Weeks after the Second World War broke out, in September of 1939, Mennonites pledged their loyalty to Canada and the British Empire. This was important because it meant that while they were pacifists, Mennonites were still willing to participate in the War, however that might look like.1
In January of 1941, the Chilliwack Progress announced that Mennonites must register for service. Service in this form meant that any religious group of pacifists were required to work in labour camps. Instead of being drafted into the infantry when their age group was called, they were expected to report to Reserve Army Military Training Camps.2
Reporting to labour and training cramps were not the only ways Mennonites got involved in the war effort. Mennonite churches within the Fraser Valley and all over western Canada provided support for refugees from England and other humanitarian efforts. In 1940, Mennonite churches were responsible for sending over $3000 worth of clothing and $6000 in general money contributions. As of March of 1941, they sent $1700 worth of clothing over to England. Western Mennonite churches were responsible for $8000 worth of donations for the Red Cross.3 In total, Mennonites were responsible for over $18,700 in donations. Today, those donations would be worth over $364,000.4
However, there were some Mennonites who wanted to do more than just provide aid. Many of Yarrow’s young Mennonites wanted to serve in the military, either in the medical corps or in combatant services. This was such a strong feeling that the Mennonite Brethren Church had to get involved. As more and more men joined the armed forces, the Church stepped in and strongly discouraged Mennonite men from joining the combat arms. The Church encouraged men to instead join non-combatant services, such as the medical corps, if they so strongly felt the desire to serve. However, more than 66% of Yarrow’s Mennonite men joined combatant services. They were determined to serve their adopted country, no matter the cost.5
- “Fraser Valley Mennonites Pledge Loyalty to Empire,” Chilliwack Progress, Sep. 27, 1939. ↩︎
- “Fraser Valley Mennonites Pledge Loyalty to Empire.” ↩︎
- “Mennonites Help,” Chilliwack Progress, Mar. 19, 1941. ↩︎
- Calculated using the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator. ↩︎
- Harold J. Dyck, “Yarrow Book Manuscript Files/Yarrow War Dead Essay Draft.” Chilliwack Museum & Archives, archive ID: 2003.069.003.004.005. ↩︎