Battle of the Atlantic was crucial

To the editor,

As we approach the first Sunday of May, I cannot help but reflect on and remember the thousands of men and women who served in the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian merchant Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic.

“The Battle of the Atlantic,” said Sir Winston Churchill, “was the dominating factor through the war. Never for one moment could we forget that everything happening elsewhere, on land, at sea or in the air, depend ultimately on its outcome.”

It would become the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War (Sept. 10, 1939-May 8, 1945). The Battle of the Atlantic started with the declaration of war, May 10, 1939, after the sinking of the SS Athenia by a German submarine on May 3, a vessel heading toward Montreal and torpedoed west of Ireland, killing 118 or the 1,400 passengers and crew. Canadians were listed among the killed. The campaign lasted until V-E Day, the official end of the war.

As a Canadian, I see this campaign as our navy’s most defining moment. The RCN escorted hundreds of Merchant Navy convoys departing from Halifax and Sydney, and from St. John’s N.L. These convoys carried much-needed and valued people and materials across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom.

The Germans, especially German Admiral Karl Donitz, had hoped to be victorious over the British by cutting off their food, oil and material supplies. If not for the RCN, the Canadian Merchant Mariners and the RAF, this German objective might have been achieved. As a result of the many sacrifices of our Canadian men and women, the United Kingdom survived the war and the advances along the Western Front could be concentrated upon (D-Day landings) thus ensuring the regaining of democracy and victory in both the United Kingdom and Europe.

Of note, the RCN went from 13 vessels and 3,500 sailors to being the third-largest navy by war’s end with 373 ships and 110,000 volunteer sailors, including 6,500 women serving in the Women’s RCN Services. Over 2,000 sailors were killed along with 752 Air Crew of the RCAF during the campaign. 1,600 Canadian Merchant mariners died at sea, including eight women.

The majority of these men and women have no known grave or markers. Their final resting place is at the bottom of the sea.

I encourage all to attend your local Battle of the Atlantic ceremonies in your community or at least take a few minutes during the first Sunday in May and reflect upon the sacrifices these men and women made to Canada and the world.

Lest we forget!

John T. Rogers, BA, B.Ed., CD

New Glasgow