Remembering the Battle of the Atlantic

There is a bronze Caribou in Turkey commemorating the service of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in the First World War, erected by the Regimental Council and the provincial government. This completes the ambition of Padre Thomas Nangle to erect such memorials, five in France and Belgium, one in St. John’s and one at Gallipoli. The primary war memorial of Newfoundland and Labrador is Memorial University, established as a college in 1925, and as a university in 1949.

The first World War is amply commemorated, but the second is generally neglected. The 59th and 166th Artillery Regiments fought in Europe. Many Newfoundlanders served around the world in the British Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Little notice is taken of the Canadian Navy and Air Force which fought the war right here.

The Royal Canadian Air Force supported the Royal Canadian Navy in the hunt for submarines. The Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve was composed of sailors from all over Canada, many from the Prairies. With them at sea was Dr. Tony Paddon from Labrador. The Battle of the Atlantic began on Sept. 3, 1939, with the sinking of the passenger liner Athenia off the coast of Ireland. It ended for Newfoundlanders with the surrender at sea of U190 to the Canadian corvettes Thorlock and Victoriaville on May 11, 1945.

My father was at Gallipoli in 1915, a Toronto doctor on the ship which landed the Newfoundlanders at Suvla Bay. I am a former chair of the Regimental Council of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and now chaplain of the Provincial Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.

May 2nd is Battle of the Atlantic Sunday. There will be no parade this year due to COVID-19, but there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the harbour entrance.

Let us join in remembrance. Ian S. Wishart St. John’s