We will remember them

Wellington commemorates centenary of Armistice

Sergeant-at-arms Buck Buchanan of the Wellington Legion.

In Paris, France, on November 11 at precisely 11 a.m. a bugle sounded to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that brought the Great War to an end. It was the same bugle that sounded 100 years ago to announce the cessation of fighting. Just two minutes before that, at 10:58 a.m. on November 11, 1918 Canadian Private George Lawrence Price was shot and killed by a German sniper. He was the last direct casualty of that war. Yet more men would die of their wounds over the coming months. Of the 424,000 Canadian men and women who served overseas, nearly 60,000 died and a further 172,000 were wounded. On a cold and sunny Sunday morning in Wellington, hundreds of residents gathered at the cenotaph in the park to honour the memory of those who served in that war, and in the subsequent conflicts since then. Representatives of government placed wreaths in honour of those who served, and local residents placed wreaths in memory of family members. The memories spanned more than a century. Dinalda Graham placed a wreath in memory of Trooper Harry MacDonald, a veteran of the Boer War. One person simply placed his knuckles against the Afghanistan plaque and bowed his head for a moment in silent remembrance.

One of those in attendance was Wim Kerkhof. He served for five years with the Dutch marines before emigrating to Canada from Holland in 1974. “One of the reasons [for choosing Canada] was that I was liberated by the Canadians in the Second World War,” said Kerkhof. “I was born in ’44 in the Hunger Winter. My father and my father-in-law were in the Underground in Holland, and they fought against the Germans, together with the Canadians. Remembrance is very much a part of me, remembering that so many people died. I thank the Canadian Armed Forces. They liberated Holland, and that’s very important to me, and that’s why I am here.” Kerkhof joined the Canadian Army Reserves, rising to the rank of Captain, and becoming the Commanding Officer for an Army Cadet Corps. “The military is in me, and it was a really rewarding job to me.”

Warrant Office Kristen Nobles is on active duty with the Canadian Forces Support Unit in Ottawa. She served in Afghanistan for seven months in 2007. “Remembrance Day is important to take that moment to remember all the history,” she said. “My own grandfather was in World War Two. My father served. I serve, my husband serves and my daughter serves. It’s a family affair and you need to remember our history, what happened and what they sacrificed.”

Linda Lloyd was at the cenotaph with her grandson Mason Lloyd. They were there to place a wreath in memory of Linda’s father, Vernon (Beef) MacDonald. He was in the Canadian Navy during the Second World War and was twice wounded, losing his sight in one eye. “I’m remembering all the fellows and women that were killed,” said Linda. She is helping to ensure that the tradition of Remembrance continues with Mason. “I’m here today to celebrate my grampa’s life,” said Mason.

In villages, towns and cities across Canada, similar events were taking place, as residents gathered to observe two minutes of silence to honour the service and sacrifice of the men and women in the armed forces. To mark the centenary of the Armistice, churches across Canada tolled their bells 100 times at sunset on Sunday, a rolling wave of sound that spanned the country. There are none left who served in the Great War, and each year sees fewer remaining veterans from the Second World War. But the rise in social media has meant many people can share their family stories at this time of remembrance, adding new meaning to those names chiselled in stone on monuments across this nation, or listed in banners in town halls. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”