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The Wartime Correspondence and Diary of John Edwin Gardiner, RCAF (1919-1942)
- Publisher
- University of Regina Press
- Initial publish date
- Sep 2004
- Category
- Canada, World War II
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780889771574
- Publish Date
- Sep 2004
- List Price
- $19.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
John Edwin Gardiner was the eldest son of James "Jimmy" Gardiner, the most prominent Liberal politician of his day in western Canada. Edwin was called up by the RCAF in November 1940, received his wings in October 1941, and travelled to England in early November 1941. On August 18, 1942, on the eve of the Dieppe Raid, Edwin wrote to his father: "At long last we're going to take part in something big which you will read all about in the papers long before you get this letter." Edwin Gardiner was killed when his plane went down on the following day. James Gardiner, who had lost two brothers in the First World War, had now lost his son to war. His wife, Violet, found the grief unbearable and took her own life in October 1944, yet another casualty of war.
About the author
David E. Smith, FRSC, is the author of Federalism and the Constitution of Canada, The People’s House of Commons, and many books on Canadian politics. He is currently Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University.