History 21 The Podcast - 4.22 Anoka County Reactions to WWI

The United States officially entered World War I in 1917, three years after its start. Local historian and ACHS volunteer Brian Boldt explored those years and what Anoka County residents knew about the war. While some aided in the war effort with their dollars and aid packages, others looked to Canada and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Forces to join the fight.

Host Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

With the Colors Book - Click to read — With the Colors title page - Click to read full book

“With the Colors from Anoka County”

By Roe Chase

Preface:

“The somewhat formidable task of gathering the data for this history of the war activities of the men and women of Anoka County during the troubled times of the past four years or more, was undertaken toward the close of 1914.

From the outset two things were kept in mind — that the glorious deeds of the soldier and sailor always live in the history of his country while the equally splendid self sacrifice of the civilian is usually speedily forgotten.

Those who remained at home will, for the next generation, have countless opportunities to read of the heroic deeds of our gallant men at arms, but the men who went to war will have but this one opportunity to know of the tasks so willingly done by those at home. …

If readers of this history gain from it a better idea of what Anoka County has done, of her generosity, her militant loyalty, the bravery of her men in action, the fidelity of those who remained at home, then indeed will the writing of it have been worth while.”

Roe Chase

Anoka, Minnesota, February 16, 1919

Who Served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force?

“Between 1914 and 1918, Canada participated in the most devastating war mankind has known. The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) fought in France and Flanders, in battles at Ypres, Passchendaele, the Somme, Hill 70, Mount Sorrel, and Vimy Ridge. In 1918 the Canadian contingent spearheaded the drive to end the war, fighting from Amiens and Arras in Northern France, through Cambrai and on to Mons in Belgium, which the Canadians secured on 11 November, 1918.

The Canadian Great War Project is intended to promote interest in Canada’s participation in World War I and to research the Canadians who participated in it. The site has become a collaborative effort among those interested in researching Canada and the Great War, and has collected the records of 648,390 people to date.”

Canadian Great War Project