World War II
The local chapter of the Red Cross had been disbanded after World War I, but reformed on September 8, 1939, two days before Canada declared war on Germany. Around 150 men from Richmond Hill served in Canada's armed forces during World War II. The first resident of Richmond Hill killed in battle was Sergeant Gunner Don Graham, for whom flags in Richmond Hill were flown at half mast on July 10, 1941. With many men oversees, manpower shortages on farms became so severe that local businessmen and professionals formed groups know colloquially as "Commandos" and volunteered time to work on farms.
Support for the war effort ran high in Richmond Hill. In the April 27, 1942 plebiscite on conscription six hundred eighteen voters were in favour of conscription, while only twenty three were opposed. Various social organisations in Richmond Hill garnered donations for the war effort. School children trick or treating on Halloween collected change for the war effort, rather than candy.
Read more about this topic: History Of Richmond Hill, Ontario
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or war:
“This world has many rings, like Saturn, and we live now on the outmost of them all. None can say deliberately that he inhabits the same sphere, or is contemporary, with the flower which his hands have plucked, and though his feet may seem to crush it, inconceivable spaces and ages separate them, and perchance there is no danger that he will hurt it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)