My annual Remembrance Day post.
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I had a great uncle Reg who fought in World War I. In the time since his passing [he died in his nineties in the Veteran's Wing of Sunnybrook Hospital] I’ve learned that he was part of the British Expeditionary Force and ended up in the 170th Battalion. I don’t know the Regiment, unfortunately, but I actually have a copy of his Attestation Paper – the document of his enlistment, which he signed when he was nineteen – and you can see HERE, if you’re interested.
Uncle Reg was shot in the shoulder at Vimy Ridge, the site of perhaps Canada’s most notorious battle of WWI. He was captured by the Germans and taken to Dusseldorf, where he spent the remainder of the war in in POW camp. Although he never told me anything horrid that happened there, I’m told it wasn’t pleasant. I have his father’s diary as well, which says they were told he was dead three days before they were told he was a prisoner. I can’t imagine what a horrible feeling that must have been, thinking he was dead; they were lucky, in the end, where so many of their neighbours were not.
Each year I try head down to City Hall and watch the ceremonies at 11 o’clock, and spend the time trying to wrap my head around what the veterans who fought in the wars we’ve fought sacrificed. The point of this post is to say that I hope you all take a moment in your own way to remember those who died so that we could live free. Whether you’re Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, Canadian, American, Japanese or German, it doesn’t matter: from failing hands they’ve thrown the torch, and it’s ours to hold high.
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A couple of years ago, Tracy [whom I miss dearly] made me a Remembrance Day CD from her great music collection. Although I ultimately picked these songs, credit for the introduction I got to many of them is solely Tracy’s. If you ever want to make one of your own, here’s what’s on mine:
1] In Flander’s Fields – John McDermott
2] The Maple Leaf Forever
3] Recruiting Sargeant – Great Big Sea
4] The Making of Tipperary - Seamus Kennedy
5] Ain’t Gonna Jump No More – Oscard Brand Military Folk
6] The Green Fields of France – Sons of Maxwell
7] Johnny Come Lately – Steve Earle with The Pogues
8] Battle Hym of the Republic - Joan Baez
9] And The Band Played Waltzing Matilida – The Pogues
10] Gallipoli – The Balladeers
11] Sargeant Where’s Mine – Billy Connolly
12] Remembrance Day - Bryan Adams
13] Sink The Bismarck – Johnny Horton
14] Flowers of the Forest
15] North Atlantic Squadron – Stompin’ Tom Connors
16] Long Way To Tipperary
17] Brothers In Arms – Dire Straits
- BC
- Thanks Tracy
- Thanks, Uncle Reg
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On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store’s PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store’s leadership role in adopting the Legion’s “two minutes of silence” initiative. He felt that the store’s contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o’clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the “two minutes of silence” to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry’s anger towards the father for trying to engage the store’s clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, “A Pittance of Time”.
To all the veterans of all of the wars, and to all the soldiers and all the peacekeepers who wear the uniform today, thank you. And Uncle Reg? We miss you, sir.
- BC
