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In October 1914; 32 ships, 31,200 Canadian troops, over 7,000 horses and an orphaned black bear cub arrived in Plymouth.

Canada’s first contingent arrived unexpectedly. Their intended destination had been Southampton, but submarine activity had caused the fleet to be redirected into Plymouth.

The journey had taken 12 days and included the provision of 20,000 boxes of a ‘secret de la mer’ remedy.

On land, the unloading of men, horses and equipment was chaotic. It took nine days.

Seventy per cent of the first contingent of Canadians were British-born migrants, so for some, this was coming home.

Newspapers reported the excitement of local people welcoming the Canadian troops. They also recorded the indiscretions of some individual troops (one broke a lamp, one was fined for swearing and one was imprisoned for failure to support a child). A marriage between a Canadian lieutenant and a French woman also got media coverage.

The orphaned black bear cub, which arrived with the Canadians was named Winnie (after Winnipeg), spent the war in London Zoo and became the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh.

Location: Plymouth Hoe, Devon PL1 2PA
Photograph of Canadian troops in Plymouth courtesy of Nigel Overton from Plymouth City Museum.
Presented by Kent Fedorowich from the University of the West of England

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