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God's Acre's 26 May ceremony reminded all of horrors and bravery at Dieppe 80 years ago!

6/29/2022

God shed tears, and more tears, and yet more poured over the landscape throughout the ceremony. He let us know that the passing of these men and women, and their families had not gone unnoticed. And his tears pushed us all on to conduct this important Candlelight Tribute.

Several hundred gathered to pay their respects. Possibly, as many or more pooled their resources to help bring the community's respect and thanks to those who served, many giving their very lives so that we could live in peace.

At this time of reflection, thoughts must also go out to those on the home-fronts who did so much for those who left home to serve. Thoughts also were then, and to this day, due men and women who continue to serve, and those to come, who may be called on to reach out to grab the flame and hold it high. And to catch it, if and when it falls.

The ceremony took place on the Esquimalt lands owned by Veterans Affairs Canada. Land and all within, that have been declared a National Historic Site!

And so it should be!

The ceremony would never have happened without the tremendous dedication and support from a wide group of national and local government entities as well as many other groups and individuals.

Each stood, or sat, and dealt with an incredible down pouring for about an hour, in honor of those at rest before them.

At the federal level, Veterans Affairs Canada and their very dedicated staff and volunteers at the cemetery performed numerous tasks to bring the event to life. Maritime Pacific Command was represented as was the commander of CFB Esquimalt and the Base Chief. Army, Navy, Air Force, Korean Veterans, Peacekeepers, Merchant Navy, Women Veterans of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion and the BC Command of the Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans in Canada were also key attendees and participates. As were numerous cadet groups, scouts and girl guides.

The badges of several reservists were also noted. And one could not go to such an event without the tremendous contribution of the Canadian Scottish. Their association band marched on the dignitaries, the Colours and Honour Guard to the tunes of the pipes and drums. We even heard the wonderful voices in song, from the Victoria Children's Choir.

At the municipal level we must acknowledge much of the background work and support of the folks at the Township of Esquimalt, and the Mayor and others who also attended the ceremony.

So too, we need to thanks the great folks at Thrifty Foods, the Gorge Vale Golf Course and The Lodge At Broadmead.

Canadian flags had been placed earlier at all graves in the cemetery. Here we see some of them and one of several tables with candles located through-out the property. As darkness was beginning to fall, the candles were turned on and were eventually placed in front of each of the graves.

Some were even presented to selected youth. Popular local media personality Cliffe Lequesne, assigned the children with individual special guests of honor and they accompanied the child to a grave nearbye for placement.

In the top of 3 images we see the Colours having just arrived and folks standing in salute to their arrival. At the center is a wider picture showing some of the veterans accompanying the Colours. And at bottom we see a few of the dignitaries at the dias and under cover to it's right.

My poor images are the results of the inclement weather.

The Master of Ceremonies reminded those gathered, that due to Covid, this was the first such ceremony in several years. After the singing of O Canada, a prayer was given, then the Last Post and a Minute of Silence performed.

At this point Lilian Luyk gave the Act of Remembrance.

Ms. Luyk's father... Ken Curry was one of 580 Canadians who, serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry who stormed the beaches of Dieppe on 19 August 1942. Very close to these men of the RHLI on the same beach where the men of the Toronto Scottish, oft noted in this space, also landed.

(Just 5 weeks before this landing, a navy signalman heled the storming of another beach. This being Guandalcanal. You've hopefully read of Douglas Munro's bravery in numerous blogs in this space as being the only Medal of Honor recipient in the US Coast Guard's history. And he too, was a Canadian, from Vancouver. The US is so proud of him they named six war ships after him. Even the Headquarters building in DC is so named in his honor.

Within hours the RHLI lost 197 men. Another 174 became POW's. Ken Curry was one of these and was released at Armistice. This Hamiltonian relocated to Victoria BC in the 1980's. After some 73 yrs of marriage he died while a resident at The Lodge at Broadmead.

He was Canada's last veteran of Dieppe!

Guest Speaker Mark Zuehlke needs no introduction to anyone with a serous knowledge of Canadian WW ll history. He is an author from Victoria who was earned many awards for his work as not only a mystery writer but also for his incredible Canadian Battle Series. If memory serves well, his numbers given to me recently were that he has written over 25 books. He is often referred to as the most popular Canadian military author of the day.

His address to the gathering left all with some horrible details about the blunder at Dieppe... and at the same time, some incredible tidbits about heroism. After his talk he was approached by many in the crowd, who enjoyed chatting with him, being amazed at his knowledge and an ability to converse with those from all walks of life at the service.

Mark conducts tours of Canadian battlefields in Europe and he can be contacted regarding history, his books or his tours through his website... www.liberationtours.ca

In a symbol of passing the torch from the elder to the youth, some of the dignitaries escorted youth members to a few of the graves near the dias. Then they actually, in act of passing the torch, placed it (the candle) in the hands of the youth, who in turn placed them at the foot of the graves of one of the deceased who lay at rest near the dias.

Here we see Ms. Lillian Luyk returning to her seat after placing a lit candle. She is wearing the white coat. To her left we see historian Mark Zuehlke and a youth, having just placed a candle at the foot of a grave marker.

Several years ago the Victoria Genealogical Society and the cemetery worked together on the production of this book. Some history is in it as well as a complete list, as of that date, of all of those lying at rest at God's Acre. I would encourage you to contact the society to pick up your own copy. They can be reached at... https;//www.victoriags.org.

Since this blog is getting far too long, I will return on Sunday to finish it off.

NOTE... at that time I will bring you an important note re this blog.

Please join me then.

Bart

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Returning to the God's Acre Candlelight Tribute Ceremony

6/21/2022

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I started to bring you this story a few blogs back but other matters kept me from completing the story. So we return to it today.

It began on Sunday, Father's Day. But as my blog was getting on, I tried to save it three different times and in each, the Weebly site I'm using managed to once again fail to do the SAVE. They ought not rely on me for any wonderful advertising in the days to come.

Hopefully Today's attempt to bring you the belated story will succeed. So here goes...

The God's Acre Cemetery has been operating for over 150 years, and got its beginnings with the navy's purchase of land back in 1868. The 1.1 hectare piece of land was self run for years and has grown to now be the final resting place for well over 3,000 members of the military family, their immediate families and others. In 1947 the cemetery was taken over by the folks at Veterans Affairs Canada, and have, since seen its expansion during their ownership.

For many years the cemetery has held ceremonies in honour of various causes. On the 26th of May this year several hundred attended its annual Candlelight Tribute. Each year the cemetery highlights several events in our military history. One of these annual events is called a Candlelight Tribute. These highly special events encourage public participation from several official, non official and civilian representatives of the local population.

This year's theme was the 60th anniversary of bravery and a solum remembrance of the incredibly high costs suffered during the 19 August 1942 attack on the beaches of Dieppe.

At the time the Germans held virtual control over most of continental Europe. The Allies needed desperately to get a safe haven to land and start to advance on the Germans.

But, as thought by some, the attacks along a 16km stretch of coastline was well defended by hidden gun, mortar and other weapons to prevent such a landing. Many of the positions high up in the cliffs were so well concealed that Allied intelligence was completely caught off guard. Evidencing this was verified by some of the officers attacking and seeing evidence of mortar guides used to practice and then the weapons being better zeroed in and ready to counter any attacker.

And the Allies came...some 6,100 strong. About 5000 being Canadians from across the country. Some 1,000 were British Commandos and 50 American Rangers also participated.

The Allies were to land at five separate areas along the beach of this fishing port in northern France. A peacetime portion of the landing area is shown above.

Here we see the various obstacles including barbed wire the Allies faced when arriving at the beach. In upper right corner we see part of the higher positions where big guns were installed, and these followed the coast line all along the beach.

Getting over the concrete obstruction closest to the water, you then had a pathway of crushed rock that made it quite difficult to dig into for protection and tank movements. Many of the tanks attacking would never even get off the beaches. Same for the brave soldiers!

Over 1,000 planes fought in the air and tried to lend support to the ground troops. The Allied landing crafts could only get so far and then all the men had to bail out and make way through more water obstacles before even setting foot on ground.

The Royal Navy refused to provide enough heavy, long range bombarding of the beach and cliffs beyond. Such would have made landings much easier. Instead it was a Forlorn Hope. Many would call it a suicide mission. But the Canadians were glad to get into battle and very tired of the two years training and retraining and performing defensive duties at London.

So the stage was set for what was destined to be one of the most bloody and horrific few hours of fighting in our nation's history.

Here we see several of the different landing points during "Operation Jubilee," the military code name for the operation. (On reflection it should have been "Operation Slaughter".)

Of the 4,963 Canadian troops landing, only 2,210 would make it back to London after the battle. Of about 6,200 involved, 3,367 became casualties, 1,946 became POW's and 916 of the Canadians were killed in action.

The attack was supposed to be a surprise, but one of the vessels approaching the coastline ran into German coastal patrols. A battle broke out and the noise was heard on the beach telling the Germans that an attack was underway.

Delays off shore also saw an arrival, schedual to be in darkness, becoming one in the early morning light. Further challenging the allied attack, was the fact that one of the beach landings starting 1 1/2 hours early. Thus sending the signal that more was to come. Another problem had some of the troops landed on the West side of a river whilst they were supposed to land on the East side.

That river was called the Sice at the left of above image, at Green Beach. I have a particular interest in this and Red Beach.

It was at Green Beech that Lt. Col. Cecil Merritt would go on to earn his Victoria Cross... in crossing a very dangerous bridge under withering fire, and rallying his troops to follow. Had they been landed in the right place much of this loss may have been prevented.

Merritt was a distant cousin of my mother's!

At Red Beach many units landed. One of these was the Toronto Scottish. This remains my favorite regiment of all reserve units in Canada. One in which I first served and remained for close to 15 years. Had I not moved to the East coast I would have continued a career. And one in which I was destined, unknown at the time, to one day becoming its Regimental Sergeant-Major. But alas, by that time I was long gone.

But back to God's Acre, it would be the devastation at Dieppe, the bravery through-out and the horrible costs that would be the subject of remembrance on May 26th.

And that will finally be covered in the next blog on Sunday.

Please join me then.

Bart

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A Correction and More on God's Acre Ceremony

6/12/2022

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Way back in 1988 I began a 5 1/2 year run writing a Column in a Halifax newspaper. When it ended I had done over 560 columns helping folks seeking better treatment from municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments, as well as agencies, boards, commissions and the like at all those governments levels.

During that time I learned early on that when one in the press writes something, it often stands, even after the author has been told he or she was wrong about something.

I however took a different approach as a freelancer at the time. I felt that when an error is made, one must verify and then correct the error in a future column. I was however most stunned to hear quiet often that often you don't correct, you simply ignore it and move on.

In as much as my column was one of the top columns in the paper and in fact NS journalism of the day, the paper's approach was silly. A mistake uncorrected could lead many a reader down the wrong path to their search for justice.

So, when errors were pointed out to me I corrected them, much to the chagrin of many on the newspaper staff. I have tried to bring this same philosophy to about 755 blogs in this space over the past dozen years.

So today's column brings you a correction, as have several in the past.

It deals with Dennis Buckley's grave, of which you have hopefully read much here in the past. After some 134 years Buckley remained buried under a misspelled name. Many searched for years to locate his grave without success.

The current historian for his Civil War unit finally tried something different. If Buckley was hiding, the man would just look for the fellow who died with him at Peachtree Creek in July 1864. That man's name was Whitmore. The hunch turned out correctly.

As a result of this great research, historian John DuBois, took steps to have a new grave marker made, and a formal ceremony conducted in Georgia about the discovery and correction to this part of US and Canadian History.

The following year the historian and family and other re-enactors traveled to Ontario to help me and others unveil a commemorative marker in Lindsay for Buckley. Much has appeared in this space in the past about both matters.

Interestingly, DuBois' grandfather also fought at Peachtree, and later at Gettysburg and rests at same cemetery. His name was also misspelled but I believe corrected by John DuBois.

Somehow the story had it that the CW soldier buried next to Buckley was DuBois. But in fact it is another soldier, who died at Peachtree, and was also a buddy of Buckley's. He too was killed there in action, and it is this man... Sam Whitmore that rests at Buckley's side.

Below are some Images to show these graves.

Like so many other soldiers who died in war, Sam and Dennis were originally buried very near the fields where they were killed. Only wooden crosses were first erected. Later they were moved to a second and then third cemetery. That 3rd cemetery is the Marieta National Cemetery in Cobb County in Marietta Georgia.

Here we see Sam Whitmore's marker at left in upper image and to the right is Dennis Buckley's markers on the right. Below these is the current marker for Buckley, unveiled by DuBois and many others in 2005. Note the older model of marker then still in place for Sam Whitmore.

I shall return on Sunday June 19th to give more on the story of God's Acre, introduced last week. Hope you will join me then.

Bart

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A Week of Remembrance!

6/5/2022

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Last week was another of the 52 weeks in every year that folks across North America must stop and give thanks and thoughts to. And remembrance of so much given by so many in order that you and I can live, in peace today.

Or at least in most places, tragic that it is that these feelings can not be shared by the daily horrors seen by those brave men, women and children in the Ukraine, and their families around the world.

Closer to home, thousands each day pass one of the 18 wonderful Civil War statutes in Washington DC. One dedicated to remembrance! Though, tragically not known to all who pass bye.

Here is that statute.

The man on top of this statute asks, did you remember the price we, are families and other loved ones paid so long ago?

His name was John Logan and he was a politician, lawyer and Civil War General. After the war he became the 2nd president of the thousands strong very influential veterans group known as the Grand Army of the Republic.

His statute represents men and women who came forth from so many nations, to save the United States of America. Ironic, that its very location, is only a few blocks away from the Canadian Embassy. Canada being a country that some 50,000 left to help our American neighbours during those horrific days of 1861-5.

Several years ago I had the privilege of visiting both the Canadian Embassy, and this statute and many other important DC locations. I was there doing research on the Civil War and the roles fellow Canadians played during those tragic days.

At war's end Major General John Logan joined and soon became the 2nd Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). This group, numbering in the tens of thousands, had offices... or posts, across the US and a handful even in Canada. They represented the interests of their member veterans.

One of General Logan's (shown above) orders of business, was indeed an order. An order that required all members to take the time to remember, give thoughts to, and show same by adorning the graves of the past veterans with flowers.

And as such, a day had to de decided, that flowers would be in bloom all across the country. That day was chosen to be May 30th, and it was to become known as Decoration Day. Today it survives but Americans now call it Memorial Day.

And that day for this year was last week!

Logan's original order, known as General Order number 11, was issued on 5 May 1868, and here it is...

This plaque may make reading a little easier...

Several times a year Americans come forth to recognize their fallen service men and women. Here is one way they show their respect...

It is unknown if this young fellow is one of many planting flags across the nation, during several occasions each year, or more tragically, if he is grieving the loss of a friend or family member.

We do the same in Canada. Similarly we also do Candlelight Ceremonies in many locations including here in Victoria BC.

At Victoria one such ceremony takes place annually at the Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery known as God's Acre.

The land was purchased by the navy for use as a cemetery back in 1868, making it 155 years old next year. On the grounds rest many family members and workers from the military and some 2500 resting places for military men and women.

To get to the cemetery you have two directions of approach, shown below.

To gain entry to the cemetery you could drive south on Tillicum Road, and turn right at Colville Road and continue to the 2nd arrow above. This is Veterans Drive. Again turn right and continue on for a few minutes till arriving at the cemetery. Or you could approach the entrance from the left side of the map show above.

If from the right, you drive right past an important historical memorial. Sadly most do not ever even see it. It is located at the red arrow at right in above picture. Here is that memorial...

The image is that of Rowland Bourke, a Brit. who moved to Canada and began farming but in clearing the land he lost an eye in an explosion. Continuing on, at the beginning of WWl he volunteered first with the Cdn. forces, then the US forces and then the Brits and got rejected by all three.

Eventually, with only one eye, the Brits took him on in their Naval Reserves. He would eventually be called into action, and would earn the Distinguished Service Order, and in short order would then be awarded the Victoria Cross for two different events and the saving of many sailors lives. (His heroism has been oft noted in this space.)

Lt Commander Bourke and General Pearkes are the only VC recipients buried in the greater Victoria area.

Bourke's grave has an annual ceremony, thanks to family, myself and the great folks at HMCS Malahat, the local naval reserve unit.

Pearkes final resting place, as far as I can tell, gets little notice or ceremony by anyone other than normal church maintenance.

Both should get major attention several times a year.

But getting back to God's Acre, for years the cemetery sign has become weather beaten and in need of repair. Several attempts to have the matter addressed finally resulted in the new sign being erected several months back. Here are both...

Something has just cropped up that needs my attention, so my planned description of those events and more must be left till next Sunday.

I hope you will again join me then.

cheers,
Bart

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God's Acre's 26 May ceremony reminded all of horrors and bravery at Dieppe 80 years ago!

Returning to the God's Acre Candlelight Tribute Ceremony

A Correction and More on God's Acre Ceremony

A Week of Remembrance!

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

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Categories

God's Acre's 26 May ceremony reminded all of horrors and bravery at Dieppe 80 years ago!

Returning to the God's Acre Candlelight Tribute Ceremony

A Correction and More on God's Acre Ceremony

A Week of Remembrance!

Author;Bart Armstrong, C.D., Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Archives

Categories

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers