Young Canadians may not know as much about the First and Second World War as older Canadians, but their knowledge about the war in Afghanistan is second to none, according to a new study.
The poll, released ahead of Remembrance Day, asked participants three questions about each of the wars.
On average, Canadians scored 64 per cent on the First World War section, 63 per cent on the Second World War and 69 per cent on Afghanistan.
When broken down by age, the scores showed respondents aged 18-34 scored lowest on questions about the two earlier wars, but highest on questions about Afghanistan.
Here are some key results from the "mini quiz" (average score shown in per cent):
First World War
- 18-34: 59 per cent
- 35-54: 61 per cent
- 55 and over: 72 per cent
Second World War
- 18-34: 57 per cent
- 35-54: 61 per cent
- 55 and over: 71 per cent
Afghanistan
- 18-34: 72 per cent
- 35-54: 69 per cent
- 55 and over: 66 per cent
The results suggest that as the years go by, Canada's younger generation has a decreasing knowledge of the wars they are most removed from.
The poll also showed a gender gap in Canada's military memory, with men scoring about 10 per cent higher across all age groups on questions about the First and Second World War, but only about 3 per cent higher on questions about Afghanistan.
War in Afghanistan
Canada entered the conflict in Afghanistan 2001, and is scheduled to end its military combat role in 2011.
Only 38 per cent of Canadians surveyed knew when Canada entered the war.
In total, 86 per cent rightly believed the U.S. entered the war first. But when broken down by age, the results show that 90 per cent of young Canadians knew that the U.S. entered the war first, compared to 83 per cent of older Canadians.
In total 14 per cent of Canadians wrongly believed Canada entered the war before the U.S.
Second World War
On questions about the Second World War, 71 per cent of Canadians knew Canada entered the war in 1939. But 19 per cent thought Canada entered in 1945.
Six out of 10 Canadians knew that Juno Beach is the code name of the beach Canadians troops took on June 6, 1944 -- D-Day. But 21 per cent believed it was codenamed Omaha.
Only 56 per cent of Canadians knew that Canada entered the Second World War prior to the U.S., while 44 per cent believed the U.S. was the first to enter the war.
First World War
On the First World War, 71 per cent of Canadians knew Canada entered the fray in 1914, though 16 per cent wrongly believed Canada entered in 1918.
In total 62 per cent knew Vimy Ridge was the name of a key battle in 1917 -- in which Canada played a decisive role. But 23 per cent thought it was Dieppe.
The poll was conducted by Ipsos Reid between Nov. 1 and Nov. 5, 2010, for The Historica-Dominion Institute. In total, 1,015 adults were interviewed online. The survey has a margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire populations of adults in Canada been polled.
