On the first Sunday of each May, people all across the country gather to commemorate those lost at sea during the Battle of the Atlantic.
In St. John’s, a parade and ceremony were held at the National War Memorial.
From there, a wreath was brought to the harbour to be committed to the sea in remembrance of the thousands of lives lost during what’s been called the longest and most decisive struggle of the Second World War.
“The Battle of the Atlantic was a pivotal battle in the Second World War — some would argue it was the turning point in the tide of combat in Europe,” said Capt. Darren Garnier with the Royal Canadian Navy.
“As we stand here this afternoon and look out The Narrows, I am struck by the closeness of the war to the citizens of St. John’s and to Newfoundland, for we know that torpedoes were fired at the mouth of this harbour. As we stand here in a moment of reflection, we can just imagine those brave men in those small ships by the thousands leaving this port and going off – some of them to their certain death.”
Garnier said the Battle of the Atlantic also signified the growth and maturity of Canada’s navy at that time, and that the battle would not have been won were it not for the sacrifice of the Newfoundlanders and Canadians who fought.
“Those were very tumultuous years. … We were forged in the waters of the North Atlantic fighting an unseen foe.”
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