My grandfather enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy at the start of the Second World War. The memories of the previous war with Germany and the conscription that had made military service mandatory made him think that he was being smart by enlisting and thus getting to pick service in the navy. Though growing up in the prairie town of Edmonton he did not have any experience at sea, it seemed preferable than being in the infantry especially after the brutal trench warfare that had marked the front lines of the First World War. He served on a ship that escorted cargo between Canada and England, hunting the U-Boats that were hunting the vital supplies bound for England.
Though he likes to tell stories, he rarely talks about his time in the navy. The only story I ever remember him telling was how when Germany surrendered the English channel became full of U-Boats emerging from the water to return to German ports."If I knew how many of them were out there trying to kill me, I probably would have surrendered," he joked at the conclusion of the story.
November 11th is Remembrance Day in Canada, Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth, in the United States it is Veterans Day. It's a day to remember those that sacrificed their lives in the armed forces, defending the freedoms we enjoy today.
These days there are not many veterans of the Great War still alive, and even the ranks of those that fought in the Second World War are growing thiner each year. While other wars and conflicts do not get as much attention during Remembrance Day, it is important to also acknowledge the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform have made in Korea, on UN Peacekeeping missions and are still making today in places like Afghanistan.
So today remember those that have sacrificed for our freedoms, and be thankful.
For further information on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day or to make a donation to help support our veterans please visit these sites:
- The British Legion's Poppy Appeal
- Red Cross Supporting America's Military Families
- The Royal Canadian Legion