Off-Topic Forum

My great uncle:

Thanks to all!

Hear, hear to all that.  In my research, I've never found a direct relative who invaded Normandy, yet.  But I'm sure appreciative of all those who did.

My family was spared the honor to fight, my grandfather was considered the man of the house and was left here to help serve the community as he had eight siblings to look after. My great grandfather however was a Boer(?) and WW1 vet. I admire all who have served and honor both the retired and active members of any military of Canada and our allies. =)

No grave photo, but also from FindAGrave:

Howard Long was the son of Benjamin Rice and Clarinda Reeves (nee Lockard) Faunce. 

Howard enlisted in Calgary, Alberta Canada into the Canadian military on 19 January 1915 to serve during WWI. While stationed in England he would meet Elizabeth Ellen Ealey, and they would marry on 25 December 1919 at St. Paul Parish, Paddington, England. The marriage records shows his name as "Howard Long Faunce - otherwise - Richard Howard Faunce". They had 2 daughters, Hilda E and Joyce Rose, while still in England. On 15 October 1923 the family would arrive in the States to live. They would have one more daughter, Marie C.

Hilda is my grandmother (father's side), which means Howard is my great-grandfather. I never knew Joyce, but the other daughter (Marie, aka Mickey) was a wonderful, witty person.

Not sure how or why Howard was enlisted in the Canadian military as he was born in Philadelphia and settled back in that area (southern New Jersey) when returning from the war.

Dan, we didn't enter WW1 until 1917, so if he was looking for a fight, the Canadian army was his best option in '15.  They entered with England in 1914.

Dan, That is a great story to have in your family. During that period, a case nationality wasn't a distractor in joining any Army. The US was a little late to the party as Canada was already involved as well as most of Europe. My Uncle went from Our Civil war to hiding in France from the Franco regine and then joining with the French, another relative was in Mexico during that time went to the US and was able to join in time for the Battle of the Budge

My late Father-in-law landed on D+1 which would have been 75 years ago today.  He almost didn't make it because the ship he was on crossing the English Channel struck a mine and sunk.  But he was part of Maritime history because that ship, the Susan B. Anthony, is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the worst Maritime disaster in which no lives were lost.  Over 2800 troops and sailors were rescued.  But they were then put ashore without any of their equipment (he was an Army Engineer, so all of their construction vehicles, floating bridges, explosives, etc. sank with the ship).

Dan, as detfan and switzr have already said, many Americans crossed the border to join our forces, both Army and Air Force (and I am sure Navy as well).  These men did so both because they recognized the need to fight for our freedom as well as the glory that was envisioned by those who had never fought before.  The Commonwealth countries galdly accepted all volunteers who offered their service without asking too many questions.  I think you would be surprised at the number of men who served with the Canadian Army as well as the RCAF who were American by birth.

On an aside and not meant to be offensive, I recently asked an RCAF historian who has lectured to Americans on when do Americans predominantly believe WW II started.  He said that most refer to Pearl Harbour as the beginning of the War.  By then, the Commonwealth had been at war with the Axis for over 2 years in all theatres except for North America.

Bruno, interestly I found this out recently about Canada  1,681 Canadians who, between 1936 and 1939, defied Canadian law to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil war, so they were in some part already fighting for a bit before being official as well as the Lincoln Brigade made of Americans. 

Thanks for all that info. Great to know!