Navy Commander visits Barrie for Battle of the Atlantic ceremony

Barrie and CFB Borden troops and veterans welcomed the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy for Sunday’s Battle of the Atlantic commemoration.

Barrie and Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden troops and veterans welcomed a top-ranking military officer for Sunday’s Battle of the Atlantic commemoration.

The hundreds of military personnel, local dignitaries and residents gathered to honour those who served Canada in what was the longest battle of the Second World War.

Sunday’s annual ceremony at the city’s cenotaph was made even more meaningful with the attendance of VAdm Angus Topshee, 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).

“This victory is a victory that all of you here in Barrie own a piece of,” said VAdm Topshee in his remarks of the Battle of the Atlantic’s significance. “As those who are the veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic, fewer and fewer of them are with us every year. I ask that you honour their memory by carrying on the knowledge of that sacrifice.”

VAdm Angus Topshee had received a special invitation from Dave Aspden, Canadian Naval Memorial Trustee and former Barrie Mayor.

“We’ve always had a flag officer from Ottawa attend,” said Aspden. “The word travels amongst the others in Ottawa and the Admiral accepted an invitation that I gave him in January. I had met him a couple of times before.”

According to the RCN, it helped destroy 33 enemy U-Boats and 42 enemy surface craft as Canadian and allied troops fought against Nazi Germany.

At the same time, more than 2,200 RCN sailors and Navy personnel died making the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The victories and tragedies of the Battle of the Atlantic are annually commemorated by Canadian military personnel on the first Sunday of May.

After the laying of 20 wreaths, VAdm Topshee paused the ceremony’s proceedings to personally thank the veterans, active troops and cadets in attendance for their service.

“You all made a decision to sign up and serve your country in uniform. At the time you made that decision, I don’t know if you imagined just how dangerous and difficult the world today would be,” said VAdm Topshee to the active servicepeople. “I hope that you are never called upon to seek combat in defence of our country, but every one of you has signed to do that. So thank you very much for that.

“We honour your memories,” he continued in his remarks to the veterans. “We all serve in the memory of the liberties that you fought to preserve and create for us.

“You really have made a choice. This is entirely voluntary on your part,” he said to the Cadets. “You’re giving up weekends, you’re giving up a weeknight every week to put on a uniform to learn a bit about our history.”

Before the conclusion of the ceremony, VAdm Topshee was given the gift of a special canoe paddle from Barrie’s Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps.

VAdm Topshee, Col. Melissa Ramessar (CFB Borden Commander) and other active troops were unavailable for interviews CTV News due to a federal order during the spring economic budget.

According to the Royal Canadian Legion, the average age of a Second World War veteran is 101 years old.

“It’s important for us to remember our history, to remember why we’re here, why we have the freedoms that we have today,” said Fern Taillefer, President-Elect of Barrie Legion Branch 147. “It’s because of (those who fought) in the Battle of the Atlantic.”