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CDN GOVERNMENT SPECIAL WWI REMEMBRANCE
4 August, 2014
Canada
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YESTERDAY OUR CDN GOVERNMENT HELD A SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY AT OUR NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL INCLUDING A FLYOVER OF VINTAGE WWI AIRCRAFT TO HONOUR THE 61,OOO CDN. MEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THAT WAR. ALSO THE LAST SOLDIER TO DIE @ MONS BELGUIM 3 MINUTES BEFORE THE SEIECE FIRE WAS A CANADIAN SHOT BY A GERMAN SNIPER. THE MESSENGER CARRYING THE MESSAGE TO STOP FIGHTING WAS DELAYED GETTING TO MONS.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE MY DAD SERVED IN WWI AS AN ARTILLERY DRIVER ON THE HORSE TEAMS USED TO HAUL THE ARTILLERY GUNS. DURING THE BATTLE OF PACHENDALE 1917 HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE SHOULDER BY ENEMY ARTILLERY FIRE AND SUFFERED A DOSE OF MUSTARD GAS BUT BEING ON HORSE BACK WAS ABLE TO GET BACK FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT & MEDI-VAC TO A FRENCH HOSPITAL &TROOP SHIP BACK TO AN ENGLISH HOSPITAL WHERE HE RECOVERED.WHEN WWII BROKE OUT HE WAS BACK IN NOVA SCOTIA AND IN 1940 DROVE A TRUCK LOAD OF WOULD BE RECRUITS 100 MILES TO THE RECRUITING OFFICE IN HALIFAX WHERE HE SENT HIS TRUCK HOME WITH A CHAP WHO FAILED THE MEDICAL; LIED ABOUT HIS AGE (BEING OVER THE AGE LIMIT)AND ENLISTED HIMSELF. HOWEVER HIS DECEPTION WAS DETECTED THE DAY PRIOR TO SAILING OVERSEAS BUT SINCE HE PASSED THE MEDICAL HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SHORE DUTY IN HALIFAX FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR WITH THE SIGNAL CORPS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE ANTI SUBMARINE NETS PROTECTING THE CONVOYS FORMING UP IN HALIFAX HARBOUR.MY GOOD FORTUNE WAS THAT MY EXISTANCE WAS DUE TO A WEEKEND FURROUGH IN THE FALL OF 1941.
SO YES !! YESTERDAY WAS A VERY MEANING FUL DAY FOR ME!
ON A HIGH NOTE OUR PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY GUARDS WILL BE POSTED DURING 7 MONTHS OF THE YEAR AT THE TOMB OF OUR UNKNOWN SOLDIER WHO RESTS BESIDE OUR NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL IN OTTAWA, ONTARIO.
THIS COMING WEEKEND IS A LOCAL FESTIVAL (INTERNATIONAL FIDDLE COMPETITION) WITH FESTIVITIES & PARADE. I WILL BE TAKING MY JEEP IN FOR THE PARADE TO TRANSPORT A FEW OF OUR LOCAL VETS. WILL SEND PHOTOS.
Merv P.
Pictures to follow.
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