On a hot Sunday afternoon, Claudette and Tony Depencier sit under the shade of a tree, watching the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Britain Commemorative Ceremony.
They were part of a small group scattered across Memorial Park beside the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 23 in North Bay, who were there to honour those who had given so much for their country.
Tony had five brothers who fought overseas during World War II. This ceremony hits close to home.
“We’re here out of respect. I think it will continue to be remembered by the younger generation as long as we continue to have cadets here every year,” said Tony.
“I had lots of family members who have been involved in wars, and I think it is out of respect that people should be here,” said Claudette.
“It’s about remembering what has happened and what we’re hoping for, for the future.”
Peggy Millar attended in support of her military family background.
“My uncle was in the Air Force, my kids were military, and I also am with the military wives choir,” said Millar.
“But today is very special because of Canada’s commitment to the event, and it is fabulous to see such participation in this city, being that we have a base right here. It’s important that young people know about this, and I hope events like this keep the interest alive. We have to remember where we come from. It’s our roots that keep us strong.”
The Battle of Britain was a major air defence campaign, fought in the summer and autumn of 1940 during World War II. The Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force confronted the German Luftwaffe on a daily basis until the Allies claimed victory on September 15, 1940.
During the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Jolette, 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron Commanding Officer at 22 Wing CFB North Bay, told the crowd the work being done at NORAD, has its roots tracing back in the Battle of Britain.
Jolette says it was the first time radar was used successfully to track and identify adversary aircraft coming across the English Channel and provide that information to the aircrew, to find the “bad guys.” It was that extra edge that gave them their success.
The Lieutenant Colonel went on to say that radars continue to be used on a daily basis, “in essence we do the same job that the warriors did back in the day, just today with a little bit more sophisticated equipment.”
“As a North Bay native, coming here on this beautiful day to commemorate the sacrifice, and the lives that were given up in the defence of Canada, of North America, of the Allies, it’s really special to be able to come here and take a moment to remember those people who passed before us,” said Jolette.
“As a Commanding Officer of a squadron here, I am entrusted with the care of young aviators and officers doing the same mission that was done in the Battle of Britain, the defence of air defence, so the prosecution of air targets. That’s what we do here. So being able to be part of a truly Royal Canadian Air Force ceremony really gives me great pleasure.”
Jolette pointed out the importance of the work done by women then and now.
“They were radar operators and used in observation posts as well. Women really had a very vital role to play because typically the men would be in the aircraft fighting the air war, but the women were down in the radar stations in the observation post, providing that vital information to be able to find the adversaries and really, that’s the edge the Brits and the Canadians and the Allies had over the Germans.”
Lieutenant Colonel Rye Whitehead, Commander, Detachment 2, First Air Force and 22 Wing (RCAF) Operations Officer attended the ceremony representing the US contingent.
“It means so much to be here. That multi-national cooperation with the Battle of Britain is symbolized here at CFB North Bay by having the Canadian and the US contingents working together to defend over four million square miles of an area of operation 24/7. We are always there, working together, building teamwork so we can protect the freedoms from adversaries, whether they’re foreign or domestic “
The ceremony included a parade consisting of a 30-person flight from 22 Wing/CFB North Bay. Also on parade were members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 23, the 422 Royal Canadian Air Force Association, 406 Royal Canadian Air Force Alliance, and 547 Canuck Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron.
Local dignitaries joined veterans in a special wreath laying ceremony.
More than one hundred Canadians flew planes during the Battle of Britain, from July to October 1940. Twenty-three of them lost their lives. Hundreds of members of ground personnel also served valiantly during the battle.
