02 April 2017

Day 6: 31 March 2017 - German gun battery at Longue sur Mer, Juno Beach Center, Juno Beach, Canada House, Beny sur Mer Canadian Cemetery, and Bayeux Tapestry

The sixth day of The Battlefield Tour was awesome to say the least. First we woke up in a hotel that is very spacious compared to most of the hotels so far. This hotel even has its own restaurant down below with a very extensive continental breakfast. After breakfast we toured more through France to see its stunning view even though it is a flat landscape. The buildings are what make it unique, because there is a mix of old World War 2 buildings and newer buildings. It is a sight to see. We continued to tour awesome bunkers and patrol/command post. These where mostly still intact and overlooking a beautiful view of the sea. (German gun batteries at Longue sur Mer).  From there, we headed a bit fuether down the coast line to Arromanche to see a Mulberry Harbour.  This is essentially a portable harbour (an idea the British came up with to allow supplies, resources, and equipment to reach the troops), as at the time, the Allies did not have access to a port.  The Mulberry Harbour was meant to be a temporary one to be used for a couple of months, but it ended up in use for over 6 months until Antwerp was captured by the Allies. 

We explored the country side a little more before arriving at Juno Beach and going through the Juno Beach Center. The museum was very interesting and had plenty of videos to watch and really exciting things to look at such as rifle pieces, Lugers, and other battle debris. One video was about what it would be like to witness the battle through the eyes of a soldier. It was very moving just like the beach. The beach was peaceful and felt like it would be the last place there would be a battle. There where so many sea shells and apparently it is illegal NOT to take the sand so naturally I did.

After Juno Beach, we drove a little ways to look at Canada House, which was the first house liberated by the Canadians on D-Day and then walked along the pier. 

Our next stop was a cemetery called Beny sur Mer Canadian Cemetery.  We placed our flags on those graves we chose to put them on. I personally looked for an 18 year old but only saw 19 year olds until then. The reason was because lots enlisted under age, so I tried until I found one. Soon after paying our respects we sat down for a picnic lunch of pizza, fruit, chocolate pastries, etc. It was delicious.

After a long day we headed back to the hotel and MCpl Ramcharan Bigelow divided the dinner money evenly among everybody and some of us we headed out to see the Bayeux Tapestry. It was a fun little story made in wool and linen that is about 70 meters long and 50 centimeters high.  The Bayeux Tapestry was made in the 1070s and depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England, which ended in the Battle of Hastings - the key players in this were William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England.  The tapestry is incredibly detailed and hand crafted and is a UNESCO world heritage piece.

After the tapestry, my group proceeded to have dinner and I bought snails which where really good and I would suggest them to anyone provided they are cooked. So finally after a long day we headed back to the hotel and got some sleep. Thank you for reading and following the blog.

Article written MCpl Trnavskis

Additional note (from Capt Sun):  Today was an incredibly raw and emotional day.  Standing on the beaches and in the waters of Normandy, where 73 years earlier young men, some the same age as some of the cadets on the trip and many just a bit older, landed on those beaches and trudged through the waters to push back an enemy and reclaim territory so that we may live our lives as we know it today.  Many of them did not make it home that day or in the ensuing days after, but they ARE there - on the beaches - in spirit.  Let us never forget their ultimate sacrifice.

01 April 2017

Day 5 - 30 March 2017: Dieppe, Pourville, Dieppe Canadian Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge and Merville Battery

In the morning, before we left Dieppe, we spent some time on the rocky beach re-enacting the Calgary Tanks' attempt to land at Dieppe and progress up the slippery and rocky terrain.  It was a challenging task to say the least and understandably why it  I was such a failure for the Canadian troops.  From Dieppe, we made a quick stop at Pourville, which was one of the other beaches that was part of the raid.  From there we could  clearly see beaches as far as the eye could see and how easy of a target the Canadians were. 

We then stopped at the Dieppe Canadian Cemetery to pay our respects to those who lost their lives on 19 August 1942.  This cemetery looked a little bit different in that the headstones are head to head (see the pictures to understand what we mean by this) as they were buried by the Germans.  

Our next stop was the Pegasus Bridge where British glider troops landed to secure the bridge in the beginning of D-day. After that we went to the Merville battery, a coastal artillery battery particularly dangerous for the Allies crossing the English Channel. After this we drove to Bayuex, Normandy to spend our first of 2 nights there.

Summary provided by Sgt Erickson

Day 4 - 29 March 2017: Calais Canadian Cemetery, John McRae's grave, Memorial 19 aout 1942 (Dieppe)

Today we arrived in Dieppe, a site of great significance for the Canadian war effort during WW2. At the Dieppe Memorial Museum, our gracious hosts walked us through a private film and displays, illustrating the events of the 1942 raid on Dieppe. Earlier in the day, we had the oppurtunity to visit another military cemetary (Calais Canadian Cemetery), which contained many of the Canadians who had lost their lives in Dieppe. Among the graves we visited was that of Lieutenent Colonel John McCrae, a significant historical figure.  He is buried in the town cemetery in Winmereux.  The evening was spent in Dieppe, with plenty of delicious seafood. Mmmm.   Snails.

Summary provided by WO Bergerman-Twan

28 March 2017

Day 2 - 27 March 2017: Menin Gate and Vancouver Corner/Brooding Solider

On 27 March we went to the St. Julien memorial (located at Vancouver Corner and the memorial is also known as the Brooding Soldier) and Menin Gate which is a arch built for all of the fallen soldiers who has no marked grave. We saw John McRae's dressing station and saw the head stones of soldiers from all around the world that fought in World War One (at the Essex Farm Cemetery located at John McRae's dressing station - these were mostly British soldiers). MWO Pawelko played the bag pipes at each memorial and the head stones. WO Twan read out In Flanders Field at John McRae's Dressing Station.  We attended the last post ceremony at Menin Gate (to recce for our participation the followinig night) as well. 

We have been blessed with beautiful weather this time around - blue skies and warm spring sunshine.  Today, got up to 15 degrees Celcius.  Those who were on the trip the previous time will note the significant difference in temperatures.  We are soaking up the amazing weather while we have it!

Summary provided by MCpl Ali, MCpl Ramcharan-Bigelow, and Capt Sun 

26 March 2017

Day 1 - 26 March 2017: Arriving in London

After we arrived at Heathrow, we met up with our tour guide, Mark Banning, to start the first leg of the trip.  We spent the first night in London, adjusting to the time zone and trying to work off the jet lag.  Our first duty was to take a driving tour of all the famous London landmarks:  Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Westminister Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye, Victoria and Albert Museum, Trafalgar Square, Harrod's, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the HMS Belfast.  We ended the tour at the Imperial War Museum where the cadets got to wander around for a few hours and take in as much of the museum as possible.  

After the museum, it was time to head to our hotel, get some dinner, and catch some zzzzz's.  Next day - going to the Eurotunnel and to Ypres!

Weather was unusually sunny and warm - 13 degrees Celsius.

18 April 2016

BATTLEFIELD TOUR APPLICATION AND NOTICE TO PARENTS AND CADETS NOW AVAILABLE

To all cadets who are interested in applying for Battlefield Tour 2017, taking place 23 Mar to 3 Apr 2017, you may now download the Application and the Notice.  Any questions can be directed to Capt Sun via email:  julie.sc.sun@gmail.com.  Insert Battlefield 2017 in your subject line.  

06 December 2014

APPLICATIONS FOR BATTLEFIELD TOUR DUE 8 JANUARY 2015

A reminder to those cadets interested in applying for the Battlefield Tour that applications are due to Capt Sun by 8 January 2014.  However, you do not have to wait until then to turn them in.  Applications must be complete!  Meaning, you need the following:

  • Brief paragraph describing your extra-curricular activities outside of cadets
  • Recommendation by your Platoon Commander
  • Biographical sketch in the form of an essay on a Calgary Highlander solider during WWI or WWII
  • Complete the Battlefield Tour Application found here.
Any questions can be directed to Capt Sun or Maj Craddock.