David O'Keefe (historian)

Last updated

David O'Keefe
Born(1967-02-09)February 9, 1967
NationalityCanadian
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Historian, professor

David R. O'Keefe (born February 9, 1967) is a Canadian historian, television presenter, and writer. [1] He is known for presenting War Junk alongside Gemini nominated and Emmy award-winning producer and director Wayne Abbott. [2] He has appeared on television and radio networks including CBC Radio, Global Television, CTV Television Network, UKTV Network and History TV channel.

Contents

Education

O'Keefe studied at Concordia and McGill Universities in Montreal before attending the University of Ottawa for his graduate studies. He remained at the University of Ottawa for four years as a research assistant and lecturer on Military and Diplomatic History before teaching at the College level in Montreal as a professor of Modern and Military History. Today, O'Keefe teaches history at Marianopolis College in Westmount, Quebec.

Career

O'Keefe served as an infantry officer in the Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch of Canada) in Montreal, and was later employed as their historian for nearly a decade. In addition, he worked as a Signals Intelligence specialist for the Department of National Defence and conducted research for the Official History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War. O'Keefe has researched in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

O'Keefe's publications include articles in Canadian Defence Quarterly, the Journal of Canadian Military History, and the Canadian Army Journal, including a chapter in Great War Commands: Historical Perspective on Canadian Army Leadership 1914–1918. Recently, O’Keefe was signed by Knopf (Random House) Canada Publishers to write his first full-length monograph on the Dieppe Raid. His research on the Dieppe Raid began almost two decades ago and has continued throughout his graduate work and his career as an academic and documentarian.

In addition to his academic pursuits, O'Keefe has served as a historian for History Television in Canada for 15 years and appeared on CBC Radio, Global Television, CTV Television Network, UKTV Network in Great Britain. During his time with History Television, he was worked on numerous television documentaries and publications, including the Camp X (1999); Murder in Normandy: The Trial of Kurt Meyer (1999); and Forced March to Freedom (2001) for David Paperny Productions. [3] In 2002, he collaborated with Wayne Abbott for the Gemini-nominated four-part series, From a Place Called War. They continued collaborating for over a decade, producing Black Watch: Massacre on Verrières Ridge for History Television; the two-part History Television program Bloody Normandy and Bloody Victory; The Secret War Files for History Television; Battle of the Mace; and most recently, Dieppe Uncovered, and the television series, War Junk, both for History Television. He is currently in discussions for a TV series based on his research into Ultra and its impact on the history of the Second World War.

Publications

Books

Publication credits

Lectures

Awards and honours

O'Keefe is a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded by then Minister of Veterans Affairs, Honourable Steven Blaney for his services to Canada in the field of historical research on the Dieppe Raid. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieppe</span> Subprefecture and commune in Normandy, France

Dieppe is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department, Normandy, northern France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Totalize</span> Military operation in WW2

Operation Totalize was an offensive launched by Allied troops in the First Canadian Army during the later stages of Operation Overlord, from 8 to 9 August 1944. The intention was to break through the German defences south of Caen on the eastern flank of the Allied positions in Normandy and exploit success by driving south, to capture the high ground north of the city of Falaise. The goal was to collapse the German front and cut off the retreat of German forces fighting the Allied armies further west. The battle is considered the inaugural operation of the First Canadian Army, which had been activated on 23 July.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieppe Raid</span> World War II battle on north coast of France

Operation Jubilee or the Dieppe Raid was an Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France, during the Second World War. Over 6,050 infantry, predominantly Canadian, supported by a regiment of tanks, were put ashore from a naval force operating under protection of Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Canadian Division during World War II</span> Infantry division of the Canadian Army (1939–45)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Cobra</span> American offensive in the Western Theater of World War II

Operation Cobra was an offensive launched by the First United States Army under Lieutenant General Omar Bradley seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy campaign of World War II. The intention was to take advantage of the distraction of the Germans by the British and Canadian attacks around Caen in Operation Goodwood, and thereby break through the German defenses that were penning in their forces, while the Germans were unbalanced. Once a corridor had been created, the First Army would then be able to advance into Brittany, rolling up the German flanks once free of the constraints of the bocage country. After a slow start, the offensive gathered momentum and German resistance collapsed as scattered remnants of broken units fought to escape to the Seine. Lacking the resources to cope with the situation, the German response was ineffectual and the entire Normandy front soon collapsed. Operation Cobra, together with concurrent offensives by the British Second Army and the Canadian First Army, was decisive in securing an Allied victory in the Normandy campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Highlanders</span> Canadian infantry regiment

The Calgary Highlanders is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The regiment is a part-time reserve unit, under the command of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, itself part of 3rd Canadian Division, one of four region-based Canadian Army divisions. The regiment is one of only two regiments in the Canadian Forces to wear an honorary distinction on their uniform, commemorating the counterattack at Kitcheners' Wood. On 9 January 2015, the regiment was recognized with the Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation for outstanding contributions to the war in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Canadian Division</span> Canadian Army formation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Charnwood</span> Second World War Anglo-Canadian offensive

Operation Charnwood was an Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8 to 9 July 1944, during the Battle for Caen, part of the larger Operation Overlord in the Second World War. The operation was intended to capture the German-occupied city of Caen, which was an important objective for the Allies during the opening stages of Overlord. It was also hoped that the attack would forestall the transfer of German armoured units from the Anglo-Canadian sector to the American sector to the west, where an offensive was being prepared. The British and Canadians advanced on a broad front and by the evening of the second day had taken Caen up to the Orne and Odon rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada</span> Military unit

The Black Watch of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Canadian Brigade Group, 2nd Canadian Division, of the Canadian Army. The regiment is located at 2067, rue Bleury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel R.M. Unger, MMM,CD. The regiment's armoury was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008. They are the senior Canadian-Scottish Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Canadian Infantry Brigade</span> Brigade of the Canadian Army

The 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Canadian Army that fought during World War I and World War II. Raised in 1915, it formed part of the 2nd Canadian Division and fought on the Western Front during World War I before being disbanded. Later, it was re-raised in September 1939 and subsequently took part in Allied operations in north-west Europe in 1944 and 1945.

The Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle for Caen</span> Battle during the Normandy campaign

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Spring</span> 1944 Canadian offensive on the Western Front of World War II

Operation Spring was an offensive operation of the Second World War conducted by II Canadian Corps during the Normandy campaign in 1944. The plan was intended to create pressure on the German forces operating on the British and Canadian front simultaneous with Operation Cobra, an American offensive. Operation Spring was intended to capture Verrières Ridge and the villages on the south slope of the ridge. The German defence of the ridge contained the offensive on the first day and inflicted many casualties on the Canadians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Atlantic</span> Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War

Operation Atlantic was a Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War. The offensive, launched in conjunction with Operation Goodwood by the Second Army, was part of operations to seize the French city of Caen and vicinity from German forces. It was initially successful, with gains made on the flanks of the Orne River near Saint-André-sur-Orne but an attack by the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, against strongly defended German positions on Verrières Ridge to the south was a costly failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Verrières Ridge</span> Series of engagements, part of the Battle of Normandy, World War II

The Battle of Verrières Ridge was a series of engagements fought as part of the Battle of Normandy, in Calvados, during the Second World War. The main combatants were two Canadian infantry divisions—with additional support from the Canadian 2nd Armoured Brigade—against elements of three German SS Panzer divisions. The battle was part of the British and Canadian tacks south of Caen, and took place from 19 to 25 July 1944, being part of Operation Atlantic and Operation Spring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">II Canadian Corps</span> Military unit

II Canadian Corps was a corps-level formation that, along with I (British) Corps and I Canadian Corps, comprised the First Canadian Army in Northwest Europe during World War II.

The 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Canadian Army that fought during World War I and World War II. Raised in 1915, it formed part of the 2nd Canadian Division and fought on the Western Front during World War I before being disbanded. Later, it was re-raised in September 1939 and subsequently took part in Allied operations in north-west Europe in 1944 and 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">272nd Infantry Division</span> Military unit

The 272nd Infantry Division was a Type 1944 infantry division of the German Wehrmacht during World War II, that was originally formed in December 1943. The division fought in many of the major battles throughout Operation Overlord, culminating in the Retreat from Northern France and the Low Countries in late August/early September 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Meredith Rockingham</span>

Major General John Meredith Rockingham,, nicknamed "Rocky," was an Australian-Canadian senior military officer who fought with the Canadian Army in World War II and the Korean War. In 1940 Rockingham went overseas as a lieutenant with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, but after the Dieppe Raid of August 1942 he was transferred to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) and promoted to major. Following the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, Rockingham played a significant role in Operation Overlord and the North West Europe Campaign both as Commanding Officer of the RHLI and as General Officer Commanding the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Rockingham returned to civilian life in 1946, obtaining a job with the British Columbia Electric Railway. However, in 1950 he was recalled by the military to command the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade in the Korean War. After his stint as a brigadier in Korea ended, Rockingham returned to Canada where he remained in the military until 1966. Rockingham died in British Columbia in 1987 at age 75.

References

  1. "One Day in August (2013)". RBC Taylor Prize . Knopf Canada. March 2, 2015. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  2. http://www.history.ca/war-junk/ War Junk History TV Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2016
  3. David Paperny Films, Inc. Retrieved April 16, 2016,
  4. "One Day in August: The Untold Story Behind Canada's Tragedy at Dieppe". Penguin Random House Canada. Penguin Random House Canada. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  5. "Seven Days in Hell: Canada's Battle for Normandy and the Rise of the Black Watch Snipers". Harper Collins Publishers. Harper Collins Publishers. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  6. Pushing Their Necks Out: Ultra, The Black Watch, and Command Relations, May-sur-Orne, Normandy, 5 August 1944. March 2, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  7. Minister Steven Blaney Hosts a Viewing of Dieppe Uncovered. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.