Boastful, egotistical, a bit of a bully, obsessed with glory, that was Sir Sam Hughes, the Minister of Defence and Militia during the first two years of the First World War in Canada. While he ensured Canadians fought as one unit, he made many mistakes along the way that would lead to his downfall.

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During the First World War, 1,200 Black Canadians enlisted to fight overseas, but the number would have been much higher if not for the rampant racism that kept them from enlisting. Even if they were accepted, they often dealt with severe racism in their own battalions on the front lines.

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In late-May 1915, Canadian troops were tasked with the British to take the Village of Festubert. While the attack would be poorly-planned and executed, it would succeed. That success came at the expense of over 2,000 casualties for the Canadians. 

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Mud, lice, rats, snipers, boredom and hard labour were part of the daily life of Canadian troops in the trenches of the First World War. Today, I am looking at what those troops dealt with, with some audio from the soldiers who actually served.

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The Battle of St. Julien would see terrible casualties unlike anything Canadians had seen so far in the war. It was also the first time Canadians dealt with a gas attack, and the first three Canadian WW1 Victoria Crosses be be awarded during this battle. 

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It was the first counter-offensive of the war for the Canadians, but while the Battle of Kitcheners' Wood was a victory for the troops, it came at a great cost to the 10th and 16th Battalions, who would suffer 75 per cent casualties. Today, I look at the battle that was a sign of things to come.

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It was the first major battle of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and while they had only a diversionary role, 200 Canadians would be wounded and another 100 would die. Today, I'm looking at this battle that started the war for many Canadian soldiers. 

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As soon as war was declared against Germany, many Canadians and the government quickly turned against German Canadians, deeming them as enemy aliens. For the next four years, thousands of German Canadians would deal with arrests, internments and harassment.

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The PPCLI was the last privately organized regiment in Canadian history, and throughout the First World War it would have two Victoria Cross winners and 19 Battle Honours. It all started because one man named Capt. Gault was inspired by Lord Strathcona to create his own regiment. That regiment would become the first Canadian infantry to reach France.

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When Britain declared war on Germany, Canada was at war automatically. No one in Canada was complaining, as governments, businesses and citizens mobilized for the war they thought would be over by Christmas. Today, I look at that initial mobilization effort by the country. 

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