The members of the Naval Reserve division associated with the Canadian ship of His Majesty (NCSM) Unicorn paraded Sunday in Saskatoon to honor the memory of their colleagues who perished during the battle of the Atlantic, during the Second World War.
Under a clear sky and a sweet spring breeze, reservists of the Canadian Navy marked the 80th anniversary of this historic battle by browsing the streets of the city of Ponts.
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The ceremony took place on Sunday in front of the Canadian Navy building in Saskatoon.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Luigi Wahmerungo Palmieri
The battle of the Atlantic, which took place from 1939 to 1945 for the control of the North Atlantic, was the longest military campaign in the Second World War.
Canada played an essential role in this conflict by escorting thousands of convoys, thus ensuring the vital transport of troops and equipment to Great Britain, often under the attacks of the enemy.
Even far from the coasts, Saskatchewan, and more particularly Saskatoon, made a significant contribution to the war effort through the famous Unicorn military ship.
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-The members of the naval reserve associated with the NCSM Unicorn marched in the streets of Saskatoon as part of the homage to the martyrs of the Atlantic Battle during the Second World War.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Luigi Wahmerungo Palmieri
The commander of NCSM Unicorn, Michael SU, explains that this commitment was of great magnitude.
During the Second World War, the NCSM Unicorn alone has enlisted nearly 4,000 people from Saskatoon and its surroundings. To give you an idea, this represents around 10 % of the population of Saskatoon at the time.
Among these people Ruth Bond-Martinson, a veterane of the Second World War and guest of honor of the ceremony, embarked on the female service of the Royal Marine of Canada in 1944. The one who is now 101 years old was used until the end of the conflict.
I was in high school and most of the young men had already left. I grew up in a small town where there were few young men. So my girlfriend and I said to myself: “Okay, let’s get involved in the navy” …
Ruth Bond-Martinson’s commitment, like many other women, has been crucial for the success of the Atlantic battle, making them essential figures of Canada’s military heritage.
With information from Luigi Wahmereungo Palmier
