Nova Scotia at War, 1914–1919

Book excerpt: An in-depth historical study of Nova Scotia’s role in WWI and its lingering impact on the region, its people, and its economy. Though the First World War ended in 1918, it continued to haunt Canada for generations. In Nova Scotia at War, 1915-1919, historian Brian Douglas Tennyson examines what was, for the people of Canada, an unprecedented period collective military trauma. As Tennyson demonstrates, the war effort didn’t end with the brave soldiers and sailors who went overseas. It also touched the lives of civilians who worked in the fishery, on the farms, and in the forests, coals mines, and steel mills. A specialist in early twentieth-century Canadian political history, Tennyson examines the economic impact of the war with incisive clarity. In an often overlooked cost of the conflict, it shattered Nova Scotia's dream of becoming the Atlantic gateway and the industrial heartland of Canada. This volume includes 30 black and white photos.