Battle of the Atlantic
H.M.C.S. Queen Charlotte marks 73rd anniversary of those lost at sea in the longest single campaign of the Second World War
Crew of H.M.C.S. Queen Charlotte held a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Gardens in Kensington Sunday morning to mark the legacy of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Each year on the first Sunday in May, Canada’s Naval community commemorates those lost at sea in the longest continuous military engagement of the Second World War. It spanned from 1939 to 1945 and ended with Germany’s defeat.
“There were thousands of the Canadian Merchant Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Airforce that bravely ended up losing their lives in that campaign. It took place not only overseas, but also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence,” said Navy Lt. Michelle Hopping.
“We lost some of our submarines when the German Uboats came in to our Canadian waters. One of the ships we lost was the H.M.C.S. Raccoon, and we had an Islander from Malpeque (Able Seaman Charles Ray Champion) on board when it was sunk.”
Champion was just 22 years old when he died while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve on Sept. 7, 1942.
“We remember and honour all those that fought in this campaign,” noted Hopping.
Around 120 people, including the Prince Edward Island Regiment Band, Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp and the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party were on parade.
“We try to hold the event in a different community each year from where our members are serving from, so last year it was in Cornwall. We have five members from the H.M.C.S. Queen Charlotte in the Kensington area, myself included,” added Hopping.
She thanked the Town of Kensington, as well as the Legion for supporting the campaign.
Sergeant-at-arms Denny Hopping, among those in attendance, has a long and distinguished military career that spans 45 years.
“I joined the Canadian army when I was 17, and at that time your parents had to sign the papers, so you could join if you were under 18. It took a long time to convince my mother that she should sign because she lost her father during the First World War.
“I had joined the Hastings (a Primary Reserve infantry regiment) and Prince Edward Regiment really early in my career and I enjoyed the military life and style, so I think that’s why I wanted to sign up for service,” he said.
Hopping became an experienced helicopter pilot and commanded the 413 Transport and rescue squadron in Greenwood, N.S., from 1981 to 1984, to name but a few of his achievements.
He says saving lives was one of the highlights in his career.