Gordon Bannerman, Francis Godon, Corinne Kernan S vigny, Nellie Rettenbacher.

The names are ordinary, almost anonymous. These men and women could be from anywhere, from anytime, related to anyone. But they are far from ordinary; they are Canadian veterans of the Second World War. And now, their stories are being told.

Compiled and edited by The Historica-Dominion Institute,We Were Freedom: Canadian Stories of the Second World Waris a remarkable collection of oral histories that pays tribute to the men and woman who served in Canada’s greatest military effort. Ernest Peter Bone remembers flight training in Manitoba; Cyril Roach recalls the Allied invasion of Normandy; Helen Jean Crawley describes her work as a searchlight operat∨ Joseph Friedman tells of his experiences as a prisoner of war. Accompanying these deeply personal stories is a wealth of archival material ”photographs, medals, letters, newspaper clippings, identity cards and more.

In turns moving, horrifying, and heartwarming,We Were Freedomis an exceptional piece of history ”a record of the men and women who fought and suffered in order to preserve our way of life.