Legion Decoration Day Recalls D-Day
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THE MELVILLE $1.50 PER COPY Friday, GST INCLUDED June 7, 2019 Vol. 93 No. 24 Agreement # 40011922 PROUDLY SERVING MELVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1929 • WWW.GRASSLANDSNEWS.CA • 1-306-728-5448 Legion Decoration Day recalls D-Day Clipping from the June 8, 1944 edition of the Melville Advance. Canada leads the charge By Grasslands News Bancarz presented a short overview of For a world gripped in fear and op- Canada’s contribution to the D-Day in- pression by Nazi Germany, the D-Day vasion at Normandy. invasion on June 6, 1944 was the be- He described Juno Beach as one of ginning of the end of the Second World five beaches of the Allied invasion of War. German-occupied France in the Nor- Just 11 months later, Allied Forces mandy landings on June 6, 1944. The would declare Victory in Europe, and beach spanned from Courseulles, a vil- three months after that, Victory in lage just east of the British beach Gold, Japan. The war was over. to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, and just west Seventy-five years later, on June 2, of the British beach Sword. 2019, a small group of Melville Legion “Taking Juno Beach was the respon- members, army cadets, and veterans’ sibility entirely of the Canadian Army, families interred at the cemetery, dec- with sea transport, mine sweeping, and orated veterans’ graves with Canadian a naval bombardment force provided flags and then held a solemn remem- by the Royal Canadian Navy and the brance service that recognized their British Royal Navy as well as elements sacrifices and the importance of Can- from the Free French, Norwegian, ada’s role in pushing the Germans out and American navies. The objectives of France, beginning the liberation of of the 3rd Canadian (49th) Infantry Europe. Division were to cut the Caen-Bayeux In prayer, legion chaplain Doug road, seize the Carpiquet airport west Schmirler offered thanks to those of Caen, and form a link between the “who, through the sacrifice of their two British beaches.” lives, have handed on the torch, and The beach was defended by two bat- we ask your divine help for the future. talions of the German 716th Infantry “Give all assembled here the will to Division, with elements of the 21st still hold the torch high, to serve their Panzer Division held in reserve near comrades and be an inspiration to all Caen, Bancarz explained. people, that the peace of God which The invasion plan called for two bri- Members of the Melville Legion colour party stand at attention as O Canada is played at the Decora- passes all understanding may be with gades of the 3rd Canadian Division to tion Day service in the Melville Cemetery on June 2. The service also recognized the 75th anniversa- us now and forever.” land on two beach sectors. It was hoped ry of the D-Day landings at Normandy that took place on June 6, 1944. Photo by George Brown Legion sergeant-at-arms Trevor Continued on Page 2 • Motor Licence Issuer • Notary Public • Surety • Home/Auto/Farm/Commercial • Blue Cross • GMS • Hagerty Melville - Springside - Ituna OPEN Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Excluding Long Weekends 228 Main St. 306-728-4457 Your Hometown Broker! www.melvilleagencies.com @MA1974LTD The Melville Advance 2 June 7, 2019 www.grasslandsnews.ca ... Legion Decoration Day recalls D-Day Continued from Page 1 Division had succeeded in pushing farther inland He asked God to “help us to be faithful and true to that the naval and air bombardments would soften up than any other landing force that day,” Bancarz said these ideals for which they fought and died.” the beach defences and destroy coastal strong points. proudly. Schmirler thanked everyone at the service for Close support on the beaches was to be provided by Out of 1,074 Canadian casualties that first day, helping the legion members and families to “remem- amphibious tanks of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Bri- 359 Canadians were killed.” ber their comrades who paid the supreme sacrifice gade and specialized armoured vehicles of the 79th Ar- After the playing of The Last Post, a moment’s and those who have died since the war, whose bodies moured Division (United Kingdom). silence and the laying of a wreath, Rev. Schmirler are buried in these cemeteries. Once the landing zones were secured, the plan was asked that “we remember those who laid down the “We remember the cost of freedom we all treasure for the 9th Canadian Infantry life for freedom and truth.” in this country.” Brigade to land reserve bat- talions and deploy inland, the Royal Marine commandos were to establish contact with the British 3rd Infantry Division on Sword Beach and the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade to link up with the British 50th Infantry Division on Gold Beach. The 3rd Ca- nadian Division’s D-Day objectives were to capture Carpiquet Airfield and reach the Caen–Bayeux railway line by nightfall. “The landings initially en- 1 DAY countered heavy resistance from the German 716th Division; the preliminary bombardment proved less effective than had been hoped, and rough weather ONLY! forced the first wave to be delayed until 07:35 in day- light,” Bancarz said. Wed., June 12 “Several assault companies — notably those of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada — took heavy casualties in the opening minutes of the first wave.” Strength of numbers, co-ordinated fire support from artillery and armoured squadrons, cleared most WK of the coastal defences within two hours of landing. “The subsequent push inland toward Carpiquet and the Caen–Bayeux railway line achieved mixed results. The sheer numbers of men and vehicles on the beaches created lengthy delays and traffic jams,” Bancarz said. The 7th Brigade encountered heavy initial oppo- ANNIVERSARY sition before pushing south and making contact with the British 50th Division at Creully. The 8th Brigade encountered heavy resistance from a battalion of the 716th at Tailleville, while the 9th Brigade deployed towards Carpiquet early in the evening. Resistance in Saint-Aubin prevented the Royal Marines from CELEBRATION establishing contact with the British 3rd Division on Sword. By the time all operations on the Anglo-Cana- dian front were ordered to halt at 21:00 hours. 9LVLWXVLQVWRUHIRUH[FOXVLYHVDYLQJV “The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada had reached its D-Day objective and the 3rd Canadian Infantry :('1(6'$<- 81( -RLQXVDVZHFHOHEUDWH\HDUVLQ\RXUFRPPXQLW\ )5((*LYHDZD\V 'RRU3UL]HV 2II2Q$OPRVW(YHU\WKLQJ 'RXEOH5HZDUGV3RLQWV LQ6WRUH *UHDW'HDOV,Q6WRUH$OO'D\ )UHH'RXJKQXWVDQG &RIIHH6HUYHGDPSP ([FOXVLRQVDSSO\ %8<21(*(7 21()5(( 3KDUPDVDYH%UDQG9LWDPLQV +HUEDOV )UHHLWHPPXVWEHHTXDORUOHVVHUYDOXH 2QHFRXSRQSHUSHUVRQYDOLGRQO\RQ-XQH A silhouette of a reverent Canadian soldier stands guard at the cemetery during the service. 3KDUPDVDYH0HOYLOOH QG$YH(DVW0HOYLOOH6.6$ 3 ZZZSKDUPDVDYHFRP The Melville Advance @grasslands_news June 7, 2019 3 Wanted man faces more charges By Grasslands News ronmental Protection Act in relation A Melville man facing 12 charges to an incident ion the Broadview area. who failed to appear in court in Fort Following the car chase, a number Qu’Appelle on May 16 after being re- of other charges were laid, including leased into the custody of his father breaking and entering, imperson- was arrested again in Yorkton. ation of someone else to avoid arrest He is now scheduled to appear in and being in possession of a rotating court to face additional charges on hand pump that could be used as a 430 Main St. - P.O. Box 1240, Melville, SK S0A 2P0 June 13. weapon. • Phone (306) 728-6840 • Fax (306) 728-5911 Christopher Adam Miller was ini- Miller has been identified in court Website: www.melville.ca tially charged in April after police as a drug addict. At the end of April were led on a wild two-hour car chase Judge Kevin Lang released him into that ended in a standoff near Balcar- the custody of his father on the un- res. It was then discovered that Miller derstanding that Miller promise to Surplus Items Up For Auction had failed to make a court appear- appear in court May 16. The City sells its surplus vehicles, equipment, tools, furniture, impounded ance in Melville on April 1 to answer He failed to do so and a warrant for to other charges laid under the Envi- his arrest was issued. vehicles and sundries by public auction. Items sold through Surplus Disposal are sold on the basis of “As is - Where is.” There are no guarantees expressed or implied. You can fi nd the items on: https://www.govdeals.com/melvillesk Spring seeding nearly complete The online auction ends on Monday, June 17, 2019. Submitted moisture is rated as 32 per cent ad- Seeding of the 2019 crop is nearing equate, 48 per cent short and 20 per completion, with the majority of the cent very short. Topsoil moisture on crop being planted this month. hay land and pasture is rated as 25 Notice of Mailing of Tax Notices Ninety-two per cent of the crop is per cent adequate, 47 per cent short now seeded, up from 73 per cent last and 28 per cent very short. As per subsection 237(1)(b) of The Cities Act, the tax notices for the City of week and well ahead of the five-year Significant rain is still needed Melville for the year 2019 have been mailed. average (2014-18) of 83 per cent for across the province to help crops Any person who has not received the tax notice can call City Hall at 306- this time of year.