Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 IN THIS ISSUE Bookkeeper charged with · Bookkeeper charged with defrauding Durham Legion defrauding Durham Legion · Aid pours in for Lachine Legion · Battle of the Atlantic remembered · Minister Of Vereran Affairs' Battle Of Atlantic Speaches · Veterans’ words, photos show life on the little ships · Tribute To Fallen Police Officers At Queen's Park · Retired soldiers get the shaft DURHAM -- A former bookkeeper has · Battle Of Atlantic Remembered been charged with defrauding an Ajax · Medals finally home Royal Canadian Legion branch of · Jerry Olinski more than $65,000. · Government of Canada Thanks Veterans Who Helped Liberate the Netherlands The arrest came after a review of · This is Mental Health Week accounts at the branch revealed · Forgotten heroes of WWII; D-Day Dodgers get set for final reunion significant cash shortages between · A piece of history flies home November 2007 and January 2008, · France reveals British WWI cave camp Durham police said. · Stephenville Legion Veteran to visit Beaumont Hamel An investigation by Durham police led · Feds invest $1 million more in military's operational stress support to Pauline Neill, 60, of Devondale · Canadian soldier killed on foot patrol in hotly contested area outside Street in Courtice, being charged with Kandahar a single count of fraud over $5,000 · Soldiers Send Mother's Day Messages · UK: Historians seek public report on World War II forgeries Sunday, May 04, 2008 · A new Canadian general in Afghanistan Northumberland News · Memorial Cup to feature Canadian Military and World Class Fireworks Section: RCL Displays · Latest International Afghanistan Casualty Count · Why should bureaucrats, officials and other hangers-on outnumber veterans Aid pours in for Lachine 2 to 1 on pilgrimages to battlefields? Legion · Veterans to be honoured with Candlelight Tribute · Sackville Legion to mark anniversary of V-E Day · Family and friends trying to cope with the death of Calgary soldier · Jeunesse Maritime du Saint-Laurent Receives Federal Support for Commemorative Event · Government of Canada Announces New Operational Stress Injury Clinic for Ottawa Members of Lachine's Royal · New figures reveal scope of Afghan mission's mental toll Canadian Legion branch are grateful · 3 centuries, 4 husbands, 109 years for an outpouring of support they have · WWII soldier's body found in France received after their building was · William and Harry raise one million pounds for wounded troops vandalized Tuesday for the second · This may save the life of someone is close to you. time in four months. · Today, May 8th, is 'Victory in Europe Day' Slogans reading "FLQ," for the 1970s · Legion president disappointed after 17-year-old boy urinates on Cenotaph ultranationalist group Front de · May 8 triggers mixed emotions for Max Eisen Libération du Québec, and "Cellule · Remembering the end of the war in Europe Papineau" were spray-painted on the · Seniors' care seen stagnating in homes building. · When should parents (SENIORS) stop driving? · First World War vet regains Canadian citizenship Yesterday, the Legion received · Minister of Veterans Affairs Honours Quebec Citizens donations totalling about $1,300 from community members. The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 1 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 "Every cent of it will go to improving and May 1945, described as the Minister Of Vereran Affairs' security," said Irene Tait, the Legion's longest single campaign of the war. Battle Of Atlantic Speaches president. A federal government delegation, led The Legion, a community organization by Veteran Affairs Minister Greg for war veterans, doesn't have enough Thompson, and comprised of veterans money to afford state of the art from across the country, is attending surveillance equipment, Tait said. the events, said a news release Battle of the Atlantic Merchant Navy issued earlier this week by Joint Task A fundraiser last week raised $1,000 Ceremony. Force Atlantic. to pay for part of the new equipment. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Yesterday, several people made Several Halifax buildings are flying Halifax, Nova Scotia donations. One donor put forward flags bearing the naval white ensign, May 3, 2008 $1,000 through the Sun Youth including Province House, City Hall "Honoured Veterans, distinguished organization to keep their identity and Camp Hill Veterans’ Memorial guests, ladies, gentlemen and youth. secret. Building, the release also says. It is a privilege to be here with you Sunday, May 04, 2008 A commemorative service kicks off the today to remember the sacrifices of The Gazette Battle of the Atlantic anniversary, the remarkable men and women who Section: RCL starting at 8:30 a.m. today in CFB served in Canada’s Merchant Navy Halifax’s Faith Centre at the Chapel of during the Second World War. Remembrance. It continues with a Battle of the Atlantic merchant navy and Norwegian wreath- They were ordinary Canadians who remembered laying ceremony at 10 a.m. inside the accomplished extraordinary things. small boats gallery at the Maritime And that is what we honour as we Museum of the Atlantic. mark the 65th anniversary of the On Sunday, about 50 Second World Battle of the Atlantic. War veterans will sail aboard HMCS It was from this very city that many of Sackville. The ship took part in the the Merchant Navy ships began their war’s largest Atlantic convoy in 1944, treacherous journey across the helping escort 167 merchant navy Atlantic -- bringing desperately needed ships to the United Kingdom. supplies and troops to Great Britain The ship departs from HMC Dockyard and beyond. at 9:30 a.m. and will anchor off Point In all, the convoys delivered more than Pleasant Park for a ceremony. 165 million tons of cargo to Great Following the service, HMCS Sackville Britain, keeping that vital lifeline open will commit the ashes of 26 veterans and the chance for victory in the war The Commonwealth Wars Memorial in to the sea. Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, also known alive. as the Sailor's Memorial. A monument to The Canadian Navy ceremony starts These ships routinely carried those thousands of Canadian seaman who at 11 a.m. at the naval monument in extremely dangerous cargo: gave their lives in both World Wars and in Point Pleasant Park, with a wreath- ammunition, oil, and other highly the Korean Conflict. The huge stone cross laying service that will include about is lit by spotlights at night; given the history flammable materials. But this did not 250 Maritime Forces Atlantic stop our merchant mariners. Nothing of Halifax and the reason for its founding, members, in addition to both military this is perhaps the most moving of the would. and merchant navy veterans. city's many monuments. Due to its They proudly braved the great odds location, it is the first and the last thing that The Stadacona band and sea cadets stacked against them. They braved any sailor now sees as they arrive at or will also participate. depart from Halifax Harbour. the elements. The ever-changing sea Later Sunday, the liberation of Holland conditions. And the constant threat of HALIFAX: Military personnel and will be celebrated at the Dutch the deadly German U-boats. civilians are coming together this cenotaph outside Pier 21, starting at And that’s one of the impressive weekend to remember lives lost during 3:30 p.m. New Democrat MP Peter things about these men and women. the Battle of the Atlantic and to mark Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) and About the national heroes with us the 65th anniversary of the battle to Leo Senz, chairman of the Dutch today. Ask them where they found the protect shipping routes between North Canadian Club of Nova Scotia, will courage to keep crossing the Atlantic America and Europe during the host the event honouring Allied forces and they will just shrug their Second World War. that helped free the Netherlands. shoulders. They will insist they were just doing their duty. Ceremonies are taking place across Sunday, May 04, 2008 the city for the 4,234 Canadian sailors, KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE Staff Reporter, The We know, however, the great price airmen and merchant mariners who Chronicle Herald they paid for serving our country. For were killed between September 1939 Section: Veterans you and me. Page 2 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 One in seven Merchant mariners It was not waged for hours, or days, or comrades. never lived to deliver their cargoes or even weeks. Instead, it spanned the We reflect upon the horrors of war, of return home to their loved ones. entire Second World War. And its end the lives destroyed, and the dreams of was as elusive as the horizon on the Of the 12,000 men and women who youth lost forever. ocean where it was fought. served in Canada’s Merchant Navy We remember, with ever-lasting during the Second World War, 1,700 Day after day, courageous Canadians gratitude, those who made the would lose their lives in the frigid, dark met the challenge of making the supreme sacrifice; those whose final waters of the Atlantic Ocean. relentless crossings of the treacherous resting places cannot be marked by North Atlantic, sailing from Canada’s In all, more than 4,600 courageous graves. East Coast to a beleaguered British service men and women from the nation, and bringing vital troops and And we are humbled by what you Merchant Navy, Royal Canadian Navy war supplies. have done for our nation. We are and Air Force died at sea during the honoured by your presence today. They were ordinary Canadians who Battle of the Atlantic. And we are forever indebted to you. did extraordinary things. Ordinary But 65 years ago this month, the tide Canadians who joined the Navy, the Lest we forget." finally turned. It was in May of 1943 Air Force, the infantry, the women’s that our defence of these convoys reserve, and the merchant marines in Sunday, May 04, 2008 provided the needed breakthrough. remarkable numbers. The Honourable Greg Thomson, Vtereran That Canadian air and naval units Affairs Canada became among the most successful in They sacrificed the comforts and Section: Veterans finding and destroying the German U- security of their homes to defend our boats. way of life. To protect our shared Veterans’ words, photos values of freedom, democracy and the Today we honour those who served in rule of law. show life on the little ships the Merchant Navy -- along with their comrades from the Norwegian And they paid a terrible price for our Merchant Navy, who found a victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. temporary home and training base in More than 4,600 courageous men and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. women lost their lives at sea. We honour all those who have served Over 1,700 -- or one in seven -- our great country, and we remember merchant mariners who set sail on the those who have made the ultimate convoys did not return. sacrifice. More than 2,000 members of the We remember the terrible cost of Royal Canadian Navy gave their lives victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. keeping the sea lanes open to supplies. We remember those who endured Canada’s longest battle of the Second The Royal Canadian Air Force lost World War, determined to defend our 900 personnel and more than 250 shared values of freedom, democracy aircraft protecting the convoys across and the rule of law. the ocean. And we will never forget what they But it was a battle that we simply Corvettes Canada: Convoy Veterans of achieved. What you achieved. On could not afford to lose. World War II Tell Their True Stories by behalf of a grateful nation. Mac Johnston (John Wiley & Sons., Here in Halifax, and at the Camp Hill hardcover, 243 pages, illustrated, $39.95) Lest we forget." Veterans Memorial Building, we are reminded at almost every turn of the "If they ask you who we are, Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony of important role that our Veterans and Remembrance. our brave service men and women We’re the RCNVR, Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building - played in the name of freedom. Roll along, Wavy Navy, roll along." Halifax, Nova Scotia May 3, 2008 Some of you who are here today know Wartime naval song. very well about this service. You know AS WE OBSERVE Battle of the "Distinguished Veterans, ladies and about the sacrifice. You know about Atlantic Sunday today, we remember gentlemen and youth delegates. the loss. Because you lived it first- those who served and those who gave hand. And you never wavered. Thank you for coming today to honour their lives in the Second World War’s and remember the sacrifices of a You struggled and suffered and longest continuous battle. Veterans brave group of men and women. prevailed in ways that still inspire us have their own stories to tell but Of all the important campaigns today. And that is what we remember. members of the younger generations Canada was part of during the Second We gather here today with admiration can have little comprehension of what World War, the Battle of the Atlantic and awe for you and your fallen it was really like to serve in warships was unlike any other. in action at sea. The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 3 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 We see films, mostly put together after equipment and supplies increased. lieutenant aboard corvettes: "Nothing the events, but it all seems remote. brings people closer together than to To meet this threat, small warships We read books, but usually they deal serve under difficult physical were designed especially for escort with the facts of strategy and policy. It conditions with apprehension, service. Such ships, writes Johnston, remains for the veterans themselves excitement and, from time to time, fear had to be "inexpensive and easily built to tell us how it was. as constant companions." by Canadian shipyards not In Corvettes Canada, Mac Johnston accustomed to naval vessels." The emotional links forged among the blends narrative with reminiscences men and with their ships could be Built they were, at an incredible rate by veterans in a way that enables strong. As Hoot Gibson, a coxswain and in many cases by men and readers without personal knowledge of aboard the Port Arthur, remarks in the women who had never imagined that the war at sea to trace its progress book: "To say goodbye to Port Arthur they would ever do such work. By the against a background of comments and to the captain I had served under end of 1941, some 69 corvettes had from the men who were there. The was very memorable. They had both been built and commissioned with latter provide a slice of life not found in taken us through bad times and many more to come. The design of the the history books. Their memories brought us home safely." corvettes went through modifications include everything from seasickness over time. A number of them were Today only one of the little ships on going to sea for the first time to the named for communities across survives and you can see her at the tension and excitement of tracking a U- Canada and usually the people in Halifax waterfront behind the Maritime boat menacing a convoy to the anger those towns would adopt "their" ship Museum of the Atlantic. The HMCS and grief of losing cherished and its crew, sending gifts, writing Sackville, a Canadian naval memorial, comrades in action. It’s all there. letters and avidly following their portions of her restored to their This is Johnston’s second edition of progress. wartime appearance, is maintained by this tribute to corvettes and their the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, "Life aboard a corvette was tough," crews, the first appearing in 1994 in HMCS Sackville. Johnston reminds recalls Doug Murch, but office hardcover and later in paperback. On readers of this and also that they can workers, farm boys and lads out of the downside for him in retelling this become personally involved in school became tough and not only story, some of the veterans whose preserving this monument by survived the harsh conditions but memories were in the first book are becoming members of the trust. ( worked with pride and a sense of gone. So were many of the photos www.canadiannavalmemorial.org.) achievement. that had been returned to their owners With the approach of the 100th and were now unavailable. On the Living conditions, especially in the anniversary celebrations in 2010 of plus side, however, Johnston was able mess deck, were far from ideal. the formation of the Royal Canadian to obtain stories from other veterans Comfort was a fond memory. So was Navy, you can expect the appearance as well as collect some 300 photos, mother’s home cooking. of more books on naval history, which some not used before, thereby Just eating could be a challenge. The is all to the good. enlarging the book and making it even photo on page 92 of HMCS Barrie in more graphic. Mac Johnston, an Ottawa resident, rough seas gives you an idea. Try has become an authority on the At the beginning of the war there was balancing your dinner in that. Consider wartime history of Canada’s armed a scramble to enlarge and equip all yourself lucky to get dinner — and to forces, and has been both editor and the forces to enable them to keep it down. general manager of the Legion participate in what was to become a While the conditions were harsh, magazine. global conflict. For the navy, this many of the veterans observe that meant the Royal Canadian Navy, the Purchase on-line from Chapters they had grown up in the Depression Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, the Indigoa and save 34% years and weren’t used to much and Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer didn’t expect much. Reserve, the "Wavy Navy," and, in Sunday, May 04, 2008 British Columbia, the Fishermen’s "We were just a bunch of guys who LORNA INNESS, The Chronicle Herald Section: Veterans Reserve. Many of the crew members had joined up to fight a war — and not on corvettes came from the RCNVR. to make a career out of it," sums up Reg Adams. Not only did personnel have to be recruited and trained, but far more They learned unfamiliar skills and than the pitifully few ships available trades, many of them of little use in were needed to meet the U-boat civilian life but vital in wartime. threat that was moving ever closer to For all the hardship, morale was high Canada’s east coast. Convoys were and the little ships and their men wrote vital to the conduct of the war if there their own glorious pages in naval was to be any hope of victory. The U- history. True, by no means only of the boats found easy hunting and the naval service, is the observation by losses in personnel and in ships with Bill Wineguard, who served as a their vital cargos of men, munitions, Page 4 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Tribute To Fallen Police Association of Ontario that represents to retired RCMP officers. Efforts, such Officers At Queen's Park the over 31,000 front-line police as petitions and appeals to MPs and personnel in the province. to the Veterans Canada ombudsman, are under way to correct the 1965 There are now 234 police officers clawback law for the military. But so listed on the Memorial Wall. An online far, the government is unresponsive, list of the names is available here, with mostly the NDP (notably Peter under Honour Roll. Stoffer, NDP MP for Nova Scotia's The Annual Memorial Service is held Sackville-Eastern Shore) interested in on the first Sunday each May. changing the law.

Monday, May 05, 2008 Retired soldiers point out that theirs is CityNews.ca Staff the only government job that requires Section: Veterans 24/7 readiness, with no overtime, yet ever-ready to risk life and injury when A solemn service Sunday honoured Retired soldiers get the shaft asked to do so. Ignored is that so police officers who had lost their lives many pay a double premium with no in the line of duty. pension benefit. Thousands of officers from across the Donnie Cappler, a retired sergeant province gathered at the Police major with 25 years service is a case Memorial across from Queen's Park to in point. He joined at age 17 and pay respects to their fallen colleagues. retired at age 42 on $1,219 a month. When he turned 60 in 2003 his Three names were added to the pension was indexed to $1,913. memorial this year. Premier Dalton McGuinty presented Ontario's "Tribute He points out that when the clawback to the Fallen" plaque to the family of occurred at age 65, his military York Regional Police Constable Rob pension was reduced, thus affecting Plunkett. the indexing which resulted in less Rarely has Canada been so attuned to income than he received before being "Today, we remember police officers the welfare and needs of serving entitled to Old Age Security (OAS). for their bravery, and their enormous military people and veterans, with Cappler says when he turned 65 (in community spirit. Their memory appreciation is expressed on every inspires us to be more courageous, February, 2008) and the CPP kicked occasion -- in words, if not deeds. in, his original pension of $1,219 was more giving, and more charitable in Certainly for those killed or wounded our own lives," said Premier McGuinty. reduced to $1,008 a month and even in their country's name. with indexing and CPP added, there Plunkett was just 43 years old when However, amid the rhetoric an was an overall drop in his income of he was killed. He had served with the injustice is being perpetrated on $340 a month. force for 22 years when an arrest went veterans in the form of a pension He points out that MPs, after six horribly wrong. A suspect accused of clawback that the federal government stealing airbags drove off, pinning years, get a fully indexed pension and refuses to correct, ignoring its own at age 65 MPs' pensions are not Const Plunkett between the car and a extravagant praise for our troops. tree. The father of three and avid clawed back. "Why is this?" he asks. volunteer died on scene. When a soldier retires after 20-plus "It seems strange that both the years of service, his pension is fixed politicians and the military work for the Two other officers were added to the until the magic number of 85 (his age same government, yet there are growing list of names. Constable plus years of service), then it is different rules when it comes to Edward McMaster, age 31, Toronto indexed, increasing every year. pensions." Police, died April 24, 1935. Highway Traffic Officer Leigh Wilkinson At age 65 the Canada Pension Plan Welcome to reality, Donnie. MPs look Metcalfe, age 26, Department of (CPP) kicks in -- and the amount paid, after themselves first. Always have, Highways Grimsby, died October 17, is deducted (clawed back) from the always will -- look at their lavish 1927. retired soldier's income. That means pension and pay raises. his military pension, to which he CAMPAIGN FOR CHANGE "They are our heroes and we shall not contributed part of his pay while in forget them. They knew the risks and uniform, is reduced by whatever his Jean Labelle is a retired Master accepted them. They gave their lives CPP is -- to which he also contributed. Warrant Officer from Nova Scotia who in order to keep our communities safe. also campaigns for change to the We would ask all Ontarians to take a In other words, he contributes to the clawback perversion. He points to a moment today to remember their CPP, but gets no benefit. Pension fund surplus that could easily sacrifice as well as those made by pay for pensions, and scolds against their families and loved ones," stated As well as the Canadian Forces the CPP mandatory deductions that Bob Baltin, the President of the Police personnel, the clawback also applies don't benefit retired soldiers. The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 5 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 "A retired Chief Warrant Officer gets sunny skies in Wascana Centre Normandy invasion. less after his pension than a trained outside HMCS Queen. "We have to "That was terrible. The slaughter -- private gets today," he says. His remind our young people of privileges there was something to behold," he appeals to Veterans Ombudsman, which they have today are because of said. "It's not a pleasant sight to see retired Col. Pat Stogran of Afghanistan those people who sacrificed their life," soldiers floating in the water with full fame, led to naught. Stogran he added. packs. They didn't even make it to responded that as a retired soldier he Participants in the hour-long ceremony shore. agreed that dumping the clawback ranged from 10-year-old sea cadets to was "a worthwhile initiative . . . (but) I "It was a terrible mess. However, it veterans who went to sea decades do not think it would be appropriate for was successful in spite of the losses," before them in what was Canada's the Office of the Veterans added Hague. After the victory in longest, consistent military Ombudsman to do so." Europe, he was getting ready to head engagement of the Second World to the Pacific when the war in Japan Hmm. Others might say it's exactly War. Canadians became principal came to an end. what the Ombudsman should do contenders as Germany took to the seas in an effort to cut Britain off from Airforce veteran Weldon Moffatt has Monday, May 05, 2008 its overseas suppliers between attended the Battle of the Atlantic PETER WORTHINGTON , Edmonton Sun September 1939 and May 1945. ceremonies for more than a decade. Section: Veterans His jacket sports a ribbon for the Convoys were organized to more battle, although his service was over effectively provide sea and air escorts the Baltic Sea. Battle Of Atlantic against the Nazi submarines. The tide Remembered turned for the Allies 65 years ago in A radio operator during the war, he 1943, although the Battle of Atlantic had hoped the training might come in continued until the end of the war. handy later in life. But Moffatt said one of the greatest lessons he learned was The memorial service paid tribute to teamwork. the Canadian naval ships, merchant ships, and RCAF squadrons. "What I got most out of my military service is the idea of teamwork, that "The human cost was great," said is, we had a team of people and they minister James Balfour, who led the depended very much on each other. service. He noted one person in every eight who served was injured or killed. "With everybody doing it right, it works A memorial ceremony was held Sunday at The navy lost 24 warships and more out, and you win," he added. than 2,000 lives, the airforce 250 the HMCS Queen Building in Wascana COURAGE AND SACRIFICE: Centre, in honour of the Canadians who aircraft and 900 lives and the Emotional tribute for Canadians who served and died in the Battle of the merchant navy saw 73 ships downed lost their lives in Battle of the Atlantic. Atlantic. Wreaths were laid, including one and more than 1,700 dead. AEDAN HELMER, SUN MEDIA at the water's edge at Wascana Lake. Harold Hague, a survivor of the They came together for the common One of the bloodiest and most confrontation, was present to lay the cause of liberation and peace -- "what enduring campaigns of World War II wreath. should be the ultimate goal of any was remembered yesterday in a generation," said Balfour. Credit: Joshua Sawka, Leader-Post solemn ceremony at the National War Memorial. Battle of Atlantic remembered Hague was about 17 years old when Barb Pacholik, Leader-Post he followed his friends into the war. "If The Battle of the Atlantic raged from you were a Canadian and young, you the opening volley of the war -- when Wascana Lake is a far cry from the joined," he said. German submarines sank SS Athenia ocean, but its peaceful waters carried off the Irish coast on Sept. 3, 1939 -- a solemn reminder Sunday to mark Hague wanted to be a fighter pilot but didn't meet the qualifications, so the until the last of the U-boats the 65th anniversary of the Battle of surrendered in May 1945. Atlantic. Prairie boy who had never been on a boat before opted for the navy. For The Royal Canadian Navy, Merchant Retired Regina businessman and war four years, he sailed the precarious Navy, Air Force and Army personnel veteran Harold Hague served on the waters of the north and south Atlantic. who gave their lives to secure sea Royal Canadian Navy's corvettes, passage to Europe were honoured minesweepers and destroyers during "I think the roughest trips were on the north sea convoys to Murmansk, yesterday for their "courage and the Second World War. On Sunday, sacrifice." he set a wreath of flowers to drift on Russia," he said, adding weather the lake in remembrance of those lost combined with a less than friendly The Navy lost more than 2,000 men in the battle. Russian ally fuelled the challenges. and 24 warships during the battle that Some of his starkest memories are lasted more than 2,000 days. More "We want their sacrifice to carry on than 900 RCAF and Army personnel and not be forgotten," Hague said in being aboard a minesweeper taking Americans into Omaha Beach for the were killed, and the Merchant Navy an interview after the service under lost more than 1,700 personnel and 70 Page 6 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 ships. with brothers in arms. "I remember as a kid I would love wearing my snorkels and flippers in REMEMBER THEM Navy vets mark war's longest battle; Former diver's gifts honour sacrifices the water, but when I saw someone "We lost a lot of good men," said in Battle of the Atlantic with real scuba equipment I would veteran James Fairnie, emotion Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles, North only hope I would get a chance to try sweeping over him. Fairnie, who Bay Nugget them out," he said. enlisted as a petty naval officer on the "I was never claustrophobic or scared HMCS Ottawa, said the ceremony His workroom looks like a medical of the water. My job as a diver was to gave him another chance to office, with tweezers, scissors and check the hulls of the ship for planted remember his fallen comrades. drills hanging from metal bars and books and detailed diagrams piled mines and search for missing people." "They will not be forgotten," said Lt.- across his desk. Cmdr. Carmen Lapointe of HMCS He was among more than 100 people, Carleton, based at Dow's Lake. His subjects aren't people, but pieces including several dignitaries and navy of wood that he transforms into large veterans, in attendance during Naval and merchant ships made Canadian replica war ships. Many of Sunday's Battle of the Atlantic 26,000 safe crossings, delivering more his greatest pieces of work are ships ceremony at the North Bay Royal than 181 million tons of supplies and from the Battle of the Atlantic and are Canadian Legion. food to battle-weary troops in on display at the Callander Royal continental Europe. Canadian Legion. The battle was the longest military engagement of the Second World "The elements were often as vicious "I want to keep the memory of that War, and lasted from September 1939 as the foe, with raging storms, pack time in history present," said George to May 1945. The Canadian navy ice, bitter cold, fog, and the dense Onley from his Callander home. fought through enemy attacks and blackness of North Atlantic nights," ocean storms protecting the supply said Lapointe to the assembly of "Since I've been 17 years old I've line between North America and Great servicemen, veterans, and attended the Battle of the Atlantic Britain. distinguished guests from the ceremonies. I've been in the North international community. Atlantic and I know what they went "This navy started with nothing, just a through. I've seen the ships they've small professional navy where 18- and Wreaths were laid at the base of the sailed on and know how tough they 19-year-old people had to become memorial by delegates from more than had to be," he said. sailors pretty fast," Onley said noting 20 countries, including the Russian the ceremony can be emotional for Federation, United Kingdom, United "It can be a bad ocean, it's very cold. I many veterans who lost "buddies" in States, France, Germany and the see the number of veterans who the sea. Netherlands. attend the ceremony every year decreasing and that's why it's up to Atlantic bravery saluted The ceremony is traditionally held on me to keep this alive." The Record the first Sunday in May, and this year coincided with the May 4 National His efforts and talents are beginning to Vice Admiral Drew Robertson stops to Remembrance Day of the be recognized by veterans across the talk with veteran Harry Kerrison, 86, Netherlands. province. (third from right) of RCAF 422 Squadron as he inspects the veteran SOLEMN REFLECTION Onley, 63, has completed more than 10 replica ships since he picked up a contingent yesterday during the "The Second World War was a fine paint brush more than 30 years commemoration of the Battle of the watershed in Dutch history, and ago. His most recent piece of work - Atlantic at the National War Memorial across the Netherlands a day of HMCS Frontenac - will be donated to in Ottawa. solemn commemoration and reflection Kingston. They were gathered to mark the 65th is observed," said Netherlands anniversary of the turning point of the Ambassador Karel de Beer at a Construction of a model of HMCS six-year battle. reception following the ceremony. North Bay is underway. The ship will be given to the city and will have a The Battle of the Atlantic began in The 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes special spot in the foyer at North Bay 1939, after a German submarine sank and Drum band joined a procession of City Hall when completed. a passenger ship near Ireland. In the Canadian honour guards as the Dutch years that followed, the Royal flag and the Maple Leaf flew side by "I do this to give them away. It's what I Canadian Navy lost more than 2,000 side under sombre grey skies. do and besides, where else would I keep them?" he asked. personnel and two dozen ships. The The Ottawa Youth Choir, in bright red merchant navy lost another 1,700 rain jackets, led a chorus of O Canada Onley, a veteran navy diver, served in sailors and more than 70 ships. About as soldiers stood at attention. the Royal Canadian Navy from 1960 900 air force and army members also to 1969. He started his career as a perished. "It was a beautiful ceremony," said shipmate, however it wasn't long Gerald Nantel, a veteran of the before he earned the title as clearance About 400 veterans, serving members Merchant Navy who drove from his diver, travelling throughout Canada of the Armed Forces, politicians and home in North Bay to stand on guard and the Arctic. diplomats were joined by about 200 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 7 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 civilians in the ceremony. including members of the merchant more than 100 veterans, loved ones marine. and military personnel aboard the Ceremony marks 65 years since the historic, blue-and-white corvette to turning point of the Battle of the Margaret Haliburton, 86, never went to remember the confrontation. Atlantic. sea, but memories of the battle are Melanie Patten, THE CANADIAN fresh in her mind. A ceremony was also held in Ottawa PRESS to mark the 65th anniversary of the The Toronto woman served in the turning point of the six-year battle - the HALIFAX - Only the sound of water Women's Royal Canadian Naval longest running of the Second World lapping against the rocks could be Service and monitored German War. heard Saturday as veterans paused at submarine radio traffic while stationed the edge of a boardwalk, tossing long- in New Brunswick. "Canadians need to remember the stemmed red roses into Halifax kind of battle that has been fought in "It was exciting, you thought you finally harbour to mark 65 years since the defence of Canadian values," Marshall have contact with the enemy, your job turning point of the Battle of the said while aboard HMCS Sackville, is paying off," she said. Atlantic. which is usually anchored in Halifax The solemn gesture capped a "It was very exciting if we could pick harbour and serves as Canada's naval ceremony attended by a couple up any signals." memorial. hundred people at a waterfront But her eyes welled up with tears "We never know when the navy will be museum to remember the thousands when her thoughts turned to those needed again in some extreme of Canadians who served in the battle, who could not attend commemorative conditions." many of whom set sail from Halifax. services. HMCS Sackville is the only remaining Commemorative services were also "It's very sad because when you think corvette among a fleet built during the planned for Sunday in cities across of the age of those boys ... when you Second World War. Canada. think of that terrible, terrible loss of life The vessels were designed using old and what could they have done, you Alex White, 84, of Regina was fresh technology, making them easy and know," she said. out of high school when he joined the quick to build almost anywhere. merchant navy. "Who knows? One of them may have They were intended to be disposable, been another Einstein for all you "It was scary," recalled White, who and most were scrapped soon after know. Such a waste of life." served as a radio officer during what the war ended. A small number were would become the longest-running Veterans Affairs Minister Greg sold to other countries. battle of the Second World War. Thompson said it's sad to see fewer "The corvette has become a kind of and fewer veterans at the ceremonies "The Canadian navy just did an icon for the Canadian Navy," said each year, but he stressed the excellent job out there as did the Marshall. merchant navy. Canada should be importance of taking the time to proud of them and I'm sure they are." remember their sacrifices. "Whether we liked it or not, this was the ship that Canada could build for "We have young men and women In 1939, a German submarine sunk a the first few years of the war." Montreal-bound passenger ship near today depending on those same Ireland, sparking a battle that would values as those previous generations The Battle of the Atlantic began in last for nearly six years. did, so we can never forget," said 1939, after a German submarine sank Thompson, who laid a wreath in a Montreal-bound passenger ship During that time, the Canadian navy memory of those who served. near Ireland. shielded merchant marine ships carrying supplies across the Atlantic "It's important for all of us to remember In the years that followed, the Royal Ocean to Europe. exactly what these people have done Canadian Navy lost more than 2,000 for us." personnel and two dozen ships, The supply ships were under constant including 10 corvettes. The merchant threat from German and Italian forces, Ceremonies across country mark Battle of North Atlantic, pay tribute to navy lost another 1,700 sailors and including infamous German U-boats. fallen. over 70 ships in the North Atlantic. May 1943 is considered the turning Melanie Patten, THE CANADIAN Some 900 air force and army point of the battle in favour of the PRESS members also perished in the struggle Allies, who had begun to receive HALIFAX - Roland Marshall, 80, stood that pitted allied supply convoys additional training, air cover, special in the sunshine on the deck of HMCS against the German submarines that intelligence and better equipment. Sackville on Sunday, looking out at stalked them. The Royal Canadian Navy helped the calm waters off Halifax from which May 1943 is considered the turning destroy 33 German U-boats and 42 he and so many other wartime sailors point of the battle, when Canadian and other enemy vessels. departed from more than six decades other allied ships began to take the ago. By the end of the battle, 24 Canadian upper hand against the U-boats. warships had been sunk and more Marshall, an ordinary seaman during Sitting in HMCS Sackville's mess than 3,000 sailors were killed, the Battle of the Atlantic, was joined by Page 8 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Sunday, Max Corkum, 88, imagine." resident who is a native of Saint John, remembered his time as a lieutenant- N.B., had a naval career that spanned "We will not forget their courageous commander during the confrontation. six years from 1940 to 1946. contributions." "The sea was rough, that's the biggest He was one of the lucky ones to 65 years later, memories linger: thing, and cold," he said following the Battle of the Atlantic, Victory at Sea escape the sea war unharmed. service, which included prayers and a marked in ceremony in Halifax The sinking of the Rajputana, which wreath-laying at sea. TOM PETERS Business resulted in the loss of 40 seamen, is "I was on a ship exactly like this one Reporter,The Chronicle Herald still vivid in his memory. much of the time. It was nice to get ON EASTER SUNDAY 1941, young "On our last and fatal run, we dropped down below because it was always naval officer Murray Knowles was off our convoy with the British navy nice and warm." jammed in a lifeboat with several of near Iceland and headed to the The ashes of 26 veterans who served his shipmates as they watched Denmark Strait to do a five-day in various operations and military helplessly while their vessel sank in patrol," the retired lieutenant- spouses were also committed to the the Denmark Strait off the coast of commander said. "We were torpedoed waters off the city's Point Pleasant Iceland. about five in the morning by a German Park during Sunday's service. The HMS Rajputana, a former submarine . . . we didn’t know was there. We had no anti-submarine Kristina Tost, 31, clutched pink flowers passenger cruise ship converted by detection gear then." she planned to throw overboard in the British to an armed merchant memory of her father, who served in cruiser, had been torpedoed by a The torpedo struck the port side and both the navy and the Canadian Coast German U-boat in the early morning of Mr. Knowles was in his bunk at the Guard before his death last May. April 13. time. He and his shipmates scrambled up through the vessel’s dark passages The Halifax woman said being aboard The Rajputana was one of the many to their action stations. the vessel and remembering her loved ships that sank during the Battle of the one alongside the veterans was Atlantic, which was commemorated "When the torpedo struck, the ship touching. during the weekend. was dead in the water, . . . so we just sat there and couldn’t do a thing," he "It's just an honour and a privilege to The 65th anniversary of the Battle of said. be here," said Tost, sitting next to her the Atlantic and the Victory at Sea was sister and her mother. marked Sunday in Halifax with a The crew was ordered to keep an eye wreath-laying ceremony at Point open for another torpedo. A second "I know that my dad would be very Pleasant Park and aboard the corvette one hit the starboard side about 25 pleased to be part of this, as well. It's HMCS Sackville, which was moored minutes after the first and the vessel very special." near the park. began to sink. In Ottawa, about 400 veterans, Active military personnel, veterans of "We were all at our boat stations, so serving members of the armed forces, the navy, air force and merchant the captain said those horrible words, politicians and diplomats were joined marine, young cadets and citizens ‘Abandon ship,’ " Mr. Knowles said. by about 200 civilians at the National attended Sunday’s events. "The ship was sinking rapidly. I was on War Memorial. Wreaths were dropped from a Sea the port side and eventually she was Under leaden skies and chilled by a King helicopter from 12 Wing down deep in the water." gusty wind, they read psalms, sang Shearwater and from the Sackville into The lifeboats were lowered and they hymns and laid wreaths as Vice- the harbour to mark the start of the got away from the sinking vessel. One Admiral Drew Robertson, the chief of ceremony. lifeboat, however, was not so maritime staff, looked on. It was followed by a flypast by an fortunate. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued Aurora aircraft from 14 Wing "When the ship went down, she was a statement praising the men and Greenwood. listing to port. One boat hit the side of women who served during the Second the ship and dumped all those in the World War, saying their sacrifices are During the battle for supremacy of the boat over into the sea. That’s when we part of a Canadian legacy. Atlantic, Canada lost 24 warships and over 60 merchant marine vessels and lost another 20 men," he recalled. "During the Battle of the Atlantic we aircraft from Coastal Air Command The lifeboats drifted for about 12 became the guardians of those in and Eastern Air Command. hours before the survivors were need, and today we continue this picked up by a British naval vessel. noble tradition," he said. A total of 4,234 Canadian sailors, airmen and members of the merchant Although the sea ordeal was over, Mr. Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who navy lost their lives. Knowles had a difficult task when he attended a church service in Pictou was sent home on 30-day survival Landing, N.S., also issued a statement During the ceremony on the Sackville, leave. He had become friends with a commemorating the fallen and the ashes of 30 veterans were young seaman, Frankie Johnson, also extolling their resolve in the face of committed to the sea. of Saint John. Their families knew "conditions that many of us can't even Mr. Knowles, a 91-year-old Halifax The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 9 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 each other. opposite sides of the Atlantic, a public he was most interested in Frank’s ceremony will be held in Berwick to family. "When the ship went down and during present the unclaimed service medals (head count), Midshipman Johnson Until that auspicious day last of Cpl. Forsdike to Florence Layton, was not on board. They knew he was November, his search had proved his recently found 94-year-old lost. That was a very upsetting thing fruitless. And when Mr. Forsdike daughter. for me. The most difficult part was discovered Florence was still alive, he when I came back to Canada on 30 "This means so much to Mom," Bert said he couldn’t believe it. He travelled days leave. I had the difficult task of Layton, Florence’s son, said from his to Nova Scotia to meet his new-found going to visit his mother and father. Berwick home. "She says it’s been a family over the holidays and they That was very difficult. He was a smart real blessing that she can celebrate applied to collect Frank’s medals from young fellow." him in such a public way." Veterans Affairs. Mr. Knowles later spent time on Florence was only two years old when "Medals should not sit in a vault and minesweepers and the corvette HMCS her father was killed in action and her not see the light of day," he said. Louisbourg. His ship was involved in mother remarried shortly after the war. On May 10, almost 92 years after preparatory work for the D-Day She only found out when she was 18 Frank Forsdike was killed on the front invasion of Normandy. that the man who raised her was not lines of Belgium, sunlight will shine on When D-Day happened, he witnessed her biological father. his medals. the event. It was quite an incredible A typographical error in the name The Royal Canadian Legion in sight, he said. Forsdike on Florence’s birth certificate Berwick will hold a formal ceremony, Monday, May 05, 2008 made tracking family history tough — where Cpl. Forsdike’s medals will be Various Sources something she and her three children officially presented to his daughter. Section: Veterans tried unsuccessfully over the years. Ian Forsdike, who is speaking at the Then last fall, while searching online event, said the most important thing is Medals finally home for information about "the mystery that Florence gets to honour her name in the family tree," Mr. Layton father. came across a website dedicated to "It is so important that Frank’s sacrifice the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. be remembered," said Mr. Forsdike. Incredibly, he found a reference to his "And this can bring closure for mother and grandmother as well as a Florence, who never knew her father." family photograph taken in 1915 — the only one known to exist. "I couldn’t Mark Iype is a freelance writer in believe my eyes," said Mr. Layton. "It Ottawa. was incredibly exciting." Monday, May 05, 2008 Three days later, he sent an e-mail to MARK IYPE, The Chronicle Herald Florence Layton and her son Bert hold the website manager with the subject Section: Veterans Mrs. Layton’s father’s wartime medals. line: distant cousin. Credit: IAN FAIRCLOUGH / Valley Bureau When Ian Forsdike, sitting at his Jerry Olinski Berwick, NS: Woman to honour father computer in Bedford, England, at ceremony. received the e-mail, he almost fell out of his chair. Every evening, as the sun sets in Ypres, Belgium, the long drawn-out "When I started reading, I became notes of two bugles signal traffic to quite emotional," Mr. Forsdike said. "It come to a stop at the Menin Gate was the end of 12 years of searching." Memorial. Mr. Forsdike created the website three The Last Post honours the 55,000 years ago to learn more about his Commonwealth soldiers killed in the great-grandfather’s brother, whose First World War whose only grave is military service had intrigued him ever We are sorry to announce the passing that of the Unknown Soldier. since he read his ancestor’s name of Jerry Olinski. For nearly 80 years, that sombre engraved on the Menin Gate Patrick Olinski has indicated that the ceremony was one of the only tributes Memorial. family would appreciate a Legion to Frank Forsdike, a corporal from the "It was a personal loss in that Service for Comrade Jerry. Those of 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles killed in moment," said Mr. Forsdike. "I have you that can make it, please muster at June 1916 at the Battle of Mount no explanation as to why that the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Sorrel in Belgium. happened." Frederick Street, Kitchener at 6:30pm, for the service at 6:45pm. But next Saturday, thanks to the timely In his search, he found other connection of long-lost cousins from Forsdikes in Canada and England, but We extend our sympathies and Page 10 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 prayers to his family. insurance agent. Government of Canada OLINSKI, JEROME JOSEPH, 1923- He became the owner and President Thanks Veterans Who Helped 2008 of Hessenaur and Shantz Insurance Liberate the Netherlands At Trinity Village Care Centre, and Real Estate, and was respected Thursday, May 1st, one month prior to locally as well as throughout Ontario. his 85th birthday. Ever loving and Jerry served the cause of Catholic dedicated husband to Patricia, through education, as a Trustee for the their 62 years of marriage. Beloved Waterloo County Separate School father of: Paul and his wife Carol, Board, for over 34 years. He was Peter, who predeceased him Feb. 4, proud to be a 4th Degree, lifetime 2008, and his wife Heather, Patrick member of the Knight’s of Columbus. and his wife Cathy, Mary-Kay Jerry was also a lifetime member of Chomitz, and her husband John, and the Twin Cities Kiwanis Club, the K-W Michael and his wife Elenoare. Naval Association, and the Serra Tulips in Major Hills Park, Ottawa. Proud grandpa to Jon and Lisa, Tyler Club. He was also the 2nd longest Credit: http://fbb75.blogspot.com/2007/05/ and Gaelen, Robin, Andrew and his serving member of the Royal tulip-festival.html Canadian Legion ( Branch 50 ), and wife Pam, Meaghan, Craig and OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - was the Master of Ceremonies at the Christina. Special “ old grandpa “ to May 5, 2008) - Canadians, including cenotaph, on Rememerance Day, for Elliot and Harrison. Loving brother of the Honourable Greg Thompson, many years. Frances Karges of Waterloo, Jim Minister of Veterans Affairs, gathered Olinski and his wife Doreen, of Always with a smile and a kind word, in Major's Hill Park today during the Bowmanville, John Olinski and his he demonstrated his supreme faith in Canadian Tulip Festival to pay tribute wife Jean, of Kitchener, and Agnes all he did. to Tettamble of St. Louis, Missouri. A Veterans who helped free the When asked near the end how things wonderful uncle to many nieces, Netherlands from enemy occupation were going, he said jokingly with a nephews and cousins. Predeceased more than 60 years ago. Minister mischievous grin: “ Fifty-Fifty “ by his mother, Ann Foran and father , Thompson and His Excellency Karel Philip Olinski. Also predeceased by We invite Jerry’s friends to visit with us de Beer, the Netherlands' twin infant sons, James and John, and at HENRY WALSER FUNERAL Ambassador to Canada, delivered a sister Pauline Neu. HOME, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener, remarks. 519-749-8467, on Monday, May 5th, His interest in hockey began as a rink "The story of Canada's friendship with from 2:00– 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 – 9:00 rat. Playing locally for the Waterloo the Netherlands has become an P.M.. Parish prayers 8:45 PM Monday Siskens Jr. B. team, then the Guelph enduring symbol of the power of evening. Biltmores Jr. A’s, and the Stratford freedom," said Minister Thompson. Kroehlers. In 1943 he played on the Funeral mass to be held at St. Anne’s "You cannot put a price on freedom, American Hockey league for the Parish, 268 East Avenue, Kitchener, any more than you can put a price on Indianapolis Capitals. During his 18 Tuesday May 6th, 11:00 A.M. Father friendship. That's why we honour and months in the Navy, he was a member Mark Sullivan officiating, and Father celebrate our Veterans today." of the football team which won the Bernie Hayes CR., concelebrating. Canadian Navy championships. The Veterans were hosted by Interment at Woodland Cemetery. Canadian Tulip Festival organizers at In 1945, he married his childhood Reception to follow at Emmanuel a luncheon on "Netherlands Day" at sweetheart, Patricia, and joined the Village (1250 Weber St. E.). the International Pavilion in Major's Hill Cornwall Flyers of the Quebec Sr. Park. Transportation for the Veterans In his memory, donations to the League. In 1947, Jerry became an and the luncheon were funded through Kitchener-Waterloo Alzheimer’s original member of the K-W Flying Veterans Affairs Canada's Community Society, The Cherry Orchard House at Dutchman Hockey Club. He joined the Engagement Partnership Fund. The Trinity Village Care Centre, or the Kitchener Police Force, in the traffic festival organization received $5,000 charity of your choice, would be most division, which ended his career as a for the event. The Canadian Tulip appreciated. player, but opened the door for him to Festival was born of a gift of 100,000 become a referee. He refereed for the The family would also like to thank the tulip bulbs from Princess Juliana of the O.H.A. league, and in 1953 the N.H.L. caring angels at Trinity Village for their Netherlands in 1945. The bulbs were offered him a contract. In 1958 he excellent care, and for loving Jerry as given as a token of appreciation for returned to the O.H.A., and also spent much as we did. the safe haven provided to the 2 yrs. in the Western Hockey League. Visit www.henrywalser.com for Jerry’s Netherlands' royal family during the In 1969, he hung up his referee’s memorial. War and for the role Canadians played uniform, and in 1980, was inducted in liberating their country. into the O.H.A. referee’s Hall Of Monday, May 05, 2008 Fame. With a growing family, Jerry Debbie Springall Ambassador de Beer also expressed Section: Births Deaths and Marriages decided to become a successful his gratitude to the Veterans. Veterans and guests enjoyed the music of the The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 11 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 KLM Harmony Band of KLM Royal their families with access to short-term Forgotten heroes of WWII; D- Dutch Airlines as well as the talent of professional counselling services. If Day Dodgers get set for final local school choirs and bands. urgent support is needed, face-to-face counselling can be arranged with a reunion The Community Engagement professional counsellor in the Partnership Fund provides funding to individual's community. The non-profit groups, education Assistance Service can be accessed institutions and other organizations 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-268- delivering remembrance activities and 7708 orTDD 1-800-567-5803. events. Administered through Veterans Affairs Canada's Canada Read how the Assistance Service Remembers program, contributions helped one Veteran start hisjourney to are made throughout the year and recovery.Monday-Help When and encompass both national and Where You Need It community-based projects. "When my tour was over, coming home turned out to be a very strange Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Veterans Affairs Canada thing. It wasn't the same. Maybe I Section: Veterans wasn't the same. I needed some time to adjust and to think things through. Most of it didn't make sense. Nobody This is Mental Health Week British Commonwealth cemetery. Today knew what I was thinking about... I the monastery has been re-built. It looks "sucked it up" and pretended things down over the new town of Cassino, the were fine. But things weren't fine." main road from Naples to Rome, and -A Canadian Forces Veteran who got thousands of war graves. help through peer support. In this cemetery lie Britons, New Credit: VAC Zealanders, Canadians, Indians and Given the complexity of today's Mental Health Week 2008 Gurkhas. Polish and German cemeteries military operations, many members of lie not far away. The Battle of Monte Service-related stress has existed for the Canadian Forces may return home Cassino was one of the toughest battles centuries. Over time, it has been with an operational stress injury such fought in Western Europe in World War II, called many things, including "shell- as post-traumatic stress disorder and and still one of the most controversial. shock" or "combat fatigue." In the depression. These injuries are every Credit: BBC past, many people struggling with bit as serious as those of a physical service-related stress did not seek nature and proper treatment is They call it the Forgotten War. help. Now, thanks to better community essential. Veterans Affairs Canada But in Orillia, Branch 34 of the Royal outreach and a broader understanding offers comprehensive support for Canadian Legion has been keeping of the condition, more supports are Canadian Forces members and the memory of the Second World available and more people are coming Veterans and their families who live War's unheralded Italian Campaign forward for help. The earlier help is with an operational stress injury as a burning brightly for 30 years. sought, the better the rate of recovery. result of service. This support includes disability benefits, early intervention While the Allies were launching the Visit this page during Mental Health and treatment, rehabilitation and on- celebrated D-Day invasion on the Week to learn more about Veterans going care. To find out more about the beaches of Normandy in June of Affairs Canada's mental health services and benefits available, 1944, British, American and Canadian services. The page will have a daily explore this section of theWeb site or forces had been fighting the Nazis in feature and include first-hand call Veterans Affairs Canada toll-free 1- Italy for almost a year. accounts of how these services are 866-522-2122. These heroic troops who put their lives helping Veterans and members of the Tuesday, May 06, 2008 on the line from Sicily to Rome were Canadian Forces members and Veterans Affairs Canada dismissively called the D-Day Dodgers theRCMP, and their families.Tuesday- Section: Veterans by Lady Astor, the first female Help in Times of Crisis member of the British parliament. "This whole journey began with a "Supposedly, they were lying around simple phone call to the Veterans in Italy, enjoying the wine and Affairs Crisis Centre, late one women," said Scott. evening..." - A Veteran who called Veterans Nothing could have been further from Affairs's Canada Assistance Service the truth, he said. The Veterans Affairs Canada "My understanding is there were more Assistance Service provides former casualties in Italy than in Northwestern Canadian Forces members, eligible Europe." RCMP members, war Veterans, and By taking it to the Germans in Italy, the Page 12 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 so-called D-Day Dodgers prevented it's great to embrace them shake their John Weir, an 88-year-old Second the Nazis from moving their forces hands and thank them for keeping our World War Spitfire pilot who helped from the Mediterranean to bolster freedom," he said. dig the tunnels for the Great Escape defences in along the English after being shot down over France. But as evident every year at Channel, says Jack Scott, an 83-year- Mr. Weir bought the airplane nearly Remembrance Day ceremonies, time old former president of the Orillia four decades before Mr. Halminen did, is thinning the ranks the Second World Legion. and gave the Chipmunk its distinctive War veterans. call sign to commemorate the years "They kept 22 divisions off the Atlantic In Orillia, there are still four veterans he spent as a prisoner of war. wall." of the Italian campaign - Russel Both men love the airplane. Mr. Despite the critical role of the bloody Hudson, Elmer Galbraith, Gus Falls Halminen babied it, waxed it and kept Italian Campaign in the ultimate defeat and Charles Worral. it in a hangar next to his house. But of the monstrous German war But with fewer than 40 people last week, he gave C-FPOW back to machine, the accomplishments and planning to attend this year, and only Mr. Weir. sacrifices there were overshadowed half of those well enough to march in by the D-Day invasion, said Scott. "I've had my sad moments about this," the parade, Scott and other committee Mr. Halminen said as he prepared to "Everything is D-Day, D-Day, members have decided this will be the fly the Chipmunk from his private field last year for the event. D-Day," he said. west of Oshawa. "But I know it's the "This is the final reunion," says legion right thing to do." In 1978, when Scott was president of member Peter Galigan, who is emcee the Orillia Legion, a group, including Mr. Halminen's destination: The for the event. several veterans who had served in Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Italy, planned an annual event to "It has to end somewhere." in Hamilton, where Mr. Weir will be honour those who fought in the able to see (and possibly fly) his Forgotten War. Tuesday, May 06, 2008 beloved Chipmunk yet again. The Barrie Examiner They named it the D-Day Dodgers Section: Veterans "I'm glad it's coming back," Mr. Weir Reunion and sent out invitations said last week. "It has a lot of across Canada and the U.S. A piece of history flies home memories." "We had veterans coming from one The return of C-FPOW is the end of Canada to the other," said culmination of a years-long Scott. institutional saga that saw the airplane donated to the museum, sold to raise Veterans also came from as far away money during a fiscal crisis, and finally as Great Britain and California. In its recovered. heyday, the D-Day Dodgers Reunion attracted more than 1,000 veterans De Havilland built the Chipmunk in and family members to Orillia. 1956, and the Royal Canadian Air Force used it for flight training. Mr. The old soldiers met buddies they Hannu Halminen prepares for takeoff at his Weir bought it in 1970 for about thought were long gone and private airstrip west of Oshawa, Ont., last $7,000, at the height of a successful exchanged stories from years gone week. Mr. Halminen bought the plane from career as a Bay Street broker. Piloting by. the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in 2004. Spitfires and Hurricanes in the RCAF Always held on the Mother's Day had given Mr. Weir an abiding love for weekend, the three-day reunion Credit: Peter Cheney for The Globe and fine flying machines, and the Mail included a variety show on Friday Chipmunk is noted for its smooth, night, a roll call of regiments, laying of A story of a classic RCAF plane, two sensitive controls - many pilots fly it wreaths at the cenotaph and parade pilots who love it and a museum that with just two fingers on the stick. back to the legion on Saturday regrets selling it. And it has a happy Mr. Weir flew the Chipmunk for years, afternoon, a Monte Carlo night that ending. often heading to the airport before evening and farewell breakfast Thousands of aircraft buzzed through dawn to enjoy the smooth, early- Sunday. the skies of Southern Ontario last morning air before the winds picked Cliff Vardy, a retired serviceman and week, but it's a safe bet that none had up. For a while, the Chipmunk was member of the colour party, has a story quite like C-FPOW, a yellow based at Buttonville airport, but Mr. attended the reunions for 21 years. De Havilland Chipmunk that flew its Weir moved it to Hamilton after way into the hearts of two pilots from Buttonville's owner lit into him for Still a child during the Second World different generations. making a high-speed, fighter-style War, Vardy, now 73, enjoyed meeting pass by the control tower. the older veterans every year at the One is Hannu Halminen, a 58-year-old reunion. flying buff who considered the Mr. Weir recalled the exchange with Chipmunk the crowning glory of his the owner: "He said: 'You can't do that "You only see them once a year, but private airplane collection. The other is at a public airport!' And I said: 'It isn't a The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 13 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 public airport. You own it.' " In the early 2000s, the museum The campaign to get C-FPOW back underwent a financial crisis, and the began about two years ago. Mr. Weir Mr. Weir's wartime experiences board decided to sell an aircraft to missed his airplane, and the museum shaped and defined him. He joined the raise money. Mr. Weir was no longer realized that it had been a mistake to service the day after war was active on the board, and was unaware let it go. "We knew it should be back declared, and became a member of of the discussions. Because the here," says museum CEO Dave 401 Squadron. He was noted for his museum had two Chipmunks, C- Rohrer. "We're glad that Hannu could unusual metabolism, which allowed FPOW was chosen to go on the block. see it our way." him to survive on very limited oxygen - Mr. Halminen got wind of the sale, and a quality that ended up saving his life. "I was mad as hell when I found out," began negotiations. He liked C-FPOW In November of 1941, when his flight Mr. Weir says. "They never should for a number of reasons. Mr. Weir's was jumped by German fighters over have sold the damned thing." wartime exploits and the airplane's France, he was forced to bail out of POW registration gave the Chipmunk Mr. Halminen flew the Chipmunk back his burning Spitfire at 26,000 feet, historical cachet. The aircraft was last week. He carefully assembled C- leaving his oxygen mask behind. Most exceptionally well maintained, and had FPOW's log books, did a preflight pilots would have passed out within the "long service" Gypsy Major inspection, then fired up the Gypsy seconds due to the thinness of the air engine, which is considered more Major one last time. After taking off at at this near-Everest altitude, but Mr. reliable than other versions. Hawke, he cruised around the field, Weir remained conscious and then dived down for a high-speed managed to deploy his parachute. In May, 2004, Mr. Halminen flew C- pass over his grass strip, in a scene FPOW from the museum to his private After landing, Mr. Weir was taken that would have been entirely familiar airfield. Mr. Halminen has owned 22 prisoner by the Germans. He had to Mr. Weir and his fellow Spitfire airplanes since he got his pilot's suffered heavy burns when his Spitfire pilots in the Second World War. Then licence in 1970. (He has nine at the was attacked - his eyes were so badly Mr. Halminen flew west along the moment, including a Waco aerobatic burned that the lids were welded shut, shore of Lake Ontario, savouring the biplane, two Piper Cubs, and a twin- leaving Mr. Weir completely blind. His Chipmunk's perfectly balanced flight engine Beechcraft Baron.) He and his eyes finally opened after an operation controls. Off his wing was his ride wife live at Hawke Field, a property by German doctors, but his vision home - a two-seat Bellanca Citabria that is nothing short of a pilot's dream: remained marginal for some time. flown by a friend. Next to their home is a 4,000-foot Mr. Weir was imprisoned at Stalag grass runway with a special drainage Forty-five minutes later, Mr. Halminen Luft 3, where he took part in the system, and an immaculate hangar made a greaser landing at Hamilton famous Great Escape (which later that is decorated with aviation airport, and taxied to the museum, a inspired a blockbuster Hollywood paintings and stocked with many of his grey building with walls that look like movie). Mr. Weir helped plan and dig favourite aircraft. the riveted metal skin of a vintage the tunnels, but didn't go on the airplane. There, he was greeted by a The Chipmunk was particularly escape because he couldn't see well phalanx of museum staff, including Mr. important to Mr. Halminen, because it enough. (Mr. Weir later escaped on a Rohrer, who heralded the return of C- completed his collection of Canadian forced march from Bremerhaven to FPOW. "It was a long time coming," Second World War era training Lubbecke by bribing a German guard.) he said. "It's great to have it here." planes. The RCAF used three key When he returned to Canada after the machines as trainers - the Chipmunk, The museum plans to reunite Mr. Weir war, Mr. Weir had an unexpected the De Havilland Tiger Moth light with his airplane in June at a gala surprise: His military pay, which had biplane, and the North American event. Mr. Weir, who has been continued through his years as a Harvard, a solid, powerful airplane undergoing medical treatments, said PoW, added up to more than $12,000, with a supercharged radial engine that he wants to see his airplane, but giving him a financial head start. makes it sound like a flying Harley wasn't sure if he felt like being the Davidson. guest of honour at the upcoming "It was a forced savings plan," he ceremony: "I'm 88," he said. "Eighty- says. Mr. Halminen already owned a Tiger eight and through the gate. When Moth and a Harvard, so getting the In the early 1970s, Mr. Weir helped you're that old, you've seen everything Chipmunk was the finishing touch. "It found the Canadian Warplane and done everything." was the ultimate," he says. "I had all Heritage Museum, which started three." As he prepared for his last flight in the operation with a single aircraft. (Since Chipmunk, Mr. Halminen was then, the museum has expanded to Mr. Halminen installed the Chipmunk philosophical about giving up his include dozens of airplanes, including in his hangar, where it joined the Tiger Chipmunk. "It was his first, and I know a Spitfire, an F-104 jet fighter and a Moth and the Harvard, completing his he loves it. I love it, too. But here, only massive Lancaster bomber.) Mr. Weir flying dream set. Mr. Halminen flew it I get to see it," he said. "I guess that's added C-FPOW to the collection regularly, wearing a blue RCAF-style selfish." because it offered the best of two flight suit and a leather helmet like the worlds - the public could see it, and he one Mr. Weir wore in combat over Classic planes could still fly it on occasion. Europe more than 60 years before. The RCAF used three primary aircraft

Page 14 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 to train pilots during the Second World on my head. Wellington, named, perhaps wistfully, War era. All are still held in high by the homesick soldiers of the New Although these secret caves were a regard by enthusiasts. Zealand Tunnelling Company. huge step up from the horror of the THE CHIPMUNK World War I trenches, this was no Angela Convers, the museum tour cushy billet either. guide, told me the Northern section Length 7.75 m (not open to the public) had been dug Wingspan 10.50 m Used briefly as an air raid shelter in by Yorkshire miners. Max. speed 222 km/h World War II, the caves were sealed Range 445 km and largely forgotten about. But now "It's funny to think that hidden 20 Ceiling 5,200 m they are a museum. metres under this little French town, THE HARVARD and completely unknown to them, you After an hour wandering around the have Glasgow, Edinburgh, Crewe and Length 8.80 m network, my clothes are damp and my London!" Wingspan 12.80 m teeth are chattering. Max. speed 290 km/h On Easter Sunday, the day before the The 24,000 soldiers who were hiding Range 1,150 km Battle of Arras, the soldiers held a here for eight days before the Battle of Ceiling 6,700 m service to pray for courage. You can Arras in 1917 must have been chilled THE TIGER MOTH still see the melted wax on the pillars to the bone before they surfaced into they used as a makeshift altar and a Length 7.30 m the daylight to fight for their lives. painting by a soldier of his comrades Wingspan 8.95 m Poignant messages at prayer. Max. speed 175 km/h Range 460 km The traces of the former occupants At 0530 the next morning they were Ceiling 4,145 m are everywhere. Graffiti on every wall marched to Exit 10 and told to climb Sources: spitcrazy.com, airliners.net, tells the tale of the frightened soldiers, the stairs to the outside world. warbirdalley.com, chiselling their initials into the chalk, At the last moment they were ordered desperate to leave some mark of their Canadian Aviation Museum (http:// to leave their great coats behind to existence. www.aviation.technomuses.ca), allow them greater freedom of Canadian Warplane Heritage I stop beside a rough love heart and movement. As the hatch lifted, the first can just make out the letters L and J thing the men would have seen was Museum (http://www.warplane.com) and I imagine how, 91 years ago, J that it was snowing. must have been nervously waiting for Tuesday, May 06, 2008 The briefest glimpse into Arras her sweetheart L to come home. The PETER CHENEY , The Globe and Mail cemetery tells the story of what Section: Veterans Battle of Arras was so bloody that it is happened to most of those soldiers. almost inevitable he did not. During the six weeks of battle, the France reveals British WWI A little further along, an artistic soldier British army alone recorded 4,000 cave camp had painted a woman's face onto the casualties per day. wall. She is ethereally beautiful and In the daylight, I remembered a prayer Madonna-like - a loved wife, an of thanksgiving carved into the chalky adored mother or perhaps just a much- wall of a tunnel by a soldier grateful needed fantasy or a lucky charm? not to be in the mud of the trenches: The tunnels are wide and tall - 12m "Thanks be to God for providing us high in some places - which allowed with this shelter from shells and the British army to create a highly bullets." sophisticated network. The tunnels gave only a temporary There was an operating theatre and a respite from the horrors of the Great Soldiers endured cold and damp before hospital with 700 beds, there were War. The second the trap doors the hell of the trenches. cook houses, post boxes for the opened, the protection abruptly ended. Credit: BBC soldiers to write their letters home and even a light railway. France has reopened a labyrinth of Tuesday, May 06, 2008 medieval quarries under the northern Throughout the 19km (12 miles) of BBC's Emma Jane Kirby Section: Veterans town of Arras which the British army interconnecting tunnels, each pillar converted into an underground was clearly marked with a number to hideout for 24,000 soldiers during help the soldiers find their way around. World War I. Eighteen metres (60ft) underground Familiar names and immediately I'm cold, slightly Each cave section was also given a unnerved by the dimness of the light name by the engineers who helped and very uncomfortable as the chalky create them. The southern part that ceilings constantly drip freezing water makes up the museum is called The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 15 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 Stephenville Legion Veteran became very active, serving on the administrative staff for its Operational to visit Beaumont Hamel executive in all capacities. Having Stress Injury Social Support program. served as service officer for six years, The program helps military personnel, I was able to visit the few WWI veterans and families affected by veterans remaining at that time. Their operational stress injuries, including stories captivated me, more so being post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety of French ancestry," he says. disorders, depression and addiction. "The pilgrimage will give me more Veterans Affairs Minister Greg knowledge of what I already learned Thompson says the stress of military bout the bravery of Newfoundlanders operations deeply affects families and in time of war." society as a whole, as it does soldiers Mr. Tetford says the trip will be a and veterans. Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial - learning experience for the students in And Defence Minister Peter MacKay France attendance, and the veterans as well. Credit: Van Felt, Flickr says family support is critical to any "From those in the past who have patients' recovery and expansion of A Stephenville resident has been gone on this journey, including myself, the support network is critical to the chosen to attend this year's annual it is very emotional," he says. welfare of military families. pilgrimage to Beaumont Hamel, "Especially when you see the area The government is ponying up an France. they were fighting in. To walk the St. additional $1 million to expand the John's Line, as it was called - that was Charles Jean, a member of Royal countrywide program to 20 "family the trench that the Newfoundlanders Canadian Legion Branch. 35 and peer-support co-ordinators." veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy, lived in and came out of prior to the will attend a memorial service battle of Beaumont Hamel, it is very, The co-ordinators help families cope recognizing Newfoundland soldiers very emotional." with operational stress injuries, military operations, physical injuries and death who gave their lives on July 1, 1916 at Mr. Jean served on 15 ships and by listening, providing information and the battle of Beaumont Hamel. frigates in his 26-year career with the connecting families. "I was very honoured by having my Navy, was a chief petty officer in the name submitted by my branch," said engineering branch and also a The program is led by professionally Mr. Jean. "It completed my dream of qualified diver. trained veterans and family members who have faced operational stress trying to find my uncle's grave at Vimi." Now a widower, he says he met his injuries first-hand and can use their wife while at the Belfast Shipyard of Four veterans, Mr. Jean included; four own experiences to help others. students chosen through the legion's Harland and Wolfe. Established in 2001, it has received poem, essay and poster contest and The couple have four children and international recognition for its government officials will spend about moved to Newfoundland where Mr. innovative approach. a week in France visiting five Jean worked as a bilingual counsellor Newfoundland war memorials. with what was known at the time as Tuesday, May 06, 2008 "They will conduct a remembrance manpower and immigration. THE CANADIAN PRESS Section: Veterans ceremony at each one, and they will He says being able to speak both of place wreaths on behalf of the veteran Canada's official languages provided population and the citizens of him with an opportunity to spend many Newfoundland and Labrador at each a Remembrance Day speaking to site," says Bill Tetford, secretary for students at the French schools on the the provincial Royal Canadian Legion. Port au Port Peninsula. "It is a fantastic experience for them ... Tuesday, May 06, 2008 the feeling you get when you walk SABRINA SKINNER, The Georgian onto the battlefield of Beaumont Section: Veterans Hamel, for example, it's something that hits right home because it Feds invest $1 million more in affected pretty well every family throughout Newfoundland and military's operational stress Labrador," he says. support Mr. Jean says his interest in Beaumont Hamel began 37 years ago when he moved to Newfoundland from New Brunswick after his retirement from the Navy. OTTAWA - The government has "When I arrived in Newfoundland, I expanded support for military families, hiring eight counsellors and some Page 16 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Canadian soldier killed on A member of Starker's family in weapons don't risk a direct foot patrol in hotly contested Calgary said Tuesday that the confrontation with the better armed soldier's father didn't want to speak and better trained Canadians. area outside Kandahar publicly, preferring all information on There have been ambushes on foot his son's death to come from the patrols, but rarely deaths. military. It's been almost 20 months since the "We have lost a fine soldier today and last time a Canadian soldier was shot our thoughts are with his family and and killed in an up-close confrontation friends," Brig,-Gen. Guy Laroche, the with insurgents, according to records commander of Canadian troops in on the National Defence website. Afghanistan, told reporters at nearby Kandahar Airfield. Sgt. Darcy Tedford and Pte. Blake Williamson, of Charles Company 1st "He died helping Afghans build a Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, better future for themselves and their were killed in an insurgent attack on children. His dedication and sacrifice Oct. 16, 2006, during a volley of rocket- will not be forgotten." propelled grenades and gunfire. They Civilian-military teams have become a had been defending a road signature part of Canada's Afghan construction project in the same mission. general area of Pashmul. Select soldiers, usually reservists, try The arid swath of farming country to build bridges of understanding west of Kandahar has been a hotly Credit: DND between an army that sometimes has contested region since Canadian trouble comprehending the needs of troops deployed in Kandahar more KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Taliban villages and local Afghans, who are than two years ago. On more than one militants chose to stand and fight suspicious of any soldiers after three occasion commanders have declared Tuesday, unleashing an ambush that decades of conflict. the area pacified, only to have killed a Canadian medic on a goodwill insurgents sneak back to plant bombs "The aim of the patrol was to show patrol in a hotly contested district west or take potshots at soldiers. of Kandahar. their presence, interact with the local population and discuss the The fact the soldiers could walk Cpl. Michael Starker, of the 15th Field development needs of the through the area and interact with the Ambulance Regiment, was community," said Laroche about locals was a hopeful sign and pronounced dead in a military hospital Tuesday's ambush. Canadian troops won't be deterred, after his Civil-Military Co-operation said LaRoche. team (CIMIC) patrol came under fire in The war has taken a harsh toll on the Pashmul region of Zhari district, these specialists, who travel village to "The intent was to exchange with the about 25 kilometres outside the city. village talking to elders and bringing population - something we could not their concerns back to local army do last year," he said. "We will A second, unidentified soldier was commanders. maintain our presence there as long wounded. He is reported to be in as we need to do so." stable condition, and well enough to Lt. Bill Turner, a reservist and mailman be able to call his family at home. from Edmonton, was killed in a Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued roadside bomb attack in April 2006. a statement Tuesday offering Starker was born and raised in One month before that, Capt. Trevor condolences to Starker's family and Calgary, where he worked as a Greene was severely injured in an axe friends. paramedic for three years, the city's attack during a community meeting in "Corporal Starker made the ultimate EMS chief told reporters late Tuesday. Shinkay, Afghanistan. sacrifice and his efforts will remain a Tom Sampson said Starker, one of The latest attack comes as NATO source of pride for all Canadians," two Calgary paramedics serving in forces throughout southern Harper said. Afghanistan, was the type of person Afghanistan are bracing for the who would always help those in need. anticipated surge in violence that Tuesday, May 06, 2008 usually accompanies the end of the Murray Brewster, THE CANADIAN PRESS Section: Afghanistan "He certainly served his duty helping poppy harvest. Calgarians here and I think he went to help there. And it's such a shame that While too soon to say whether the he should die while trying to help like ambush heralds a shift in Taliban that." tactics, it is unusual for the fact that militants had previously preferred Starker was married but had no improvised explosives, or roadside children. He becomes the 83rd soldier bombs or mortars to carry out their to die in Afghanistan since the fall of attacks. Those so-called standoff the Taliban in 2001. The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 17 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 Soldiers Send Mother's Day UK: Historians seek public Andrew Roberts, who signed the letter Messages report on World War II published in the Financial Times. forgeries Mainstream historians reject the assertion about Churchill because there is no evidence to support it, except the faked papers. Himmler was never assassinated; he committed suicide by poisoning himself with cyanide after he was captured by British forces in 1945. Roberts was joined in the letter by OTTAWA – Canadian Forces (CF) John Keegan, Antony Beevor, Niall Combat Camera will provide video Ferguson and other prominent footage of Mother’s Day messages, historians, who hoped swift action by during the week of May 7, 2008, from authorities would deter anyone else CF personnel currently deployed in from tainting the trusted archives with Afghanistan. The messages can be more forgeries. downloaded from the following site: "It's creating false memory syndromes http:// about a very important part of our www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/ national story," Roberts said. "If the common/combatcamera/news guy gets away with it, it will be a green Footage is transmitted over the light to manufacture evidence. It's Internet in MPEG 4 format and needs been done in a criminal way, and yet to be re-sized for broadcast. This is a June 24. 1952, file photo of the police don't seem very interested Directions for re-sizing are also Britain's WWII leader Winston Churchill in dealing with it." posted. The audio from these files can outside the door of 10 Downing Street, Prosecutors, who did not release the London. If the World War II files at Britain's also be used for radio. name of the suspect, said they would National Archives can't be trusted, what documents can? That is the point being not press charges because the person Wednesday, May 07, 2008 was in poor health. DND made by eight leading British historians Section: Afghanistan who signed an open letter Tuesday Since 2000, the documents had been seeking a public report on the discovery of 29 forged World War II documents placed placed surreptitiously in 12 separate surreptiously in the National Archives since files at the National Archives, which 1999. The phony documents allege, Roberts called "the bedrock" institution among other things, that British wartime for historians studying British history. leader Winston Churchill ordered the assassination of Nazi SS chief Heinrich Archive directors learned of the Himmler, as assertion rejected by suspicious documents in 2005 after mainstream historians because there is no receiving a tip from Ben Fenton, a evidence, except the faked papers, to back British journalist, and the matter was it up. turned over to Scotland Yard. Credit: AP Photo, File A police investigation followed, and LONDON -- British historians called prosecutors concluded that there was Tuesday for a public report on the sufficient evidence to press charges of inquiry into 29 forged documents forgery and criminal damage. But they found at the National Archives that decided it was "not in the public falsely accuse Winston Churchill's interest to do so" because of the government of having a secret, cordial suspect's health, the Crown relationship with Nazi SS chief Prosecution Service said in a Henrich Himmler at the height of statement Tuesday. World War II. "The reviewing lawyer carefully Eight leading historians signed an considered medical reports and all open letter urging police to take action relevant public interest factors before against the suspect who faked the reaching this decision," the statement documents, which also allege that said. Churchill ordered the assassination of Himmler to keep the discussions Much of the detective work in the case secret. was that of Fenton, a journalist with a long-standing interest in the "That's a blood libel against Churchill documents at the archives on the and totally untrue," said historian Page 18 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 outskirts of London. Tuesday with Allen's representatives. 2011. He told The Associated Press he first Sevarine Gould, a spokeswoman for Thompson will be laying the became interested in the papers after the National Archives, said security groundwork for that and for a civilian a friend recommended he look into procedures have been changed to administration at the provincial them because of the shocking prevent more fakes from being reconstruction base, which Canada allegation that Churchill ordered planted. She said she cannot operates in Kandahar City. Himmler's death. speculate on who put the phony He will be replacing Brig.-Gen. Guy documents in place or their motive. His concerns about the authenticity of Laroche, the current commander, in the documents were raised after he "I don't think we can speculate on the near future. saw unexplained pencil marks what the intention was," she said. Thompson is the former commander beneath some of the signatures. He "We've made all efforts to find out how of the 2nd Canadian Mechanized was also deeply suspicious about the it happened." Brigade at CFB Petawawa, a base use of some phrases, such as Wednesday, May 07, 2008 that has suffered a lot of casualties, "devastating repercussions," that were GREGORY KATZ, The Associated Press and he says that aspect of loss not widely used in the 1940s. Section: Miscellaneous personalizes this assignment for him. Fenton also found some titles were "You tend to know an awful lot of used incorrectly in the documents. He A new Canadian general in people that are either injured or killed," raised his concern with archive Afghanistan he said. directors, who agreed to let forensics experts study the documents. "It sharpens your focus and it makes you want to do everything you can to Two experts agreed that the mitigate all of those risks." documents were bogus, and the matter was then turned over to police, Thompson arrived at Kandahar Airfield who also concluded the papers were one day after the latest soldier was phony. killed in a shootout with the Taliban. Fenton said the archives probably Cpl. Michael Starker, a reservist and contain other forged documents from medic, was killed while on patrol with the same source, but he does not his Civil-Military Co-operation unit, believe there are large numbers of which reaches out to local Afghan Brigadier General Dennis Thompson (L) undiscovered fake papers. speaks to a Canadian officer on arrival at villages and serves as a bridge with the community. Embarrassed officials have posted 30 Kandahar airfield May 7, 2008. pages of forged documents, and some Credit: REUTERS/PETER ANDREWS Despite the killing, Laroche said of the forensics investigations, on the KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The next yesterday that Kandahar province is National Archives Web site. They commander of Canadian troops in safer than when he took over almost have also posted testimony given by Afghanistan hit the ground in 10 months ago. directors about their inquiry. Kandahar Wednesday and says he He said the area where Starker was Fenton, now media correspondent believes the mission will take on a killed on foot patrol was an area with the Financial Times, also believes different flavour during his nine month Canadians couldn't enter a year ago. a prosecution is needed in the case. tour. Thompson and his staff have spent "My concern is the poisoning of the Brig.-Gen. Dennis Thompson says nine months training for the well," he said, referring to the evolving conditions in the war-torn assignment – longer than any other credibility of the National Archives. "It's region mean there will be more of an headquarters staff. not just the Himmler thing. That's the emphasis on the civilian side of Their training has involved in-depth headline grabbing thing, but there are development and reconstruction. briefings and analysis on not only other allegations made about Britain's He says there will still be a military military matters, but development and conduct in the Second World War aspect and doesn't expect the army diplomacy, as well as the complex which are similarly based on forgeries will be adopting a defensive posture web of Afghan tribal politics. and don't have any support just because the focus is shifting. elsewhere." Last winter Chief of Defence Staff "I think there will be a change in Gen. Rick Hillier, in an interview with He reported in the Financial Times emphasis, but I'm not prepared to say The Canadian Press, described the magazine Saturday that the forged how much that will be (because) there training as giving the incoming officers documents provide part of the basis are other players here," Thompson and soldiers "a PhD in Afghan affairs." for Martin Allen's 2005 book said, referring to the Taliban. "Himmler's Secret War," which Wednesday, May 07, 2008 challenged whether Himmler The Conservative government is in the Murray Brewster, THE CANADIAN PRESS Section: Afghanistan committed suicide. process of refocusing the mission and setting down objectives to be achieved The Associated Press left messages before the military mission runs out in The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 19 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 Memorial Cup to feature host to a world-class Fireworks compete to keep it right here at Canadian Military and World Display. home.” Class Fireworks Displays The Fireworks Display will be Following the presentation, the public produced by Whysall Fireworks of is invited to view the Memorial Cup, Ariss, who recently won an meet members of the Kitchener International Fireworks Competition in Rangers Hockey Team, and enjoy a Vietnam and is also responsible for community BBQ complete with a producing the annual Canada Day Memorial Cup cake and entertainment fireworks display at the University of provided by the Twin City Waterloo. Harmonizers and Shane Guse. The Fireworks Display will begin at In the event of inclement weather, the dusk, and is open to everyone and procession will be cancelled, and the admission is free. Be sure to come rally will be moved indoors to the early and enjoy this spectacular Rotunda at Kitchener City Hall. evening. The MasterCard Memorial Cup will Time is running out to buy tickets to celebrate 90 years of major junior Arrival Parade and Ceremonies. the MasterCard Memorial Cup Community Events. With just 11 days hockey excellence in Kitchener this The Memorial Cup – to be presented before the puck-drop of the opening May. With an impressive display of to the winner of the 2008 MasterCard game at Kitchener Memorial current and historic Canadian military Memorial Cup Championship - will Auditorium (Kitchener Rangers will vehicles…along with a world class officially arrive in Kitchener on host the Quebec Major Junior Hockey fireworks display there will be Thursday May 15th. The League Champions]), General something for everyone. announcement was made this Manager John Thompson urged the morning by Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr Hockey fans will be able to get up public not to wait to purchase tickets. close and personal with such military and Steve Bienkowski, Chair of the vehicles as a 2.5-ton Gun Tractor and 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup Host “Reserved tables for the Molson a 10-ton Wrecker, as well as a Rigid Committee. Canadian Hockey Haus as well as tickets to special events such as the Hull Inflatable Boat, a state-of-the-art To celebrate the Cup’s arrival, the Rogers Blackberry CHL Awards Recruiting Trailer and an army community is invited to attend a Program and Subway Alumni Game howitzer. special ceremony planned at Civic won’t be available much longer”, says Square at Kitchener City Hall “There will be plenty to see and do at Thompson. “Because of the Kitchener beginning at 11:30 am. The Cup will the Canadian Forces exhibit”, says Rangers success this season, the be delivered to City Hall by the Captain Scott Costen, spokesman for demand for tickets has been Canadian Armed Forces in an 31 Canadian Brigade Group. “Some extremely strong to date and we Armoured Personnel Carrier as part of of our biggest and best vehicles will be anticipate 100% capacity at each of a Military Procession that will feature on display, as well as one of the our events”. army’s largest weapon systems.” approximately 100 Veterans and a Colour Guard. Legion members: Please see event The Canadian Forces Military Display posting for more information on will be located within Toyota Fan Fest The President of the Canadian participating in the parade. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Hockey League and Commissioner of (Military Road area) throughout the the Ontario Hockey League – David Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Branch - will formally present the entire Memorial Cup Championship. Section: Miscellaneous Juno The Bear – the Army’s official Memorial Cup to Kitchener Mayor Carl Mascot, will also be on hand to meet Zehr during a ceremony that will also the public and hand out souvenirs. include the Honourable Greg Latest International Thompson, Federal Minister of Afghanistan Casualty Count The Canadian Forces Military Veterans Affairs as well as Steve Display will support the Memorial Cup Bienkowski and John Thompson – the which was donated by the Ontario Chair and General Manager Hockey Association in 1919 as a respectively, of the 2008 MasterCard memorial to the Canadians who lost Memorial Cup Host Committee. their lives in World War 1. The display also honours the ongoing efforts of “It is certainly an honour for the City of Canadian servicemen and women Kitchener to welcome the Memorial throughout the world today. Cup and to host one of the nation’s Credit: iCasualties.org A Canadian Armed Forces Marching most prestigious junior hockey Band will also provide entertainment tournaments,” said Mayor Zehr. “We The image above shows the number on Saturday May 17th when take great pride in celebrating the of fatalaties reported by each of the Centennial Stadium (adjacent to to cup’s arrival and we wish the countries who have actively Kitchener Memorial Auditorium) plays Kitchener Rangers all the best as they participated in "operation Enduring Page 20 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Freedom" a.k.a. "The Afghanistan changed since wartime days when vets -- isn't impressed. He even War". The total count is 805. they roughed it. questions whether Borchert is Metis, and says in the past he has been These statistics are produced by This July, VAC is conducting what depicted as Ukrainian and even iCasualties.org. may be the last pilgrimage by veterans Spanish. to the 55th anniversary of the ending Their site reports up to date statistics of the Korean War -- a war that ended "Pipe ceremonies and such are not a for each country involved. in stalemate but which was a triumph Metis thing," says Petit, who is Metis Click on the link below to visit their for South Korea in peace. himself, was wounded in Korea and site. holds the Order of Canada for work in ONE VET EACH Saskatchewan among native and At their site, clicking on a particular In past "pilgrimages," regiments that Metis people. country will show the casualty list for fought in Korea contributed three that specific country. "Fine if First Nation vets want to do veterans each. This year they've been these ceremonies," says Petit. "But Wednesday, May 07, 2008 allocated one veteran each, which Maj. Borchert isn't a veteran of Korea, Webmaster seems unnecessarily chintzy, Section: Afghanistan even though he likes to wear a especially when this may be the last buckskin jacket and the U.S. chance for many to take part. Presidential Unit Citation awarded to 2 Why should bureaucrats, Complicating the arrangements is that Battalion PPCLI. I've told him this. I officials and other hangers- four veterans from each of three call him Grey Owl II, and have on outnumber veterans 2 to 1 Aboriginal and Metis organizations are complained to Veterans Affairs." attending (12 in all) -- some of whom on pilgrimages to Petit says most Metis are Catholics never served in Korea. This seems battlefields? and don't intrude on First Nation disproportional, especially when 40 or ceremonies. NAVA is sending four so vets will be herded by close to 100 Korean vets on the Pilgrimage, as is a staff from VAC, including an honour Metis organization and a First Nation guard, students and various others group. Not all are Korean vets. who'll get a free trip. PRINCESS PATS Apparently what is planned is a four- day "Calling Home Ceremony" for the Along with his brother, Petit joined the souls or spirits of Aboriginals who Princess Pats under age and stayed in were killed. It will be similar to the army after the Korean war. Claude ceremonies at a 2005 pilgrimage to was heavyweight boxing champ of the Vimy Ridge where retired Princess Canadian army and is an outspoken A Korean War veteran from Canada tries Pats Maj. Ed Borchert (who once ran advocate for Aboriginal causes -- to find names of his colleague-soldiers the gift shop at the regimental rarely reluctant to say what he thinks. museum in Calgary and claims to be a killed during the Korean war at a memorial His reference to Borchert as "Grey Metis) conducted ceremonies. in Seoul, 17 April 2007. Owl II" brings to mind the original Grey Credit: AFP/Getty Images At Vimy, Borchert said it was very Owl, who was born Archie Belaney in Periodically, Veterans Affair Canada emotional: "We felt loss, grief, elation, Hasting, England, but joined the (VAC), conducts pilgrimages to tears, anger, laughter and joy. The Montreal Black Watch in World War I various wartime battlefields and spirits came to us and cried to go pretending to be an Ojibwa Indian. He cemeteries where Canadians made a home." was a sniper, was wounded, and on name for themselves. discharge became a trapper in (The cycle of calling home the spirits Temagame, Ont. A naturalist, he Often, veterans who are the of dead warriors apparently takes four wrote critically acclaimed books and centrepiece of these expeditions, years of feasts, songs and dances.) toured Britain and America as an seem secondary to bureaucrats and Borchert, who retired in 1995 after 30 Indian. He died in 1938 at age 50. The officials who accompany and years service, defines the Calling North Bay Nugget exposed him as a outnumber them, sometimes two to Home Ceremony as a "vision of non-aboriginal. His life was later made one. warriors brought to veterans on the into a movie, staring Pierce Brosnan. I was invited to mark the 50th wings of a Great Eagle from the Vince Courtenay, a Korean vet and anniversary of the Korean war, and at Creator ... a cry from our ancestors for publisher of Koreavet news.com, also the time it struck me as a bit odd that the spirits of our fallen warriors to be questions a Metis staging pipe senior bureaucrats flew business returned to their ancestral ceremonies and urges VAC to class, while the outnumbered vets homelands." reconsider and send three vets from (some of them literally on their last Claude Petit, president of the National each of the regiments that fought in legs) were relegated to economy Aboriginal Veterans Association Korea. class. While some of the old soldiers (NAVA) -- the umbrella group grumbled, most felt this was just the On behalf of the VanDoos and RCR, representing all Aboriginal and Metis way things are; nothing much had Regimental Maj. E.A. Liebert of the The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 21 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 PPCLI has requested VAC to "review communities where they will place a Sackville Legion to mark plans and try to maximize participation lighted candle in a symbolic passing of anniversary of V-E Day of Korean veterans in Armistice the torch of remembrance. ceremonies." He notes these three The students will also have the regiments supplied almost half the chance to thank the veterans with a 26,000 Canadian soldiers who served handshake or a hug. in Korea, and sustained 75% of the casualties. The custom of placing a candle follows what the local school children Petit was involved in getting NAVA of Holten, The Netherlands, began vets to the Vimy Ridge pilgrimage many years ago. where Borchert conducted the "Calling Home Ceremony." More than 1,300 Canadian soldiers are buried in the Holten Canadian War Petit says: "My grandfather is buried at Cemetery and on May 4 (Holland's Vimy Ridge and I want his spirit to Remembrance Day) the local school stay where it is, among those who children place flowers on all the died there." graves. Many veterans of aboriginal blood who Any area residents who would like to served in World War I, World War II take part in tomorrow's Silent Walk will and Korea feel that in the army they Sackville resident Arthur George sits have an opportunity at 6:30 p.m. were treated fairly as equals for the astride a motorcycle in this photo dated first time in their lives. After these The procession will leave from the Mill 1942. wars, for many, it was a return to the Street Royal Canadian Legion 120 at Sackville Man Shares Wartime reserve and the prejudices of the 7 p.m. and walk to Remembrance Memories. times. Park. Afterward everyone is welcome Sackville, New Brunswick: Sixty-three to attend a reception at the legion. Today, efforts are made to encourage years after the conclusion of hostilities aboriginal recruitment, as they make Candles for those taking part in the in Europe, many branches of the excellent soldiers. Silent Walk processions are available Royal Canadian Legion will mark V-E Wednesday, May 07, 2008 at Young's Pharmacy, Bergsma's (Victory in Europe) Day with parades PETER WORTHINGTON, TORONTO SUN Decorating and at North Star Dry and public ceremonies. Section: Veterans Cleaners. Money collected will be In Sackville, members of Branch # 26 used to purchase the candles used by will parade to the cenotaph on the students and to cover the cost of Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. where a Veterans to be honoured with the buses. Candlelight Tribute brief ceremony will be held. The public For more information about the tribute is also invited to attend a reception at call Bob McNeilly of Branch 120, the Legion hall, located at 15 Lorne Georgetown, at 905-877-4991. Street, following the parade.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Just three years after the June 1919 The Independent & Free Press signing of the Treaty of Versailles Section: Veterans ending the World War I, Adolf Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist “Nazi” Party in Germany. By 1933 he had become dictator, spearheading the decision to withdraw his country from the League of Nations and secretly began laying plans for his campaign of ethnic cleansing. In Italy, Hitler’s counterpart Benito Mussolini, leader of the Fascist government, was also gaining strength 1,100 school children are expected to and power. pay tribute to local war veterans On Sept. 1, 1939 the German army tomorrow (Thursday) in Georgetown invaded Poland and three days later and Glen Williams by participating in Britain, France, Australia and New the fifth annual Candlelight Tributes Zealand declared war on Germany, procession. with Canada following suit just one Beginning at 10 a.m. in Georgetown week later. Three months later, on and 1 p.m. in Glen Williams, students December 10, the first members of the will walk in a procession accompanied Canadian military, the Canadian First by a piper to the cenotaphs in both Page 22 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Armoured Division, departed Halifax 1940. begun to move further afield in an by ship for the Salisbury plains in effort to exert his control over a When it became apparent that the England. greater number of countries, both in results from his massive air offensive Europe and on other continents. Germany, Italy and Japan (Hungary were not as devastating to the Allies would later join with them) had aligned as what he had expected they would Divisions of the German army, under themselves (the Axis powers) against be, Hitler then turned his attention to the command of General Erwin the Allies, including Britain and the the Atlantic Ocean and began to Rommel, were dispatched to North Commonwealth countries - including systematically cut off Britain’s marine Africa, supported by the Italian military Canada, as well as France and link with the rest of the world. and, after a number of aggressive Poland. This ‘Battle of the Atlantic’ lasted for conflicts, gained the surrender of the duration of the war and during numerous sections of the northern Just days before Canada declared war those years the Canadian military area of that continent. A small number on Germany, the United States played a major role in protecting of Canadian troops took part in the proclaimed its neutrality and did not civilian merchant ships by providing North Africa campaign. enter the Second World War until the convoy escort. Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour, Germany, Italy and Japan had, in in the Philippines, took place on Although the Canadian military played September 1940, signed the Tripartite December 8, 1941. Just three days a large part in most of the global (Axis) Pact and began their assault on later, on December 11, Germany assaults during World War II, none the both Allied and neutral countries. declared war on the USA. least was their contribution to the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini sent battles that raged for five years in the In April 1940, the German army troops into Egypt and in October 1940 countries across continental Europe. invaded Denmark and the British War Italian forces invaded Greece, just Office formally requested that the On August 19, 1942, Canadian weeks after Germany had entered Canadian government mobilize its soldiers took part in what would later Romania. One month later Hungary military to assist in defending Norway be recalled as one of the most and Romania joined the Axis Powers against further attacks by German disastrous wartime battles ever and the strength of the aggressors military forces. launched - the raid on Dieppe. continued to increase. Soon after, the countries of Holland In early 1942 the Nazis held most of The Allies began to send troops into and Belgium fell to Hitler’s forces (at France within its grip. Hitler’s army the countries surrounding the that time the Dutch royal family had built artillery bunkers, which Mediterranean Sea in an effort to escaped to Canada, where they were became known as the Atlantic Wall, squelch the growing presence of the to spend the remaining war years) and along the coastline of the English Axis forces. On July 9/10, 1943 the the British Expeditionary Force Channel, from France to Denmark, Allies landed on the island of Sicily experienced its miraculous escape and provided almost impenetrable and two months later entered from the beaches of Dunkirk, in protection for its stolen lands. mainland Italy, forcing the Italian and France. German forces northward. Mussolini The success of the Dieppe raid, the Hitler’s superbly trained forces were regained control of his country in Allied forces hoped, would result in the moving forward and countries around September 1943, and in October Italy destruction of port structures and the the world either lined up in support of, declared war on Germany. Two years German armies’ coastal defenses, or defense from, the German dictator. later, just two weeks prior to the end of including radar stations, fuel depots, the war, Mussolini was captured and German forces invaded the headquarters and airfields. hanged by Italian partisans. Netherlands, Belgium and Operation Jubilee, as the raid on Luxembourg in May 1940 and within a The true grit, strength and persistence Dieppe was called, was a dismal month the northern and western parts of Canadian land and air forces failure. The Canadians met with chaos of France, including Paris, had also figured prominently in the wresting of at every turn during what was planned fallen, the remainder of the country Italy from its Nazi aggressors. At its as a 12-hour attack. Soldiers operating within pro-German rule, peak strength in the Italian theatre, the disembarked on the beach at Dieppe under the leadership of Henri Petain, Canadian army had nearly 76,000 to find a concrete embankment with a with Vichy as the new capital city. troops, the total number of casualties sheer stone cliff to the side. Under a France surrendered to Germany on was 9,934, of which 2,119 were fatal; constant barrage of fire from heavy June 22. but they held on despite the constant German artillery behind the barrage of enemy artillery and soon On Aug. 10 Hitler began his attempt to beachhead, the attackers tried gained control of the country for the take Great Britain with the Battle of valiantly to scale the wall. Allies. Britain, a battle fought in the skies Most of their effort was given in vain, over that country. A number of young While the conflicts in North Africa and for of the 600 men who landed on the Canadian air force men were among Italy raged on, things were heating up beach at Dieppe, 225 were killed and the more than 1,400 Allied pilots who in Europe, in what was known as the only 60 returned safely to England. worked to repel the intense bombing Western Front. Many were taken as prisoners of war. of Britain by the powerful German One of the largest undertakings of the Luftwaffe, from July to November As the war progressed, Hitler had The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 23 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 Allied command was the Invasion of George recalled. practically liberated Holland and the Normandy. On June 6, 1944, the Dutch people thought a lot of the After the catastrophe at Dieppe the assault began with a massive Allied Canadians, they still do. But the Dutch Allies regrouped to plan another attack attack on German coastal defenses. people suffered terribly after the and conduct extensive training for a The Royal Canadian Navy provided Germans took Holland; they pretty subsequent assault on the German- some 109 ships and 10,000 sailors to near starved to death and then they held coast of northern France. the immense armada of the Allied had to hide, a lot of them, because force of 7,000 ships, lobbing “We were in Normandy, not on June 6, they (the Nazis) were sending the continuous fire on the enemy on- 1944 (the first day of the Normandy Jews to the gas chambers by then. shore. Canadian troops made their invasion) but a few days later. We We didn’t know that was happening at way to Juno Beach, supported on both really took them by surprise. The the time,” he said. sides by American and British Americans were at one beach, the The Allied forces continued its move soldiers. Canadians at another . . . we had to through France, George noted, drive the tanks off of the barges; they At the end of the massive assault, the pressing onward while pushing back were waterproof tanks,” George Canadian troops had progressed the German aggressors. recalled. further inland than the troops of any “We went through a lot of cities, Caen other Allied country, and causalities After the invasion of Normandy the was one of them but it was all blew to had been less than what had first Canadians moved on and, five weeks pieces by the time we got there. It was been projected, with 340 dead, 574 later, after many bloody battles, slow going because we had to haul wounded and 47 taken prisoner on secured Falaise and closed the the tanks you see,” he said. June 6, 1943. Falaise Gap. It was in this area that two Sackville brothers - Edwin Ronald Canada’s role in the liberation was to The success at Normandy had Bennett and Henry Harrison Bennett - take the English Channel ports such resulted in the Allies gaining a greater were killed, nine days apart, on Aug. 5 as Dieppe, Boulogne and Calais, to presence on the Western Front, as and 14, 1944. Both men are buried at clear the Scheldt region (land well as the breaching of the German a Canadian war cemetery located bordering the Scheldt River in line of resistance in the Atlantic Wall. nearby in Brenteville. northern France, western Belgium and Despite the huge military deployment the southwestern part of the So intense was the fighting that the in countries across the world, World Netherlands) so that Antwerp, in “Falaise pocket” became known as the War II was far from reaching its Belgium, could be used as a port, and great killing ground. conclusion. finally to liberate Holland and push on It was in this push for control that a into Germany. With surrender After Normandy, the Allies continued group of Canadian soldiers were imminent, Adolf Hitler committed their push inland, Canadian regiments executed on June 8 and 9 by German suicide on April 30, 1945. That was playing a large part in the offensive. A SS officer Kurt Meyer at the Abbaye followed two days later by the Canadian regiment began the march D’Ardenne, a walled collection of surrender of German troops in Italy. to Caen and in just 30 days managed medieval buildings, including an early to push the German army back from it. On May 5, 1945 the German forces gothic church, near the French village Sackville resident Arthur George was surrendered unconditionally to the of Villons-les-Buissons. A monument just one local boy who served with the Allies and May 8 was proclaimed V-E at the site now honours the 20 soldiers Canadian military forces in Europe (Victory in Europe) Day. who were executed there. during World War II. George remembered that the news of “One of the boys from Sackville A corporal with the 65th Tank Germany’s surrender travelled quickly Jeffrey Hargreaves was one of the 20 regiment, which was part of the 21st across the world, especially through who were shot by Kurt Meyer. I knew Army, George signed up in Moncton the many regiments in Europe. Jeffrey - all the Sackville boys knew and subsequently trained at Camp each other. One time when I went “We knew it right away and everybody Borden, Ont.; shortly thereafter he back (to France) to visit all those was sure happy about it. It’s hard to was shipped overseas. After spending areas, I went to his grave. He’s buried explain really. The Dutch people were more than a year of training in in the Canadian war cemetery at celebrating, everybody was England, the 65th Tank regiment was Benys-Sur-Mer,” George said. celebrating that it was finally over. I sent into active duty. know it was a great thing to see the Throughout the remaining months of “We hauled the tanks that went to the end of it . . . we were over there for 1944 and into 1945 the Allies kept Dieppe raid (August 19, 1942). The five years, that’s a long time,” he said. pressure on Hitler’s armies, and Calgary Regiment was in that and a during that time northern France, But despite the cessation of hostilities lot of those guys were taken prisoner Holland, Belgium and part of Germany in Europe, World War II was not and some of them were shot before were liberated. completely over. By early 1941, Japan they even got off the barges. I think was intent on expanding its empire somebody made an awful boo-boo on “After Normandy we went up through and had begun a sweep through the that one because the beach at Dieppe Belgium and Holland and Germany . . neighbouring country of China. While has this big stone wall and you . I was in Holland when the war ended British Prime Minister Winston couldn’t get over it if you wanted to,” on May 5 . . . the Canadians Page 24 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Churchill felt it would be impossible to Family and friends trying to Robertson-More, who was leaving a maintain the British colony of Hong cope with the death of few hours later for deployment on Kong in the event of an attack by board a U.S. Navy ship in southeast Japan, he asked Canada to provide Calgary soldier Asia. assistance. "I had a few discussions with Cpl. And so, some 2,000 Canadian Starker's wife as well as many soldiers, the Winnipeg Grenadiers, members of my unit and I think it who were at that time assigned to would have been easy to say no, this garrison duty in Jamaica, in addition to is too hard, this is too much, I'm not the Royal Rifles of Canada, another going," said Robertson-More. regiment which, to that date, had not "But that's not the way Mike was and seen active duty, and a large number so I'm going to carry on with the from New Brunswick’s North Shore mission and soldier on." Regiment, received deployment orders in early 1941. Starker is survived by his wife Nicole, his parents Gunther and Helen and Because of the extreme security risks sister Carolyn. The family issued a involved in the assignment, the troops "Cpl. Michael Starker, the 83rd Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan, began his statement late Wednesday afternoon. departed Canada without knowing final journey home with a ramp ceremony where they were being sent or the at Kandahar Airfield that no matter how "Mike loved being a paramedic with catastrophic position in which they many times it has been performed never Calgary EMS and loved being a would soon find themselves. loses its poignancy." soldier in the Canadian Forces, especially his time in the Canadian After several weeks of combat, it CALGARY - As a rule, Canadian Airborne Regiment," it read. became apparent that the Japanese soldiers tend to fall into the category of would be victorious and, on Christmas strong, silent types but tears were "He was very proud of the people that Day, 1941, Hong Kong fell to the falling freely Wednesday as friends he served with and those whom he forces of Imperial Japan. All surviving and colleagues in Calgary led." Allied defenders became prisoners of remembered Cpl. Mike Starker. "Michael died doing what he loved. In war, including a large number of Starker, 36, a Calgary reservist with his heart, he was a soldier and in his Canadians, and were to spend the 15 Field Ambulance, was once a blood, a paramedic. But soldiering remaining four tortuous years of the member of the now disbanded wasn't the only thing that Mike gave war in Japanese POW camps. During Canadian Airborne Regiment. He died his heart to. He gave his heart and that time most Canadians worked as Tuesday in southern Afghanistan soul to his wife, parents, family and slave labourers in a giant shipyard when his patrol came under fire during friends." near Tokyo. The Hong Kong veterans an ambush. returned home to Canada in October "Mike will be missed terribly by the 1945, four years after they had left While Starker's flag-draped coffin was family, friends and many people who Canada for an unknown destination. on its way back to Canada after a loved him and were fortunate enough to have known him in this life," said In an effort to finally put an end of the ramp ceremony at Kandahar Air Field, the statement. continuing aggression of Imperial his friends reflected on their loss. Japan, the United States made the "We are a regimental family and a It was Starker's second tour of decision to drop the first atomic bomb member of our family's lost," said Lt.- Afghanistan and he was eager to go on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, a Col. Roger Scott, commanding officer last February, said Col. Scott. second just days later on Nagasaki in of 15 Field Ambulance, as he choked "He had been putting his name in for August 1945. After the launch of the back tears. just about every deployment second atomic bomb, Japan opportunity that had come up in the immediately agreed to an "It's a very emotional time and I am past few years and so when the unconditional surrender and exceedingly proud of my troops right people did get chosen he was really September 2 was declared V-J now. We all got together last night. A happy to be going," he added. (Victory over Japan) Day. few tears were shed but my unit is really rallying." Starker, who started out in infantry After five years fighting in locations before becoming a medic, loved being across the globe, World War II was The Canadian and regimental flag in the Canadian Forces, said Master finally over. It is estimated that the outside the Calgary office of 15 Field Cpl. Andrew Stevens. human loss due to battle and including Ambulance were hanging at half mast. those who died from the ensuing The mood inside the building was "When we were in the field he'd starvation, accidents, and disease, is equally downcast. always bolster on the young infantry more than 70 million worldwide. "Right now it's a real kind of gut check troops saying this infantry stuff is so Wednesday, May 07, 2008 personally, seeing what can happen to easy," he smiled. "They just looked at The Sackville Tribune Post a buddy ... especially a good friend," him as if he was just another medic, Section: Veterans acknowledged Cpl. Alasdair not realizing his extensive background

The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 25 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 in the military." commemorate the Canadians involved $1.86 million. The clinic will have the in the battle. capacity to treat between 100 and 150 Although reservists receive the same clients a year. kind of training as regular forces The Community Engagement before being deployed, Col. Scott said Partnership Fund provides funding to Veterans Affairs Canada signed this it's still difficult to cope. non-profit groups, educational agreement to operate an operational institutions and other organizations stress injury clinic in partnership with "Your training can only do so much. It delivering remembrance activities and the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group. doesn't take away the emotional events. Administered through impact of losing a friend and losing a “It’s an honour and a privilege to have Veterans Affairs Canada’s Canada soldier." this opportunity to serve the mental Remembers program, contributions health needs of our Veterans,” said are made throughout the year and Wednesday, May 07, 2008 George Weber, Chief Executive encompass both national and Bill Graveland, THE CANADIAN PRESS Officer and President of the Royal Section: Afghanistan community-based projects. Ottawa Health Care Group. “These To learn more about the Community dedicated men and women have Jeunesse Maritime du Saint- Engagement Partnership Fund or to devoted their lives to our country and Laurent Receives Federal apply for funding, call 1-877-604-8489. the world. They deserve the best care Support for Commemorative and we’re tremendously excited to be Wednesday, May 07, 2008 able to deploy an outstanding clinical Event Veteran Affairs Canada team working in a new world-class Section: Veterans facility.” The Ottawa clinic will provide Government of Canada specialized mental health services to Announces New Operational Veterans, Canadian Forces members Mont-Joli, Quebec – Jeunesse Stress Injury Clinic for Ottawa and eligible RCMP members living maritime du Saint-Laurent held an with service-related operational stress event commemorating the Battle of injuries, and their families. In addition the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the Mont- to standardized assessment, Joli Regional Airport thanks to support treatment, prevention and support from the Government of Canada. services offered through the clinic, Ottawa – The Honourable Greg educational programs and individual, The Honourable Greg Thompson, Thompson, Minister of Veterans Minister of Veterans Affairs, group, and family counselling services Affairs, announced today the will be available to clients. announced a contribution to Jeunesse establishment of a specialized clinic in maritime du Saint-Laurent. Funding of Ottawa dedicated to the treatment and This clinic is part of the Joint Network up to $5,000, provided through support of service men and women for Operational Stress Injuries that Veterans Affairs Canada’s Community living with service-related operational Veterans Affairs Canada is developing Engagement Partnership Fund, stress injuries such as post-traumatic with National Defence. Together, supported the event commemorating stress disorder, anxiety, depression or Veterans Affairs Canada’s operational the Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence addiction. stress injury clinics and National that was part of the larger Second Defence’s operational trauma stress World War conflict, the Battle of the “The opening of this new clinic here in and support centres are a key element Atlantic. Ottawa is another milestone of our of mental health services for Canadian Government’s strategy to increase the Forces members and Veterans. “As we mark the 65th anniversary of number of operational stress injury the Battle of the Atlantic this month, clinics in Canada,” said Minister In 2006, Veterans Affairs Canada we remember the battles that were Thompson. “We have taken swift implemented the New Veterans fought so close to Canadian shores,” action to introduce new clinics, Charter, a suite of programs designed said Minister Thompson. “The men because our Government is to support and encourage successful and women who served during the committed to ensuring our Veterans, transition to civilian life for releasing Second World War deserve to be our Canadian Forces members and members of the Canadian Forces. An honoured and remembered for their their families get the specialized important part of the New Veterans great sacrifices and achievements on services they need.” Charter is the Mental Health Strategy behalf of Canada.” which includes the clinic network, Ste. The new Ottawa clinic is a joint In Mont-Joli, a ceremony naming the Anne’s Hospital’s National Centre for initiative funded by the Government of Operational Stress Injuries, peer fallen was followed by wreaths being Canada and operated by the Royal placed in the river. A permanent support through the Operational Ottawa Health Care Group. It is part of Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) exhibit was assembled in ten small a national network of operational communities along the St. Lawrence program, and research in the field of stress injury clinics. The Ottawa clinic mental health. to memorialize the battle. This will will cost approximately $162,000 to encourage youth, local citizens and establish and will have an annual It is anticipated that the Ottawa clinic visitors to these areas, to operating budget of approximately will be ready to open its doors to Page 26 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 clients by December of 2008. five years ago. Officials said the tally Her life has touched three centuries. includes those who served in But, when asked to offer a few words Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Rwanda,_Somalia and other recent of wisdom to mark her 109th birthday, Veteran Affairs Canada war zones, as well as some who all Gladys Powers can say is: "It's Section: Veterans fought in the Second World War and been a long time." in the Korean conflict. Born in an era when a proper lady New figures reveal scope of Thompson attributed much of the never revealed her age, Powers Afghan mission's mental toll almost threefold increase to early remains coy about the 109-year detection, something that he said has milestone, which she will reach on allowed many men and women to Saturday. remain within the military and to When asked what she'd like to receive function well. for her birthday, she says: "It's hard to "What we're attempting to do is erase say" -- then begins to reminisce about the stigma that we attach to this, and the Pekingese puppies she once the shame that's attached to it. owned. Because, you know, we'll accept a It's likely some members of the broken arm or a leg or bullets and Western Canada Pekingese Club will bombs, but somehow we fail (in the drop by Powers' room at the Valhaven mental health area), and, of course OTTAWA - At least 1,500 of the Rest Home in Abbotsford on Saturday we've masked that over the years with 20,000 men and women who have to wish her many happy returns. She shell shock or battle fatigue, using any served in the Canadian Forces in remains honourary president of the other name but mental injury." Afghanistan since 2001 have suffered group she helped to found. from service-related stress conditions, Raymond Lalonde, director of the But that's not Powers' only claim to including post traumatic stress National Centre for Operational Stress fame. The slight, smiling senior is also disorder, anxiety, depression or Injuries, said 700 Veteran Affairs Canada's oldest war veteran and the addiction, according to federal clients who served in Afghanistan world's last surviving female First government figures released have been approved for a disability World War vet. Wednesday. claim on grounds they suffer an operational stress injury, a number At age 15, Powers fibbed about her The figures were provided by the that includes about 300 who are still age and joined the Women's Auxiliary Department of National Defence as serving with the military. Air Force as a barracks waitress. Greg Thompson, the federal minister of Veteran Affairs, announced the Lalonde could not, however, say how She does not have fond memories of planned creation of a clinic in Ottawa many, if any, of those overlapped with the Great War. After 109 years, she for servicemen and women struggling the Defence Department tally of 1,500. has many better ones. with a range of "mental injuries." Ottawa Citizen Born in Lewisham, England, on May The Ottawa clinic, which is expected Thursday, May 08, 2008 10, 1899, Powers spent her pre-war to treat between 100 and 150 clients Norma Greenaway , Canwest News Service days travelling with her businessman annually after it opens at the end of Section: Afghanistan father, Frederick Charles Stokes. She the year, is one of several planned had an elder brother, Cyril, with whom across the country. she played "boys' games" and 3 centuries, 4 husbands, 109 sometimes wrestled. (When Valhaven Thompson held up the increasing years recently received a Nintendo Wii, number of current and former Powers enjoyed the boxing game servicemen and women seeking help best.) for mental stress, and the creation of the clinics as signs of a more Powers and her family lived for a time progressive attitude toward mental in Turkey and Australia before illness within the military. returning to England. Making the announcement at the While serving in the British auxiliary, Royal Ottawa Health Centre, where Powers met a Canadian soldier the clinic will be located, Thompson named Ed Luxford and crossed the said no effort should be spared to treat ocean as a war bride. The couple those who have suffered "real and moved to Calgary in 1920, but Powers tragic psychological" injuries. "There Gladys Powers of Abbotsford, the world's hated the long winters, and in 1925 are no quick fixes, no easy cures and oldest surviving female war veteran, will be they moved again, to B.C. no pill," he said. 109 on Saturday. It was not an easy trip. Credit: Jason Payne, The Province Thompson said the number of Because the couple was short of cash, veterans with operational stress Born in U.K., oldest war vet walked they walked almost 1,000 kilometres injuries has risen to 11,000 from 3,500 almost 1,000 km to B.C. The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 27 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 along the Canadian Pacific Railway military funeral. The soldier found near Falaise is to be tracks to the coast. interred in a military ceremony at the The young private died in the battle of Canadian War Cemetery in Bretteville- Powers' first job in Vancouver was at the Falaise gap in August 1944, two sur-Laize, France. The date has not the old White Lunch restaurant on months after Allied troops landed on been made public. Hastings Street. She became a the beaches of Normandy and started devoted PNE attendee, continuing to making their way south, suffering He participated in one of the turning enjoy the fair until she turned 100. heavy losses. points in the Second World War, when Allied forces worked to surround the In 1945, she won the PNE prize car, a His body was discovered in a quarry in German 7th Army and Fifth Panzer Pontiac. She sold it and bought a Haut Mesnil, 18 kilometres north of Army. Pekingese puppy from China. Falaise, in March 2005, says an official with National Defence. The Canadian and Polish troops came Powers and Luxford divorced. Powers department will not release the from the north while American troops remarried and was widowed three soldier’s name until family members came from the south and west. The times. In 1973, she met her last are consulted. tightening circle soon forced the husband, Andrew Powers. Germans into full retreat. Haut Mesnil residents who discovered She moved to Abbotsford in 1992. the body also found a badge Thursday, May 08, 2008 Described by the home's activities co- identifying the soldier as a Canadian. Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press ordinator, Debbie Block, as Since then, the department has been Section: Veterans "determined," Powers is cheerful and working to attach a name to him. active. She enjoys music. When asked “Sometimes it can go very quickly, and for her favourite tune, she struggles sometimes it can take a long time,” William and Harry raise one momentarily, then recalls with a grin, said Laurel Clegg, a casualty million pounds for wounded The Blue Danube. She also loves to identification researcher with National troops dance, but must use a walker for Defence. stability. The work is important to veterans, A musician who regularly entertains who say the retrieval and identification Valhaven residents will be playing of bodies brings closure to spouses, especially for Powers next Tuesday, kids and grandchildren. while tomorrow 109 students from “As sad as it may be, it does bring nearby Dunach Elementary will sing closure to the death of a person,” said happy birthday to her. Bob Butt, spokesman for the Royal Thursday, May 08, 2008 Canadian Legion. “There’s a proper Glenda Luymes, The Province grave with a proper headstone. He’s Section: Veterans not just another name that’s posted Comrades: The princes with, from left, somewhere.” James Bleach, Adam Ball, John Le Galloudec and Mark Ormrod There are more than 27,000 Canadian WWII soldier's body found in Credit: Daily Mail France soldiers with unknown graves around the world, according to National London (PTI): Prince William and his Defence. Discovering bodies is brother Prince Harry have raised uncommon, but not unheard of. almost one million pounds for British troops wounded in war-ravaged Iraq In 2003, workers digging a trench for a and Afghanistan. After seeing at first gas pipeline near Vimy Ridge found hand the neglected heroes' plight as the remains of two young soldiers serving Army officers, the young from the First World War. DNA taken Royals have tapped up the ultra rich in from the tooth of one of the men Britain and have raked in 850,000 allowed researchers to identify him as pounds in just 12 weeks. Pte. Herbert Peterson of Berry Creek, Alta. "The welfare of wounded troops is Canadaain Troops of Les Fusiliers Mont- close to William and Harry's hearts Royal supported by a "Sherman" tank of It took four years to identify Peterson’s because they have seen with their the Sherbrooke Fusiliers during a sniper remains. Researchers at Lakehead own eyes the guys suffering," leading hunt in Falaise, France 17th August 1944. University in Thunder Bay, Ont., British tabloid 'The Sun' quoted a Credit: Donald L Grant, National Archives worked from a list of missing soldiers. of Canada Royal source as saying. The money They narrowed the list to men who raised by the Princes will be split OTTAWA — Sixty-four years after he matched the height and age of the between the forces' charities Help For died in a bloody battle with German remains. Eventually, they matched the Heroes. It will also go towards forces in northern France, a Canadian tooth DNA with that of a nephew still improving facilities at Headley Court soldier’s body has been found, living in Alberta. rehabilitation centre for servicemen identified and is being prepared for a Page 28 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 and women in Surrey. This may save the life of A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can The sum raised by the Princes has someone is close to you. totally reverse the effects of a stroke... pushed the Help For Heroes appeal totally . He said the trick was getting a over five million pounds -- closing in stroke recognized, diagnosed, and on its six-million-pound target. Both then getting the patient medically the Princes had visited Afghanistan cared for within 3 hours, which is recently -- while Harry serve on the tough. military frontline for ten weeks, his elder brother William flew a secret RECOGNIZING A STROKE: mission into that country to meet Remember the '3' steps, STR.! troops fighting against the Taliban. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are The second-in-line to the British difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the throne last month landed a giant C-17 lack of awareness spells disaster. The Globemaster military jet at an under- stroke victim may suffer severe brain fire coalition air base in Kandahar damage when people nearby fail to where he met service personnel for recognize the symptoms. over three hours, before finally Now doctors say a bystander can returning to the United Kingdom later recognize a stroke by asking three that afternoon. simple questions: During his trip, Prince William -- S - Ask the individual to SMILE. known as Flying Officer Wales -- experienced first-hand some of the The illustration shows how a stroke can T - Ask the person to TALK and military techniques he had been occur during atrial fibrillation. If a clot SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE learning in training. He also saw how (thrombus) forms in the left atrium of the (Coherently) (e.g. It is sunny out the Royal Air Force's massive air heart, a piece of it can dislodge and travel today) to an artery in the brain, blocking blood bridge works to supply and arm 8,000 flow through the artery. The lack of blood R - Ask him or her to RAISE British troops serving in Afghanistan. flow to the portion of the brain fed by the BOTH ARMS. artery causes a stroke. Thursday, May 08, 2008 If he or she has trouble with ANY The Hindu Credit: National Heart Lung and Blood ONE of these tasks, call 911 Section: Veterans Institute, USA immediately and describe the STROKE: Remember the 1st Three symptoms to the dispatcher. Letters.... S.T.R. Another Sign of a Stroke: Stick out During a BBQ, a lady stumbled and Your Tongue took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine, they offered to call Ask the person to 'stick' out his or her paramedics, but she said she had just tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it tripped over a brick because of her goes to one side or the other, that is new shoes. also an indication of a stroke. They got her cleaned up and got her a Please pass these tips along. new plate of food. While she appeared Thursday, May 08, 2008 a bit shaken up, she went about Anon enjoying herself the rest of the Section: Seniors evening. Her husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital, at 6:00 pm she passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps she would be with us today. Some don't die, they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. If everyone can remember something as simple as the following, we could save some folks. Seriously.. EALY RESPONSE IS IMPORTANT

The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 29 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 Today, May 8th, is 'Victory in following day a high-ranking German ceremonially burned. delegation, including a senior admiral Europe Day' Elsewhere there were more riotous and a senior general, appeared at the celebrations, with men going 'absent headquarters of Field Marshal Sir without leave' (AWOL) and even some Bernard Montgomery, located near alcohol-fuelled fatalities, but these Lubeck. tended to occur further back from the Typically, Montgomery barked, 'Who front line. are these men? What do they want?' In general terms, the British army They had come to surrender the remained well disciplined. The fighting German forces in Northern Germany, might have been over, but surrounded Denmark and the Netherlands. by a near-starving civilian population Victory flags are flying high, church bells are ringing, and people are celebrating in The final document of unconditional eking a living in the ruins of Germany's the streets. It's May 7, 1945, and the Allies surrender was signed at General towns and cities, everyone could see have secured victory in Europe — 2,076 Dwight Eisenhower's headquarters in that there was still much to do. days after the start of the Second World Reims on 7 May. Prime Minister Moreover, the thought of the Far East War. Following a long series of hard-fought Winston Churchill and King George VI was in the back of many battles against Nazi aggression, the Allies wanted Monday 7 May to be VE Day, minds.'Burma Looms Ahead' get the news that German troops have but in the event, bowing to American For the Western Allies, of course, the finally conceded unconditional surrender. wishes, victory was celebrated on 8 conflict in Europe was only one half of But for many this victory is somewhat May. The USSR waited an extra day bittersweet. the world war. At that stage, the before beginning their formal atomic bomb was a secret known to a While the official announcement won't celebrations.'I've survived' come until tomorrow, Canadians across very few, and the end of the war with the country are celebrating this as a time of The fighting, killing and dying went on Japan seemed a very long way off. up to the very last minute, and even remembrance and victory while keeping Many soldiers, sailors and airmen in their resolve focused on the war still being continued into the immediate period of the European theatre anticipated fought in the Pacific. supposed peace. A German U-Boat being sent to fight the Japanese in the sank two merchant ships on 7 May off The end of the war in Europe was Far East. The men of the British the Scottish coast, and some met with a mixture of euphoria, Liberation Army serving in Germany Germans continued to fight against sombre reflection and, in some cases, interpreted the initials 'BLA' as the Red Army for several days after indifference. Gary Sheffield examines meaning 'Burma Looms Ahead'. how the defeat of Hitler's Germany VE Day. was greeted in Britain and around the Not surprisingly, for some troops in A common reaction to the news of world.Unconditional surrender action in Burma, or sailors of the peace among soldiers in Europe was British Pacific Fleet fighting alongside Tuesday 8 May 1945 was 'Victory in 'I've survived'. Stuart Hills, a British the US Navy, the news of victory in Europe' (VE) Day, and it marked the officer with an armoured regiment, Europe seemed somehow unreal. As formal end of Hitler's war. With it came finished the war deep in Germany. On if to rub home the fact that there was the end of six years of misery, hearing the news he felt immediate still a war to be fought, the aircraft suffering, courage and endurance exhilaration and marked the occasion carrier HMS Victorious was hit by a across the world. with some 'liberated' champagne. But Japanese kamikaze suicide plane then 'reaction set in' as he thought of Individuals reacted in very different on the day after VE Day. ways to the end of the nightmare: his friends who had been killed, and some celebrated by partying; others he no longer felt like celebrating. '... for some troops ... the news of victory in Europe seemed somehow spent the day in quiet reflection; and A Scottish battalion let off some flares unreal.' there were those too busy carrying out when the news came through. Later tasks to do either. Ultimately nothing on rum was issued and one platoon For Far Eastern troops out of the line, would be quite the same again. held a sing-song. Otherwise, VE Day there was an opportunity to celebrate '... it was clear - since at least the passed without much incident. For this in various ways. Some got hold of beginning of 1945 - that the end of unit, still in close proximity to German alcohol, while the Women's Auxiliary World War Two was in sight ...' forces that refused to believe the war Service (Burma), attached to 26th was over, it was business as usual. Indian Division, supplied mugs of tea The end of the World War One on 11 to a race-meeting held on a beach. A '... swastikas were ceremonially November 1918 had come as a shock surprising number of soldiers who burned.' to many soldiers and civilians because served in Burma do not even mention the collapse of the German army had The 8th Hussars (part of 7th Armoured VE Day in their memoirs and diaries. been so sudden. By contrast, it was Division), also known as the 'Desert One group in the Far East who did clear - since at least the beginning of Rats', celebrated VE Day in northern hear about the news from Europe 1945 - that the end of the World War Germany with a church parade were prisoners of war from Britain and Two was in sight following a series of followed by rum punch drunk beside other parts of the Empire, still held in capitulations. The German forces in bonfires on which swastikas were Italy surrendered on 2 May. On the terrible conditions in Changi Jail, Page 30 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Singapore, who picked up Churchill's Jersey leading the crowds in St Helier 'The war had been won, but the peace victory broadcast on clandestine in a rendition of the National Anthem, did not promise to be easy.' radios.VE Day and the which the Germans had banned for The tension that had been there for six Commonwealth the duration of the war.War-weary Britain long years was suddenly relaxed. In Australia, the war with Japan was Some found that they had lost a sense quite literally nearer to home, and In much of Britain, VE Day was of purpose in their lives, a feeling Sydney Morning Herald posed the marked by street parties. The people exacerbated by the austerity to come. question, 'Since when has it been of Britain badly needed to let their hair The war had been won, but the peace customary to celebrate victory halfway down. The country was war-weary by did not promise to be easy. through a contest?' Subsequent VE May 1945. There had been years of Days were often quiet affairs in austerity and rationing: five inches of If VE Day drew a line under the past, Australian towns and cities. water to a bath, few eggs, no bananas the defeat of Churchill in the July 1945 and the motto 'make do and mend'. General Election signalled a new In New Zealand, victory was beginning. On 15 August, victory in celebrated on 9 May in an orderly Half a million homes had been Japan read the last rites of the Second fashion - the government having made destroyed, and many millions of lives World War. Compared to VE Day, it detailed plans months in advance - disrupted. Although the casualty lists was a subdued affair. Britain had and the population quietly obeyed from the battlefields were lower than in already begun to move on.Related instructions. World War One, they were still terrible. LinksArticles World War Two: How the Allies Won War Diary of Nella 'Since when has it been customary to When in 1944 the primitive V1 Last: Part One Killing Hitler celebrate victory halfway through a 'doodlebug' missiles and V2 ballistic Churchill and the Holocaust Why contest?' missiles began to rain down on south- Churchill Lost in 1945 European east England, the morale of civilians This was in stark contrast to VE Day in Refugee Movements After World War who had already endured the Blitz of the Canadian city of Halifax, where Two Making Justice at Nuremberg, 1940-1 took a knock. bars were unwisely closed, leading to 1945 - 1946 The Peacetime the widespread looting of alcohol by '... the evil-doers lay prostrate before Conscripts: National Service in the servicemen, inevitably followed by us ... Advance Britannia.' Post-war Years Multimedia Zone riotous behaviour and the destruction Operation Overlord SOE Quiz: People were already on the streets of property. Destination D-Day D-Day Veterans celebrating on 7 May, and huge audio World War Two MoviesHistoric Of course, other Canadians crowds gathered in London on the Figures Winston Churchill Adolf Hitler celebrated more decorously. The following day. At 3.00pm Churchill Franklin Roosevelt Timelines World author's father-in-law, undergoing made a radio broadcast. In Trafalgar War Two Timeline BBC Links On This flying training in Canada, spent VE Square, an eye-witness noted, '...there Day: WW2 BBC Religion and Ethics: Day in Moncton, New Brunswick, was an extraordinary hush over the Remembrance External Web Links joining local civilians in driving their assembled multitude', as Churchill's Commonwealth War Graves trucks around the town in celebration. voice was relayed over loudspeakers: Commission Imperial War Museum '... the evil-doers lay prostrate before Many sailors of the Royal Navy British War Memorial Project us ... Advance Britannia.' discovered the news of VE Day Thursday, May 08, 2008 through their ships' 'sparks' (radio The King and Queen appeared eight Dr Gary Sheffield, For the BBC operator) as they picked up BBC times on the balcony of Buckingham Section: Veterans broadcasts. Many ships' captains Palace, while the two princesses - celebrated the occasion by 'splicing Margaret and Elizabeth (the present the mainbrace' - a euphemism for Queen) - mingled with the crowds. issuing a rum ration. Churchill gave an impromptu speech on the balcony of the Ministry of For some, this was a pleasant Health, telling the crowds, 'This is your interlude in what was otherwise a victory.'Moving on normal working day. A force of British and Canadian ships spent VE Day All over the country people held fancy sailing to Jersey and Guernsey, dress parades for children, got drunk, occupied since 1940. made a din, sang and danced in the streets, and went to church to give Although in his victory broadcast thanks to God for victory. Churchill had announced that, 'our dear Channel Islands are also to be For all too many people, mourning a freed today', it was unclear whether loved one killed in service or in a the defenders intended to fight or German air raid, the moment of victory surrender. was bittersweet. For others, after the parties were over, there was a sense In the event the liberation was of anti-climax. achieved peacefully, with the Bailiff of

The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 31 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 Legion president The park and Cenotaph have become charged with urinating in a public disappointed after 17-year-old a part of PCVS for many students, place after an investigation, police Koller said, and she and her friends said. boy urinates on Cenotaph spend most of their lunch hour sitting Sgt. Walter DiClemente said the boy outside on the Cenotaph steps in received a $65 fine. Confederation Square. He has the option of paying the fine, "He should at least help clean it up," going to court and pleading guilty with Reid, 17, said. an explanation or pleading not guilty, Grade 11 student Cassidy Gregory DiClemente said. said he and his friends spend a lot of Police originally reported the boy's time sitting around the Cenotaph. name was protected under the Youth Urinating on it, Gregory said, is Criminal Justice Act. "absolutely disgusting." However, The Examiner pointed out "He should get fined more," Gregory the boy was charged with a municipal said. bylaw infraction, which falls under the Provincial Offences Act. Charlie Pilgrim, 17, said the Cenotaph deserves more respect. Under the Provincial Offences Act, only the identities of youths aged 12 to "They should get him to do some 16 are protected. community service, make him work on (the Cenotaph)," Pilgrim said. "He DiClemente said he would have to President Ken Demille of the Royal should have to work at the Legion." contact Chief Terry McLaren or Canadian Legion Branch 52 is upset that a Deputy Chief Ken Jackman to clear 17-year-old would urinate on the Cenotaph Cleaning the Cenotaph is a the release of the boy's name. at Confederation Square opposite City Hall punishment that fits the crime, said 15- on George Street. year-old Dylan Eadie. Both were out of town yesterday, he Credit: Clifford Skarstedt, Examiner later said. "A couple of hundred bottles of Many city residents from the mayor to toothpaste, a toothbrush and you have DiClemente did not say why he had to PCVS students are disappointed and a shiny new Cenotaph," Eadie said. contact the chief or deputy chief for angry a 17-year-old urinated on the permission to release the name, but Demille said most youths who hang Cenotaph. did say police don't usually release the out at the Cenotaph treat the names of those charged with Mayor Paul Ayotte said the boy should monument with respect. be responsible for cleaning the municipal bylaw infractions. Cenotaph. About two weeks ago he said he was driving south on George Street when Thursday, May 08, 2008 "This should upset anyone," Ayotte he saw a group of youths SARAH DEETH/Examiner Police Writer Section: RCL said. "I think he got off lightly with a skateboarding on the Cenotaph. $65 fine." Dressed in his Legion jacket, Demille Police, he said, should be said, he parked his car, approached May 8 triggers mixed commended for investigating the the group and asked them to stop emotions for Max Eisen incident. after explaining what the Cenotaph Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 means to the community. president Ken Demille said the boy's "They were very respectful and act was "quite disappointing." apologized, and said it wouldn't "This young person doesn't have any happen again," he said. respect for veterans," Demille said. City police won't tell public name of "The Cenotaph is for veterans. boy who got ticket "We don't mind kids sitting on the City police refused to tell the public steps and appreciating the monument. Wednesday the name of a 17-year-old But don't abuse it." charged with urinating on the PCVS students Alexandra Koller and Cenotaph. Max Eisen and Cyndy Rosenthal at the Meghan Reid said the act was City police said they received a Nathan Rappaport Memorial to Heroes of disrespectful. complaint Tuesday after someone the Warsaw Ghetto in Warsaw, Poland. Koller, 17, suggested the boy should spotted a boy urinating on the It is a day of sorrow: On this date 63 be banned from the park. Cenotaph in Confederation Square years ago, Max Eisen, his parents, Monday. three younger siblings, grandparents, "He shouldn't be allowed back here if aunt and uncle were herded like cattle he's going to disrespect it," Koller said. A 17-year-old Brock Street boy was Page 32 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 in railcars from their home in what was has gone up the chimney.' That was Remembering the end of the then eastern Hungary to Auschwitz. the only way out." war in Europe Except for Eisen, the rest of the family Subsisting on about 300 calories a perished in the camp. day, a skeletal Eisen toiled in labour It is also a day of celebration: Eisen, a gangs, cleaning swamps and lining Toronto resident, is in Israel to mark them with lime, among other duties. that country's 60th anniversary as a nation today. "There was a roaring hunger in your belly every minute. This was another "It's a very emotional anniversary for world that no one can imagine unless me – both good and bad. Going there you lived it. Their aim was to grind us (Auschwitz) was a painful thing, but away body and soul. But I had a Israel's independence is a wonderful tremendous will to go on. I didn't want thing. When I was a prisoner in the to wind up in the gas chamber." camp, I would have never have dreamt this would become a reality," By the time Eisen was liberated eight Sixty-three years after Germany's says Eisen, 79, by phone from Israel. months later, his extended family of 70 unconditional surrender to end the people was nearly decimated. Only he Second World War in Europe, veteran He is among 46 people from Toronto and two cousins made it out of the Ivan Morphy still remembers the who participated last week in a March camps. After living in an orphanage for celebration in the streets when the of the Living in Poland. three years, sponsored by a rabbi, news broke. "Everyone was so happy About 8,000 people, including 800 Eisen eventually made his way to the war was over," he said Thursday from Canada, took part, walking three Toronto in 1949, where he married, after participating in Royal Canadian kilometres between Auschwitz and had children and ran a successful Legion Branch 72's annual VE Day Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi manufacturing business before retiring ceremony. "That was a long time ago, concentration camps. in 1991 to become a volunteer but today brings back a lot of Holocaust educator. memories." Cindy Rosenthal, whose parents are survivors of the camps, is also part of Rosenthal's parents also survived the He and fellow Second World War the Toronto contingent, organized by camps. They met and married in veteran Jim Cooper laid a wreath at United Jewish Appeal of Greater Germany after the war before coming the base of Pembroke's cenotaph Toronto. to Canada in 1947 yesterday as the branch marked the anniversary of the Victory in Europe "My whole life I grew up with stories of Both Rosenthal and Eisen attended with a brief but important ceremony. the Holocaust and to actually walk the ceremonies marking the Day of same soil is so powerful and moving. I Remembrance earlier this week for At the conclusion of the ceremony, can't believe a human being can do to 22,000 soldiers who have died fighting two members of the Navy and military this to another human being. It's mind- for Israel since independence, ahead Padre Captain Philippe Boudreau boggling. I don't think you ever of today's celebrations. shook hands with Mr. Morphy and Mr. overcome something like that," says Cooper, saying a simple thank you. "This is something special. Even in the Rosenthal, 52. concentration camps the prisoners "It meant a lot for us to be a part of Growing up with that heavy legacy said, we want to one day see Israel," this," the padre said. "We are in the made her more sensitive, she adds. says Rosenthal. "We've fought hard to regular forces so we know what they keep it. You're not afraid to be Jewish went through. It was important to "You never wanted to do anything here. You're not looking over your thank them for sure." more to upset your parents because shoulder. There is a level of comfort." they had already suffered so much in Unaware of the VE Day ceremony, the their lives." please keep this: As for being in Israel three men were driving by the on this momentous day, she adds, "It's cenotaph when they noticed the When Eisen entered Auschwitz- like coming home. There's not a hotel Legion members and decided to stop Birkenau in 1944 at age 15, he was room to be had in the whole country. and take part in the parade. immediately sent to the labour section There's an excitement in the air. It's a of the camp along with his father and "We are grateful it worked out," Capt. beautiful feeling." uncle, who were subsequently Boudreau said. subjected to medical experiments and Thursday, May 08, 2008 As a wireless and line signal operator slain. Prithi Yelaja , Thw Star with 2 Field Artillery Regiment, Mr. Section: Veterans With the flick of an SS officer's wrist, Morphy was in Holland on May 5, the rest of his family was marked for 1945 when the war ended. Three days termination and marched directly to later, he moved into the occupied part the ovens. of the country. When Eisen asked a guard the next Over the years, he has returned to day when he would see his family, the Holland five times, including his last man laughed. "He said, `Your family visit in 2005 for the 60th anniversary The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 33 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 of VE Day. The province's elderly nursing home When should parents patients are not reaping the benefits of Serving Canada in the war was a duty (SENIORS) stop driving? increased funding, says Mehra. that soldiers took very seriously. "We're saying you need to attach "I never thought of being thanked," Mr. strings to that money to ensure it Morphy said. "It was something we actually goes to improving care. needed to do." "Because the record to date is that Padre Rick Metcalfe encouraged money can be poured into the sector, those gathered at the cenotaph to but that care levels are not celebrate the end of the war, but increasing," said Mehra. grieve the lives that were lost. Health Minister George Smitherman "We remember those who died so we defended his government's record, might have freedom," he said. "We saying an initial boost to funding in also pray for those in Afghanistan and 2004 added 4,900 long-term care Don Bellamy, 81,leaving a recent two-day for the families who have lost loved workers. Another large investment will forum on Aging Driver Mobility in Toronto ones." on May 8, 2008, says driving lets seniors soon add 2,000 more workers to the keep their freedom and independence. [email protected] sector, he said, likely leading to Credit: CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO additional hours of patient care. STAR Thursday, May 08, 2008 TINA PEPLINSKIE, The Daily Observer "Everybody agrees that when it relates Health-care providers, insurers say Section: Veterans to long-term care there needs to be province must find better ways to test more investment and more people elderly drivers. working in those environments," he It's the difficult conversation more Seniors' care seen stagnating said. in homes Ontario families will be having in the The OHC and provincial New next 20 years: When should mom or Democrats, who echoed the group's dad hang up the car keys? concerns in the legislature, called on With Ontario's senior citizen the government to raise the patient population set to more than double care standard to 3.25 hours. and people, age 80 and older, tripling, Smitherman said he hopes to achieve the insurance industry, health-care that level by the end of his providers and police are warning that government's second mandate in the province has to find better ways of 2011. assessing when the elderly are no Meanwhile, Smitherman declined to longer fit to drive. say whether he was disturbed by two And when that time comes, they need recent deaths at a Toronto nursing supports and transportation home. TORONTO - The quality of care in alternatives so they can remain mobile Ontario's long-term care facilities is Wally Baker died on April 30, four and independent, according to the not getting better despite increased hours after reportedly being dropped seniors and experts at a two-day government funding, critics said from an automated lift, a device used forum on Aging Driver Mobility. to transfer patients from bed to chair, Thursday as the province learned of a Canadians between 55 and 70 at the Leisureworld Caregiving Centre, second suspicious death in as many actually have the lowest car collision a private home in the city's east end. A weeks at one Toronto seniors' home. rate of any age group. But those 65 spokesman for the Leisureworld chain, and older have the second-highest "I don't know if the government knows which runs 26 facilities in the province, proportion of road deaths, at 16 per where the money is going," said said the fall was due to a cent, in part because they tend to be Natalie Mehra, director of the Ontario malfunctioning lift and not human frailer. Health Coalition, a labour-centred error. advocacy group. The OHC on Once people reach 75 they tend to Florence Coxon, 87, died several days Thursday released a 28-page have more medical conditions, such earlier at the same facility after document showing seniors care as dementia or loss of mobility, that reportedly choking on the restraining peaked in 2006 and has since affect their driving, said Mark belt strapped to her wheelchair. Police stagnated, staying at approximately Yakabuski, president of the Insurance and the Ministry of Health are 2.85 hours per patient per day. Bureau of Canada, which organized investigating the incident. The group estimates the Liberal the conference. Ottawa Citizen government has invested about $370 "What about all those families that are million -- just under half the total driving all their grandmothers and increase since being elected in 2003 -- Friday, May 09, 2008 Lee Greenberg, Canwest News Service uncles to their medical appointments? in long-term care since 2005. Section: Seniors They're doing a great service to Page 34 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending May 10, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 society. I think we've got to look at (restrictive licensing) doesn't make a moved to the United States, where he providing both social supports for measurable difference. But, he added, was eventually naturalized as a U.S. those families and maybe even some "that doesn't mean we can't continue citizen. At the time, the U.S. did not tax supports because they are taking to assess that evidence." allow "dual citizens" and he had to on a load that is going to be very renounce his Canadian status. SENIORS' RANKS GROWING important in the years ahead." FAST Last month, Veteran Affairs Minister Ontario requires a written test every 4.2 million Seniors in Canada in 2005 Greg Thompson visited Babcock near two years once a driver turns 80 – his home in Spokane, Wash., to which Transportation Minister Jim 9.8 million Seniors expected in present him with a Minister's Bradley called the most rigorous such Canada in 2036 Commendation - a special award rule in the country. 59% Emergency room visits by recognizing the sacrifice and achievements of veterans and But Yakabuski said it's not an accurate seniors prompted by slips and falls commendable service to the veteran determination. "Let's have a licensing 6% Emergency room visits by seniors community. system, let's have a testing system prompted by car collisions that identifies medical conditions – not During the minister's visit, Babcock age, but medical conditions – when 16% Percentage of road deaths told Thompson that he would like to be they begin to emerge," he said. "Let's involving seniors a bona fide Canadian citizen once decide what kind of restrictions should 24.7% Percentage of road deaths more. Thompson suggested he write be placed on someone's driving involving those 15 to 24 Prime Minister Stephen Harper a note. privileges. Should they not drive at At the suggestion, Babcock's eyes "lit night? Maybe they should avoid 400- Insurance Bureau of Canada up," and he "grabbed a sheet of paper series highways. These would make and penned the note right away," said our roads safer but make sure people Friday, May 09, 2008 Thompson. have the mobility they need for basic Tess Kalinowski , The Star Section: Seniors "It was certainly something he was social outings. thinking about, that had been weighing "We know that older people are First World War vet regains on his mind," said Thompson of the happier, live longer and contribute soldier. "I think (Babcock) was thinking more to society when they still have Canadian citizenship that it would be nice to leave this world some mobility," said Yakabuski. the way he entered it." Experts say the elderly self-regulate The veteran, who served in 1917 in their driving when they feel their the Boys Battalion, a reserve brigade, abilities slipping. kept his note to the prime minister short and simple: Rita Witkin, 83, of Toronto, says she recognized it was time to put highway "Dear PM," he wrote. "Could I have driving behind her about 12 years ago, my Canadian citizenship restored? I when she moved here from South would appreciate your help. Thank Africa. The traffic simply moved too you, John Babcock." quickly, she said. After that, the Conservative MP So in Toronto, she takes transit and Canada's last known World War I veteran delivered the letter to Harper relies on others for rides. In Florida, John Babcock (R) toasts to his health with personally during a cabinet meeting, where she spends a couple of months Greg Thompson, Canada's Minister of he said. According to Thompson, the a year, she avoids the highway but Veterans Affairs, after receiving the prime minister was "really taken" with drives locally. Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation it and acted on the request right away. in Spokane, Washington, April 19, 2008. "I drive to the clubhouse. I drive to the Credit: Reuters "I think everyone really focused on the library. I do not think I'm competent to fact that there was some level of take on a highway where there are six OTTAWA - It all started with a hand- urgency, given (Babcock's) age, and lanes," she said. written note to the prime minister, wanted to get it done as quickly as scrawled on a sheet of paper possible," said Thompson. But she sees seniors "who quite decorated with cartoon Teddy Bears honestly can't see over the wheel." and American flags. But on Thursday, The vet became a Canadian again - officially - Thursday, after Governor Quebec is experimenting with Canada's last remaining First World General Michaelle Jean completed "all restricted licenses, according to War veteran, John Babcock, received the necessary signatures," said Yakabuski. "That's something we an important gift: the restoration of his Thompson, adding that officials will ought to look at very closely across Canadian citizenship. soon be flown down to meet Babcock the country because it's more Babcock, 107, is the only remaining near his home for a swearing in appropriate," he said. Canadian to have served in the Great ceremony. However, said Bradley, "Evidence that War. But until this week, he was only a The newly minted Canadian started we have so far indicates to us Canuck by birth - after the war, he The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 35 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 18 Week Ending May 10, 2008 his life as an Ontario boy, growing up Hamel, Montréal Georges as one of 13 children on a farm in Lasnier, Québec City Robert Kingston, Ont. Born on July 23, 1900, Lavoie, Québec City Viateur he was too young to join the forces in Lavoie, St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu 1915, so he lied about his age to sign Jules Pinard, Trois-Rivières up with the 146th Battalion of the TheMinister of Veterans Affairs Canadian Expeditionary Force. Commendation consists of a bar, Two years later, Babcock landed in which can be worn below official England with the Boys Battalion. The decorations on a Veteran's blazer, a war ended before he could join the lapel pin for civilian wear and a front lines - something he has said is a certificate. great disappointment. The Commendation is presented to Babcock moved to the United States individuals who have contributed to after the war and served in the U.S. the care and well-being of Veterans army from 1921 to 1924. It was these and to the remembrance of their circumstances that led to the removal contributions, sacrifices and of Babcock's original citizenship. achievements. It is intended primarily Today, however, dual citizens are for Veterans, but in some allowed in Canada and the U.S. circumstances may also be awarded to civilians. Nominations may be "I wouldn't call it an accident of submitted by the public at any time history," said Thompson, "but he was and are reviewed annually by an caught up in a set of circumstances, advisory committee. and today we corrected it." More information on theMinister of Friday, May 09, 2008 Veterans Affairs Commendation, Tobin Dalrymple , Canwest News Service including citations for the ten Section: Veterans recipients, can be found on the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site Minister of Veterans Affairs atwww.vac-acc.gc.ca Honours Quebec Citizens Friday, May 09, 2008 Veteran Affairs Canada Section: Veterans

Sainte-Foy, QC – Ten citizens of Quebec were honoured for their commitment and devotion to Veterans. The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, presented theMinister of Veterans Affairs Commendation to ten individuals from Quebec today during a ceremony in Sainte-Foy. "These individuals have served their country. They have served their communities. They have served our honoured Veterans. And they have made us proud," said Minister Thompson. "We are a blessed nation to have these remarkable individuals." Minister Thompson presented the Commendation to the following individuals: Mychèle Amberg, Baie d'Urfé Stéphane Corbeil, St. Damien-de-Brandon Yvon Dubé, St-Charles-Borromée Jean-Luc Dutil, Québec City Léo Gallant, Chambly Sylvain Page 36 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)