During the first half of the 20th century, some 1.5 million Canadians were called upon to defend peace and freedom around the world during the Boer War (1899-1902), the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War.
During the Italian Campaign in December 1943, Ernie Bagstad and his Seaforth Highlanders were engaged in fierce house to house fighting in the Italian port town of Ortona.
During the Second World War, Canada contributed a sizable fleet of naval vessels to help in convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare during the Battle of the North Atlantic.