81st anniversary of Battle of the Atlantic honoured in Regina

Members of Canada’s military and naval community gathered in Regina Sunday to honour those who served in the Battle of the Atlantic.

On Sunday, people across North America commemorated the 81st anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic. It was the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War.

In Regina, a ceremony was held by the HMCS Queen, a local naval reserve unit at 100 Navy Way.

There, members of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force and those connected to the naval community gathered to honour the hardships and sacrifices of the thousands of sailors and airmen who fought, as well as the civilian workers who supported the war effort.

Lieutenant Commander Aaron Kaytor, the commanding officer of the HMCS Queen, offered his remarks at the ceremony.

“It’s our responsibility to keep the memory alive. And that’s why ceremonies like this today matter,” he said.

“For our veterans, the honour of service given. For our sailors, they remind us of the standard that we inherit. For cadets, show us a history that’s not too distant,” he said.

The Battle of the Atlantic began on September 3, 1939, with the sinking of the SS Athenia by German submarine U-30.

The battle lasted for over 2,000 days, ultimately claiming the lives of more than 2,200 Canadian sailors, around 900 aircrew and 1,700 Canadian Merchant Navy sailors.