A ceremony on the lawn of the legislature this Sunday will commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Leftenant Commander John Nethercot of Marpac Public Affairs says that the Battle of the Atlantic was a significant part of Canada's naval history. "The army often points to Vimmy ridge as the coming of age of the Canadian army and Canada as a nation. And we can also look at the Battle of the Atlantic as the coming of age of the Canadian Navy"
Canadians from across the country joined the navy to help fight in the longest military campaign of the Second World War. "Sailors came from every province and city from across Canada. It is interesting that of the sailors that fought during the battle of Atlantic, a great deal came from the Prairie Provinces. So they traded the prairies for the open oceans, and that certainly isn’t lost on Canadians,” states Leftenant Commander Nethercot.
A parade comprised of hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces personnel, veterans, cadets and the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy will begin at 10:35am, and the ceremony will be held at the cenotaph at 10:50am.
Each year on the first Sunday in May, Canada and its naval community commemorate those lost at sea in the longest single campaign of the Second World War. Today, the legacy of the Battle of the Atlantic is upheld by those currently serving, pledging themselves “Ready, Aye, Ready” to face today’s security challenges with pride and professionalism.
The Battle of the Atlantic was a pivotal struggle during the Second World War, lasting from September 1939 to May 1945, which was courageously fought by the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Merchant Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. With this success came a high cost. The RCN lost 33 vessels and suffered over 2,000 fatalities; the merchant navy lost over 70 ships and over 1,700 fatalities; and the Royal Canadian Air Force lost more than 900 aircrews.