LITTLE CURRENT—The first Sunday of May is the date Canada’s naval community commemorates the loss of thousands of lives during the Battle of the Atlantic—the largest and longest naval campaign of the Second World War. This ongoing battle pitted the Allied naval and air forces against German and Italian submarines, ships and aircraft that were primarily targeting merchant ships bringing vital food and supplies from North America to Europe.
“Victory was costly,” LT. (N) Sylvain Boucher explained to those who gathered at the memorial, “more than 70,000 Allied seamen, merchant mariners and airmen lost their lives, including about 4,400 from Canada. Many civilians also lost their lives. The first shots were fired on September 3, 1939, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany…A week later, on the 10th of September 1939, Canada declared war on Germany. Immediately, Canada’s navy, merchant marines and air force were thrust into the battle of the Atlantic, and never stopped fighting till the very end, 79 years ago, in 1945.” LT. Boucher said.
It’s been several years since this commemoration has taken place in Little Current, but now it’s back, and the service held on Sunday, May 5, at Little Current’s Cenotaph was a solemn, prayerful, respectful and informative occasion, honouring those who died at sea during a period of 2,075 days, from 1939 to 1945.
Master of Ceremony, LT. Navy, Sylvain Boucher, Commanding Officer of 348 Manitoulin Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps, gave a welcoming address to veterans, cadets and the public in attendance, acknowledging the traditional territory of the Anishinabek and Odawa people. He thanked special guests the Little Current Legion Branch 177, and the Manitoulin Navy League Branch for their dedication and service.
‘O Canada’ was ably performed by three of the young cadets. Prayers and a period of silence followed. LT. Boucher gave a history of the battle, its tremendous losses, and the important role Canada played throughout. Lists of names of ships that were lost were acknowledged by the ringing of a ship’s bell, a powerful realization of the vast number of vessels and individuals lost in the Atlantic.
Wreaths were then laid at the Cenotaph by veterans, Legion members and cadets, with one final wreath thrown into the water of the North Channel. A final prayer and benediction were given, and ‘God Save the King’ was sung to end the service.
