Members of the military, special guests, and residents paused on a sunny and breezy Sunday afternoon at the Belleville Cenotaph to commemorate three pivotal battles and occasions in World Wars I and II.
The sacrifices of the thousands of Canadians killed and wounded in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the celebrations of VE day were remembered in a ceremony organized by the Belleville Veterans Council.
Vimy Ridge is in northern France and in April of 1917, during the First World War, the Canadian Corps fought the Germans there. The Canadians won but more than 10,000 were killed or wounded.
The Chair of the Belleville Veterans Council Neil Burrell described a great but costly victory at France’s Vimy Ridge as Canadian troops finally drove out the Germans after they had held the important territory for some time.
“Others had attempted to take the ridge but it was the Canadians using new tactics and determination that won the day.”
Chair of the Belleville Veterans Council Neil Burrell. (Photo: Quinte News)
The Battle of the Atlantic, from 1939 to 1945, was the longest continuous battle of the Second World War as the Allies struggled to control the North Atlantic. Around 4,400 Canadian seamen, merchant mariners and airmen lost their lives in those years.
VE Day (Victory in Europe) was celebrated on May 8, 1945, as the official end of fighting in Europe, during the Second World War.
Burrell described a local connection to one of the allied victory in Europe.
“In the fight to liberate the Netherlands the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment lost 18 soldiers. Holten Canadian War Cemetery is the resting
place of 17 of those soldiers. On May 5th the Dutch will celebrate the anniversary of their liberation after 5 years of occupation.”
Padre Larry Hurley said wars and killing continue to this day and wondered if people will ever learn.
“Where and when will we see the lion and the lamb sitting down together? Well if you wonder what happened to that idea of the lion and the lamb please look into the mirror. There’s your potential answer.”
Padre Larry Hurley. (Photo: Quinte News)
(left to right) Lieutenant Colonel (Hasty P’s) and MP Chris Malette’s constituency assistant Skip Simpson, Mayor of Belleville Neil Ellis, Bay of Quinte riding MPP Tyler Allsopp and Bay of Quinte riding MP Chris Malette. (Photo: Quinte News)
Local Air and Sea cadets formed a band for the event. (Photo: Quinte News)
Below is a summary of why the 3 events are celebrated in May.
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- When: May 8, 1945
- Why: On this day, the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Germany’s armed forces, ending World War II in Europe. For Canada, this signaled the end of six long years of conflict and the start of the liberation of the Netherlands, a campaign heavily led by Canadian forces.
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- When: First Sunday in May
- Why: The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest campaign of the Second World War (1939–1945). It was designated on the first Sunday in May to coincide with the end of the war in May 1945 and to honor the pivotal 1943 victory over German U-boats, which ensured the safety of Allied supplies. Canadian sailors, airmen, and merchant marines played a crucial role in securing this victory at high cost.
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- When: April 9 (often with surrounding events in early May)
- Why: While technically falling on April 9th, Vimy Ridge Day commemorates the start of the massive, successful Canadian offensive in France on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. It is recognized in early April to celebrate the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together, widely regarded as a “birth of a nation” moment.
May is central to Canadian remembrance because it closes the chapter on the Second World War in Europe, bringing together the celebration of peace (VE Day) and the commemoration of the thousands of sailors who secured the Atlantic routes, often linking them with the early spring (April) sacrifices of WWI (Vimy).
