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"Motion Is Passed"

2/25/2023

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As any reader of these blogs over the past ten years and more well know, I have written much, and often about the story of Nova Scotia's Joseph Noil.

Back in April 2016, this Medal of Honor recipient's grave was finally found and unveiled for the first time in some 130 years and more. The media coverage of the historic event could be heard from radio stories, viewing on TV, and read about in numerous print media and internet outlets. Potential  public exposure had to be in the millions on that and the days to follow.

The role this blog played in helping to find the Noil grave, the arranging, in part due to the efforts of this blog, for a new and corrected marker placed and the most formal ceremony, again in part due to this blog, have  been often noted in this space.

The Noil story should be widespread across Canada during this very month declared across North America as being  "Black History Month".

Sadly, I have yet to see Joseph Noil's name mentioned ANYWHERE in Canada during this month.

Curious, when it was just two years ago during Black History Month, that our Prime Minister publicly noted that this is... "a time to honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present, and reflect on the many contributions they have made in our country."

Some reflection!

The month of February was chosen for a reason.

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The roles President Abraham Lincoln and advocate Frederick Douglas are covered below. Lincoln was born on 12 Feb., 1809 and Douglas was born on 14 Feb, 1818.

It was felt most fitting that a month to honour the Blacks of North America should represent both men. Thus, their births in February became the logical month for  Black History Month.
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Nova Scotia' native born Senator Don Oliver and Grenada born Ontario resident Ontario's MP Jean Augustine played significant roles on the creation of Canada's Black History Month.

Senator Oliver was the first Black Senator in our Senate, and MP Augustine was the first Black MP in Canada.

Here is the story of their work and the creation of Black History Month in Canada. The following may well be the first time in decades...or longer that these historical documents have been presented to the public, but it is now in this very blog.

While it is long, I urge you to read it all!
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Note the last three words.... 

"Motion agreed to."

It was on this date...  March 4, 2008, that the Senate of Canada approved the creation of Black History Month in Canada. It received unanimous votes. Every Senator from across Canada voted in favour of creating such a month.

The first ever month of celebration would occur in 2009.

The next blog, will arrive soon, and it will be in the month the US celebrates as Womens History Month. Ours is celebrated in October as regular readers of this blog well know.

In that blog I will continued with many issues regarding Black History Month... and it's failings.

See you soon,
Bart
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Remembering three F's during Christmas Season!

12/27/2022

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This is this time of year, more perhaps than the rest, that  our thoughts should be about our families and friends. As equally important, but often forgotten, are those we have lost over the years.

And how unfair that we usually forget the fallen as well! Men and woman who's heroism have paved the way for our very existence.


For the most part, it is those fallen whom I have dedicated over 23 years researching, advocating as needed, and bringing  back to life their incredible stories of bravery.

Tens of thousands of emails, photo's, miles traveled and dollars spent have allowed me to bring to readers about a dozen less than 600 blogs over the past ten years since this blog was born back in Dec. 2012.

This self financed quest has resulted, quite literally in just over 1 blog a week for ten years.

In five days the year 2022 will be gone. But today's blog will bring you four dates, of so many in North America's History that all of us are duty bound to remember next year, and all those to follow. 
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It was on Monday 15 April 1912 that the  Titanic headed off to North America on her inaugural voyage. She carried some 2400 passengers  on a trip that was said to be the safest of safe. Officials claimed it was unsinkable. But history tell us that it ran into ice and, in less than three hours took over 1500 to their watery graves. Only about 700 survived.

There is no shortage of information about this tragic event. There are internet sites, books, and historic films, plays and memorials in England, the US and Canada, particularly at Halifax.

So, having reminded you of this horrific event, I shall confess to an error that appeared in one of my very first blogs a decade ago. A tidbit I just discovered in the past few weeks.

The error involves Anthony C Paquet, who shall appear in the next blog.

But my error had Paquet being a passenger on the Titanic. A ship that was not launched until 1912. Trouble is Mr. Paquet died back in 1882.

Sorry folks!
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Jumping forward about 6 yrs, it was on Thursday 19 December 1917, that Halifax was rocked by a horrendous explosion in it's and neighbouring  Dartmouth Harbour. Two transports collided, one full of explosives destined for the war effort in Europe.

The above before and after images, give an indication of the horrendous event. It lasted only about 12 minutes. About 1,800 lost their lives and another 9000 would be injured.

Like the story of the Titanic above, There are no shortages of materials available on this tragic event. I include it here to
today to remind you that this is a 2nd of 4 dates we should all remember in the years to come.
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Historians and others have dubbed Wednesday 19 August 1942 as..."the bloodiest day for Canada in WW11. 

The top left and lower right images show the peaceful beach where the horrendous slaughter took place, and also shown above.

In August and later I did a series of blogs about the battle. Two remain to be done.  The above images are to remind you of the date in future years that you should set aside some time to reflect on the fact that just over 900 were killed within few hours, and that there were over 3,000 casualties, about 1950 being POW's. 

While it is well known that the Americans had  about 50 commandos in the raid, recent information suggests that there may be as many more who flew with the British during the raid.

In the next blog I will share with you news of a well known battle. And with that some little known facts about Canadians in that battle.

Hope you will join me then,
Bart
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More on the The Persons Case, Persons Awards and Women's History Month

10/31/2022

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In the mid 1920's Alberta's judge Emily Murphy fought, and won her position that women can be appointed to the highest of offices in Alberta.

However she  knew that the battles she went through, would have to be repeated in every province in Canada before they could enjoy the same rights she fought so hard to get. So she came up with a plan.

She got herself nominated by a considerable number to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. Knowing full well that the men of the day were not happy with this, and hung their hats on old British law that said women were in fact... not persons.

Rejection came her way through a series of courts right up to the Supreme Court of Canada. Three Prime Ministers, while in their terms of office, spread over 5 yrs., all agreed that she could not be appointed as sought.

So she and 4 others took their matters to Britain. The cover page of that historic case is shown above.
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Here we see the five women who became known as the Alberta Five, and the Famous Five.
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The results of that case, the extensive details of which you hopefully read in my last blog, are detailed in Emily Murphy's story to the press, shown above.

Back in Canada, the lawmakers were obligated to finally seriously entertain the appointment of women to our Senate. The liberal government did not choose Emily, a Conservative or any to the other four non Liberals advocates for this change.

They instead turned to a fellow Liberal, who went on to serve admirably. Her name was Carine Wilson.
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Her appointment was received within several months of the famous Persons Case decision, and would last  for an incredible period of 1930 till her death in 1962. It would be the longest so serving in our history so far.

Seventeen years later a most interesting event took place!

An Ontario female lawyer by the name of Mary Ebert wrote a story about the events of 50 years earlier, the time when the actual Persons Case was heard and decided.

The story was found by Ms.  Jo MacFadden. She brought it to the attention of Maureen O'Neil who was then the serving  coordinator in Prime Minister Joe Clarke's Ministry of the Status of Women.

The women convinced David MacDonald the then serving Minister of Status of Women that it being the 50th anniversary of such a major event, the government should do something about it.

Soon a plan developed to seek out nominations from  across Canada for a women the nominator felt most deserving of an award for their service to the country. The idea was to have 5 women selected, each representing one of the original Famous Five.

These women would be brought to Ottawa, attend several gala events,  meet with the Prime Minister and other dignitaries and then be brought forth in a most formal ceremony to the Governor General. The women would then be presented with a medal by the Gov. General.

That medal was to be called the Persons Award. Prime Minister Clark approved the plan, and so did Governor General   Edward Schreyer. 
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The Status of Women's Minister MacDonald proclaimed the selected for such an honor...
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I've yet to find a picture of 1979 recipient Marion Royce.

Originally calling for the medals going to 5 nominees, apparently the credentials were so high that the government just could not reduce the number from seven in that first year of the awards.

Thus for the first of only two occasions, the medal went to 7 recipients. The second was in 2004.

You can read the names of all recipients between 1979 and 2022... at...  https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/governor-general-awards.html

Throughout the medal's history 6 medals were awarded in 17 of the years while in 21 years 5 medals were awarded. The awards for 2019 were not awarded until March 8th of this year, it being International Women's Day. On that date  only 4 women were awarded.

A few weeks earlier, on Feb. 14th Minister Ien of the relatively new Ministry called "Women and Gender Equality Canada," (the replacement of the former Status of Women Ministry) announced the 2019 recipients of the Persons Award.

An announcement that came three years after it should have happened and telling of the 4 recipients for 2019, even though not happening until  in 2022.

In her press release  the minister proclaimed that the theme was..."Women Inspiring Women. It celebrates women and girls across Canada who continue to demonstrate outstanding leadership while contributing to Canada's social, economic, cultural and political spheres."

One must wonder how the failure to award a minimum of 5 medals in each of the years since inception, the failure to make any awards for 2019 in that year, and holding off on doing this til 2022, and the failure to make any presentations for the years 2020 and 2021 meet these goals that it expects nominees to reach.
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This is the actual medal the honorees receive. It is not a depiction of the actual five who fought the battle on 1929 but a simple depiction of five women. It comes with a suspension ribbon, white in the earliest days and as late as 1989 when my mother became a proud recipient, but over the years has somehow been transformed into mainly green. Here we see three such medals with the newer suspension ribbons to be worn around the neck.
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At various government websites, it is clearly noted that there is a requirement to select at least 5 recipients, that presentations are to be made annually and that same are to happen on October 18th. But from the above you can see that the federal government fails to meet the high standards it expects the nominees to reach.

On another matter, for well over a year my mother Cathryne Armstrong, Lynn Gough and Cathy Blazkow reached out to prominent women, women's groups, prominent citizens and others to have the federal government proclaim October as Women's History Month in Canada.

After their considerable efforts, aided by a few others, they met success in 1992 when it was  proclaimed that October was to be Women's History Month. Today is the last day of that month for this year.

Here is the 1992 announcement from the Status of Women Ministry's head... Minister Mary Collins.
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It is hard to read but the statement claimed "the idea came from women's organizations and by women who represented the academic community." It added that "the concept was to publicly recognize the significant... but often overlooked contributions  and achievements of Canada's women."

It went on to add that the move showed ..."her vision of providing a way to acknowledge the accomplishments of women," and that it..."reminds us that the initiatives of the present are built on the accomplishments of the past."

She ended by saying that such a month... "will be a time of recognition and celebration of women's contributions to our history as a nation and a people."

Yet in the very statement honouring those who have done so much in our history the Minister could not even include the names of the three Victoria BC women who started the movement in the first place.
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Here during this year's Womens' History Month, are the recipients of the Person's Award for 2022.

Going back to 1999, on 18 October a private consortium unveiled a monument to the Famous Five in Calgary. it was officiated by none other than Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.  Here is that memorial....
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The five depict the Famous Five, with Emily Murphy standing by a chair. Many tourists and others have posed for pictures sitting in that chair, beside Emily. The women are looking at a version of the news reports back in 1929 re the case. Here is a blow up of that image...

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On October 18 2000 a slightly different version of the above monument was unveiled at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Governor General Clarkson, Prime Minister Chretien, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Secretary of State for the Status of Women all attended the unveiling.

About a month after the 75th anniversary of the Persons Case, and new $50 bill was introduced in Canada. Here it is...
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This bill, unveiled on November 17th 2004 depicts Sir William Lyon  Mackenzie King on the one side and the Famous Five monument on the reverse.

After the death of all of the Famous Five, in 2009 all were posthumously named Honorary Senators.

Earlier this year, in my long frustration at the lack of announced Persons Award recipients for several years, I wrote an email to the offices of the Governor General.

Here is a portion of that email...
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I've yet to get a response.

It is only by fluke that I stumbled on the 2019 awards, made earlier this year. But those for 2020 and 2021 have yet to be apparently made.

Accountability to the people of Canada, through my email, seems of little importance to the offices of the Governor General of Canada, or probably some lower ranked folks in the department now filling the boots... or highheels ... of the folks at the ministry of  Women and Gender Equality Canada.

This falls far short of treatment they expect from those being nominated for the Persons Award.

See you next time,

Bart
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October 22nd, 2022

10/22/2022

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It took five women 13 years, articulating with three Prime Ministers (and their 5 terms in office) to finally get the men to see the light of day!

10/22/2022

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It was back in early 1916 that the North West Mounted Police rounded up some 20 women under questionable circumstances. About to go before the Judge, word got out to the local Edmonton Council of Women who immediately sent some women observers to the court to ensure the accused were fairly treated.

The men of the day insisted they leave the court because of some tardy evidence expected to be introduced. And women of stature had to immediately leave due to protecting their own reputations!

Soon word got out to suffregate Emily Murphy, who went before the provincial Attorney General requesting that the accused should be tried by one of their own sex.

Thus, soon began the very first court for women with none other than Murphy becoming it's first female Police Magistrate. Not only a first for the province, but the entire country to boot.

In short order other women would get similar appointments. Much to the shagrin of male antics of the day, the system of female judges conducted hearings for females soon began to  spring up in several venues.

Moving along, because of her expertise, many turned to Murphy and others to seek office in the highest office in the land.

The Canadian Senate!

That battle was eagerly embraced and fought through all the court levels available to the women in Canada. And all reached the same conclusion. They argued that appointments could only go to PERSONS. And a women certainly was not a PERSON in their eyes.

Thus, it was continually ruled that the women lacked the key credential to serve in that chamber.

And the men loved it. Well, at least until the women... the Famous Five, (as they became known) and as pictured below, took matters to the highest court of the land.

That being in England!

After much debate and thought they came down to a finally decision.  But first.... here is the actual trial, word for word, and probably very rarely seen in newsprint within Canada.

But first I suggest refilling your cup of coffee... and then begin your long read.

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Unknown to most, the five Canadian women chose to use the alphabet to help them decide in who's name the case should be brought forth. Thus, the appellant  was listed as being Henrietta Muir Edwards.  The case was heard and judgement finally released on 18 March 1929.

On that Monday, John Sankey, as Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain,  in his full court regalia proceeded through the streets of London. Traveling behind the Symbolic Mace, he would that day deliver the decision on what would become well known as the Persons Case.

In the ruling he announced that the term PERSON  indeed included women. He also added that ..."Customs are apt to develop into traditions which are STRONGER THAN LAW AND REMAIN UNCHALLENGED LONG AFTER THE REASON FOR THEM HAS DISAPPEARED.

There is still more to this story, But I shall give your eyes a break till the next blog.

Bart
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Horrendous battle at Dieppe commemorated in France, across Canada and the world!

10/2/2022

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Horrendous slaughter at the Battle of Dieppe on 19 August 1942 must never be forgotten!

10/2/2022

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Back in early August, many groups and individuals gathered at a most dignified service, here in Victoria. We heard of the battles our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and others fought and died for, on the French coastline at Dieppe.

Past blogs here brought you some of  that story.

In remembrance to those who fought and in many cases gave their lives, we have a duty. That being to recognize those at the battle front, and those at home that paid so dearly for the freedoms we have. Freedoms, we far too often seem to forget.

Years ago I discovered a grave stone for a veteran who served with my old regiment... the Toronto Scottish. The grave was in the Canada Veterans Affairs cemetery commonly known as God's Acre.

The grave slipped my mind over the years, but when I heard of the Candlelight ceremony in remembrance of the Battle at Dieppe, I went out to the cemetery to again find the grave. It took hours and would have been fruitless  until the Staff at the cemetery and particularly the Canada Veterans Affairs staff and some 2,500 files finally produced the location of the grave.

Upon examination of the grave once again, I was startled to discover that the soldier was also a military hero for bravery. He was awarded the  Distinguished Service Order (DSO). This medal is just one down from the famous Victoria Cross.

I was further stunned to realize that this officer, a Major, earned his medal at Dieppe!

I immediately advised those in charge of the up and coming Candle Light Ceremony of this service, and at the very battle in which the service would be taking place.

Sadly plans did not allow for a major change such as this, and for sharing with the guests at the ceremony days later.

Nevertheless, I attended, as noted in past blogs, and placed a lit candle at the foot of this hero's grave.

Though shown recently in this space, here again today is Major Curry's grave marker...

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During the God's Acre service many dignitaries spoke of the battle and the heroism back in 1942. I believe a few may have mentioned that there were only a few DSOs awarded for the battle. Certainly that fact is oft noted on the internet. My research suggests that there were many more.

Many mentioned  the heroism of Cecil Merritt who would earn a Victoria Cross, one of only three in the battle, and in fact the first of the war.

I took special  interest in this as he was a distant relative of my mother, and also going back even further was  related to Sir Charles Tupper, a Nova Scotia Premiere, PM of Canada, knighted,  and the first ever president of the Canadian Medical Association. His son, of the same name, was also knighted.

One of the presenters at the ceremony was Lillian Luyk of Victoria. Her father Ken Curry, no relation to the above Major, died just a few years ago. He was a Dieppe Veteran and in fact that last surviving Dieppe veteran from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. (RHLI)

During the service she was called upon to read the formal Act of Remembrance.

After the formal presentations took place she and all the other dignitaries took part of placing a lit candle at the foot of one of the veteran's graves.

When the service was over many guests took the opportunity to talk with the presenters. I acknowledged my lineage  to Lt. Col Cecil Merritt, spoke to some of the presenters and then asked Mrs Luyk if she would allow me to meet with her on another day for an interview.

From that day to this we have met several times and she has provided me with a considerable amount of documents and photo's re the battle and her father's service.

This photo was among the materials supplied...

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Here we see the lovely Lillian with her father Ken and mother Norma. Note that she is wearing medals indicative of her service in Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. (WAAF) This proud unit had a strength of about 180,000 and in 1943 alone was taking in recruits numbering about 2,000 per week.
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This picture of Ken Curry, a private at the start of the war, proudly wears a number of service medals. Before retirement he would become not only the commanding officer but an Honorary Colonel of his unit. At Lower right you can see a portion of a medal and the solid red ribbon. This the French government's Legion of Honour Medal, at the "Knight" level.

Around Ken's neck he wears the commemorative  medal for 50th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. The image, though quite difficult to see, actually has several images engraved on it.  They represent the cliffs, a plane, landing craft and the beach so many died in an attempt to capture.

Lillian tells me that at the top of the various badges on the right side of his blazer is an actual miniature set of handcuffs.

When Hitler heard of the German success and number of POW's taken he gave an order that all the POW's would be cuffed day and night. Rope was first used to secure the men, but later handcuffs were put to use. With few exceptions each wore these restraints day and night for YEARS before being rescued. (Or so the Nazi's thought!)

Lillian also told  me the story that the men removed lids from red cross packaged cans of food, cut out the metal and fashioned then into shapes of keys. Thus, while in barracks and not well supervised by the Germans, they managed to free themselves, till reapplied before the next day's muster.

The 80th Commemoration of the battle in France, other countries and all across Canada took place this year on August 19th.

In the next blog I will talk about the memorial services in France. Following that I will address the services  in Hamilton Ontario.

And finally, after all of these,  it is hoped that I can again return to the theme of these blogs, that being the Medal of Honor.

See you soon,

Bart
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More on the 1942 slaughter, better know as the Raid on Dieppe!

9/8/2022

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When all the so called planning was complete and passed on, the Allies set off to start the attack on Dieppe.

But little did they know that the low flying clouds soon no longer hid the British naval attack from Nazi air patrols along the coastline. The development was soon leaked back to England. The "supposed surprise attack" was called off and immediately ordered back across the channel to England, to fight another day.

That day was August 19th!  
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Plans for the attack called for landings at 6 locations along about a 20 KM stretch of coastline. Certain landings would occur first, carry out designated tasks and by then the others would follow and make their own landings.

But the plans soon flew out the window when England's  237 ships, barges and 6 destroyers were not far off the coast. That's when they were sited by a German convoy at sea.   A sea battle broke out. Being in the middle of the night, the lights and noise from the battle tipped off the Nazi troops on land that the British armada was on its way to Dieppe. Worse yet the time lost in the sea battle, gave the enemy time to get ready, and for the arrival happening...not in darkness... but daylight.

The top map shown above gives a bit of an idea of the area were the battle would take place. The second map gives far more details.

That second map, for those with a great eye, shows not only the beach front, but a high watermark and then a sea wall. A little more inland you can see, at the left and right of the town a very high cliff traveling left to right. 
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In this third map you can see about 30 round and square images with BARRELS sticking out their fronts. This represent artillery pieces, machine guns and mortars  positioned to deal with any enemy forces attempting a landing.
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Above we see the cliffs and a current beach area. The same beach that the invading troops had to cross back in 1942.

Behind the sunbathers is a field of very small smooth stones called "chert." These are hard to walk on as they move about and sink as you step on them.

At the right, there is an image of this chert back in 1942. Note some of the obstacles put there to obstruct enemy tanks coming ashore. In the same area there were three separate strands of barbed wire as further obstacles to slow down or prevent entry past this point.
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Here we see about a dozen soldiers and three sailors manning the ALC, an Assault Landing Craft, landing on the Dieppe shore line. Below that is an image of a TLC... a Tank Landing Craft, off loading a tank onto the Dieppe shore.  
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The top image here shows several tanks being or have just been oft loaded onto the shore. It appears that the  Tank Carrier has been hit and about to sink. Two of the  tanks are already struggling to get a grip on the chert below their tracks and unable to move forward or backward or even to the sides.

Many of the tanks got bogged down and thus became easy targets for the Nazi troops and their high powered mortars and shore guns. After the battle one of the officers was overheard saying that he saw what appeared to be aiming sticks in the ground that allowed the weapons to zero in on and get the right bearing for later firing onto the very ground of the sticks, if an attacking vehicle was in the right spot.

One of the guards of the later POW's actual took a lot of pictures and gave some to the POW's. The center picture is one of these. It shows some of the obstacles placed along the shore line and at left, the sea wall that the men had to struggle to get over during their attack.

The image also clearly shows the power the Nazi's had over the attackers, with high powered machine guns and artillery pieces that were placed along the crests of the cliff and in many cases actually dug into the face and top of the cliffs to boot.

Military intelligence on Britain's side failed to disclose these threats to the attackers. Probably because they did not apparently even know they existed. neither were the troops warned about the hazards the chert was going to cause.

The lower 2 pictures clearly show two of the tanks bogged down and becoming sitting targets. 

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The first picture above appears to be looking down onto the beach from on top of the cliffs at one end. The second image seems to be at the other end, again looking down.

In the first one there seems to be evidence of two carriers in the water just off the beach and more on shore looking past these two. So the image is probably after the battle.

The second image also clearly shows the obstructions the Nazi's put in place to deter a landing. 

The area today is obviously a tourist trap of sorts. It seems to show the same pill  box dug down into the cliff from the top and may be the same location as that of the  first image.

Picture number 4 shows one of the many German Machine Gun nests, and is indicative of the damage it could do from a spot well dug into the cliff's face for protection. One of enemy's artillery pieces is shown in the last image.

Of the 237 ships, landing barges and 6 destroyers, one destroyer and over 30 landing craft were lost to the enemy. Of about 30  tanks landed, only half would make it over the seawall. About 1,000 planes from the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force played key roles in the battle. The RAF losing 106 planes while German counterparts lost only 48 planes.

Almost 6,000 troops (not including airmen) went into this bloody battle on August 19, 1942. about 5,000 were Canadians. About 1,000 were from Britain. Also deep in the battle were some 50 US and 15 French Commando's.

Canadian soldiers came from the South Saskatchewan Regiment, the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, the Calgary Tanks, The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, the Essex Scottish, The Toronto Scottish Regiment, the Royal Regiment of Canada, The Royal Canadian Engineers, the Fusiliers de Mont. Royal and a small contingent of Military Police and perhaps others.

Within four hours of the battle starting, some 3025 were killed,  wounded or soon prisoners of war. The Brits lost over 200 men. Orders then came down to retreat. Many wounded had already been wisked away by water, but finally the attacking forces had to completely vacate the coastline and return to England. But without enough vessels many became POW's

The Germans had now under their control about 2000 invading troops as POW's
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Here we see some of the real heroes of the Dieppe Raid. The lower image shows a Landing Carrier that was soon to probably sink.
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The first image, probably after the battle came to an end and showing the struggle to get over the sea wall shown. The lower image is yet of more dead heroes. 
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Here we see the POW's being marched  through the streets of Dieppe to their places of temporary confinement.

A week from today, hopefully I will bring the next segment and it will cover the 80th Commemorative ceremony in Dieppe and a week later I will bring you coverage of a similar gathering at Hamilton Ontario, also held on  August 19th.

On another note, I often use this space to highlight women heroes of uniform both in Canada and the US. So it is  important to do this again today.

Here is that woman in uniform, only a Second Lieutenant at the time but destined to higher authority in her future.

Here she is...
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This woman joined the British ATS  (Auxiliary Territorial Service) in 1944, 2 years after my mother joined the CWAC (Canadian Womens Army Corps). The lady in the picture took up auto mechanics and graduated in 1945.

Later she would join in the family business, if you will. Her name was Elizabeth and she would one day become the Queen of England, and of course Canada. In her 96th year of life, she would hold the record as the longest serving Monarch in British History.

The world grieved the moment they heard the news today of her passing early this morning.

Many hold personal memories of being in her audience, speaking with her, or just being at the same events she attended.

I too hold such a memory dating back to about the time that I had about completed 2/3rds of my term in the military.

Her Royal Highness would go on to serve over 70 years, and as such was the longest serving monarch until very early this morning.

She sadly passed away in her 96th year of life today.

           Lest we Forget!
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Verifying new info, thus today's blog must be delayed for a few days.

9/4/2022

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Some new info that arrived this week needs work, and determining what  will be used. It is more painful than first thought!

Blog should be posted on Wednesday 7 September.

Thanks for your understanding,
Bart
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Horrendous Dieppe battle of 19 August 1942 was recently celebrated in several countries including across Canada.

9/1/2022

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Several blogs back, I told you about the fact that a Dieppe survivor later resided in Victoria and now rests at the  Veterans Affairs Canada grave yard known as God's Acre.

Unfortunately the news of a Dieppe connection did not come to the organizers of a commemoration here in Victoria until after the program was already prepared.

I however did make a point of visiting the veteran's grave. His name was John Owen Curry and he served as a Major with the Toronto Scottish Regiment. He was one of what has been often said to be only a very few who were awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the battle. My initial research suggests there may well have been a couple of dozen... if not more.

At God's Acre, with considerable help from the folks at Veterans Affairs Canada, Major Curry's resting place was located. I placed a lighted candle at the foot of his grave. Its image, appearing in past blogs is here again for you to have a look at.  Here it is...
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As noted in a past blog, one of the presenters at the God's Acre  commemoration was Mrs Lillian Lyuk, daughter of Ken Curry. (No relation to Major Curry.) When the formal presentation was finished I asked Mrs Lyuk if she would allow me to interview her at a later date. She granted this and since has sat with me several times and also provided many pictures and documents about her father's service. 


He passed away just a few years ago and was in fact the last living Dieppe veteran of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry at the time. There were 582 RHLI soldiers that took to the beach at Dieppe.  Just under 200 were killed of the beach. Many joined with Ken as POW's, and only 211 of the regiment made it back to England, one half of these being wounded. 
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Here is one of the many pictures Lillian gave me. She is shown here with late father Ken and her late mother Norma who served at the beginning of the war with Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. (WAAF)
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,Here's another picture of Ken Curry wearing his medals proudly.

Around his neck he is shown wearing a medal that several other veterans of the battle wore. It was after many, many inquiries that I finally learned that the medal was actually one commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.

Though almost decipherable, I have manged to determine that the medal consists of an image of the cliff's, the beach area, planes, attacking navy vessels and tanks in the battle.

Ken also wears a family commemoration containing his original his dog tag details. A piece of jewelry that he apparently never took off since its receipt from family. And I mean EVERY DAY, says his daughter. Even when in the shower. 

A very close look at the top "badge"  on his left reveals  a set of miniature handcuffs. These being a constant reminder that after capture, Adolf Hitler actually issued a directive that all prisoners were to be handcuffed day and night. Rope first used, was later replace with medal cuffs.

But prisoners soon  found a way to use the lids of Red Cross foodstuffs to make make  a key that actually opened the cuffs. It was used nightly when the guards were not as observant of prisoner activity within their quarters.

In the next blog I will bring you some details about how this man's and thousands of others were remembered during the 80th commemoration at Dieppe, of the battle of 19 August, 1942.

Following that blog I will bring you details of a similar that took place at Hamilton, the home obviously of the RHLI. Though it should not be forgotten that similar services were  also held across Canada.

After those blogs it is hopeful that I can return to pressing Medal of Honor stories.

cheers,

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

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