During this era of trench warfare, he was involved as the first tanks lumbered across no-man's land marking the emergence of mechanized fighting forces.

While with the 28th Battalion, Salmon was caught up in the bloody deadlocked period of the war in northern France around the Somme and Ypres.

His first commendation was in October 1916, recognizing his contribution in a brutal battle of September 1915 in Courcelette, where he had rallied his men after the platoon's officer was killed.

[4][5][6] He joined the staff of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in January 1940, attaining rank of Lt. Col. in February of that year, and commanding the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (colloquially known as the "Hasty P's").

The next day, as word was received that Paris had fallen, and just a week before the Armistice of 22 June 1940, Salmon's regiment began a brief expedition to engage the rapidly moving invasion that was sweeping into France.

They were later credited with being the first Canadian soldiers to bring down a German aircraft during the war, as the eager troops fired their first shots at a low flying plane that attempted an opportunistic attack of the harbour.

In 1943 Salmon was appointed to head the Canadian involvement in Operation Husky, the allied invasion of Sicily which would be part of the push that brought about the end of the war.

The aircraft was scheduled to embark from Hendon Airfield in north London, landing in Portreath and from there making the way around occupied Europe to attend the meeting.

His grandfather's brother Nowell Salmon served with the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet.

Salmon's great-great-grandfather) was Admiral Nowell who had served the Royal Navy at the Battle of the Saintes and in the American Revolutionary War.