Honoring Our Heroes
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 The Cloverdale Reporter 17
A sample of photos and war mementoes belonging to Emerson Barden: War-torn Western Europe, Kiska, Alaska, and contemporary coverage of Canadians welcomed back for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.
Memories linger: ‘It never leaves you’
By Jennifer Lang A Japanese postcard is preserved in its pages, merson Barden has a photo album filled with along with poems written by fellow servicemen – memories of his four years in the army during their creativity sparked by the harsh conditions. Kiska was invaded in 1942. When the Second World War. 34,400 U.S. and Canadian forces landed From the remote western edge of Alasin August, 1943, they were expecting to ka to the liberation of German-occupied meet resistance, but soon realized the isEurope, Barden’s years in the army took land had been abandoned. A booby trap him across the globe: Heady stuff for a killed one of the commanding officers. kid who grew up on farms in SaskatcheFrom Alaska, he was sent to Liverwan and Surrey, his hometown from the pool, then to Normandy, France, Belage of 10. gium, the Netherlands, and Germany, On Remembrance Day, he won’t be on as the Allies pushed the Germans back. parade from the Cloverdale Legion to His pictures show Dutch homes and the Cenotaph – he turns 92 on Nov. 23 bridges reduced to rubble, a downed – but he’ll be thinking of his army days, German plane in a field. and the job the Canadians did. Barden was a medic, a job that He signed up at 19. After trainbrought him close to danger – but never ing in Victoria, he was sent to Kiska, a Emerson Barden more so than the day the Germans blew windswept, volcanic island in Alaska’s a hole in a dyke. Aleutians, 600 miles from Japan. “When they hollered, you went,” he says. “It didn’t His photos show a snow-capped volcano, sod-covered canvas army tents bracing against the matter if there were bullets flying or not.” wind, men getting haircuts on the tundra – or posSee LIBERATORS / Page 19 ing in deep shell craters.
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Emerson Barden was 19 when he enlisted in the Army. He fought four years in the Aleutian Islands, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War.
18 The Cloverdale Reporter Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Remembe emembering Thank You those past and present, who have served our country.
THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
The Parade will be led by the colour parties from the Royal Canadian Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary. Sergeant at Arms Comrade Barry Zuk, Parade Marshal Zone Commander Dale Johnston, Master of Ceremonies Comrade Glenn Thomsen. The R.C.M.P. E Division Pipe Band will be performing during the ceremonies. Pastor Ian Wemyss is the Branch Padre
The United Church Choir will perform during the ceremonies. LT(N) John Puckering will play the last post. The fly pasts will be presented by the Harvard Canadian War Birds flying in second world war Navions. The following Cadet Corps will be in attendance. Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp, 307 Mariner, Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, 2277 and 2812 Seaforth Highlanders, 3300 Bhai Kanhaiya, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadrons, 746 Lightning Hawk, 907 Black Knights, Navy League Cadet Corp, 151 Cormorant
Following the service the Colour Party will lead us back to the Cloverdale Branch where Susie Francis and the Versatiles will be entertaining from 1:00 pm. to 3:00p.m. The Ladies Auxiliary will have refreshments on sale.
REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE
Wednesday, November 11th, 2015 Parade will form up at 10:00 am
PARADE 10:35AM Begins at the Cloverdale Legion (17567 - 57 Avenue) to the Museum Square for the ceremony.
“We as Legionnaires honour our personnel who served past and present in the Canadian Armed Forces, and our first responders. ” 7262568
A Publicity table will be available inside the Museum promoting the Royal Canadian Legion.
Branch #6 Cloverdale
You don't have to be a Veteran to join the Legion. You must be 19 or over.
We welcome new members. 17567- 57th Avenue • Lounge: 604-574-4828 Office: 604-574-5300
Honouring Our Heroes
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 The Cloverdale Reporter 19
‘Blimey. I guess this is it’
Reginald Wise was a sniper with British commandos in Italy
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Wings of duty
CONTRIBUTED
Cloverdale’s Frances and Peter Clegg both served in the Royal Canadian Air Force: Frances for three years as a nurse and flight officer and Peter as a navigator. They helped bring wounded veterans from Korea to the U.S. For more, turn to page 20.
Liberators from a distant land From page 19
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Carrying out his duties, he’d paused without knowing exactly why, and felt two bullets shoot past his forehead. He remembers his first impression of Holland as a soldier – a woman wearing wooden shoes who was using a rope to pull a barge down a canal. Other, darker memories linger as well. “Well, it never leaves you.” He has returned to the Netherlands since then, as a tourist and as a veteran, and is touched by the depth of feeling shown for the Canadians who helped end the occupation. In 2005, he went back for the 50th anniversary of the liberation, forging
new memories of cemeteries filled with foreign dead that are tended with devotion by Dutch school children – and of grateful citizens. One man picked up a bar tab for a huge assembly of Canadian veterans, exclaiming their money was no good. A friend in the Netherlands mailed him news clippings from the 70th anniversary celebrations in June. “Liberators from a distant land,” reads one headline. “We follow the Canadian veterans during what is possibly their last visit to the Netherlands.” He and his wife Pat, an air force veteran, had four children. He lives in Cloverdale and is a member of Branch 6.
ne of Surrey’s few surviving veterans of the Second World War was very nearly killed in the conflict’s final weeks. Reginald Wise, 91 and a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Cloverdale, was a Green Beret sniper with Britain’s 40 Royal Marines Commando back in April of 1945. The elite British paramilitary unit was in northern Italy, battling entrenched German forces in what became known as the Battle of the Argenta Gap, part of an Allied spring offensive to liberate the Po River valley. They were searching for enemy flak gun positions when they came under fire. Corporal Wise took cover behind a broken-down tank as the bullets whizzed by and proceeded to aim and pick off the gunman. Except it turned out there was a second gunman – a barrage of bullets struck his arm. “Next thing I knew I was on my back looking up at the sky,” he told the Surrey Leader in 2007. “I thought ‘Blimey. I guess this is it.’” It wasn’t. Someone else silenced the enemy gunner and ushered Wise to safety, although one German bullet remains lodged in his arm to this day. Others were not as lucky. Seventy-nine British commandos died in the Battle of the Argenta Gap. Wise was among the CONTRIBUTED survivors who returned in 1995 to mark the 50th At 17, Reginald Wise joined the 40 Royal Marines Comanniversary and pay tribute to his comrades. mando – the Green Berets – during the Second World War. “You think about the other guys,” he said. “The He has lived in Surrey since 1951. ones you lose. The ones you were friends with for Wise saw action that was at times fierce in quite a while. Some were only 19.” Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece prior to Wise was just 20 years old himself by Italy. the time he was fighting in Italy, barely a “We would go in first and do the little month before the war ended. things,” Wise recalled. As a 16-year-old he had volunteered “Our best weapon was surprise.” with the Home Guard and manned anKilling was part of the job “you got used ti-aircraft guns in southern England to to,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to talk defend against German bombers. (The about,” he said. “In certain situations, you family house was bombed in the Battle got out more or less unscathed and started of Britain in August 1940, injuring his to think you were lucky. I guess I was.” grandmother.) In 1951, Wise and his wife Phyllis emHe joined the Royal Marines’ commanigrated to Canada and settled in Surrey do brigade in 1942 at the age of 17. with their six-month-old daughter. Two Wise in 2007. His marksmanship quickly got him sons were born here. sniper duty. Very lucky, indeed. The small highly mobile force specialized in raid– Cloverdale Reporter, with files Surrey Leader ing and reconnaissance ahead of larger Allied attacks.
In Flanders Fields
Lest We Forget
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
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In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
by John McCrae
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Richmond
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Edmonton
mytiletown.ca
Honouring Our Heroes
20 The Cloverdale Reporter Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Profiles in service
By air, by sea and by land – Cloverdale veterans have left their mark Frances J. Clegg Frances was born in Wedgeport, Nova Scotia. She served for three years as a flying officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Ottawa and in the United States. “During the Korean War, I was bringing patients from Korea back to the Mainland U.S.” she said. In her engagement notice to F.O. Peter Clegg, it says she flew between Honolulu and Tokyo accompanying wounded veterans of Korea, earning her Silver Wings from the U.S. Air Force.
First World War memories CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Frank “Pop” Dowie sings O What A Lovely War with CKNW’s Fred Bass on piano, on Remembrance Day at the Ladner Legion in 1962. After the First World War, Dowie continued performing with his army buddies in a show called The Dumbells. Every Nov. 11, he sang the song, Oh What A Lovely War at Royal Canadian Legions across the Lower Mainland. Dowie was the grandfather of Cloverdale’s Susie Francis Hall, who comes from a long line of entertainers. In his honour this year, she’ll be performing the song for him on Remembrance Day at Branch 6 in Cloverdale, where her performing arts troupe, The Versatiles, will be providing entertainment after the service and parade.
Peter C. Clegg Peter was born in Brantford, Ontario. He served 30 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force and army reserves, attaining the rank of major and working in various locations across Canada and in Japan. He served as a navigator bringing patients from Korea to the Mainland U.S. during the Korean War. According to his engagement notice to his wife Frances (See page 19), he received membership in
1983. He now lives in Cloverdale, where he’s a member of Branch 6. We asked him to send in a photo, and he submitted one taken just after the Falklands War ended, likely in July 1982. “The fighting had finished on the islands but we were still being buzzed by aircraft from the mainland,” he said.
Frank Redekop CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Naval veteran John McCourt in the Falkland Islands, July 1982.
the Order of the Arctic Worm for service in the arctic.
John McCourt John was born in a town called Harlow in the county of Essex, England. He joined the Royal Navy in 1980 at 16, and completed six years in service, first in the Navy and then three years in the reserves. He saw active service during the Falklands War in 1982 and in Lebanon in
Frank was born Nov. 9, 1965, in Burnaby, B.C. He served with the Canadian Army, 8th Canadian Hussars, achieving the rank of Corporal. He served in Petawawa, and on NATO missions. Since his return, he has been a very active member of the CloFrank Redekop verdale Legion. He is a member of the Cloverdale BIA and is active in the community. Currently, he is the Cloverdale Legion president.
helping people of other nations.”
John
604.366.3711 john@johnaldag.ca
Aldag New Member of Parliament ( Elect) for Cloverdale - Langley City
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“We honour those who have given their lives serving Canadians and
for giving us a country full of hopes and dreams. Today and each day you are in our prayers – God Bless! CLOVERDALE 5643 - 176 Street, Downtown Cloverdale 604.574.3443
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Thank You
Honouring Our Heroes
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 The Cloverdale Reporter 21
Museum, archives open for Remembrance Day Navy Wren shares Cold War secrets; slideshow reveals Surrey’s WWI contribution
Scenes of Surrey and the First World War: Top: J. Heppell, C. Heppell, Unknown, 13 August 1916; Surrey soldiers WWI (104 Regt) ca. 1914; and Lance Corp. Arthur Fleetwood.
November 11
No words can express the gratitude felt for those who gave their lives for our freedom 7260447
A time to remember A time to say Thank you
A Time to Reflect
to rehabilitate veterans. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., join former Royal Canadian Navy Wren Gwen Settle, as she shares the challenges faced while serving her country during the 1960s and reveals Cold War secrets. Across the plaza at the Surrey Archives (17671 56 Avenue), warm up with refreshments, then head to the reference room. See wartime newspapers, documents, and photographs. There will also be a slideshow on experiences in Surrey during the First World War. More than 700 men from Surrey signed up for military service at the outbreak of the First World War. Nearly one in 10 didn’t return. Visitors to the archives can also hear the voices of local veterans at the Oral History station. Both events are drop in, by donation. In 2015, admission is sponsored by the Friends of the Surrey Museum and Archives Society.
Surrey Archives: 10.17
Sid White amd Albert Augustsen in World War I Uniforms, ca. 1914.
For more information, call 604-592-6956 or visit www.surrey.ca/heritage.
– Cloverdale Reporter
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Surrey Archives: 10.11, 10:25 and SMA91.005
Surrey residents are invited to the Surrey Museum and Surrey Archives on Remembrance Day, before and after the service at the Cloverdale Cenotaph. Both buildings flank Surrey Museum Plaza, site of the largest Remembrance Day service in the city. The museum and archives are both open to the public for Surrey Remembers, a special day of programming, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 11. At the museum (17710 56A Avenue), warm up with hot chocolate and cookies. Children can can make “peaceful” crafts, such as tissue paper poppies and harmony doves. Visitors can watch documentary Second World War videos in the theatre, send thank-you notes to veterans and their families in the Lower Mainland, and listen to the Hazelmere Heritage Fiddlers. There will also be demonstrations of weaving and spinning, including the heritage loom used
Thank you to our Veterans.
200 - 17618 58 Avenue Give us a call at 604.576-9121 or visit www.hwgca.com
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Honouring Our Heroes
22 The Cloverdale Reporter Wednesday, November 4, 2015
South Asian military efforts marked at legislature By Tom Fletcher n 1874 version of the Red Ensign flag has been presented to the B.C. government to commemorate the contribution of Indian Army soldiers to allied forces in World War I and their settlement in the province. Steven Purewal, founder
of Indus Media Foundation Canada, presented the flag to Premier Christy Clark Oct. 28 as a symbol of their contribution. Here are excerpts from Purewal’s speech: “In 1849 Vancouver Island and the Punjab both became realms of the Crown. For the Punjab, the Victorian era opened up many opportunities within the vast military administration of the empire. And by the turn of the 19th Century, Punjabis had won many accolades as outstanding soldiers of the Queen in the various ON THIS REMEMBRANCE DAY campaigns throughout We pay tribute to those past and present who Asia and Africa. Wills, Power of “As we know, in the served our country with courage Attorney & summer of 1914, the and compassion ship Komagata Maru Representation arrived in Vancouver to Let us do the legal work. a less than welcoming environment. It was a sad episode in our community’s history. NOTARIES PUBLIC El Fedewich, Norman “But there is another Witt, B.A., M.B.A. Local notaries for over 30 years. story, an epilogue if you and Trish Fedewich, 5661-176A St., Cloverdale 604-576-9468 B.Comm 5661-176A St Cloverdale will, to the Komagata Maru story. And that is 604-576-9468 that another ship was Norman Witt, B.A., M.B.A. asked to sail at the very and Trish Fedewich, B. Comm
A
same time the Komagata Maru was leaving from India, that was asked to sail to France. “That ship contained the kith and kin of the people aboard the Komagata Maru. Their story is the story of the men that stood with Canada during its baptism of fire in World War I. “The heroic story of the Cana-
We remember Nov 11
dians in Flanders Fields is told in our classrooms. But what’s not told is that the Punjabis were standing united with Canada. They were there as brothers in arms and friends in need. They stood true despite the events of Vancouver. “On the centennial of World War I, our children should
On November 11
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Thank you for your sacrifices, and for keeping Canada safe.
“Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear” - William Shakespeare
Cloverdale Ace Hardware 101-17780 56 Ave, Clover Square Village 604.579.0343 | buildingsupplies.ca
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Commemorating those who gave their lives for our freedom.
– Black Press
Remember all those who have sacrificed, all the battles fought, the tears families cried. Remember it was Freedom the Soldiers brought.
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
17444 56 Ave. (604) 576-2113
learn that the Indian Army won 9,000 gallantry awards, that the Indian Army fielded more men in World War I than all the other colonies put together, including Canada and Australia, that they were critical to the allied victory.”
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Fedewich &Witt
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Steven Purewal (left) presents 1874 Red Ensign flag to Premier Christy Clark, with members of the Surrey-based 3300 B.C. Regiment (Bhai Kanhaiya) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps at ceremony at the B.C. legislature Oct. 28.
DOWNTOWN 5778 - 176A St CLOVERDALE 604-576-2888 7262602
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Honouring Our Heroes
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 The Cloverdale Reporter 23
Lest we forget. B Y C O L . J O H N M CC R E E
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
Join us for one minute’s silence
Lest we forget
Remembrance Day RETIREMENT RESIDENCE
11.11.11@11am Cloverdale’s senior retirement residence We welcome any donations in support of the seniors at Bethshan Gardens.
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