Dispatches from the Front: The Life of Matthew Halton, Canada's Voice at War

by David Halton

As senior war correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation during the Second World War, Matthew Halton reported from the front lines in Italy and Northwest Europe and became “the voice of Canada at war.” His gripping, passionate broadcasts chronicled the victories and losses of Canadian soldiers and made him a national hero.

Born in Pincher Creek, Alberta, in 1904, Halton was to achieve the fastest ever ascent in Canadian journalism. A year after joining the Toronto Daily Star as a cub reporter, he was in Berlin to write about Adolf Hitler’s seizure of power and – long before most other correspondents – to begin a prophetic series of warnings about the Nazi regime. For more than two decades, he witnessed first-hand the major political and military events of the era. He covered Europe’s drift to disaster, including the breakdown of the League of Nations, the Spanish Civil War, the sellout to Fascism at Munich, and the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia. Along the way he interviewed Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Hermann Göring, Neville Chamberlain, Charles de Gaulle, Mahatma Gandhi, and dozens of others who shaped the history of the century.
In Dispatches from the Front , acclaimed former CBC correspondent David Halton, Matthew’s son, also examines his father’s often tumultuous personal life. He unravels the many paradoxes of his person­ the war correspondent who loathed bloodshed yet became addicted to the thrill of battle; the loner who thrived in good company; and, in some ways most puzzling of all, the womanizer with a deep and enduring love for his wife.
Drawn from extensive interviews and archival research, this definitive biography is a captivating portrait of the life of one of Canada’s most accom­plished journalists.

Genres: Biography, War, Nonfiction, Canada, World War II, History

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2014

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt's wartime broadcasts for the CBC were regularly used on the BBC; his dispatches from the front were widely published by British newspapers as well as the Toronto Daily Star and Maclean's. In 1944 the Association of British Publishers named him one of the five best war correspondents of World War Two. He won one of the most prestigious broadcasting prizes in the United States and was admitted to the Canadian News Hall of Fame. King George VI awarded him the Order of the British Empire. Today though, more than five decades after his death, Matthew Henry Halton is a more or less forgotten name for all but survivors of the war-time generation.

In order to correct his once-famous father's drift into obscurity, David Halton (also a journalist for the Toronto Star and the CBC like his Dad) spent four years conducting interviews, combing over his father's letters and diaries, reading the estimated four million words of Matt Halton's journalism preserved in the national archives, and writing the first biography of this remarkable Canadian. In his time, Matt Halton was every bit as famous as Edward R. Murrow – an estimated 80% of Canadians would gather around the family radio to hear Halton's nightly battlefield reports during WWII – and I'd agree that it's a shame that I'd never heard of him before. This biography was long overdue; but while it's a thoroughly researched and fact-filled tome (there are 32 pages of footnotes, over a hundred titles in the “Select Bibliography”), I didn't think that the writing was quite up to the subject. I learned a lot about Halton's career and writings, but very little about the man himself; unfortunately, Dispatches from the Front reads like a really long wikipedia entry.

I wish there had been more about Halton's childhood: As lower-class Brits (his father started coal-mining at 12), the senior Haltons took advantage of a late 19th century program to emigrate to Canada; receiving 200 acres in the wilderness in exchange for “improving” it. After a harrowing trip halfway across the globe, the Haltons arrived in the foothills of Pincher Creek, Alberta and were never able to make a living off the miserable land. Despite hunger and poverty and a necessitated move into the town-site (where the senior Halton was obliged to become the “honeyman” cleaning out privies), Matt Halton spent his entire life romanticising the beauty of Pincher Creek (and having been there myself, I'd agree it's one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen). I appreciated that later in life, when Halton would once again go on about Pincher Creek, his colleagues would point out the irony of the tuxedo-clad bon vivant becoming wistful about riding on the back of that honey-wagon; I was left wanting more about these years and their life-long hold on Halton's imagination.

I marvelled that the young and impoverished Halton would need to work a year as a teacher in remote one-room schools in order to afford the next year at the University of Alberta, going back and forth between the two lives until finally receiving a scholarship to study in London. From here, his education and early career skip briskly along until Halton is suddenly the top foreign correspondent for the Toronto Daily Star; with a fat expense account and the editorial freedom to traipse around Europe in search of the next big story. While in Munich in 1933, Halton attended a Hitler rally and was alarmed by what he saw:

Using all the tricks of oratory with the most patent disingenuousness, the little Austrian house-painter in his ugly brown uniform described the “degradation” of Germany in searing phrases and a thundering voice that turned his hearers into maddened, moaning fanatics.

In the era of appeasement, it seemed that Halton was the only journalist warning about Germany's war preparations, and over the next two decades, he was often perceptive and prescient; warning about events that came to pass, even as he was pilloried for his pessimism in other Canadian news outlets. He was also always at the vanguard of history – riding along with the Republican army at the outset of the Spanish Civil War, Halton was urgently called back to London to cover the abdication of King Edward VIII (I love this as a snapshot of Canadian priorities at the time). Halton attended the 1936 Munich Olympics (apparently the only journalist not hoodwinked by Goebbels' propaganda machine), rode along as Germany invaded the Sudetenland (as the only journalist who wrote that the Nazis wouldn't stop there), and when full-out war did erupt, Halton was embedded with the army in Africa and Italy, landed with the Canadians on D-Day, was the first Allied soldier greeted by the Resistance during the liberation of Paris, and was at the forefront as Belgium, Holland, and Germany itself were liberated. Along the way, Halton was a pioneer of written journalism (anticipating the New Journalism of the 1960s by inserting his own voice into his reports), a pioneer of radio journalism (recording actual battlefield sounds to blend into his later newscasts), and participated in early television journalism (which he didn't much care for).

David Halton tries somewhat to round out his father's story by including tales of his extravagant living, hard drinking, cockeyed risk-taking, and overt womanising, but it doesn't quite add up to a satisfyingly complete picture of a life. And while I appreciate that David might have been trying to preserve a journalistic impartiality, he doesn't even include much in the way of his own memories of his father. As for the writing, I find that whenever a biography has frequent paragraphs with multiple footnotes in them, it can't help but read as a listing of information instead of a flowing narrative. And what about this: While trying to explain why his mother would have been ambivalent about his father's infidelities, David writes, Was this the proverbial “open marriage”? Well, what proverb are we talking about exactly? I expected much better writing from a successful journalist like David Halton.

In the end, I am glad that Halton wrote this book: His father deserves to be remembered and I learned a lot from it. (Why had I never before heard that the Vichy government of France had their army fighting on the side of the Nazis; that the Vichy French army held faraway Syria and Lebanon and that the British were actually fighting the French on those battlefields during WWII?) Overall, I'm happy to have read Dispatches from the Front despite its shortcomings.

[Suzanne Arcand · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was worth telling but should have been told by a better writer. David is not the writer is father was. He's too hagiographic when it comes to his father.

[Myles · Rating 3 out of 5]

As romantic as it sounds, being a war correspondent brings along certain features of the job most of us probably wouldn't enjoy very much. The deafening noise of artillery fire. Watching grown men (and now women) cry with fright. Watching the endless stream of sick and dying. Witnessing the toll of war on the innocent bystanders. Matthew Halton got a good dose of all this and more as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's war correspondent during WWII. Some of his own colleagues were killed or captured at the front, too. Halton himself courted death on a few occasions, and when the fighting stopped, so did much of the attention he garnered as a famous broadcaster. He was really successful first as a foreign correspondent for The Toronto Star and later for the CBC. But he didn't live all that long, in today's terms, after the war to enjoy it. And the lifestyle he enjoyed while at the peak of his game certainly cost him in the end. I enjoyed this book for the swiftness of the prose. His son, David, has done him well in the telling. I could have done less with the scorecard David kept of when his father's predictions were "spot on" or somewhat amiss. He reminds us that nobody should have had to guess Hitler's intentions for the Jews of Germany, or for his intentions to get even with the victors of WWI. Matthew Halton laid it bear, and he did so in 1933. I also learned more about the early Toronto newsrooms. The rampant alcoholism was something even I observed myself in the late 1070's, although it was clearly on its way out by then. The journalism Halton experienced was not all that different from what reporters embedded with the troupes in Iraq experienced with regard to censorship and playing for the home team. But today's 24-hour news cycles, news blogs, and shredded newsrooms are much different such that news stars are much more about good looks and not so much good substance. I have new personal favourites, some with the online magazines, some from their books on war, some in podcasts, some in newsletters, and a few traditional reporters still working for the dailies. But there are so many choices. And once the news is out I am so frequently looking to my "friends" on Facebook for their reaction that the news is almost secondary. Today opinion is all. Matthew Halton had to wait until he returned from the front lines for feedback. No more.

[Maurice Tougas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dispatches from the Front is a rarity — a Canadian history/biography that's actually a terrific read.
Most Canadian history books, or biographies, tend to be painfully dry (the few that are written, anyway). Bookstores are groaning with great American history books, but it's tough to find a really good Canadian book. Dispatches from the Front is one.
Written by respected Toronto Star/CBC reporter David Halton, Dispatches concerns the remarkable journalistic career of Matthew Halton, David's dad. During WWII, Matthew Halton was Canada's best known war correspondent, and certainly one of the best in the world. He was everywhere, writing in a distinctive, opinionated style that would never be allowed today. In the 1930s and 1940s, he was In Germany, warning the world of the rise of Hitler; he covered the Spanish Civil War and the war in Africa; he landed on D-Day, and was one of the first reporters in liberated Paris. He was a drinker, a bit of a womanizer, and a family man. It's a terrific story, and David Halton doesn't fall into the trap of hero worship, which would be understandable (a lot of kids worship their dads, or so I'm told).
Dispatches from the Front is a fine read, a true Canadian story of heroism from another era.

[Gail Amendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of WWII history and of Canadian history, this was the perfect book for me. It is the biography of Matthew Halton, a Canadian war correspondent who became Canada's most well known voice of the war. Beginning with his impoverished childhood in Pincher Creek, Alberta, followed by his time reporting in Europe for the Toronto Star in the 1930's, and finally his time as a war correspondent with the CBC, it tells the story of a very remarkable life. I came to have a huge respect for this brilliant man, who seemed to have an uncanny insight into world events, predicting the horrific direction Germany was headed years before most people recognized Hitler's evil. He is most definitely depicted in this book as a hero, which is unsurprising given that it was written by his son, but it also shows his dark side...excessive drinking, spending and womanizing, which must have been difficult for his son to write about. The writing is engaging and easy to read, and flows fairly well, although the time-line can be a bit confusing at times. I had never heard of Matt Halton prior to reading this book, and it seems unfortunate that this accomplished man has faded into obscurity. I'm glad this book is attempting to rectify that.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Halton has written an outstanding biography of his father Matthew, Canada's most influential and important foreign correspondent. Halton was the CBC's primary radio correspondent in WWII and therefore the voice of the war for Canadians. An astonishing 86% of Canadians listened to his war reports, so he had a profound impact on the country and became famous. Before the war, as early as 1933, he was one of the few international journalists raising the alarm about he evils of Fascism, and was heavily criticized for it. I can't help but think we need a voice like his today, as the threat of right-wing radicalism is again on the rise. Once WWII began, Halton established a strong connection between Canadians and the war. His style was unique and highly effective. He weaved personal stories, poetic narratives and real battlefield sounds into his reports on the progress of Canadian troops in the war. Strangely, despite his profound impact on Canadians during the war, Halton has been largely forgotten. Hopefully, this book begins to correct that. I was also very impressed with the author's fair and objective analysis of his own father .... It must have been difficult at times but was exceedingly well-done. Overall, Dispatches from the Front is well worth reading.

[Linda Munroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Halton was a new correspondent for print and radio in the first half of the 20th century. This biography, written by his son, places the stories he filed in their historical and cultural context making a very rich reading experience.

Matthew Halton wrote about Hitler's rise to power, the Spanish Civil War, The Russian invasion of Finland, the Battle of Britain, the war in North Africa and D-Day. In fact, it is his voice we hear when replays are broadcast to commemorate the June D-Day event and Remembrance Day. He was a very brave person and often his reports from the front lines put his life in danger.

The book has several examples of Matthew Halton's work in it and they fit nicely with the narrative. I would like to read them again and I will try to get a copy of his book about the war in North Africa.

The author is Matthew Halton's son. He is an excellent journalist in his own right and there is nothing that could be done to make this book better. Maybe a few maps would be good addition.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting picture of Matthew Halton, Canadian war correspondent in WWII, apparently very famous in his time, in Canada, Britain and the U.S., mainly for his work for the Toronto Star and the CBC (widely republished/rebroadcast at the time.)

He grew up in Pincher Creek, Alberta, and later spent many years in Europe, primarily in London and Paris though all over Europe as well (and North Africa and India/Pakistan).

This biography is written by his son, David Halton, also a well-known CBC journalist, based on documentary evidence as well as many interviews.

The picture of Matt Halton that emerges is that of a brilliant and very talented reporter, who also had numerous flaws and was rather self-indulgent (drink, money, women).

David Halton's writing is here a bit plodding at times, but he does go to some effort to present a well-rounded and fair picture of his father, warts and all.

[Raimo Wirkkala · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this remarkably well-written biography of his father, David Halton does honour to himself as well as to his esteemed subject. The son makes way for the journalist here as the author does justice to the subject matter by eschewing hagiography or filial hero worship and giving us an account of a man-in-full, for both good and bad, who reported with passion and courage on the extra-ordinary times in which he lived. Reportage being the family business, the son has carried it forward brilliantly and ensured a family legacy to be proud of.

[Elise Rosenhaupt]

Fascinating and well-written story of Canada's great War (WWII) correspondent, Matthew Halton. The author, his son, hadaccess to diaries, letters, articles, and broadcasts, so the book is in many ways told by its subject. Matt Halton was almost clairvoyant about what was happening in Europe, long before statesmen there and in Canada figured out what Hitler really meant. Some of the parallels between then and now are uncanny, and alarming. I'm a news junkie, and am interested in the story of WWII in Europe, so I am getting ready to re-read Dispatches from the Front.

[Enikő · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. It was just the right balance of historical narration and excerpts from Matthew Halton's articles. I am very glad I heard about this book on the CBC, and that I was able to get a copy from the library. It is amazing how much time has passed, and that while some things will never be forgotten, Matthew Halton's fame has slipped quietly into anonymity. I am glad that his son finally wrote his biography, and I hope that many Canadians will read it.

[Gillian Burles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and well written. David Halton knows how to tell a story and bring Matthew Halton and all of his experiences to life. Provides good history of early 20th century history and is a fascinating glimpse of the development of journalism from print to radio to TV. Worth your time

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part biography of a great Canadian, part WWII history as seen through the eyes of the same great Canadian war correspondent. A great story, well told.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A member of my book club suggested “Dispatches from the Front”, published in 2014 by the son of a Canadian reporter who was known across the country during World War Two. I started to read it a couple of months ahead of time, anticipating that it would be a dry account of events of the war, as reported by a Canadian I’d never heard of, which I would probably plod through a chapter at a time. Instead I finished it within a few days and enjoyed every chapter. The very personal account of the war experiences of one man, combined with the sense of the social and cultural environment in the middle decades of the twentieth century, account for its appeal to me.

While the bulk of the book concerns Matthew Halton’s Second World War reports, a significant section is devoted to his European experience prior to the war. In contrast to many reporters, politicians and business people, he criticized the Nazi regime from the start. This section is a timely reminder that many influential people will put profit before democracy. When Halton was warning of Nazi aggression and anti-semitism, Hitler continued to be praised by people such as Mackenzie King, Walter Lippman, writers for the Toronto papers Mail and Empire and the Globe and many more - long after the Nazi leader’s intentions were clear. Halton, who attended the LSE when Harold Laski taught there, also wasn’t shy about making clear his sympathy for social policies and his support of Labour in England and the CCF in Canada.

He also reported on major historical events such as the abdication crisis, the coronation that followed, the Grey Owl exposé and the Spanish Civil War. His admiration of England and its empire may leave younger readers shaking their heads, but Canada was a different country at that time. Consider the example cited in the book of a victory bond campaign that featured the Dionne quintuplets riding white tricycles into Maple Leaf Gardens to sing “There’ll Always be an England”.

The war coverage is selective, restricted mainly to events Halton was present at, but all the more gripping for this – and he was present at many major battles. His personality is also interesting as he recognized and felt the horror of war but didn’t hide the thrill he felt at being close to danger and to events that made history. David Halton presents all this from a distance, as the reporter he himself is, acknowledging his father’s negative traits as well as his admirable ones, and that’s fine with me. I don’t need a perfect hero or analyses of his character and family dynamics. The window on the world that Matthew Halton had and the reports he left are more than enough to make for a riveting read.

[Laima · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may not have given this book a particularly high rating but I do consider it a "must read" to better understand the Second World War, people during this time, and war reporting.

It is a shame that as a Canadian, born and raised in Ontario, I had never before heard of Matthew Halton. I can only attribute this to our education system which fails to bring war to life (is this why we haven't learned war's lessons?).

The book, written by his son David, is thoroughly researched but lacks deeper insight into the man. Perhaps he hoped that readers would draw their own conclusions based on the excerpts of articles and newscasts (absolutely fascinating). The writing, however, failed to draw me in but succeeded in educating me.

[Vanora Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dispatches From The Front is an incredible telling of the life of Matthew Halton. David writes beautifully, his words as engaging as the father they're describing. You can feel the charm, wit, and convictions leaping off the pages in this biography you won't be able to put down. And if you can keep a dry eye through the final chapter, you're much more stoic than I.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at a forgotten war correspondent. Learned a lot more about the background and history of World War ll. Really enjoyed it

[Joe Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book passed on to me by my friend Laurie. A well told tale of WWII Canadian war correspondent Mathew Halton by his son journalist David Halton. Mathew Halton lived an exciting life at an exciting time meeting many of the leading figures during the era. A worthwhile read.

[Jeff V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this like a textbook read especially once the war finished. I found it sad that the author put his father on such a high pedestal when he was a drunk, womanizer and spendthrift.