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HMCS Uganda 5

Colonel Cosgrave 7

Book review 9

Vera Lynn 12 August 2020 Volume 31, Number 3

Passing The Torch by Paul Manson pride on their instrumental role in the and others on the grounds that the Having lived a blessed life with many creation of a new museum that gave refurbished museum was not the right high points, I must say that nothing Canada’s military history the recog- place for an exhibition not directly matches the excitement and satis- nition it so richly deserved. A vital related to Canada’s military history. faction experienced on May 8th, part of the Friends’ contribution was This and other issues became 2005, at the official opening of the the fundraising campaign conducted very public and subject to parlia- new . And I under their auspices, appropriately mentary scrutiny, giving rise to a am sure that my sense of exhilara- named PASSING THE TORCH. growing conviction that what was tion was shared by the 2500 people Without that involvement, the new really needed was a brand-new war gathered at LeBreton Flats in Canadian War Museum could not museum, one that could effectively that beautiful spring day for what was have been built. tell the full story of Canada’s military both a historic and historical event, it As the chairman of the PTT history. A significant step in that dir- also being the 60th anniversary of VE campaign, I was privy to much of what ection was the appointment, in 1998, Day. In attendance were countless happened during my seven years of of Dr. Granatstein as the Director and veterans, senior politicians, bureau- full-time volunteer service in that task. CEO of the museum. crats and members of the general On accepting the invitation in early Of course, creating a new facil- public. Her Excellency the 1998 to lead the fundraising effort, I ity meant spending a lot of money. It General, in her opening remarks, inherited a campaign that had its origin was estimated that a new museum set the tone by stirring up a sense back in 1993, and which by that time worthy of the challenge would cost of joy in what was a truly remarkable had raised about $2 million in support more than $100 million, which in national accomplishment, while com- of a plan to refurbish and expand the turn raised the question of where the plimenting the numerous old War Museum on in money would come from. It was here whose dedication helped to make the Ottawa. The story from this point is that the Honourable Barney Danson new facility a reality. well known. A surge of controversy took charge. A highly respected vet- A few weeks ago, the 15th arose over the utter inadequacy of eran and former Defence Minister, Anniversary of that memorable the existing facility. Canadians, having he exercised his diverse talents and occasion was widely celebrated. been forcefully reminded by eminent political experience in convincing To be sure, because of the COVID-19 historian Dr. Jack Granatstein that the the Prime Minister to agree that the pandemic, the celebration was sub- nation had forgotten and neglected Federal Government would commit jected to severe physical limitations, its military history, increasingly under- to providing sufficient funds to allow but that didn’t dampen the happy stood that repairing the old facility was the project to proceed. But there was recollections of the official opening the wrong way to go. There followed one key condition: that $15 million be back in 2005, and of the wonderful much disagreement surrounding a raised from the private sector. achievement it represented. In this, proposal to add a holocaust gallery To our small PTT team, that num- the Friends of the Canadian War to the old museum, this being strenu- ber was stunningly beyond what we Museum can look back with great ously opposed by veterans’ groups continued on page 3 2

The Friends of the President’s Remarks Canadian War Museum Dear readers, welcome to the August 2020 issue of the Torch. 1 Vimy Place Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8 In this issue you will enjoy an excellent contribution from Gen Paul Tel: 819.776-8618 Manson reflecting on the thrill of the opening 15 years ago of the new Fax: 819.776-8623 Canadian War Museum (CWM) and the enormous developmental and www.friends-amis.org fundraising effort in support. Gen Manson chaired the Passing The E-mail: [email protected] Torch campaign; in this regard we owe him an enormous debt of grati- Patron tude. Also, in this edition we will recognize the 75th anniversary of Vic- Her Excellency the Right Honourable tory over (VJ) Day. Julie Payette As I write, we continue to face the difficult health and wellness chal- CC CMM COM CQ CD lenges imposed by Covid19; nevertheless, the number of cases in the Governor General of Canada country continues to drop, if unevenly, and in parts of the country the relaxation of restrictions is apparent. I am advised that the CWM is in President Cmdre (Ret’d) R. Hamilton the planning stages for a return to operations although I expect the new Vice-President normal will be materially different from the past. In any case, vigilance and caution must remain front of mind. Past President Throughout the period of the pandemic, the Friends board of dir- BGen (Ret’d) L. Colwell ectors (BOD) has met regularly through electronic means and items of Secretary important business have been addressed. The project to renew the web- Brenda Esson site and to establish it as the flagship carrier service to support outreach, Treasurer constituency building and strengthening financial position continues to Cdr. (Ret’d) John Chow move forward. I anticipate that by the time you read these remarks we Director at Large will have reached the initial trial stage. Douglas Rowland On the governance front, the BOD has appointed the 2020 slate of Directors directors; there have been some departures, many renewals and 3 new Mr. Robert Argent, members. The new directors will soon join their colleagues on the BOD Mr. Allan Bacon, and at the annual members meeting (AMM) all appointments will be sub- Mr. Thomas Burnie, ject to ratification by the membership and the BOD will appoint its offi- Mr. Larry M. Capstick, cers. We are planning to conduct the AMM on Wednesday 16 September Mr. Stephen Clark, Mr. Larry Diebel, using a combination of physical presence and electronic outreach. We Ms. Deanna Fimrite, intend to remain fully compliant with restrictions and with requirements Maj.(Ret’d) Gerald Jensen, of the Not for Profit Corporations Act. In the event that the CWM is not Mr. Sean McGrath, available, we have an alternate site in mind. M. Wayne Primeau, As we struggle in this difficult period, we must reflect on the role of Ms. Elizabeth Reynolds, the Friends as a registered charity existing solely to support the CWM. Capt (N) (Ret’d) Louise Siew, Our strategy must be anchored in broadening our outreach, fostering Mr. Ray Stouffer, Mr. Scott Widdowson donation and encouraging sponsorship. This is more easily said than done; resources are scarce and competition is intense. Many like-minded organizations are suffering and in this challenging environment we must The Torch (ISSN 1207-7690) think deeply about what differentiates us from the competition and attracts Editor/Content: Ed Storey support. This is a complex matter but I believe the answer rests in the Editor/Layout: Ruth Kirkpatrick particularly Canadian nobility of our cause in supporting a museum which never glorifies war but honours our history for a better future. I would be grateful for your comments or suggestions at Ce Bulletin est aussi disponible [email protected]. en Francais Yours aye,

Robert Hamilton President August 2020 3 thought was achievable. But Barney, candidate sites - the old railway sta- joined by Alex Rankin and his Ottawa- in his inimitable and irresistible way, tion across from the Chateau Laurier based architectural firm. Moriyama, a quickly convinced us that our new tar- Hotel, and the former Ottawa City world-renowned Canadian architect, get was not up for discussion. It was Hall on Sussex Drive - were care- produced a captivating design based a huge challenge, but we got to work fully inspected, but both were found on the theme “Regeneration”, which immediately to make it happen. This to be totally inadequate. Then, to added greatly to the appeal of our naturally involved a big increase in the consternation of many, direction campaign. Then came the enormous the size of the fundraising team, and was received in 2001 that the new job of building the structure and out- we brought together players from the museum be built at LeBreton Flats, fitting it. While all of this was going staffs of both the War Museum and just west of . A century continued on page 4 the parent Museum of Civilization, before, the Flats had been an active plus an army of volunteers from the industrial centre until it was devasted Friends of the Canadian War Museum by the Great Fire of 1900. In the 1960s and veterans’ organizations, from the the rebuilt community was expropri- business world, plus those who sim- ated and levelled by the Government, ply wanted to help meet the challenge. whose ambitious plan to develop a Overall direction was provided by the federal building complex at LeBreton Museums’ Board of Trustees and sen- Flats came to naught, and the area ior management staff, with guidance was left abandoned to the elements from a large PTT Steering Commit- since then. Before any construction tee having representation from all the could be undertaken a major land component sectors. remediation effort was needed. As we So, with our mandate and object- now know, that was done success- ive well established, in 1999 we set fully, and the museum’s final location out to raise the necessary funds. We has since proved to be excellent in realized that if there was any hope of every respect. succeeding in the highly competitive Once the site was successfully fundraising field, we had to give pro- established, the next step in the pro- spective donors an assurance that cess of attracting donors was to show their money would contribute mean- them what the building was going Barney Danson, PC CC (1921- ingfully to a real and viable project. to look like. Our team followed with 2011) reading his opening In other words, we had to present a great interest the complex competi- remarks on May 8th, 2005, at the credible story. Vitally important was tive process of selecting an architect. official opening of the Canadian the point that this was to be no ordin- The winner was Raymond Moriyama, War Museum. ary museum, one that simply dis- played military artifacts and told of great battles and famous generals. In the new museum there was not to be an ounce of glorification of war; the story must be told factually and intel- lectually, with a focus on those, of whatever rank or capacity, at home or on the battlefield, who were touched by warfare and its consequences. An important first step in approaching donors was to identify the site of the new museum. Initially, the Government assigned an attract- ive property at the former Rockcliffe Air Base, and this looked like a good start, but then a political change of heart led to direction that a down- town Ottawa location be found. Two 4 on museum staffs were busy design- value in the support of future museum And now, fifteen years later, our pride ing the displays and exhibitions that activities, as time has proven. is not diminished in the least. Like would properly serve the purpose A word about our team. Diverse all who have witnessed the brilliant and mandate of the new Canadian as it was, there quickly evolved a success of the new Canadian War War Museum. Here again, this was remarkable spirit of mutual respect Museum since the opening, we look truly well done, to our great benefit as and cooperation as we worked forward to its continued progress in fundraisers. We quickly learned that together to reach our goal. I do not the telling of Canada’s rich military the museum’s priceless war art col- recall a single argument worthy of the history in the years and decades that lection, then ignominiously stored in a name through the seven years that lie ahead. rundown former streetcar barn called we worked together. As with all such General Paul Manson was a Vimy House, was extremely useful campaigns, there were a few fundrais- fighter pilot in the Air Force for in convincing major donors that their ing disappointments, but these were 38 years, including ten years help was needed in finding a worthy greatly outweighed by the frequent with NATO forces in . new home for what was a national uplifting news of yet another dona- He was Chief of the Defence treasure. Time and again throughout tion, whether large or small. It was an Staff from 1986 to 1989. After the campaign a prospective donor, exciting and rewarding time for all who retirement he was president after visiting the art collection and took part. As a measure of the respect and CEO of a large aerospace receiving a superbly guided tour by and friendships created during those company, the chair of a defence art curator Laura Brandon, followed years, members of the PTT team have and security think tank, a up with a very large contribution. frequently come together for reunions frequent media commentator on Another effective means of in the years since the official opening. defence matters, and active in soliciting major gifts was the develop- As the campaign progressed, numerous volunteer endeavours. ment of a recognition and naming we experienced the great satisfac- policy honouring key donors. The tion of seeing total donations rising success of this technique is clearly steadily toward our objective. In Nov- evident today, as the museum visitor ember 2003 the $15 million target sees a number of features bearing was surpassed, and by Opening Day, names of individual donors and con- which appropriately was also the final tributing organizations. (An important day of Passing The Torch, we had exception, though, was the naming of amassed more than $16 million net the Barney Danson Theatre, done in of expenses, comfortably exceeding his honour as a principal force in the the Prime Minister’s tough demand creation of the museum.) from seven years before. For us, PTT was by no means a local therefore, the universal joy that char- campaign. We produced a mass of acterized the celebration on May 5th, promotional literature, brochures, 2005 was felt in a very special way articles and other forms of publicity, by those of us who played such an Paul Manson during a 2004 tour disseminating these from one end of important part in making it happen. of the CWM construction site. Canada to another. Team members travelled to major centres like Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver to tell the story and Donations seek donations. And here is an import- Covering the period April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020 ant point: although in all of this we had (Donations made through CanadaHelps after March 6, 2020 will be to focus heavily on major donations in acknowledged in a subsequent issue of The Torch.) to attain our $15 million objective, Mr. Adam Belyea BGen Linda Colwell (Ret’d) this was never at the cost of neglecting smaller contributions. In fact, the lat- George Dewar Capt Steven Dieter CD MA FRSA ter ultimately comprised a substantial Mr. Robert Fischer WO John Nayduk CD proportion of the final tally. But just as important, each small donation estab- New Friends lished a personal link with the Can- Mary Hilsinger Dr. Alis B. Kennedy WO John Nayduk, CD adian War Museum that was of great August 2020 5 the Permanent Force could not be compelled to serve in the East. They had to sign again for Volunteer service. HMCS Uganda This new set of regulations had some difficult conse- quences. Many Canadians served with foreign services On His Majesty’s Canadian already in the Pacific, and the new law gave them the Service in the East option of leaving their post abruptly, returning to Canada, taking their discharge month’s leave in addition to any by Jean Morin leave accumulated while in service, and becoming civil- Seventy-five years ago this month, the Second ians again, no questions asked. came to an end with the dropping of the atomic A special case was particularly interesting at the time. bombs on Japan. Peace was confirmed with the signing One of the only two light cruisers that Canada possessed, of the Armistice onboard the USS Missouri on September HMCS Uganda, had already been in the Pacific since April 2nd, in Bay. This came 117 days after the signing of 1945. It was assigned there for one year to be part of the the Armistice in Europe, on May 8th, 1945. British as a surveillance ship. Its comple- The of Japan, on 14 August, had not been ment of 700 officers and sailors were all Volunteers of the foreseen, except for the few people who were involved Regular or Reserve naval services of Canada. Uganda’s in the atomic secret. Industries were still churning out crew had already been involved in two major operations in weapons and ammunitions in anticipation of continuing which it had gained a lot of experience. the war in well into 1946. Armies, air forces and nav- When the option came for all members of the crew, ies of the Allied forces were being re-directed from the in May, to decide individually if they wanted to sign up European theatre to the Pacific and to the Asian contin- for further service or go back to Canada, this created a ent for what appeared to be a difficult war which would problem that had never been encountered before in the involve an enemy no less determined than the Germans Canadian Navy. All on board were under the impression to dominate its continent. that they had signed ‘for the duration,’ and the idea of Canada was among the nations involved in shifting leaving the ship in the middle of the war to go back home their attention from the West to the East. An army smacked of dereliction of duty under fire. Feelings were was being prepared in Canada for service with the United very mixed among the sailors. The view was not, at first, States Army; air forces were identified to fly to the Central that most wanted to leave. Pacific to join Allied air forces there, and a flotilla of Can- However, when Commodore Rollo Mainguy OBE, adian ships had already been mustered for re-fitting to CD, the Captain of Uganda, let it be known to all that he sail in the hot climates of the and Japanese Seas. would consider those who left the ship as being wrong, All this re-tasking, however, involved a political it triggered the opposite view than the one he sought problem. None of the Allied countries had been as tor- to encourage. Sailors thought that not only those who mented by the question of conscription as Canada. The decided to leave were not in the wrong; but that they government of William Lyon Macken- would themselves opt out. In their con- zie King had fought tooth and nail to versations they had come to the con- delay conscription to the last moment clusion that if they delayed in returning of 1944, and conscripts were sent home, the available civilian jobs would to the battlefields of Europe only in be taken by those who had been dis- early 1945, when the need for infantry charged first. Moreover, their families, replacements became absolutely vital. in particular for those who were mar- No conscripts served in the RCN or ried, would not see such a re-engage- RCAF. With the signing of the armis- ment with an understanding eye. tice in Europe, King was adamant that It soon became apparent that so the compulsory service be stopped many wanted to opt out that the ship ipso facto. would have to go back to Canada and This policy signified that all service get a new crew of Volunteers, train personnel that would be involved in the them for the special task, war against Japan would be volunteers, and return in the new year with other including the infantry. A new law dictated Canadian ships. that people in uniform would have to sign This is why HMCS Uganda found a new contract if they wanted to serve in itself at Esquimalt on 14 August 1945, the Pacific. Even military personnel of Commodore Rollo Mainguy OBE, CD continued on page 6 6 Pacific came to a screeching stop. The Uganda never returned to the Pacific for war duties, its crew of reserv- ists all returned home, with the majority being immedi- ately discharged. Undoubtedly, a large national sigh of relief was heard at the time. Not only were lives not going to be lost in many more months of combat, but the huge problem of staging the Canadian armed services for a very different Front was swept off the table in one swoop. - Now, that’s what you call relief! More information can be found in the two Resources used for this article: (1) W.A.B. Douglas, Roger Sarty, Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G.P. Rawling, A Blue Water Navy: The Official Operational History of the in the Second World War, 1943-1945, Volume 2, when Japan surrendered, and there was only the Can- Part 2. (DND; St. Catherines, : Vanwell adian Military Attaché to , Colonel Lawrence Publishing; Her Majesty in Right of Canada, 2007) Cosgrave, to represent Canada at the signing of the (2) Bill Rawling, “Paved with Good Intentions: Armistice, on September 2nd, at Tokyo Bay. HMCS Uganda, the , and the Volunteer The hectic activities in preparing an army division, Issue.” Canadian Military History, Volume 4, air force squadrons, and a naval flotilla for duty in the Number 2, Autumn 1995, pp. 23-33. A five-minute vidio with information about the ship’s history may be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAKVzTmAPzs&list=PLMK9a-vDE5zHhbzq6CCN-hZhgLviQMJgU&index=30&t=0s Editor’s Comments I am writing these comments in a war which for most meant not only mid-June and it looks like a couple working to support the Allied cause but of months of isolation have started also dealing with rationing and having to ‘flatten the curve’. The stores have loved ones serving in the military. once again opened, restaurants can As we all anticipate the day in now use their patios and many of the which we are not governed by COVID- amenities that we had to do without are 19 emergency orders, it is easy to once again available. Life is not com- envision the relief felt in Canada as pletely back to normal, but my wife and the war came to an abrupt end on 15 I have noticed during out daily morning August, 1945, VJ-Day. The formal sur- walks that there are once again more render of the of Japan was cars on the streets and smaller line- signed in Tokyo Bay on the U.S.S. Mis- ups to get inside the stores. souri on 2 September, 1945 and on that Canadians during this COVID- day it was hoped that the sacrifices 19 pandemic were only asked to self- made over many years of war would isolate at home with their internet and bring lasting peace and prosperity. electronic devices for two months and It was with much fanfare fifteen give up for a short time many of the years ago, in May 2005, that the new social and economic amenities they Canadian War Museum on Lebre- had grown accustomed to enjoying. ton Flats was opened to the pub- For the generation who fought the lic. Retired General Paul Manson Ed Storey with son Charles (left) Second World War eight decades ago knows first-hand how it feels to run and his friend Alex Lecours their story was much different. They successful campaigns, and perhaps (right) wait in line to visit the had to focus for six years on winning the one of which he is most proud of CWM on its opening day. August 2020 7 was his 1998 to 2005 chairmanship of Passing the Torch in which he and Colonel Lawrence Vincent his volunteer team raised over $15 million towards the construction of Moore Cosgrave DSO and Bar the new museum. Here at The Torch we are very fortunate as Paul has by Ed Storey generously agreed to write our lead Few Canadians realize that the poem “In Flanders Fields”, written in article and recount the Passing The 1915, and the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in 1945 are Torch story for us. linked to Colonel L.V.M. Cosgrave D.S.O. and Bar. Colonel Cosgrave was the I have again called on Allan Canadian signatory to the Japanese Instrument of Surrender at the end of Bacon and Jean Morin to contribute the Second World War. VJ-Day themed articles for this edition Lawrence V. Moore Cosgrave was born in Toronto, Ontario, on August and as expected they have not let me 28, 1890, the son of wealthy brewer Lawrence J., founder of Cosgrave & Sons down. Allan has reviewed the book, Brewery Company and brother of James, a partner with E. P. Taylor in horse : The Real Story racing’s Cosgrave Stables. Lawrence was a 1912 graduate of the Royal Mil- of the Atomic Bombings and Their itary College of Canada, student No. 851, and subsequently attended McGill Aftermath, by Paul Ham which sets out University. to present a fuller and perhaps truth- According to his Personnel File held in the Archives, Cosgrave had both ful account about the bombing of Hiro- an adventure filled and successful wartime service. He joined the Canadian shima and Nagasaki. Few Canadians Overseas Expeditionary Force in October 1914 as a Lieutenant, having pre- know that HMCS Uganda, a light viously served as an Officer with the Non-Permanent Active Militia in the cruiser serving with the British Pacific 2nd Battery, 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery (C.F.A.). He also recorded Fleet, voted itself out of the war and his civilian occupation as a brewer. He was appointed as a Captain to the Jean gives us the details behind the Headquarters Staff, 1st Brigade, C.F.A. and embarked for overseas with the very Canadian set of circumstances Brigade in October 1914. In February 1915, while on Salisbury Plain he was which sparked that vote. Colonel Cos- posted to the 4th Battery, 1st Brigade, C.F.A., and two days later proceeded grave, Canada’s Military Attaché to to France. Australia, represented Canada at the In May 1915 he was posted back to the Headquarters Staff, 1st Brigade surrender ceremony at Tokyo Bay and C.F.A. where he was appointed Temporary Major in October. It was during this we have the details about his military time that he earned his Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) for conspicuous service in both world wars as well as gallantry in action while carrying out several reconnaissance’s under heavy when he signed the surrender docu- fire and exploring the enemy’s ment on the Missouri. wire in daylight. Shortly after his The FCWM Board of Direc- promotion Cosgrave was trans- tors has decided that The Torch will ferred to the Training Depot in only be published in a digital format, Shorncliffe, England where he which means that printed copies will was taken on strength by the 6th no longer be mailed out and instead Canadian (Howitzer) Brigade at the quarterly will only be found on Bramshott, England. During this the Friends website. This has not time, he married, became the changed how the small Torch staff Adjutant in November and was does business and means that we back in France with his Brigade are no longer constrained to a set in January 1916. Days later he page , potentially allowing more was appointed Staff Captain content. To do this we need more and was taken on strength by volunteers, so if you are interested the 2nd Canadian Divisional in writing for The Torch then contact Artillery. It was while attending a the Friends. Likewise if you have any two-month Junior Staff Course comments about this or past edi- that Cosgrave was diagnosed tions then feel free to contact me at with bronchitis, spending four [email protected]. Enjoy the days with No. 20 Field Hospi- summer, stay safe and healthy and Colonel Cosgrave in Australia – 1945. tal. Following completion of the we will see you in November. LAC Photograph ZK-1051-1 continued on page 8 8 course Cosgrave rejoined his unit in tain and in March he was appointed was blown up causing six casualties. December 1916. as Staff Captain for Artillery recon- Under heavy shell fire, Captain Cos- Captain Cosgrave was attached naissance which he held for a year. grave supervised the removal of the to Corps Headquar- He earned his Bar to the D.S.O. casualties and had the lorries nearest ters in January 1917 as a Staff Cap- when a lorry carrying ammunition the burning vehicle removed, elimin- ating the possibility of a secondary explosion. It was during this action that he was wounded under the left eye resulting in some vision loss. In March 1918 he was promoted to Major and taken on strength by the 9th Brigade, C.F.A., staying with them until November 1918 when he was posted back to his old formation the 1st Brigade, C.F.A., this time as a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel. Fol- lowing the end of the war, Lieuten- ant-Colonel Cosgrave proceeded to England with the 1st Brigade, C.F.A. in March 1919; he returned to Canada in April and was demobilized in May 1919. Lieutenant-Colonel Cosgrave’s file also shows that he was three times Mentioned in Dispatches (1915, 1917 and 1918) and was awarded the Colonel Cosgrave (centre) along with the other representatives of the Croix de Guerre in June 1919. Allied nations at war with Imperial Japan, listens to General MacArthur’s Following the war he had an speech on the U.S.S. Missouri – 2 September 1945. equally successful Federal Govern- ment career, joining the Department of Trade and serving as the Assistant Canadian Government Trade Com- missioner in London, England (1922- 24); Canadian Trade Commissioner, London, England (1924); Shanghai, China (1925-1935); Melbourne, Aus- tralia (1925-1937); and Sydney, Aus- tralia (1937-1942). From 1942 Colonel Cosgrave served as the Canadian Military Atta- ché to Australia, but his most notable moment came on September 2, 1945 when he was the Canadian represent- ative who signed the Japanese Instru- ment of Surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. He caused a little-known mishap, perhaps due to his vision problems sustained in 1917; Col- onel Cosgrave inadvertently placed his signature one line too low on the Japanese copy of the documents. General MacArthur is at the microphone leading the ceremony as He signed on the line for the French Colonel Cosgrave signs the instrument of surrender on behalf of the Republic, which set off an unfortunate Dominion of Canada. Life Photograph chain reaction whereby each suc- August 2020 9 ceeding signatory also signed one line too low on that copy of the documents. The Dominion of New Zealand repre- Group Friends sentative, left without a place to sign, ANAVETS in Canada - Dominion Command, Ottawa, Ontario had to have his name and country ANAVETS Unit 217, New Waterford, Nova Scotia written in at the bottom margin of the Canadian Association of Veterans of U.N. Peacekeeping document. Cosgrave did not repeat (Col John Gardam Chapter), Ottawa, Ontario this error on the American copy. The Ladies Auxiliary - Royal Canadian Legion Branch 370 (ON), error was “corrected” by U.S. General Iroquois, Ontario Sutherland who crossed out “French Polish Combatants’ Association, Br. 8, Ottawa, Ontario Republic” and wrote in “Dominion of Royal Canadian Legion Br 185 (QC) Canada” then made similar correc- - Légion canadienne royale fil. 185 (QC), Deux-Montagnes, Quebec tions for the rest of the document. Both the and Japanese Royal Canadian Legion Branch 009 (SK), Battleford, Saskatchewan copies of the surrender document are Royal Canadian Legion Branch 024 (ON), St Catharines, Ontario on display on the USS Missouri which Royal Canadian Legion Branch 153 (MB), Carberry, Manitoba is berthed at Row in Pearl Royal Canadian Legion Branch 638 (ON), Kanata, Ontario Harbor, . Royal Canadian Legion Everett Branch 88, Chester Basin, Nova Scotia It has been reported that Col- Royal Military Colleges Club (Ottawa), Ottawa, Ontario onel Cosgrave knew Mamoru Shige- mitsu (who accepted The Surrender Walker Wood Foundation, Toronto, Ontario of Japan for the Japanese and Government) from their diplo- matic days in Shanghai. Their eyes met when Hiroshima Nagasaki: boarded the Missouri, they mutually smiled with recognition, and then The Real Story of the Atomic Mamoru Shigemitsu realized where he was and became stern and ser- Bombings and Their Aftermath ious. They also had occasion to meet each other again many years by Paul Ham later in London, at the Coronation of reviewed by Allan Bacon Elizabeth II, in 1953. This richly detailed, well researched book, which is often disturbing, and Cosgrave has reported that the in places harrowing, sets out “to present the grisly unadorned truth about the poem “In Flanders Fields” by fellow bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, blurred so long by postwar propaganda.” Canadian and friend Lieutenant-Col- Drawing upon official American, British, Russian and Japanese sources and onel John McCrae was written upon hundreds of interviews with survivors, Ham argues convincingly that we should a scrap of paper on his back during dispense with a number of ‘myths’ concerning the atomic bombings. His central a lull in the fighting on , 1915 thesis is that these did not shock the Japanese into submission; they did not after McCrae witnessed the death of save the lives of a million servicemen; and they did not in and of themselves his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, end the war. He challenges the prevailing view that the use of the bombs was the day before. The poem was first “the least abhorrent choice,” and makes it clear that he regards the strategic published on December 8 that year bombing of Germany by Bomber Command and the USAF, as well as the dev- in Punch magazine, London. astating attacks on Japanese cities, as “terror bombing.” Cosgrave’s service to Canada The book covers familiar territory, with its comprehensive overview of continued after the war with vari- events, from the creation of the in August 1942 with the ous consular posts in Asia; and in objective of developing a , under the leadership of Briga- the 1950s his diplomatic career con- dier General Leslie Groves and Robert Oppenheimer, to the dropping of the tinued with European consular posts atomic bombs, ‘Little Boy’ on Hiroshima on August 6th 1945 and ‘Fat Man’ until he retired in 1955. on Nagasaki on August 9th 1945. Ham describes the increasing distrust On July 28, 1971, Cosgrave between the Western Allies and the Soviets and the determination of the died at his home in Knowlton, which Americans to prevent Russia accessing “the spoils of the Pacific,” or being is located just outside of Montreal. continued on page 10 10 entrusted with atomic secrets, unaware that Klaus Fuchs communicated to the American leadership by Joseph had already betrayed these. By early July 1945 Amer- Grew, who, having served for ten years as the United ican air raids had firebombed 66 Japanese cities and States Ambassador to Japan, understood the great sig- a Target Committee had drawn up a short list of cities nificance to the of their Emperor. Mean- against which the atomic bomb would be used, provided while American air attacks continued on Japanese cities, of course that Trinity (the testing of the weapon) was suc- resulting in thousands of casualties. cessful. In Washington President Truman’s administration The chapters detailing the attacks on Hiroshima and was divided, between hardliners like James Byrnes the Nagasaki, and the appalling devastation and injuries, are Secretary of State on the one hand, and moderates such harrowing. The Target Committee had decided that no as Henry Stimson, Secretary for War, on the other. In warning should be given ahead of time. Survivors were Tokyo the Supreme Council for the Direction of War was hideously disfigured and injured and everywhere there similarly divided between moderates, such as Prime Min- were charred corpses. Some people “held their inner ister Suzuki, and hardliners led by War Minister Anami. organs in their hands, staring at them with appalled curi- The Japanese military dominated, determined to fight to osity.” “A man in rags cycled around with what appeared the end no matter what. to be a piece of charcoal fastened to his bicycle: it was the One of the strengths of this book is the description remains of his child.” Many were suffering from a strange of life in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki prior to the sickness that induced nausea and death. Japanese lead- bombings. Ham paints a picture of hardship and suffering ers were in denial, and the military suppressed all media on the part of ordinary civilians, as food supplies dwin- reports, issuing instructions that to protect themselves dled and other necessities were unobtainable because against a ‘new bomb’ the public “need not worry, so long of the American naval blockade. Citizens were becom- as they covered themselves with white cloth.” Some ing demoralised. Fire-fighting equipment and medical 70,000 had died immediately at Hiroshima and many resources were almost non-existent, and the full weight thousands would die in the months ahead from radiation of defence against air raids fell increasingly upon elderly sickness. The Japanese Supreme Council met, but its men, women and children. members were at an impasse. Hardliners were opposed By early 1945, Ham argues that Japan was in fact to surrender on any terms, unmoved by the destruction already defeated. She had lost the air and sea wars; her of Hiroshima. Moderates wanted to propose their own ground forces were being steadily driven back across conditions for surrender. The dropping of the second the Pacific; the American naval blockade had choked atomic bomb on Nagasaki, again with appalling casual- Japan’s capacity to wage war (no oil was imported in ties, and more significantly the launching of the Soviet 1945); Japan’s entire merchant fleet had been destroyed; attack on , led to the Emperor becom- and her economy was broken. This was the situation when the Allies met at Potsdam in July 1945, and on July 26th issued the (signed by the USA Deceased Friends and Britain) demanding the of Mr. Gerald Bowen LCol Donald Carrington Japan. While the Potsdam meeting was in progress news Maj Ross Christensen LCol Augustin Victor Coroy reached Truman and the British Prime Minister Churchill Mr. William Cox LCol Kenneth G. Farrell that Trinity had been successful. The Soviets were not Mr. Stanley C. Fields MGen Denys Goss informed, and by July 26th the bomb components had F/L Harry Hardy DFC, CD Dame Vera Lynn already reached Tinian Island from where the attacks Dr. Judy McIntosh Mrs. Ann Pollak would be launched. Significantly, earlier in July, the Amer- icans had also cancelled any plans to invade southern In Memoriam Donations Japan, aware of potential unacceptably high casualties Dr. Alis B. Kennedy, in memory of as defences there were strengthened. Sgt Leonce Plante, my father a WW2 veteran. The Japanese leadership’s reaction to the Potsdam Mr. & Mrs. Ted and Dot Smale, in memory of Declaration was to ignore it (). The hardliners Captain J. Ken Smale, Ted’s uncle who was in reaffirmed their determination to fight on. The moderates the Royal Canadian Artillery. He died of wounds secretly instructed Sato, the Japanese Ambassador in suffered in Germany in WW2. Moscow, to seek Soviet assistance in mediating a peace Mr. David Stinson, in memory of settlement, unaware that Stalin had indicated at Pots- Lt Col (Ret’d) Donald Carrington, a true gentleman dam that Russia would be ready to invade Manchuria by and strong supporter of the Organization of Military August 15th. All Japanese leaders were united in insisting Museums of Canada (OMMC). that the Emperor should be preserved, a view that was August 2020 11 ing involved, and an offer of surrender, had been a case of either or: invade or provided that the Imperial line would be drop the bombs, deliberately ignoring preserved, was flashed to the Amer- the fact that Truman had always been icans via Bern and Stockholm. opposed to an and by early Intense debate ensued in Wash- July 1945 plans for it had been aban- ington over whether to accept this offer. doned. The US Strategic Bombing Eventually the Byrnes Note was com- Survey argued that the dropping of the municated to Tokyo, setting out the bombs had been militarily unneces- terms of surrender, recognizing the sary and that Japan had been effect- Emperor’s role in Japanese society, but ively defeated long before their use. insisting that the USA would control his Ham argues convincingly that every- powers. On September 2nd 1945 Gen- one involved expected, and hoped, eral MacArthur and other Allied leaders to use the bomb as soon as possible received Japan’s surrender on board and gave no serious consideration to the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. any other course of action. Truman The most disturbing section of described the bomb as “the most the book has to do with the policy of powerful weapon in the arsenal of the American occupation administra- righteousness” and said “I never had tion and military in the aftermath of the any doubt it should be used.” Churchill bombings. MacArthur imposed a rigid said “the decision was never an issue.” censorship on all news emanating from Perhaps more telling is a comment by Japan, and it was determined not to let information about Byrnes in the 1960s that the bombs were dropped to end the effects of radiation on bomb victims become public the war “before Russia got in.” knowledge. Teams of scientists, doctors and research- The evidence is seemingly conclusive that the ers flooded into the country to study “the human exhib- Japanese leadership did not surrender because of the its of widespread radiation disease,” but there was never bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These had only ‘con- any pretence that they were there to help ease suffering. tributed’ to the decision, as Emperor Hirohito made clear Japanese reports of the effects were dismissed as ‘propa- in his unprecedented radio broadcast to his people on ganda’ and a press release put out by the Manhattan Pro- August 15th. It was Russia’s invasion, the loss of Manchu- ject argued that there could be “no lingering toxic effects ria and the collapse of the that were the because of the height of the explosions.” Yet Groves decisive factors. General George Marshall had warned the from the very beginning had been acutely aware of the US military leaders in June 1945 that “the entry or threat dangers of radiation, which he described as “a serious of entry of Russian invasion of Manchuria might well be and extremely insidious hazard.” Authorities refused to the decisive action leveraging Japan into capitulation.” The share information about how to treat radiation sickness Japanese people had always been fearful of a Russian with Japanese doctors struggling with few resources to invasion. The purpose of the atomic bomb had been to treat victims. For many of the victims (hibakusha) life was shock the Japanese into submission by annihilating a city. unbearable and the consequences terrible in Japanese This it did not do. However, it did provide Tokyo’s leaders society. They were regarded as untouchable, unemploy- with a face-saving expedient – to surrender to the more able, unable to marry and shunned even by their families. acceptable enemy, America rather than Russia. It allowed Many committed and the government refused to them to present the surrender as “the act of a martyred recognise their medical complaints. nation,” a surrender without conceding defeat on the battle- In the years immediately after the war the American field, where it mattered most to the mind. public and press were satisfied with a job well done. The Concluding with a short overview of the nuclear media helped cement the ‘myth’ that the atomic bombs that developed between Russia and the alone won the war and were the least abhorrent choice. United States in the postwar era, an era described by Only later, as the truth of the destruction became known, Winston Churchill as “the peace of mutual terror,” Ham’s did the voices of moral outrage grow, including those account is highly readable and an important contribution of the Vatican and also many of the scientists involved to the literature about the final stages of the war against in the Manhattan Project, who had argued against the Japan and its aftermath. This very interesting book is dropping of the bombs without prior warning. highly recommended. Truman and other politicians continued to argue that St. Martin’s Press, 2011 ISBN 978-1-250-04711-3 the bombs had “saved a million American lives” and that it 629 pages 12 Vera Lynn “The Forces Sweetheart” Ed Storey Dame Vera Lynn CH DBE OStJ has been an honorary life member of the Friends since its inception in 1985 and sadly she passed away at her home at Ditching, East Sussex, England on 18 June at the age of 103. Vera Lynn was a British singer, songwriter and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were largely popular dur- ing the Second World War. She was widely known as “the Forces’ Sweetheart” and gave outdoor concerts for the troops in Egypt, India and Burma during the war as part of Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). The songs most associated with her are “We’ll Meet Again”, “The White Cliffs of Dover”, “A Nightingale Sang in Berke- ley Square” and “There’ll Always Be an England”. She remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and tele- vision in the United Kingdom and the United States, and recording such hits as “Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart” and her UK number one single “My Son, My Son”. Her last single, “I Love This Land”, was released to mark the end of the Falklands War. In 2009, at the age of 92, she Vera Lynn in her ENSA uniform – 1941. became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart with the compilation album We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn. In 2014, In 1941, during the darkest days she released the collection Vera Lynn: National Treasure and in 2017, she of the Second World War, Lynn began released Vera Lynn 100, a compilation album of hits to commemorate her her own radio programme, Sincerely centennial year - it was a No. 3 hit, making her the first centenarian per- Yours, sending messages to British former to have a Top 10 album in the charts. troops serving abroad. She and her quartet performed songs most requested by the soldiers. Lynn also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands over- seas. In 1941, Lynn married Harry Lewis, a clarinetist and saxophonist, whom she had met two years earlier. They had one child in March 1946, Virginia Penelope Anne Lewis (now Lewis-Jones). Her husband died in 1998. Vera Lynn was appointed as Dame of the Most Excellent Order of the for her charitable work in 1975. Vera Lynn sang songs with feeling, with lyrics which were very meaningful as they expressed the sentiments and hopes of the gen- eration who fought the Second Vera Lynn sharing a Jeep with some RAF personnel in Burma – 1944 World War.