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Tim Cook describes various bits of trench art, trench newspapers and even theatre productions (and similar) in his 2018 book The Secret History of Soldiers: How Canadians Survived the Great War. That might be a starting point for you.

There was a significant amount of bullying that went on for first year cadets at the military colleges. Does anyone know if that environment has been tamed?

In 2.5 years posted to Protecteur many decades ago, I remember one 'abandon ship' drill that went as far as having everyone on the upper decks in life-raft capacity sized groups lined up around the life rafts. I don't recall any other drills at any other time on any other ship (may have...

Same here, except I was trying to get away from a dysfunctional family.

I am thinking a shadow box containing the items would be in order. Something that can be passed down (maybe with a note tucked inside) and less likely to be just tossed in a drawer and forgotten.

As a very junior MARE, an effort was made to convince me (and my colleagues) that serving onboard Oberon-class submarines would be good for our careers. We we were given a tour of an O- boat by a very bitter duty leading seaman. He stunk and obviously hadn't showered in a while. He hated...

The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa has a submission process as described on their website. You describe what you have and they will then make a determination if they want it.

I earlier wrote a post about how safety management works in industry. As I think more about this, I am realizing that DND is decades behind industry in developing and implementing a 'safety culture'. I understand that DND is an organization whose job is (amongst other things) to inflict...

Please allow me to share my perspective as a long-out-of-the-game MARE who has worked as an engineer (usually some type of field work) for some decades. First, where I work, everyone has the RIGHT to a safe work environment and everyone has a RIGHT to stop work in unsafe conditions. This is...

I was trained as a Marine Systems Engineering Officer. My memory is that the technical authority for ship engineering resides in NDHQ under what was called Director General Maritime Engineering and Maintenance (I expect names have changed but roles probably haven't changed much). DGMEM was...

While I am a (very far) outsider looking in, I can see an intersection between the 'reconstitution' and the Arbour report recommendations. The time is ripe for fundamental, systemic change throughout CAF. Whether such change occurs or is effective remains to be seen.

One of the rules to which I subscribe is that PowerPoint is an aid, not your purpose. I have been to meetings where someone has spent time preparing a presentation but can't start due to some technical glitch in getting the presentation on the screen. Everyone sits around for 20 minutes...

If you are even thinking of being a cook, I suggest you get a job right now working in the kitchen of a large restaurant. See if in six months you still want to be a cook.

I recall an urban legend about a shipboard parade when all the sailors were expected to turn out in their best rig. Immediately prior to the parade, all the stokers mustered in the engineering workshop. A quick shot of black spraypaint and all the stoker footwear met the standard of clean...

About a decade ago I was involved in a DRDC 'innovation' project. The folks at DRDC were several decades behind industry in knowledge, understanding and technology. I was unimpressed. My efforts to introduce defence folks to industry practices have led to naught.

That is interesting to know. Thank you. My seagoing days are decades behind me but some questions remain. I recall there was always some discussion about how the ship's food budget was spent. There was some faction that called for lots of 'meat and potatoes'. There was another faction...

Mr Flatfish, If I may, I assume you are young, healthy and fit. You have a reasonable chance to live to 100 years old. You might expect to work for 50 or 60 of those years in many different careers. My advice (costing nothing and worth nothing) is to live while you are young. Travel the...

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Not to take this off topic, but suppose there were adequate and appropriate rules in place, but they were not being obeyed? The reflex in response to situations such as this is always to increase the number of regulations. But that doesn't help if the root cause is that the rules are not...

Volunteer woodworkers needed - Ottawa Perley Health is a unique and innovative campus of care: home to more than 600 Seniors and Veterans living in independent apartments or receiving long-term care. It is located in Ottawa. See www.perleyhealth.ca. One of the activities offered to all...