"Orville, most people understand that Britain and Empire fought as one in both world wars. We just assume it. Do I deny it?"
Keith, I don't believe that insult was your intention. While a part of the Empire, now Commonwealth, Canada shared a common soverign (as it still does) with the UK, but was a nation in its own right. After the invasion of Poland it declared war on Germany a day before the UK did, so perhaps for a short time Canada stood alone. In the first world war the "COLONIALS' were used by Britain as cannon fodder and that was not to be repeated in WW2. Canada and the other Commonwealth countries stood together but history often leaves them on the short end of the stick, as Britain and the USA claim credit for the defeat of Hitler. In truth it was an effort that was inclusive of many and many of that many lie in foreign graves. My grandfather fought in Flanders in WW1 and my brother with the British Navy's Fleet air Arm in WW2 (a long story). A cousin died on the beaches of Normandy, but they were Canadians. Britain did not stand alone, but always had our support. Hollywood movies of the wars have also been insulting to our veterans because they have been left out of the role that they played in winning the war. The Devils Brigade being an exception.