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November 2020 3 NOVEMBER 2020 IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION Veterans share thoughts about service, sacrifice A cadet’s perspective on Remembrance Day Help fill gift bags for Bay area seniors Monthly meetings set to resume No matter how, or where, Lest We Foget We won’t be able to gather as we normally would ‘remember on November 11th. But we can still remember we must’ and give thanks. By Stuart Moors, Capt (Navy) In this special edition, contributors (Retd) honour veterans and reflect on the meaning of We can’t congregate this year Remembrance Day. as we normally would in November to remember our veterans, serving military We'll post links on personnel, and merchant our website and mariners. on the Seniors Despite this, it really doesn't Facebook page matter where, when, or how we about online remember, but remember we ceremonies. must. What better way to ensure enduring global peace and "Debby" Piers, from Chester crossing the Atlantic. In 1942, honour those who sacrificed, Harbour to Halifax, where the at age 29, he led a 42-ship served or currently serve to Admiral was to be laid to rest convoy across the Atlantic, preserve our freedom, values, in the naval crypt at St. Paul's with only four small corvettes and way of life? Anglican Church. as protection. In November 2005, while I was In his 20s, Piers spent most of West of Iceland, the convoy in command of HMCS Toronto, World War II at sea in the thick encountered 17 German our ship had the honour to of combat, leading sailors and, submarines, and for days embark and transport the ultimately, commanding ships fought a desperate battle, remains of one of the Royal under horrific conditions, during which the convoy Canadian Navy's most including confronting a would lose 15 merchant ships. significant World War II heroes, daunting U-boat threat during In the aftermath, Piers wrote Rear Admiral Desmond convoy escort duties while Continued on P 3 Remembrance Day ‘reminder of sacrifice’ LCdr Sherry Richardson (Retd) After a lifetime of Canadian military service with Navy, Army, Air Force and Intelligence, Sherry Richardson says, “Our veterans’ service is the reason we are even able to observe Remembrance Day.” Sherry retired in 1999 as a Lieutenant-Commander and Commanding Officer of the HMCS Sackville, a ship that, she says, “sank two subs and scared the hell out of a third” during World War II. getting my recreational license Sherry Richardson aboard The ship later served as a and then my private license.” HMCS Sackville - where she research vessel and is now a Sherry also served for years in had been CO - in 2020 military museum. military intelligence. After joining the Women’s Royal She later joined the Bedford definitely afraid they’ll find out I’d Canadian Naval Service in 1954 Institute of Oceanography and do it just for fun,” she laughs. in Montreal, Sherry completed served on several research Sherry says young people basic training, converting to the vessels, including CGS interested in a military career Royal Canadian Navy in Chebucto, as first officer. should join the reserves for a year. November 1955. “When I was in military “If you like it, ask for a transfer to With limited opportunities for intelligence, the first thing they regular forces. If it’s not for you, women, she completed did was send me on a three- turn in your kit and walk away.” Electrical School training in year Russian course,” she Saying she is grateful for her long HMCS Stadacona and was says. “That also came in and diverse life of military service, drafted to HMCS Shearwater - handy later when I was in Sherry acknowledges that, for VU32 Squadron as an Air Fisheries and had to board younger generations, Electronics Technician working Russian ships.” Remembrance Day feels less on naval aircraft. Now 84, Sherry continues relevant. flying for pleasure. Her loves of flying and aircraft “They’ve never experienced what are lifelong. “I was one of the She also works every summer that sacrifice means. But first Girl Guides to ever get an as a forest fire spotter for the Remembrance Day reminds us aircraft recognition badge,” she Department of Lands and that our people died, often says, “And in my 70s I trained at Forestry. “They pay me to do somewhere far away, to make the Debert Flight School, first it, which is great, but I’m sure we continue to be free.” This year is a milestone WW II anniversary By Patrick Charlton, RCN Retd This year is significant, as it marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest and most critical HMCS Sackville, one of 123 Canadian corvettes, saw active battle of World War II. service during World War II, was later used as a research ship, The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and is now a military museum. played a pivotal role in that battle. Sackville, I am reminded of the ordinary Canadians doing tremendously difficult and extraordinary things. I continue As a volunteer with the Canadian cramped conditions her sailors to be thankful to the men and Naval Memorial Trust - HMCS lived with and worked in as the women of the Royal Canadian Sackville, I am honoured to serve ship did her duty, along with Navy, the Royal Canadian Air in an organization that other RCN ships, protecting Force and the Canadian Army commemorates and remembers convoy after convoy in for their commitment and all those who have served in our submarine-infested waters sacrifice in serving and Naval Service, and in particular, across the North Atlantic. The protecting our country. I am those who made the supreme dangers were constant, but in equally thankful to the families sacrifice. the end, Canadians and our of military members, for Every time I step aboard the allies prevailed. As has often providing vital support to those almost 80-year-old HMCS been said, it was a time of in uniform. “Remember we must…” Continued from P 1 a controversial yet influential report to highlight equipment, training and convoy tactics deficiencies. Maneuvering a 5,000-ton frigate in turned 180 degrees in Chester Harbour while our 13-gun salute Chester, with the hidden shoals rang out, echoing back from land, as Rear Admiral Piers' and brisk winds, was not without remains were embarked (above). At sunset, en route to Halifax, risk of grounding. Despite days of the Navy’s Historian regaled our crew with stories of Piers' preparation in the East Coast illustrious career. Navy's modern navigation That helped sink in for me how miniscule my anxieties at simulator, I was sleepless with navigating Chester Harbour would have been when compared to anxiety the night before. the nightmarish events faced by Desmond Piers and all the On a pristine afternoon, we other Canadians who served so selflessly in war. Gone, but not forgotten By Sharon Jessup Joyce As a daughter, niece, parent, aunt and cousin of members of the Canadian Forces, Remembrance Day has always been an occasion for reverence, reflection, and gratitude for me. But some years ago, when I was working on our family tree, I learned my grandfather’s twin brother, William Henry Drummond, had served in World War I. Suddenly, I saw that long- ago war through a more ‘Canadian Gunners in the Mud, Passchendaele, 1917’ by personal lens. Alfred Bastien. (Public domain). William voluntarily enlisted in the 8th Siege Battery, Canadian were horrific, and casualty Garrison Artillery, on May 22, numbers on both sides were 1917. Thomas, my grandfather, enormous. was married and had a There were nearly 16,000 daughter, but Will was single, Canadians wounded or killed living at home with his widowed in the Belgian mud on mother, and helping to support November 6 alone. four younger sisters. His service pay would be better than what One of the fallen that day was he made as a train yard William Drummond. conductor. The military record states that There are no surviving family while on duty with a gun crew, photos of Will. All we know he was “severely wounded in comes from his enlistment the body and rendered documentation: then 27, he was unconscious.” dark-haired and blue-eyed, with He was taken to No. 1 a lean build and a large scar on Canadian Field Ambulance, his leg. “where he succumbed to his He served as a gunner on the injuries some hours later Belgian front from July to without regaining November, 1917, where the consciousness.” William Drummond’s headstone. Battle of Passchendaele ended William was laid to rest in the (His age is incorrectly recorded in victory for Canadian and Vlamertinghe Military as 23). Photo courtesy of Marg British troops. Battle conditions Cemetery in Belgium. Liessens ‘Take time to appreciate veterans’ urges cadet By Alexandra Morrison, Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class I joined my Cadet Unit, 250 Vimy Royal Canadian Air Cadets, in 2015, at the age of 12. The Remembrance Day service I attended that year with my fellow cadets was my first service ever. It was also the first time I’ve felt the emotions that come with Remembrance Day to their full extent. I recognize Canada still has a long way to go as a nation to gain justice and peace for all its citizens, and I can’t fully understand the fear and sadness World Wars I and II brought to past generations and to some Canadians’ daily lives now. But hearing the Last Post echo through my ears as I stood in file among my fellow cadets made Alexandra Morrison, Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class me truly reflect on the sacrifices made to get our nation to where We are looking for gift bag donations to we are today.
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