In Our Youth

At the start of the First World War, Canadian aviation was in its infancy, with a handful of pioneering aviators and little government or military support for investing in the emerging technology. However, the significance of aircraft technology grew substantially as the war progressed, with more than twenty thousand Canadians ultimately serving in British air forces during the conflict.

In Our Youth, by Angus Scully, offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of Canada’s trailblazing aviators. These men were typically young, educated, affluent, and unmarried, ready to embrace the unknown for the thrill of taking to the skies. Through three key photographs and three thematic sections — titled “youth ascending,” “youth lost,” and “youth transcended” — Scully weaves together the narratives of thirtytwo men who trained, fought, and, in some cases, died in the pilot’s seat.

Scully’s research involved photographs, archival documents, artifacts, and memorabilia, allowing readers to connect with these individuals. While his book is not meant to provide a comprehensive history of Canadian aviation, it does touch on themes and events that shaped the course of aviation history in this country — from the earliest test flights to the transition into a postwar civilian industry.

In Our Youth sheds light on the journeys of some of Canada’s first aviators while offering valuable insights into the broader context of Canadian aviation development.