For King and Country

On the day of the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, their forces also launched an attack on the British colony of Hong Kong. Norm Christie unearths pillboxes, bunkers and shell fragments: remnants of the battle for Hong Kong.

Documentary series about the Canadian contribution to World War II. After the UK's declaration of war with Germany in September 1939, Canada become the first Commonwealth country to send troops to join the fight. By 1940, 100 Canadian pilots were flying missions during the Battle of Britain with Robert Barton recalling his exploits with 249 Squadron. Also, Atlantic convoy veteran Peter Cock tells the story of Convoy SC-42 which sustained losses during a U-boat attack in 1941.

In the second programme examining the Italian campaign, veteran and author Stan Scislowski recalls May 1944 when the Canadians helped open the road to Rome and pave the way for the city's liberation.

In the first of two episodes focusing on the Italian campaign, Allied troops land on the beaches of Sicily in July 1943. Canadian troops landed at Pachino to the south of the island and soon proved their mettle against their German adversaries.

In September 1944, the Canadian army in Europe was entrusted with liberating the Channel ports and the Scheldt estuary. Japan still resisted the Allied assault. Alfred Babin, a prisoner of war, recounts how the POWs awaited liberation or death.

The events of D-Day, 6 June 1944, when Canadian troops joined British and American forces on the Normandy beaches of Nazi-occupied France. Veteran Lockie Fulton recalls leading his men through a hail of fire and into the villages of Normandy.