Moray Clouston never met his father, but he’s heard stories about Commander James Campbell Clouston his entire life. His father died in the Second World War before Clouston was even born.
But now, 77 years after his death, Clouston is being recognized as a Canadian naval hero. And it moved Moray Clouston to tears.
“It’s been more difficult than I expected,” 77-year-old Moray Clouston said. “I thought I would be able to cope with it without getting emotional, but underneath, it’s bubbling away.”
Commander Clouston served in the Canadian navy for more than 20 years. In 1940, he took part in Operation Dynamo, which was an effort to evacuate trapped Allied Troops from Dunkirk in Northern France.
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Clouston played a pivotal role in helping more than 200,000 soldiers escape. He ended up dying during the battle. Seventy-seven years later, the Canadian government is formally recognizing Clouston’s war effort, naming him a Hometown Hero.
“The British Prime Minister thought that maybe 45,000 would be saved,” said Parks Canada CEO Daniel Watson.
“It ended up being 338,000 of which 200,000 passed under his watch. That is something few human beings will be able to say, that they had that scale of impact on other lives.”
The moving ceremony took place on the Lachine Canal, not far from where Commander Clouston grew up sailing.
His son, as well as his grandson Milo, flew from England and Australia to see Parks Canada unveil a plaque in his honour.
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A military band played tribute, and a minute of silence was held in his memory.
“Someone came up to me this morning and said he’s a hero and that is very touching, very moving,” said Moray Clouston.
The commemoration comes two years after a group of local historians started pressuring the government to recognize Clouston.
“I love Canadian efforts in all the wars and I was just disappointed this great Canadian was ignored for so long,” said amateur historian Michael Zavacky.
When the big budget Hollywood movie Dunkirk came out this summer, Clouston wasn’t mentioned in the film, which initially disappointed the family.
But now they see it in a positive light.
“The consequent interest from the film would enthuse people to find out about Campbell which has happened,” said Milo Clouston.
The family is thrilled Canadians everywhere will now learn what they’ve known their entire lives – that their father, and grandfather, was a hero.