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The Fighting Canadians: Our Regimental History from New France to Afghanistan
Regimental fighting units, suggests historian David J. Bercuson, do something that no other group they nurture their members as they proceed into the unnatural world of war, putting their lives on the line for the lives of others. Regiments are constructed clans, with proud histories and traditions that are impenetrable to outsiders but essential to the morale of those who are a part of their ranks.
Canada’s most famous regiments—such as the Vandoos, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, the Hasty P’s—are well known to many of us, but what is less known is how Canada’s regiments have shaped and been shaped by our military past. Beginning with Iroquois war bands and the arrival in 1665 of the Régiment Carignan- Salières—“The Good Regiment” dispatched by Louis XIV to the colony of New France—Bercuson recounts a proud history that extends through the War of 1812 and the Fenian Raids to the Boer War. He tracks the regiments of the First World War and the development of the modern regimental system, through to the Second World War and the Korean War. Finally, he investigates the peacekeeping years to the current operations in Afghanistan.
This comprehensive regimental history is a lively, fascinating chronicle of tradition, achievement and sometimes catastrophe. Through the eyes of many prominent regiments, Bercuson looks at the broader culture of bonding and loyalty that is underappreciated outside of the military, yet second nature within it. Anyone with an interest in Canada’s rich military history or a personal connection to the soldiers who have fought for this country—past or present—will appreciate this stirring account of Canada’s frontline forces.
Canada’s most famous regiments—such as the Vandoos, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, the Hasty P’s—are well known to many of us, but what is less known is how Canada’s regiments have shaped and been shaped by our military past. Beginning with Iroquois war bands and the arrival in 1665 of the Régiment Carignan- Salières—“The Good Regiment” dispatched by Louis XIV to the colony of New France—Bercuson recounts a proud history that extends through the War of 1812 and the Fenian Raids to the Boer War. He tracks the regiments of the First World War and the development of the modern regimental system, through to the Second World War and the Korean War. Finally, he investigates the peacekeeping years to the current operations in Afghanistan.
This comprehensive regimental history is a lively, fascinating chronicle of tradition, achievement and sometimes catastrophe. Through the eyes of many prominent regiments, Bercuson looks at the broader culture of bonding and loyalty that is underappreciated outside of the military, yet second nature within it. Anyone with an interest in Canada’s rich military history or a personal connection to the soldiers who have fought for this country—past or present—will appreciate this stirring account of Canada’s frontline forces.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 1, 2023
Following my visit to Vimy Ridge earlier in November on Remembrance Day, I thought I would get into some relevant material in looking at the historical context of Canadian military contributions. In that regard, David Bercuson’s “Fighting Canadians” provides a relatively comprehensive overview of Canadian army commitments including from pre-confederation times, yet without heavy emphasis on military jargon or complex theory.
Within this book, Bercuson offers a historical look at Canada’s military involvement, spanning its role in early conflicts such as the Seven Years’ War all the way up to Afghanistan (as the book was published in 2008). The focus is mostly on army contributions and the history of the regimental system in Canada, but there is certainly insight offered as well regarding Canadian identity and military culture.
For me, what I found most interesting within this account was the discussion pertaining to Canada’s primary reserve, including how it has cyclically been neglected then bolstered over the past two hundred years. I believe that we still find ourselves within that cycle today. To this effect, it was stunning to read about some of the regiments’ storied histories from even before the First World War, then read further on that many of those stories have mostly been lost to time as many of the militia units have been folded into each other.
Overall, I enjoyed “Fighting Canadians”, finding it to be pretty light reading in providing some context to military engagements as a part of Canada’s national identity. It is well researched as a narrative, and digestible even without military background. I would recommend it as an accessible piece for general readers interested in Canadian military history!
Within this book, Bercuson offers a historical look at Canada’s military involvement, spanning its role in early conflicts such as the Seven Years’ War all the way up to Afghanistan (as the book was published in 2008). The focus is mostly on army contributions and the history of the regimental system in Canada, but there is certainly insight offered as well regarding Canadian identity and military culture.
For me, what I found most interesting within this account was the discussion pertaining to Canada’s primary reserve, including how it has cyclically been neglected then bolstered over the past two hundred years. I believe that we still find ourselves within that cycle today. To this effect, it was stunning to read about some of the regiments’ storied histories from even before the First World War, then read further on that many of those stories have mostly been lost to time as many of the militia units have been folded into each other.
Overall, I enjoyed “Fighting Canadians”, finding it to be pretty light reading in providing some context to military engagements as a part of Canada’s national identity. It is well researched as a narrative, and digestible even without military background. I would recommend it as an accessible piece for general readers interested in Canadian military history!
February 16, 2026
This book suffers from not knowing what it wants to be. It opens with a thesis about the importance of regimental traditions and the regimental system as a whole in the Canadian army, but aside from a few throwaway comments in some of the chapters never actually makes an argument in support of that thesis. At most, after describing a battle in which the Canadians performed well the author may ask "was this performance the result of solders' strong ties to their regimental identity? We may never know..."
The book is a mix of a broad-scope history of the actions of the Canadian army from before its inception up to the publication date (2008) of the book with each section opening with a general history of the conflict being discussed (War of 1812, First World War, Korea, etc.), and the remainder of each chapter recounts one or two specific actions that a particular regiment took part in. As a result, this book gets stuck in the middle and does neither a good job of being a single-volume overview of Canadian army history (look to Punching Above Our Weight by David Borys for that), nor is it a good choice for someone wanting to get a strong sampling of soldier-level accounts of engagements (the Canadian Legion has published several good book options for that).
The books is also very poorly sourced, there are no chapter notes, authors that are quoted don't have their books listed in the bibliography, and there are enough typographical errors that it got annoying.
Overall, this book won't be staying in my collection as I can't find a purpose that it serves.
The book is a mix of a broad-scope history of the actions of the Canadian army from before its inception up to the publication date (2008) of the book with each section opening with a general history of the conflict being discussed (War of 1812, First World War, Korea, etc.), and the remainder of each chapter recounts one or two specific actions that a particular regiment took part in. As a result, this book gets stuck in the middle and does neither a good job of being a single-volume overview of Canadian army history (look to Punching Above Our Weight by David Borys for that), nor is it a good choice for someone wanting to get a strong sampling of soldier-level accounts of engagements (the Canadian Legion has published several good book options for that).
The books is also very poorly sourced, there are no chapter notes, authors that are quoted don't have their books listed in the bibliography, and there are enough typographical errors that it got annoying.
Overall, this book won't be staying in my collection as I can't find a purpose that it serves.
August 12, 2012
It was a good description of Canada's participation in war since its founding. Obviously not an all encompassing description but the battles which the author deems important, however, he is writing about regiments so there is a lot of non-battle description/Army background. Its pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews