“It made them Forget about the War for a Minute”: Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force Entertainment Units during the Second World War

Authors

Laurel Halladay, University of Calgary

Abstract

On 3 February 1944, wounded Canadian service personnel recuperating in a British hospital were delighted to hear that a concert party, part of the Canadian Army Show, was in the area and would be performing for patients that evening. The variety was extremely well-received; singing, dancing and comedy routines seemed to be exactly was the injured needed to raise their spirits. After the show was over, a man in a wheelchair approached performer James Cameron and exclaimed “it was so good to see that—please come back again.” The Captain in charge of this satisfied patient wrung Cameron’s hand and enthusiastically declared “First Canadian show I’ve seen, Major-Brother, and it was like mail from home.” Under consideration here is the development and function of the Second World War Canadian military entertainment units that inspired such comments.

Recommended Citation

Halladay, Laurel "“It made them Forget about the War for a Minute”: Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force Entertainment Units during the Second World War." Canadian Military History 11, 4 (2002)