Halifax joined Canadians from across the country in marking the 71st anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic with a ceremony at Point Pleasant Park on Sunday.
The campaign was the longest continuous battle of WWII and ensured 25,000 merchant vessels crossed the Atlantic with much-needed supplies from North America to Europe.
For 2,075 days between 1939 and 1945, allied naval and air forces protected the convoys of merchant ships from German and Italian submarines, ships and aircraft.
“We pause to remember and learn of the forces that shaped our country and the leadership role that Canada’s armed forces played at home and abroad,” Rear Admiral John Newton told the crowd.
For 90-year-old Lawrence Weldon, it was a ceremony he’s waited years to be a part of.
The WWII veteran and his family flew to Halifax from Mississauga, Ont. after his application was chosen by Wish of a Lifetime Canada, a charity that grants wishes to seniors.
“I’m very happy, overwhelmed to be back in Halifax. I never thought I’d see it again,” Weldon said.
For the past few days, his family and caretaker have joined him in visiting military landmarks in the city. However, his greatest goal was realized on Sunday when he was able to watch from shore as the ashes of his close friend Bert Travis were committed to the sea off HMCS Montreal.
His niece says the trip was special because it was unclear whether his health would allow him to ever visit Halifax again.
“He hadn’t shared a lot of stories with us but slowly but surely as we’re seeing different things here, there’s more stories coming out so it’s wonderful to hear,” Evans said.
“It means so much to him, to us, so that’s great.”
Weldon was just 18-years-old when he was stationed in Halifax on HMCS Port Hope. He worked as a stoker in the minesweeper’s boiler room — a job he describes as “boring” and “quite warm.”
“It was an experience for an 18-year-old I’ll tell you,” Weldon said.
Despite his humility, the Commander of the Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic says Weldon’s contributions can’t be overlooked.
“And Esquimalt, Clayoquot, merchant ships sank right off the point here.”
The Battle of the Atlantic was a turning point for the Royal Canadian Navy, which great to become the world’s fourth largest by the end of the war.
During the campaign, the Royal Canadian Navy destroyed or shared in the destruction of 33 U-Boats and 42 enemy surface craft. There were 2,210 Canadian fatalities and 33 vessels were lost.
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