Honouring Canada's
Veterans on Remembrance
Day
“The
century-plus anniversaries of the battles of Vimy
Ridge and
Passenchendaele
remind us that Canadian veterans have contributed to global security
in even the early years of our national history. In the years
following the World Wars, these individuals have continued to place
themselves at risk to bring aid and peace. They have represented
Canada with valour and determination ~ and many of them made the
ultimate sacrifice to secure our future.
“Canada's
veterans have fought far from home to defend their
friends...neighbours...and fellow citizens...and helped win conflicts
that threatened the lives and innocents in distant lands. They left
their own families to protect others and supported one another
through the conflicts of war with strength and courage. They took
these risks ensuring our country remained diverse, just and free.
“Our
high quality of life was secured by veterans and current members of
the Canadian Armed Forces who have joined our allies around the world
in maintaining peace. We owe them more than a promise of remembrance
~ we owe them the bright future they fought for, defined by Canadian
values.
“When
we wear poppies and take two minutes of silence on November 11, we
join Canadians across the country to demonstrate that we built the
strong, inclusive, peaceful society our veterans believed in ~ and we
will never forget the price they paid for it.” (from message by
Regional Chair Gary Carr)
Picture in your mind a somber blue sky with shaded sun rays
and a few greyish-white clouds casting light on a field of red
poppies
as they sway in the breeze ~ as numerous birds awaken our minds and
hearts.
A large red poppy speaks:
Together we remember!
They shall not grow old in our memories.
We will remember and honour them forever.
Yet the trees hang on, just like the Canadian soldiers did a century
before,
watching over monuments commemorating Canadian casualties
lost in various battles around the world.
Memories
from the First World War
A year ago, The Spectator invited families to share stories and
artifacts
from loved ones who fought.
SGT.
Walter WilliamVyse 1892-1982): 16th
Canadian Scottish Battalion.
My
father saw action in France and Belgium. He rode a horse that was
completely black with the exception of a white star on his forehead
and one white foot. The reason for the colour being black was
because he was involved in transporting supplies to the front line.
Of course it was all done under cover of darkness at night.
Horses and mules were very important for transportation.
(submitted by Ken Vyse)
PTE
Thomas Callander Shannon 1886-1917: 19th
Battalion.
After
my grandfather married in Milton, he and his wife moved to Hamilton.
Even with wife and child, he enlisted and was sent overseas. He
actually survived Vimy, but was hit by enemy shrapnel...and died
April 22, 1917. (from granddaughter)
SGT.
Ernie Barrett1895-1975: Fourth Canadian Infantry.
My
grandfather told about a shell that exploded quite close to him at
Vimy Ridge, killing several of his buddies. He was wounded, but
survived. Later he suffered a bayonet wound on his left thigh and a
gunshot wound on his right leg. Then he had shrapnel embedded in his
back. However, he survived. (from grandson, Al Barrett)
SGT.
Alfred Ted Hearn 1890-1966: 68th
Battery, Canadian Field Artillery.
In
1914 my grandfather in the Canadian army, was sent to France where he
fought in the entire First World War. In 1916 he was part of the
battle of the Somme and during some artillery fire, a shell went off
in his hands, blowing off 2 of his fingers. It gave him a lot of
body shrapnel ~ from which he miraculously lived. After spending 6
months in an English hospital, he returned to the front. (Dave
Bowen,Grandson)
PTE.Richard
Hamilton Pryde (1895-1960: 86th
Machine Gun Regiment.
My
father came back stone-deaf with a number of wounds. Not only shot,
he was bayoneted, gassed and shell-shocked. He spent a terrible time
'in the trenches'...the smell of death surrounding them...the
mud...the water...the dysentery. He had a very difficult time to get
back to a normal life. Inability to get rid of all the demons,he
became an alcoholic ~ a bent, broken and desperate man. (Richard
Hamilton Pryde, Son)
PTE.
George Percy Webb 1893-1951: 76th
Overseas Battalion.
My
grandfather came to Canada as a home child, working on a farm in
Waterdown for a few years before enlisting in the First World War in
the Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1915. He spent the rest of
the war in England, France and Belgium. The money paid to him
amounted to about $33 monthly for fighting in the war. In 1919, he
travelled home through the port of Halifax. (submitted by Walter
Price.Grandson).
PTE.
WilliamWalker 1888-1985: 11th
Battery Field Artillery.
My
grandfather went to France in the spring of 1915 and immediately was
involved in the Second Battle of Ypres. Gassed in that battle, he
survived. In October 1916, he was wounded at the Somme ~ hit by shell
fragments that blew him off his horse. He woke up on the train
platform where he had been left for dead! He then bribed an orderly
to put him on the train for 10 pounds. Surviving, he spent the next 2
years in hospital. ( Siubmitted by Robert Walker, Grandson).
Of interest to me as writer, it may be 'a small world' ~
as of a few years ago, I met Bob Walker through business...and
recently working on Election Day (I was the DRO) in early October,
his wife checked in to vote. Recognizing my name, introduced
herself...telling me she had her husband in her car for a ride ~ he
was a resident in this Senior's Home.
They
Signed On For Service ~ But Stayed 'Second Class'
Mona Whitwell's binder tells a story about women in the Second World
War:
proud to serve, but fighting for respect.
Paul Wilson. a journalist, wrote in The Hamilton Spectator (together
with photos) stated:
“The
men who served Canada in the Second World War were called heroes ~
all of them ~ the women not so much. Thanks to a big black binder
her mother left her, Kathy Whitwell got a window into what that war
was like for some women who chose to sign up.
“Mona,
her mother, born 94 years ago, was clever...skipped a couple of
grades.
But
she had to leave Delta Secondary partway through to care for her
mother.
Wanting
to do something that mattered, she saw the recruitment ads for the
Canadian
Women's Army Corps...stating: You
can free a man to fight. Some men still fill jobs that women can
do...they wait for you to take their places.
She signed on for service anywhere, including overseas. CWAC posted
her to Chebucto Barracks, Halifax. She rose to Sergeant, in charge
of the steno pool...(and her story goes on)!
Her stone marker sits on the south bank of the Grand River in
Caledonia.”
Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...November 2, 2018
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