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Between 1914 and 1918, Canada participated in the most devastating war mankind had known. While the global impact of World War II was greater, for many nations, including Canada, Australia, Britain and France, the Great War remains the bloodiest conflict in their histories. Their war memorials, and remembrance events that are still prominent, find their roots in the Great War.

The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) fought in France and Flanders, in battles at Ypres, Passchendaele, the Somme, Hill 70, Mount Sorrel, and Vimy Ridge. In 1918 the Canadian contingent spearheaded the drive to end the war, fighting from Amiens and Arras in Northern France, through Cambrai and on to Mons in Belgium, which the Canadians secured on 11 November, 1918. Never again would Canada commit a Corps of four divisions under Canadian command. The more than 60,000 who died far exceeds the 45,000 deaths in World War II. Over 95% of those deaths were in the army. The small Canadian Navy reported only 150 deaths with most of those from non-combat losses. Although the RCAF did not yet exist, some 1,388 Canadians also died while serving with the British Flying Services.

The Canadian Great War Project is intended to promote interest in Canada’s participation in World War I and to research the Canadians who participated in it. The site has become a collaborative effort among those interested in researching Canada and the Great War, and has collected the records of 648,390 people to date.