The effects of the war on Mission residents remained minor until the year 1940, when Germany attacked France. The first sign that Mission had of the approaching World War was Germany’s seizure of Moravia and Bohemia in March of 1939, which North Americans misread. When this happened, the government took over the control and sale of explosive devices and firearms. There was also heightened police surveillance of German-born residents.[1] We can see the efforts of the Mission community during this time to aid the soldiers overseas through fundraisers. These included the Buckshee Fund to supply tobacco and toiletries to Canadian Volunteers overseas, Red Cross initiatives, and the Rotary Club’s Valley Barrel Float.[2]
The teenagers in Mission had many roles and endeavours during the war, many of which were mentioned on the Canadian’s Veterans website:
- “Youth were constantly encouraged by their teachers, family, and friends to support the home front effort.
- With most able-bodied men overseas, there were not enough farm workers to harvest the crops. Countless young people worked long hours on farms to ensure a steady food supply for Canadians and our Allies.
- To encourage students to help with the harvest, many schools did not count attendance or introduce new material in classes until after the crops were in.
- The government lowered the minimum age for obtaining a driver’s licence to 14 so that children could legally operate farm trucks and other vehicles.
- Many children saw themselves as junior soldiers. They prepared for war by memorizing aircraft silhouettes and building ship models. Many high school students joined cadet corps and learned how to march, perform arms drills, and fire weapons.
- Teachers often had children write letters to Canadian military members overseas, telling them about what was happening back home.
- Canadian children were joined by hundreds of British refugee children (guest children) who were sent by their parents from bomb-ravaged Britain to Canada for their safety. These children lived with Canadian children and went to school with them.” [3]
Mission, British Columbia was no exception to these norms and the war affected the lives of every teenager around the world. A common theme remarked in my research was that of fundraising. The youth in Mission understood that the war was a World effort and that they had to step up and help the soldiers fighting oversees. It is also noted that this was a common theme across Canada at the time.
.Children learned to scrimp and save to raise money for the war effort. They learned to recycle and collect materials, such as metal, rubber, fat, and grease, that were in short supply and could be reused to produce useful products. Encouraged by incentives such as free passes to movies, Canada’s children became ardent scavengers.
.Children collected tons of scrap. Some even donated their own toys for metal salvage drives.
Children used their hard-earned money, bringing their nickels and dimes to school, to buy War Savings Stamps which they stuck into special booklets for post-war redemption.
.
.Children learned to scrimp and save to raise money for the war effort. They learned to recycle and collect materials, such as metal, rubber, fat, and grease, that were in short supply and could be reused to produce useful products. Encouraged by incentives such as free passes to movies, Canada’s children became ardent scavengers.
.Children collected tons of scrap. Some even donated their own toys for metal salvage drives.
Children used their hard-earned money, bringing their nickels and dimes to school, to buy War Savings Stamps which they stuck into special booklets for post-war redemption.
.Boy Scouts and Girl Guides conducted many fund-raising activities. As an example, the 10th Toronto Scout Troop collected 510,000 pounds of salvage and used the money they earned to buy a truck, an ambulance for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and Victory Bonds.
.Of the $5.5 billion raised in Victory Loan appeals, millions were contributed by children.”[4]
GOVERNMENT OF cANADA
Sources
[1] Schroeder, Andreas. Carved from Wood: Mission, B.C., 1861-1992. Mission Foundation. 1991.
[2] Schroeder, Andreas. Carved from Wood: Mission, B.C., 1861-1992. Mission Foundation. 1991.
[3] “Canadian Youth Growing up during Wartime,” Government of Canada, accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/classroom/fact-sheets/youth.
[4] “Canadian Youth Growing up during Wartime,” Government of Canada, accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/classroom/fact-sheets/youth.