A steady stream of ships leaves a bustling Halifax Harbour, transporting everything from food, munitions, tanks, and of course, men and women to duty overseas. The shipments are often at peril, escorted by convoys who do their best to protect this precious cargo. But as colour film footage shows, German U-boats prowl the seas, ready to strike at any time.
Call to Duty focuses on the efforts of Canadians both at home and overseas. From Brantford, Ontario, the Dufferin-Haldimand Rifles travel across the country to Nanaimo, British Columbia to train and to protect the country from a possible Japanese attack. One of the members of this regiment has a home movie camera, and captures on film not only official drills and maneuvers but also more candid moments of young soldiers taking a moment or two to horse around between exercises.
Also in BC, Japanese Canadians are made to leave their homes and businesses, and are placed in remotely located detention camps, as shown in a film produced at the time called "Of Japanese Descent."
Meanwhile, Americans prepare for possible attack by constructing the Alaska Highway, slashing through deep forest in unbelievably harsh conditions. In Montana, American and Canadian boys team together to train in the First Special Service Force, later known as the "Devil's Brigade". These men would play a part in the battle for Kiska, and later, in the Italian Campaign.
Call to Duty also encompasses the work of the Quakers, a group of conscientious objectors who travel to China to work in hospitals. The Canada's War research team found rare home movie footage of the Quakers at work, as well as letters written home to family in Canada.
women working
Thousands of women take jobs in war factories.
At home in Canada, Call to Duty refers to the thousands of Canadians who go to work in war-time factories, making everything from airplanes, bombs, uniforms, and Spork (Canada's answer to Spam). The work force has changed, with women taking on jobs traditionally done by men. This extends to the Armed services themselves, as women are allowed to join the Navy, Army and Air Force. In a radio broadcast from overseas, Chatelaine Editor Maryann McPherson reports "You people at home can be proud of them."
Canadians at home serve in other ways as well, volunteering at local Salvation Army depots, giving blood, rationing food and other supplies, and raising money through Victory Bond drives and parades. Yet Canadians still remain somewhat divided on the idea of Conscription, and a plebiscite held in 1942 exposes this rift. Eighty percent of Quebeckers vote "no"; 73% of those outside of Quebec vote "yes" to the issue.
While the discussion continues, a military disaster is brewing overseas – Dieppe – which will see 800 Canadian men die. A young man named Grant writes home to his father: "By the time this note reaches you the Dieppe raid will have been forgotten by most people - but we never shall. The scars will be livid in Prairie towns for generations to come."
Far away, in North Africa, the battle is for control of the Mediterranean basin, a gateway to Europe and the Nazis. The Allies are ultimately successful.
From his base in India, a young Canadian pilot, Johnny Johnston, writes to his girlfriend, Sonya, describing the exotic surroundings and activities in a world he'd likely never have seen were it not for him answering this Call to Duty.
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