Ben Cowan’s War: The Second World War Diary of a Citizen Soldier

Description

Ben Cowan’s War: The Second World War Diary of a Citizen Soldier

A remarkable first-hand account of the Second World War, told through the eyes of a Canadian citizen soldier whose ingenuity, determination, and dry wit helped him navigate the challenges of war.

In June 1942, Ben Cowan, a professional engineer raised in Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay), traded his civilian career for military service. By the following year, he was commanding No. 10 Light Aid Detachment, a small team of Canadian soldiers responsible for maintaining the artillery, vehicles, and heavy equipment of the 1st Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery.

From the rugged battlefields of Italy to the final months of the war in the Netherlands, Cowan and his men faced the extraordinary challenge of keeping an artillery regiment operational. Working just behind the front lines, they recovered damaged equipment, improvised repairs, searched for spare parts, and moved alongside Allied forces through some of the most significant campaigns of the Second World War.

Throughout his service, Cowan maintained a remarkably detailed personal diary. His observations offer a candid and often humorous account of military life, revealing the personalities, frustrations, friendships, ingenuity, and everyday experiences of the soldiers who helped sustain the Allied war effort.

Unlike traditional battlefield histories, Ben Cowan’s War offers readers an uncommon perspective on the conflict: the war as experienced by the men whose technical expertise and resourcefulness kept the guns firing and the army moving.

A Canadian Story Preserved for Generations

Introduced, edited, and annotated by Major (Retired) Brent Cowan, CD, this extraordinary diary has been brought to life through historical research, explanatory notes, and photographs taken by Ben Cowan during his wartime service.

Preserved within the collections of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Cowan’s writings and photographs provide an invaluable record of Canadian military history and a compelling connection between Northwestern Ontario and the wider events of the Second World War.

Both historically significant and deeply personal, Ben Cowan’s War will appeal to military history enthusiasts, veterans and their families, researchers, and anyone interested in discovering the human experiences behind the history of the Second World War.

Discover What’s Inside

• A first-hand wartime diary: Follow Ben Cowan’s experiences from his enlistment in 1942 through his service overseas and return to civilian life in 1945.
• The Italian Campaign and Northwest Europe: Experience the challenges of serving alongside Canadian and other Allied formations.
• A different perspective on war: Discover the essential role of military engineers, mechanics, and maintenance personnel in supporting combat operations.
• Original wartime photography: Explore historical photographs from Cowan’s personal collection, illustrating the people and places described in his diary.
• Historical context and commentary: Benefit from the introduction, annotations, and research of Major (Retired) Brent Cowan, CD.
• A Northwestern Ontario connection: Learn the story of a man whose early life in Fort William and Port Arthur helped shape his character, career, and wartime experiences.

Available in Two Editions

Softcover Edition — $39.95 CAD

A 448-page, gloss-laminated paperback, ideal for everyday reading, personal libraries, and military history enthusiasts.

Hardcover Edition — $54.95 CAD

A beautifully bound, gloss-laminated hardcover edition, offering a lasting addition to personal and institutional libraries. An excellent gift for historians, veterans, military families, and collectors of Canadian history.

Both editions contain the complete diary, historical photographs, editorial commentary, bibliography, and index.

Book Details

• Author: Ben Cowan (1911–2000)
• Introduced and edited by: Major (Retired) Brent Cowan, CD
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society
• Publication Year: 2026
• Pages: 448
• Language: English
• Trim Size: 8.5 × 7 inches
• Softcover ISBN: 978-1-0680323-0-1
• Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-0680323-3-2

Support the Preservation of Canadian History

Published by the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Ben Cowan’s War reflects the Museum’s commitment to preserving and sharing the stories, experiences, and historical records that connect Northwestern Ontario to Canadian and world history.

Every purchase supports the Museum’s work in preserving collections, advancing historical research, and making our shared heritage accessible to future generations.