LEST WE FORGET.....WE WILL REMEMBER.....on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.......

Remembrance Day 2015

All gave some.......some gave all.

     Below is a photo of my father (in the blue square) at 23 years old in the Remnants division, 2nd Ack Ack Battery, Royal Canadian Army, Canadian Army in Victoria BC on July 20th 1942.  At this time these soldiers were guarding the fleet in the Victoria BC harbour from possible attack after Pearl Harbor.      My father Jon was one of the lucky ones....after Victoria and after some time in England he was able to return to his family after the war years to live a long life here in Fort William and Port Arthur.  He just passed away this past January at the ripe old age of 95.

Next is one of two incredible photo/postcards of the Algonquin Regiment on their way down the hill on Arthur Street (now Red River Road) in Port Arthur heading to the CPR train station, June 14, 1941...and then off to war..... 

Click on photos to enlarge...

This is what the corner on Arthur (Red River Road) and Water Street looks like today.  The only recognizable building is the pillar on the old Pagota tourist building.

The soldiers of the Algonquin Regiment are about to board the Canadian Pacific Railway on Water Street in Port Arthur in 1941.  I can't imagine what these young soldiers were thinking of as they head off to war leaving their families behind never knowing if they would ever return.

On the left is the Hydro terminal in Port Arthur still visible in the present day photo below.

The Photo of the CPR Station long gone now would have been located right in the middle of what is now 4 laned Water Street.  Off to the left is the Hydro terminal as in the photo above.

A little picture of my chubby self at about 11 months old on VE Day, May 8th 1945 back in Fort William on my grandparents steps holding the British and American flags.  VE day (Allied Victory in Europe).

The following are a few WWII posters mainly British and Canadian.

Much scrap metal was brought in and donated to the war effort here in Canada, the USA and England.  Certain small countries such as Holland have very few Vintage Automobiles left over from the 1930's as the Nazis confiscated all their metal for their war effort before Holland was liberated.  (The Holland story told to me by Dirk Regter of the Model T World Tour).

 Canadian Car and Foundry in Fort William played a huge part in the war effort building planes with many Rosie the Riveters working diligently while their husbands, sons and boyfriends were off to fight for our country.
A few more posters follow.  Many posters made use of Adolf Hitler's persona to advertise for such things as buying War Savings Certificates and Bonds.

This last poster sums up .... The Meaning of Sacrifice!

WE WILL FOREVER REMEMBER..............2015