A War Guest in Canada

W. A. B. (Alec) Douglas was born in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and spent his early childhood years in England. From 1940-43 he lived in Canada as a “war guest,” and he later returned to attend the University of Toronto. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1951 to 1973 when he was appointed director of the Directorate of History, National Defence Headquarters. He is the author of numerous books, including official histories of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Navy. He lives in Ottawa. Roger Sarty, history professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, was in previous careers senior historian at the Department of National Defence and deputy director at the Canadian War Museum. His other books on the Canadian Army in the Maritimes include Saint John Fortifications (2003, with Doug Knight) and Guardian of the Gulf: Sydney Cape Breton and the Atlantic Wars (2012, with Brian Tennyson).

Preface, by Cynthia Comacchio
Introduction: The Careers of W.A.B. Douglas: Sailor and Historian, by Roger Sarty
A War Guest in Canada, 1940–1943
1. Introduction
2. August 1940: Arrival in Toronto
3. September–October 1940: School!
4. October–December 1940: Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween
5. December 1940–March 1941: First Canadian Christmas and Winter
6. April–August 1941
7. September–December 1941
8. January–September 1942: The Farm, Summer Camp, and New Experiences
9. October–December 1942
10. January–July 1943: Last Months in Canada
11. July–August 1943: Return to England
12. 1943–1947: Transition from a War Guest to a Canadian