Bulletin THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF VETERAN ASSOCIATIONS IN Vol. 02 • Summer 2010 In this issue... Now is Not the Time to Naval Monument • 6 Quebec City’s Historic Military Downsize VAC • 1 War Museum Acquires Two VCs • 6 Drill Hall to be Rebuilt • 8 VAC Must Stay the Course • 3 War Museum Buys Hero’s Medals • 7 Jan de Vries – Pilgrimage • 9 Ste. Anne’s Hospital Update • 4 Nine Monuments Set to be Restored • 7 Book Corner • 10 Canadian Navy Centennial • 6 Burma Star Association Eastern Aboriginal Veterans Day • 11 Branch Retires its Colours • 8 Snapshots of War • 12 NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DOWNSIZE VAC There has been considerable speculation in the The National Council of Veteran Associations media of late in relation to the potential downsizing (NCVA) stated today that now is not the time to of Veterans Affairs Canada and the overall downsize Veterans Affairs Canada. performance of the Department in responding to the needs of Canadian veterans. This comes in response to a July 14 article in The Globe and Mail that reports the Government is This has included prominent articles in The considering downsizing the Department as a cost- Globe and Mail and the Ottawa Citizen, to which saving measure. A subsequent article in the July 24 NCVA responded with letters to the editor and by Ottawa Citizen suggests the Government and senior issuing a news release outlining our position and public servants have failed Canada’s veterans insofar expressing our serious concerns on this extremely as the financial support and benefits available to these important subject. The release has been widely returning disabled soldiers. circulated to media across Canada, as well as to senior governmental officials. Brian Forbes, Secretary General of the 58 member- group NCVA, points out that, although Canada’s In our opinion, any decision to diminish the role traditional veterans are unfortunately aging, VAC of VAC is totally unacceptable and represents a continues to have significant responsibilities to the fundamental breach of the government’s legal and more than 155,000 veterans who served Canada moral commitment to valiant and courageous during the Second World War and Korea. Canadian veterans. “Many are presently suffering from their service-related The text of the news release follows: disabilities together with other medical concerns brought on by the ravages of age. The Government, VETERANS GROUP SAYS NOW IS NOT through the various programs administered by VAC, THE TIME TO DOWNSIZE VETERANS provides appropriate health care benefits, long‑term AFFAIRS care funding and related services such as the Veterans NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 • 1 Independence Program to alleviate the needs of these and intensive in order to address these multi-faceted unique and special Canadians,” Mr. Forbes said. problems.”

NCVA points out that there also are tens of thousands Of significance is that the New Veterans Charter of widows in our traditional veterans’ community, remains a work in progress. NCVA sits on a and VAC has an ongoing obligation under veterans’ Committee established by VAC known as the New legislation to take care of not only our veterans, but Veterans Charter Advisory Group together with other their dependants in recognition of their incredible stakeholders, leading academics and governmental service and sacrifice. officials. Regulatory and policy consultation have been pursued to ensure that the substantive provisions “These remarkable women need our financial in the new legislation satisfy the objectives of the support and the benefits available under the Veterans reform. It has been NCVA’s focus to support the Pension Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and policy that priority is attached to Seriously Disabled the health care programs that are applicable to their Veterans emanating from regular force experience. current circumstances,” Mr. Forbes said. “In a great number of cases, the widows of our most seriously Over the last two and a half years, the Advisory disabled veterans have acted as caregivers for many, Group has carried out a study of the New Veterans many years, and now require our attention to ensure Charter and completed a report last summer which that their financial and personal well‑being is looked has been delivered to the VAC Minister. It concludes after.” that, although the New Charter has been reasonably effective in meeting the needs of the Regular “The job of VAC is far from over and indeed is Force members medically discharged with specific entering a significant phase.” disabilities, there remain a number of substantial gaps and voids which require further legislative and As pointed out in The Globe and Mail article, regulatory amendments. A commitment was made Mr. Keith Coulter, a former Deputy Minister, by the Government, and particularly VAC, that the has recently submitted a report to VAC. It was Charter would be considered a living document NCVA’s understanding, having held a number of and that such revisions would be given appropriate meetings with Mr. Coulter, that he was appointed consideration so as to fully satisfy the objectives of the to evaluate the future of VAC and, specifically, how new legislation. it was to accommodate veterans and families of all demographics. “This basic principle was fundamental to our support for the Charter, and NCVA has recently written VAC administers two major pieces of legislation – the to the VAC Minister, the Honourable Jean-Pierre original Pension Act for the traditional veteran and the Blackburn, indicating that we would call on the New Veterans Charter for the modern-day veteran. At Government in furtherance of its commitment to the same time, Health Care Benefits, VIP Programs address the substantial recommendations made by the and all other related policies are administered by the Advisory Group through this recently released report. Department for all veterans and their families. A failure to do so would reflect, in our respectful submission, a serious betrayal of this commitment,” “It is quite clear that extensive financial and human Mr. Forbes said. resources are required of the Department due to the influx of disabled veterans returning from Afghanistan As a major representative of many of the traditional and earlier Canadian military missions,” said Mr. veterans’ organizations, with members suffering from Forbes. “Once again, given the physical, mental and serious disabilities, NCVA has taken the position that psychological concerns confronting these returning the New Veterans Charter should be augmented to veterans, the job of VAC will become more complex consider the plight of the Regular Force member who is medically disabled with a “catastrophic injury.” 2 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 Although it is recognized that the combined effects of the Disability Award, the Earnings Loss Benefit and the Permanent Impairment Allowance will be potentially of financial assistance to such an individual member, NCVA strongly believes that a further form of compensation is required in order to fully recognize the significant incapacity suffered in these circumstances, and has been recently working actively with senior officials of VAC with the intent of structuring such an award which, in NCVA’s view, can be modeled on the Exceptional Incapacity Allowance provisions contained in the original Pension Act.

It remains NCVA’s high priority as part and parcel of its involvement with the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group to ensure that VAC also fulfills the Government’s commitment to traditional veterans and that the new Program’s development does not lead to any reduction in future benefits and services provided to traditional veterans and their dependants.

“It is rather self-evident that VAC has a significant and complex mandate to carry out for all Canadian veterans, both traditional and modern-day. This is no time to be suggesting any diminishment in the role and responsibility of the Department,” Mr. Forbes concludes. “Canada’s obligation to our Armed Forces, of whom we have asked so much, requires that VAC be retained as a substantive Government presence for the foreseeable future. The idea that it would be viewed as a target in the overall evaluation of the Government deficit is totally unacceptable and a fundamental breach of our legal and moral commitment to valiant and courageous members of the Canadian Forces.”

VAC Must Stay the Course The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, responded to speculation on the future of VAC by stating that the Department will not be closed or merged with the Department of National Defence, but that there will inevitably be future cuts due to diminishing numbers of elderly veterans. NCVA responded to his comments with the following letter to the editor, published in the Ottawa Citizen on August 9 (see right). NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 • 3 Ste. Anne’s Hospital Update It is coming up on one year since confirmation was the Department of Veterans Affairs, Richard Neville, received that Veterans Affairs Canada had begun and have learned that the target date for this transfer preliminary discussions on transferring control of is tentatively March 2013. We have also taken the Canada’s last veterans’ hospital to the province of opportunity to impress upon Mr. Neville the nature Quebec. of the specific issues that we feel are material to this evaluation and the fact that a basic pre-requisite to any NCVA has since issued a number of news releases possibility of a transfer would be an iron‑clad Transfer expressing its concerns with this move, and continues Agreement with a strong, enforceable commitment as to monitor the situation closely. The following is to the question of priority access beds, level of care an update as of summer 2010 from Brian Forbes: and bilingual language services.

As discussed at our recent Annual Meeting, we I am including a recent letter (see facing page) I received continue to express our concerns to Veterans Affairs from the Minister in response to my correspondence, Canada surrounding the potential transfer of Ste. which I thought would be of interest to all concerned. Anne’s Hospital to the Province of Quebec by the Federal Government. I had the opportunity to meet with the Minister at a recent dinner in Ottawa and I was pleasantly You will recall that we have issued a number of surprised to find that the Minister does indeed share press releases over the course of the last few months many of the concerns that we have delineated given describing these concerns and making specific his past experience in dealing with the Government proposals to the Minister of Veterans Affairs relevant of Quebec. to any form of transfer negotiation which may occur in the future. It is my anticipation that both the Minister and the chief negotiator will be in regular communication As I have mentioned, we have had a number of with us so that we are apprised of all ongoing meetings with the Chief Negotiator appointed by developments.

In fact, we have been promised that as the negotiation continues, we will be briefed by the chief negotiator and be given the opportunity to provide further input to ensure that the interests of all veterans are protected. Certainly, our experience with other transferred veteran facilities such as the Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre in Ottawa and the Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver leaves us with good reason to place appropriate priority on this matter.

As events unfold, I will keep you all advised as to future developments.

4 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 Letter from Jean-Pierre Blackburn (dated July 7, 2010):

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 • 5 Canadian Navy Centennial During their 2010 Canadian tour, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip paid tribute to Canada’s navy in historic style by sailing amid an armada of 30 warships assembled for the Queen’s inspection in Halifax Harbour.

The Queen and Prince, situated on the deck of HMCS St. John’s, watched as they sailed past ship after ship, the Queen rising in recognition of each one.

In addition, after stepping ashore following the International Fleet Review, the Queen unveiled a plaque commemorating HMCS Sackville, a Second World War corvette that was used to escort convoys, which is now a floating museum. Naval Monument War Museum We recently received some pictures of a newly unveiled bronze statue which was created in honour of the Acquires Two VCs Canadian Naval Centennial. The Homecoming Statue, located at the Victoria Inner Harbour in Two Victoria Victoria, B.C., was created by local sculptor Nathan Cross medals were Scott and represents the bond between the Greater recently acquired Victoria community and every sailor who ever sailed by the Canadian from the Naval Dockyard in Esquimalt and returned War Museum in to welcoming family. Ottawa.

The sculpture was unveiled following the “Navy Cpl. Leo Clarke Day” Freedom of the City Parade on May 4 of this was awarded the year. More than 2,750 sailors, soldiers and air men VC for his role in and women from the Maritime Forces Pacific in the 1916 Battle of Esquimalt took part. the Somme. His was one of the “Valour Road” VCs Lieut. John Mahony awarded to three First World War soldiers who grew up on the same street in Winnipeg.

Lieut. John Mahony was awarded the VC for courage during the Italian campaign in 1944. His is the first to be acquired by the museum for a hero of the Italian Front.

The medals, both secured as donations, will be proudly exhibited in honour of the heroes who won them. 6 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 War Museum Buys Hero’s Medals

In late July, the Canadian War Museum bought the Following the war, Scott wrote and published The medals of Canon Frederick G. Scott, a First World Great War As I Saw It, a memoir of his experiences War chaplain and poet, who was heavily decorated during the war. Also a renowned poet, he read samples for bravery in providing spiritual comfort to troops. of his work to Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Quebec Conference in 1943. Among the medals he was awarded are the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, The medal set was bought with the assistance of a the Distinguished Service Order and the Royal special fund that allows the Canadian War Museum Canadian Humane Association Sanford Medal in to acquire artifacts that might otherwise be lost to Gold, one of only six given out for gallantry in saving Canada’s national heritage. life, which he received for rescuing a drowning soldier.

Lt.-Col. Scott was senior chaplain with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and was ordered to stay back, avoiding the front lines, but he could not stay safely in the rear while men were in the trenches. Instead, he risked his life by being in the thick of the action at Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and the Battle of Arras.

In 1918, he was wounded and evacuated to England for recovery.

Nine Monuments Set to be Restored At the end of June, it was announced that Veterans Affairs Canada, through its Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program, had committed to the restoration of nine memorials and cenotaphs across the country that honour our veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The total cost for this undertaking is $110,893 and includes the restoration of the following memorials: Placentia Cenotaph in Newfoundland and Labrador; Maniwaki War Memorial Cenotaph in Quebec; Newbury Cenotaph, Carleton Place Town Cenotaph and Peterborough Cenotaph, all in Ontario; Transcona Cenotaph in Winnipeg; Legion Cenotaph and City of Brooks Memorial in ; and Ladner Cenotaph in Delta, .

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 • 7 Burma Star Association Eastern Ontario Branch Retires its Colours

The Burma Star Association was established more than 65 years ago in honour of those who were awarded the Burma Star for their service during the Second World War.

At the height of its activities, the Eastern Ontario Branch of the Burma Star Association counted membership in the hundreds; however, recent numbers put membership at just over 60 soldiers and widows.

As a result of declining numbers, the Eastern Ontario Branch of the Burma Star Association has now disbanded. A ceremony to commemorate the Branch and donate the Branch Standard to Kingston Memorial Hall was held at the end of June.

The colours will remain on display in a place of honour at Memorial Hall, one of Kingston’s most historic venues.

Quebec City’s Historic Military Drill Hall to be Rebuilt In April 2008, Quebec City’s landmark armoury burned to the ground. Only the brick wall facade and two towers were left standing.

The building, built in 1887, was home to the country’s oldest French-Canadian regiment, Les Voltigeurs de Québec. A museum that housed many regimental artifacts was also destroyed in the fire; however, 90 per cent of the artifacts were saved.

Plans to rebuild were recently announced and a new building should be ready by 2016. The brick wall facade and two towers that survived the fire will be incorporated into the new, more modern-looking armoury, which will also house the regimental museum, some federal government offices and a reception room.

8 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 Jan de Vries – Pilgrimage

Jan de Vries, President/Acting Treasurer of the children at each grave, and the dropping of poppies 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association, from a helicopter. These two gestures always are very represented NCVA at the 65th Anniversary of the emotional. Liberation Ceremonies in the Netherlands in I had an opportunity to May. place a Canadian flag and poppy on each 1st He recently wrote in to Canadian Parachute tell us of his experiences. Battalion member’s Here are some excerpts grave, including that of from Mr. de Vries’ Lt.-Col. Jeff Nicklin. letter: May 5, Liberation The main events on the Day, saw thousands 3rd and 4th of May, the of Dutch citizens 4th being Remembrance line the route for the Day, were attendance parade in Wageningen. at and taking part The atmosphere was in the ceremonies celebratory: cheering, at Groesbeek and singing, entertainment, Holten Cemeteries, and camaraderie. The respectively. It was an students from Canada, honour for me at both in their red, Canadian ceremonies to lay the jackets, displayed their wreath on behalf of NCVA and to deliver the Act of remembrance quilts while bringing up the rear of the Remembrance. There was an opportunity to meet parade. members of the Dutch Royal Family at both events. I consider myself Canadian and I no longer speak the May 9 – celebration in the air! After a leisurely Dutch language; however, meeting the Royal Family breakfast, we boarded the coach taking us to the area did have special meaning to me, being born in the where all veterans were provided with vehicles in Netherlands. There was, at Holten Cemetery, the which to ride for the huge Apeldoorn Parade. Lt.‑Gen. traditional placing of flowers by the Dutch school Gilles Turcot and I shared a restored Second World War Jeep. Bands, marching soldiers and the veterans riding in the vehicles were greeted by thousands and thousands of Dutch people, young and old, many coming from several miles away, cheering, waving and showing their appreciation for their liberation.

Thank you. It was a wonderful trip and an honour for me to represent Canadian veterans. Jan de Vries receives his Herinnerings Medaille 1944-1945.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 • 9 Book Corner

Left arm missing, Left leg missing, life dies and all of the well-deserved eulogies seem Unfit for Service too short, no matter how very great those eulogies are, in the real sense of that word great! A book was recently published that tells the remarkable story of the life and times of There is a significant Daniel J. MacDonald. reason for this. It happens when the man Left arm missing, Left who has left us had leg missing, Unfit for managed, while he was Service; the life and times here, to win a very special of Daniel J. MacDonald, place in our hearts as by John H. Brehaut, speaks “family.” When Dan of how Danny MacDonald MacDonald passed battled back from grievous away in Charlottetown wounds received in the on September 30, the Second World War to entire population of forge a remarkable career Prince Edward Island as a politician of national went into mourning. In stature. Behind his other parts of Canada, extraordinary political thousands upon career, there is also a story thousands of Canadians of a successful farmer and – many of them veterans devoted family man. His and their families – felt story remains an inspiration a very keen sense of to many Prince Edward personal loss. Islanders and Canadians. The story is told Danny was known as a elsewhere of the natives War Amp but also as a of P.E.I. crowding St. widely-respected Member Dunstan’s Basilica and of Parliament, where then lining the route of he represented Canada’s the funeral cortege as it war-time servicemen and women as the Minister proceeded halfway across the Province to Danny’s of Veterans Affairs from 1972 until his death in own church in Bothwell. Those people whom he September 1980. loved so much were paying their last respects to a man who had touched their lives, and who had Upon his death, The War Amps magazine summed up offered them the one hand he had left in a gesture what he meant to veterans and Canadians in general. of friendship. In doing so, he never spared himself. Excerpts from the magazine are copied below: In other parts of Canada, the feeling was no less How is it going to be possible, in words and intense. Everywhere, veterans and others were on paper, to convey our feelings about Danny saying: “What are we going to do without him?” MacDonald? Every now and again, a man in public

10 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 Firstly, we would like to come a little closer to home. Danny’s widow, Pauline MacDonald, was a very dear friend to The War Amps – and to all who knew her. She took a very personal and direct interest in everything that Dan MacDonald did. She was very, very proud of “The Honourable Dan” as well she might have been. To Pauline and the MacDonald family, we want to extend the very sincerest sympathy – and our humble and forthright thanks for everything that he did for The War Amps, for veterans and for Canada.

Danny MacDonald came home from the Second World War, carrying with him the vivid memory of those who remain behind in the battlefields of Italy. And, just to sharpen the memory, although he made light of it, his own disabilities were a constant reminder as well. He was a tremendous man, with tremendous faith – in God, in his family, in his fellow veterans and in his country. That faith sustained him through all that he had to endure and it is a cinch that no one ever heard him complain! Left arm missing, Left leg missing, Unfit for Service can be purchased at Chapters or Indigo He is gone from us now but we will always stores or through the publisher, John Brehaut. remember him. Some of us have the most cherished of memories of Danny as a friend and all of us will John Brehaut can be contacted at: know that this was a better place because of Dan www.jhbrehautpublishing.com MacDonald and all he did and all he stood for. [email protected], (902) 569-3758 1128 Pownal Road, Alexandra, Charlottetown RR 1, PEI, C1A 7J6.

Aboriginal Veterans Day On the occasion of National Aboriginal Day and in honour of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis who served and continue to serve in military uniform for Canada, Peter Wilkins, Submariners Association/Canadian Tribal Destroyer Association, represented NCVA and laid a wreath at the National Aboriginal Monument in Ottawa on June 21 on our behalf.

Thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people served in the First and Second World Wars, in the Korean War and in other times of conflict. More than 500 individuals made the ultimate sacrifice and are buried in cemeteries around the world.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010 • 11 Snapshots of War

To the left is another rare photo from our continuing series.

This picture, taken at the Battle of Amiens in August 1918, shows the Canadian Cavalry rounding up POWs. Notice the drawn sword in the right hand of one of the cavalry troopers.

This picture on the right was taken during the First World War in the later stages of the Amiens Battle. It shows “Old 5797” – an early armoured car of the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade – transporting German POWs.

Canadian troops return victorious from the Battle of Courcellette. This Battle took place from the 15th to the 22nd of September, 1916, when the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions stormed Sugar Trench and Fabeck Graben. Mouquet Farm was overrun in the Battle.

12 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 2 • Summer 2010