"In the collective memory of Canadians, the Great War exists as a tragedy. Characterized by the brutality of trench warfare, the First World War is remembered largely for the immense sacrifice of life and limb that Canadian soldiers made. In Fight or Pay, Desmond Morton turns to the stories of those who paid in other ways: the wives, mothers, and families left behind when soldiers went to war." "Fight or Pay brings to light the lives of thousands of valiant women whose sacrifices have been overlooked. It is an incisive, humane look at the beginning of a social welfare system that Canadians have come to think of as intrinsic to citizenship. This is a compelling addition to the landscape of Canadian history."--BOOK JACKET.