Battlefield Bike Ride 2022 – 100 Days to Victory. Tomorrow we start with the first ride, but today we all meet at the ride hotel in Amiens for a briefing and a get-together. This will…
Wounded Warriors Day – After Action Report
After weeks of worry and concern about weather, Wounded Warriors Day at Oyama Zipline and Adventure Park dawned sunny and welcoming. And welcoming it was. And thanks to all of the preparation and planning by Jenn Madsen, we were ready for whatever came our way. Of course, there was the concern that nobody would come,…
The United States in WW1
The United States remained neutral at the beginning of World War 1 and did not enter the war until 6 April, 1917. Initially, the United States supplied finances, raw materials, armaments and food to both the Allies and the Central Powers. However, a successful British blockade severely limited trade with the Central Powers. While individual…
Heroism in the Presence of the Enemy
The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration for valour in the armed forces of Great Britain and the British Empire. It is awarded for extreme bravery in the face of the enemy. So great is the prestige of the Victoria Cross that it takes precedence over all other orders and medals in Britain and recipients are entitled to add V.C.…
General Sir Arthur Currie
The Hundred Days Offensive (8 August to 11 November 1918) was a series of massive Allied offensives which ended the First World War. Having already presented a review of the Offensive and the battles that were critical to its outcome, I thought that a short discussion of the General who led the Canadian Corps through that time is appropriate. Arthur…
Canada’s 100 Days
The German Spring Offensive on the Western Front which had begun on 21 March 1918 with Operation Michael had petered out by July. The Germans had advanced to the River Marne, but had failed to achieve their primary objective of a major victory that would decide the war. The German Army was fatally weakened, demoralized and facing its own imminent and…
MORE BREAKING NEWS – Wounded Warrior Day
With the Battlefield Bike Ride 2022 (BBR22) – 100 Days to Victory, just over one month away, I really excited to share some special news. Wounded Warriors Day at Oyama Zipline and Adventure Park has just just secured a new sponsor. Welcome to the Canadian Blood Services, Kelowna Plasma Centre (CBS Kelowna)!
Re-Publishing Vimy Memorial
My apologies. I had originally planned to publish my post on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on 17 April, but I ran into some weird technical issues with WordPress. Without going into a lot of detail, I am happy to say that the post has been successfully published. Yahoo!!!However, I understand that a number of…
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
My apologies. This post was supposed to have been published on 17 April, but I ran into some weird technical issues with WordPress which I hope have been corrected. Apparently the weirdness has continued and although I re-published this post on 20 April, it seems like I need to publish again. The Battle of Vimy…
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of a larger offensive by the Allies referred to as the Battle of Arras. Lead up to the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The ridge fell under German control in October 1914, during their initial offensive, the Race to the Sea, as the Franco-British and German forces continually attempted to outflank…
My Military Family Tree
My Military Family Tree. This is my opportunity to talk about the impact that the Canadian military has had on my life, and, I suppose, a chance to brag a bit about the heritage.
BREAKING NEWS – Wounded Warrior Day
With the Battlefield Bike Ride 2022 (BBR22) – 100 Days to Victory, just a little less than three months away, I wanted to reach out with some special news.
Breaking of the Sword
Today marks 100 days before the start of the Battlefield Bike Ride: 100 Days to Victory. As I was planning my posts, I wanted something special for this day. While doing research for an upcoming post on the Battle of Vimy Ridge, I came across this powerful song and video. The song, entitled Breaking of the…
Canada’s Indigenous Soldiers
Throughout the war, more than 4,000 Indigenous people served in uniform during the conflict. It was a remarkable response and in some areas, one in three able-bodied men would volunteer. Indeed, some communities (such as the Head of the Lake Band in British Columbia) saw every man between 20 and 35 years of age enlist.…
Newfoundland in World War I
In a previous series of posts, I wrote about Canada’s contribution to the War effort and how I came to realize that the contribution of Newfoundland to the War and the War’s after effects on this small British Dominion deserved some special attention. So I am happy to offer this snapshot of a very complex…
Canada in World War 1
Before we get started, I wanted to let everyone know that I have reached an important milestone in my fundraising drive to support Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC). I have just passed the $4,000 mark. This milestone is important because it is the minimum level of fundraising required to participate in the Battlefield Bike Ride. The…
Let’s Talk
Until recently, mental health, and more specifically mental disorders and Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) like PTSD have been taboo subjects. Over the past few years that has slowly started to change.Now more than ever, we are aware of the challenges and tragic impact mental health injuries have on our Veterans, First Responders and their families.
Canada Prepares for War
I’m just back from the Great Clips® at the Airport Plaza, in Kelowna where I got my hair cut. My favourite barber, Keara, took great care of me, as she always does. Great Clips® is one of my corporate sponsors; they do a wonderful job of thanking veterans throughout Canada and the US with a…
LGen Roméo Dallaire
I had not planned this post, but I feel that it is more than justified. I would like to recognise LGen Roméo Dallaire who has recently received a Star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. I have had the extreme honour to meet General Dallaire on several occasions. He is one of the most powerful people…
The Reason for the Ride – and your Support
Happy New Year to you all. Hopefully the COVID gods will look kindly on us all in 2022. With this first post of 2022, I want to look at the reason for this blog and the reason for the ride that I will be joining in June. Clearly, the reason is Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC). This…
1914 Christmas Truce
On this second pandemic Christmas, I thought that it would be a good idea to bring up one of the strangest events of World War 1. At the outset of the war, both sides felt that this would be little more than a skirmish that would be over by Christmas – after all, no one…
Battlefield Bike Ride 2019 – OPERATION OVERLORD
So where to start a blog related to an annual (even if a global pandemic cancelled the ride for 2 consecutive years) bike ride? By reviewing the previous ride of course! BBR19 – Operation Overlord Revisited. A 650 km ride over 6 days cannot be fully covered here, so I offer a few of the highlights as I saw…
Let’s get it started!
In June 2022, I will be one of 100 riders to participate in the Wounded Warriors Canada’s Battlefield Bike Ride (BBR22) “100 Days to Victory”. Together, we will cycle over 400 km from Amiens, France to Mons, Belgium to honour those Canadian soldiers who fell during the last 100 days of World War I, also…
BBR23 - 80RTONA 