For all but a few specialists, Canada's military history has been a largely unexplored terrain. Most Canadians have heard of the victory at Vimy Ridge in 1917, they may know about the Royal Canadian Air Force's role in Woarld War II, and they will recollect that Canada has troops scatteredaround the world on United Nations peacekeeping operations. But until now there was no single volume where a reader could find the essential information on all of Canada's battles and campaigns from the French-Iroquois wars of the 17th century to the UN peacekeeping operation in Croatia andYugoslavia. Who fought and why? What were the main weapons involved?This book, written by two of Canada's leading historians, provides the answers in succinct, clear form. Here are sketches of the military leaders, the Chiefs of Naval, Air, and General Staff; here are all of the key politicians who have been involved in Canadian military matters, the primeministers, defence ministers, and veterans affairs ministers; here are the winners of the Victoria Cross (and an explanation of that great mark of courage and the other decorations Canadians have won); and here are the forts, bases, regiments, aircraft, and ships that have made their mark on Canadaand Canadians. With over 1,500 entries, the Dictionary of Canadian Military History is the essential, thorough, and easy-to-use guide to Canada's military past and present.

David J. Bercuson is the director of the University of Calgary's Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. A celebrated military historian, he has published on a wide range of topics including modern Canadian politics, Canadian defense and foreign policy, and military history. He has written, co-authored, or edited over thirty books, including The Fighting Canadians: Canada's Regimental History from New France to Afghanistan; The Patricias: The Proud History of a Fighting Regiment; and Blood on the Hills: The Canadian Army in the Korean War. In 1997 Dr. Bercuson was appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of National Defence on the Future of the Canadian Forces. A member of the Minister of National Defence's Monitoring Committee from 1997 to 2003, he also served on the Advisory Council on National Security from 2005 to 2008. Until 2010 Bercuson was an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, a Land Force Reserve military engineer unit of the Canadian Forces. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, which awarded him the J.B. Tyrrell Historical Medal in 2002, and serves on the board of the Royal Military College. In 2003 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

David J. Bercuson's profile page

J. L. GRANATSTEIN is the author of over 60 books, including the bestsellersWho Killed The Canadian Military? and Whose War Is It?, along withYankee Go Home?, Victory 1945 and The Generals, which won the J. W. Dafoe Prize and the UBC Medal for Canadian Biography. A distinguished research professor of history emeritus at York University, he was a member of the RMC Board of Governors and is chair of the Advisory Council of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute. He lives in Toronto. Visit Granatstein atwww.whosewar.ca.

J.L. Granatstein's profile page

"This is an important book, in some respects an encyclopedia as well as a dictionary." - Montreal Gazette

"This book is thorough, accessible, and an interesting read." - Quill and Quire

"A thorough and succinct guide to the people, organizations and events of our military heritage of the last 200 years." - Legion

"Wraps up in one brief book most of Canada's military history, a feat accomplished by no one else. A good buy at twice the price." - Toronto Star

"For the military history buff, the dictionary provides a fast and easy-to-use reference." - Halifax Chronicle-Herald/Mail-Star