Please join us on Monday, January 19th to welcome our guest speaker Robert Mackay. Robert will address our
Society on the Canada’s role in the Korean War.
Canada’s reaction to the UN’s call to arms for the Korean War in 1950 – Canada, hesitating and avoiding the issue of sending ground troops, decided instead to send a naval force to assist the United Nations. Three Esquimalt-based Tribal destroyers, HMCS ships CAYUGA, ATHABASKAN, and SIOUX departed for Korea on July 5th, 1950, less than two weeks after hostilities began. Four months later a partially trained 2nd Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was on its way. Robert Mackay will share his detailed knowledge of the Canadian forces’ participation in the Korean War.
n his early years Robert (Bob) Mackay attended UBC and spent thirteen years in the Canadian navy with service in destroyers and submarines. He subsequently taught school and practiced law before publishing his first novel, Soldier of the Horse, the story of his father’s time in the World War I Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Robert’s second prize-winning
novel, Terror on the Alert, is set onboard a Canadian submarine during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His latest novel, The Forgotten: A Novel of the Korean War featuring Canadian soldiers in the Korean War, was published in October 2024.
Robert is an active member of the Naval Association of BC and the Canadian Authors Association.
Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm – Reception and networking; 6:15 pm – Presentation
Location: Anderson Room, Seaforth Armoury, 1650 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3G4
Cost: $30 for a Member of the Society; $40 for a Member accompanied by one of a spouse, partner or non-Member;
$40 each for other non-Members; $10 for IRSA members and anyone under 19 years
RSVP: Register by January 15th by emailing churchillsocietybc@gmail.com
Payment: E-transfer to churchillsocietybc@gmail.com or, at the door in cash or by cheque payable to “Churchill Society of BC”
Ticket cost includes hors d’oeurves and a choice of refreshment