WWI Armageddon Training Niagara Camp Canada Signed First Ed Ontario World War

Published by Friesen Press, Victoria, BC, 2015. Signed by author on title page. Tight binding, solid spine, clean unmarked text. Large square quarto, illustrated, index, 307 pages.

This first edition by Richard D. Merritt offers a comprehensive and meticulously researched account of the Niagara Camp's crucial role in preparing Canadian soldiers for the battlefields of World War I. Merritt, a local historian with deep ties to the Niagara region, brings to life the bustling military installation that transformed the peaceful shores of Lake Ontario into a training ground for war. Drawing on extensive archival research, personal diaries, and official military records, Merritt provides a vivid portrayal of life at the camp. From the initial rush of patriotic fervor in 1914 to the somber return of veterans in 1919, the author traces the evolution of the camp and its impact on both the soldiers who trained there and the surrounding communities.

Of particular interest are Merritt's insights into the training regimens, living conditions, and social dynamics within the camp. He explores how the military adapted its tactics and training methods as the brutal realities of trench warfare became apparent, offering a microcosm of Canada's larger wartime experience.

This volume stands as an important contribution to Canadian military history, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of the nation's World War I effort. Merritt's work not only preserves the memory of the thousands who passed through Niagara Camp but also provides valuable context for understanding Canada's military preparedness and the societal changes wrought by the Great War. Richly illustrated with period photographs and maps, "Training for Armageddon" offers both scholars and general readers a compelling narrative of a pivotal moment in Canadian history, when a peaceful nation transformed itself for the crucible of modern warfare.

WWI Armageddon Training Niagara Camp Canada Signed First Ed Ontario World War.

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