The Dispatch Branch 112 June 2019 For your information DARTS LEAGUE Upcoming Events Summer Darts League is up and running….. Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays at 8pm Air Cadet Darts: Thursdays @ 7pm LAST OPEN MIC The next Open Mic June 23, 2019 @ 1pm. WEEKLY BRANCH SPORT ACTIVITIES AIR CADET DARTS:: Thursdays at 7pm CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY SPIN TO WIN:: Saturdays Our annual party for the children & at 3pm (formerly The Meat grandchildren Roll) of members will take place in the Upper Hall thth on December 17 at 1:00pm – Our Sports’ Coordinator is SANTA arrives at 1:45pm ! Bobby Simmons Refreshments: hot dog, juice & frozen yogurt ! Entertainment: Magician Attendance fee of $5.00 per child & you must register at the Clubroom bar and pay fee no later than December 4th. The Canadian Navy - Second World War The Flower-class corvette HMCS Arrowhead in 1940. Photo: DND The RCN expanded greatly during the Second World War. From its modest beginnings of six ocean- going ships and 3,500 officers and men (both regular and reserve) at the outbreak of the war, it grew into a large and capable fighting force. This was important as the navy was immediately called on to help. In fact, the navy was the main thrust of Canada’s war effort in the first two years of the conflict as German U-boats again made cutting off Allied shipping a top priority and the Allied navies had to find a way to protect the merchant vessels crossing the Atlantic Ocean so supplies could reach Europe. This “Battle of the Atlantic” was the longest and one of the most important campaigns of the Second World War — lasting from the first day of the war in 1939 until the last day of the war in Europe in 1945. Canada played a major role with the RCN assuming responsibility for escorting convoys in the northwest Atlantic — the only major theatre of the war to be commanded by Canadians. This battle also saw the Germans bring the war to our own shores. U-boats even penetrated deep into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence River. A number of German U-boats, including U-130 shown here off the coast of Nova Scotia, surrendered to the RCN after the war in Europe ended in May 1945. Photo: LAC PA-171391 It was a tough fight, but with courage and the adoption of new technology and tactics, Canada helped the Allies to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. More than 25,000 merchant ships safely made it to their destination under Canadian escort, delivering approximately 165 million tons of vitally-needed supplies to Europe. The RCN sank or helped sink more than 30 U- boats, but at a steep price. The RCN lost 14 warships to enemy attack and another eight ships to accidents at sea during the Second World War, with approximately 2,000 losing their lives. RCN ships also served in different ways during the war. They fought against the Japanese in the Pacific and took part in other kinds of military operations in the waters off Europe, like patrolling and mine sweeping in the English Channel and supporting Allied landings in Normandy, Sicily, mainland Italy and southern France. At the end of the Second World War, Canada had one of the largest navies in the world with 95,000 men and women in uniform, and 434 commissioned vessels including cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes and auxiliaries. It was an incredible growth that symbolizes the great contributions that Canadians made in the cause of peace and freedom during history’s largest war. Did You Know? WRENs at signal training school in St. Hyacinthe, Québec, September 1944. Photo: LAC PA-150940 Canadian women first served in the RCN during the Second World War. The Women’s Royal Canadian Navy Service (WRCNS) — whose members were commonly called “WRENs”, after the Women's Royal Navy — was launched in 1942 to recruit women to work in support roles in the navy so more men would be available for sea duties. WRENs did much of the same sort of work as men (except for serving at sea on warships), such as servicing anti-submarine equipment and aircraft, performing communications roles and working as drivers. By the end of the war there were about 6,000 women in the navy. Approximately 1,000 WRENs served overseas, many of them in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and more than 500 more served in Newfoundland (which was not yet a part of Canada). Did You Know? The unofficial gun shield badge of HMCS Shawinigan . Photo: DND As a way to build crew morale and help create a sense of identity for each ship during the Second World War, most RCN corvettes (anti-submarine escort vessels) had their own unique emblem painted on their gun shields. Pride and creativity were key, so there were a wide variety of designs. The crew of HMCS Sackville had Donald Duck for an emblem, HMCS Summerside had Micky Mouse and HMCS Shawinigan had a bulldog tearing apart the Nazi flag. Did You Know? Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, taken when he received his pilot wings in September 1941. Photo: Nelson Museum, Nelson, BC Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve earned a Victoria Cross (the highest award for military valour a Canadian can receive) in the closing days of the Second World War. Gray was serving as a pilot on the British aircraft carrier HMS Formidable in the Pacific on August 9, 1945 when he led a low-level attack against a Japanese destroyer. Braving heavy anti-aircraft fire and his plane in flames, he continued on until he dropped his bombs within 15 metres of the enemy ship. He scored a direct hit, causing it to sink immediately. Gray was killed — the last Canadian combat death of the Second World War and the last time a Canadian has been awarded the Victoria Cross. June . June ultimately comes from the Latin Iunius, “of Juno (Iuno),” referring to the Roman goddess. What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade. Gertrude Jekyll Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/gertrude_jekyll_310278?src=t_june A Look Back in History – June 3, 1999 - Canada and the US sign treaty governing the conservation and sharing of the Pacific salmon that migrate between waters of the two nations. June 7, 1576 - Exploration - Martin Frobisher sails on the Gabriel and Michael on his first expedition to search for the North West Passage; licensed by the Muscovy Company; backed by Queen Elizabeth I and London merchants; will sight Greenland, discover Baffin Island and name Frobisher Bay after himself. Bristol, England June 9, 1941 - World War II - HMCS Saskatoon is commissioned. June 13, 1898 - Confederation - Royal Assent given to the Yukon Territory Act; The Yukon Judicial District becomes a distinct territory from the North-West Territories, two years after the Klondike gold discovery; William Ogilvie appointed first Commissioner of the Yukon Territory; serves until 1901; with a Legislative Council partly elected, partly appointed by the Governor General. Capital placed at Dawson City, then the largest community north of Seattle and west of Winnipeg, with about 30,000 people. June 17, 1936 - Aviation - Opening of Petawawa military airport; called the Silver Dart Aerodrome, to mark the flight of the Silver Dart there in 1909. Pembroke, Ontario June 19, 1812 - War of 1812 - The United States officially declares war on Great Britain; US President James Madison cites the seizure of American vessels in the Napoleonic Wars, and British support of native resistance to US westward expansion; the war will rage until December 24, 1814; only major war, other than Indian wars, fought on Canadian soil. Washington, DC June 22, 1976 - House of Commons votes to abolish the death penalty with a six-vote majority; last execution in Canada in 1962; another motion to reinstate death penalty will be defeated on June 30, 1987 after eight-day debate. June 26, 1959 - Queen Elizabeth II officially opens 318 km long St. Lawrence Seaway with US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. June 30, 1912 - Disaster - Tornado roars through the downtown core of Regina in five minute rampage at 4:50 pm, killing 28, and damaging or destroying three churches, the new Carnegie Library, commercial buildings and homes; the "Regina Cyclone", Canada's deadliest tornado, is rated as F4 on the Fujita scale (devastating, with winds of 331-417 km/h); does an estimated $1.2 million in damage and leaves 2,500 homeless. Mayor Peter McAra cancels Dominion Day celebrations. Birthdays: June 1, 1926 – Marilyn Monroe, Actress June 1, 1974 - Alanis Morisette, rock singer, born at Ottawa, Ontario June 4, 1975 – Angelina Jolie, Actress, Humanitarian June 7, 1952 – Liam Neeson, Actor June 17, 1943 – Barry Manilow, Singer June 18, 1942 – Paul McCartney, Singer/Songwriter June 25, 1903- George Orwell, Author Source: http://canadachannel.ca/todayincanadianhistory www.historyplace.com www.canadian history.com Branch 112 Come join us for… “A Celebration of Whitby Seniors” June 11th, 2:00-4:00pm. Music by Steve Meeks, dancing, light refreshments served. Happening now………. May 31 to June 6…. Mission The Battlefield Bike Ride is an event designed through the lens of Wounded Warriors Canada’s guiding ethos: Honour the Fallen and Help the Living. To date, over 500 cyclists have participated in the events, collectively raising over $2.5M in support of our national mental health programs and services benefiting ill and injured Veterans, First Responders and their families across Canada.