Veterans reflect on Remembrance Day

by Hailey Trealout

As another Remembrance Day approaches, veterans pause to look back at a time filled with terror and pride.

“The first time we went I was in the troop landing craft but this time when I went over, I went over with the landing craft that they had the tanks in. The tanks were in the middle and we were lined up on both sides of it. When we came in, we were getting fire on us before we even left the craft.”

Howard Large, 94, joined the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment when he was 22 years old after his two brothers had already joined. In 1940 he went to Camp Borden to train as a truck mechanic before being sent to Dieppe, but because of heavy fire the landing craft he was on had to turn around and go back home. After a two week leave the group tried the beach again.

“When they dropped the entrance to the craft to the beach we didn’t know if it was in deep water or what but it was only up to my waist when I hit the water. We were really getting the fire from the Germans. They were just slaughtering us,” said Large. “I got over to the wall with a few other men and there were fellas dropping on both sides of me. A couple of the engineers made it too with what we call a Bangalore Torpedo, it’s a big long pipe with an explosive and fuse on it – you’re supposed to shove it underneath the barbed wire that’s up on top of the wall and when it explodes it just clears the barbed wire right out. They were supposed to put it underneath the barbed wire, work it through, but they threw it up on top and lit the damn fuse. It started slipping back towards us, the guys would grab a hold and shove it up, but it kept slipping back. So one of the fellas from Leamington, Everett McCormek, he reached up and he held on to it and when it exploded that was the end of him. But he saved the rest of us. We all got it then, it just wiped us right out.”

Large was one of the seven men who made it to safety. They hid in a house where Large noticed he was wounded. Unable to go any farther, he was left behind. While waiting for medics, a German patrol found Large in the cellar of one of the houses just off the battlefield.

“They must’ve come up the front door because we went down the hall and there were the Germans lying that we shot,” said Large. “One of the Hitler Youth that was with them put his rifle right to my head and the other guy reached out and took it down because I was his prisoner not the Hitler Youth’s.”

It is because of men like Large that Remembrance Day plays such a significant role Canada’s history. Remembrance Day began after WWI ended, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918. It has become an ongoing tradition for 94 years and has proved to mean a great deal to past and present day soldiers and communities across the nation through the pride and appreciation of the public.

Chris, who asked that her last name not be used, is a 53-year-old mother of two Canadian veterans in the military. She said she is proud of her sons for standing up for their country.

“It is very awesome to see people come out, for example to the Cenotaph in downtown Windsor, wearing red and white and their poppies, thanking the soldiers,” said Chris. “The soldiers themselves when they see somebody with a poppy or when they get thanked they’re very touched, it means a lot to them. The support of fellow Canadians helps them feel proud of what they do. I remember my neighbor, who served in WWII who was in a tank. All the stories that he told me about the war, all the passion he had was remarkable. When he told a story it was like you were there. He had a lot of passion for his memories and I’ll keep that dear to my heart forever. We have to remember the past soldiers and the ones today that are serving so that we can keep each other strong.”

On Nov. 11 Windsor regiments, veteran groups, legions and various Cadet Corps will gather at the Cenotaph on University Avenue for the Remembrance Day ceremony at 11 a.m.

Sgt. Rich Sharpe is a member of the Windsor Regiment and will be attending the ceremony. He said Remembrance Day is a time when Canadians can show their appreciation towards the military. By wearing a poppy and attending the Remembrance Day ceremonies Canadians can give homage those who paid the ultimate sacrifice alongside our veterans and members currently serving in the military.

“For some soldiers, it’s a sad ceremony, mainly for the ones that have lost buddies to conflict,” said Sharpe. “We are running out of our older Veterans who no doubt remember their wars like they were yesterday. We now have many younger soldiers now that are veterans, some in their early twenties, that have lost friends to war, including myself. Nov. 11 means so much more to me now that it ever has.”