A moment of reflection in France
The young soldier’s letters to his family in Canada didn’t detail the horrors of war, rather they lamented over what he missed most.
Gordon Gunn, a private with the 24th Canadian Infantry Battalion during the First World War, missed his mother and his sisters.
He treasured every letter from home and was ecstatic when care packages from his mother would arrive.
The family’s correspondence tells the tale of a young man battling on the front lines who longed to return to Canada. Sadly, he didn’t make it home. Gunn died during the Battle of Somme in November 1916 and is buried at Pozieres Cemetery in France.
It was the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front. More than three million men fought, and one million were wounded or killed.
Niagara Falls MP Rob Nicholson is very familiar with the soldier’s story. He is Gunn’s grand-nephew.
“(He) fell fighting for the freedoms that we enjoy today. He gave his life to the country he loved.”
Earlier this month, Nicholson was a member of the official Canadian delegation who attended a ceremony in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
“I was deeply honoured to be one of tens of thousands of Canadians to witness the Vimy Ridge remembrance celebrations,” he said. “So many lost their lives in defence of the freedom we enjoy today. It is fitting that we recognize and remember the great sacrifice Canadians made in this area.”
The victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge is considered a defining moment for Canada. It marked the first time the Canadian forces fought together as a cohesive group. More than 10,000 soldiers were killed or wounded.
“When we drove through all the towns leading up to the Vimy Ridge Monument, Canadian flags were flying from people’s homes. I’ve never seen that many Canadian flags outside of the country in such a confined space.”
Since Pozieres Cemetery isn’t too far from the monument, Nicholson seized the opportunity to visit the grave site of his grand-uncle.
“It was an incredibly poignant moment,” he recalled.
While Gunn’s grave stone bears a name, many others do not.
“Many times, the identity of the solider was unknown so the grave would say Known to God.”
Nicholson stopped by a number of cemeteries during the trip. One cemetery was the final resting place of 44,000 Germans.
“It makes you think, ‘why did all this happen?’ Why couldn’t have this been avoided … all the pain and suffering it caused to so many families and the loss of all those lives.”
The ceremony April 9 marking the anniversary of Vimy Ridge was attended by 25,000 Canadians including more than 300 Niagara Catholic District School Board students.