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Wednesday November 8, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B1 Isn't it a treat w hen the tem perature drops at the sa m e tim e as th e prices? W e now o ffer you ^ I I O O p E R '* 25-50% OFF a large selection o f Stylish, Cozy, Fall Fashions! By Consignment. Upscale Resale Ladies Wear m OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 115 Trafalgar Rd. (j* N . ofLatete) 338-3474 % OFFICIAL MEDIA SI'GNSGR OF THE OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL O akville Beaver Focus Editor: W ILM A BLO KHUIS 845-3824 Ext: 250; Fax: 337-5567; Email: b lo k h u is @ h a lto n s e a rc h .c o m F o cu s Oscillococcinum l u l l IH iliM ' fVimillr. H lta ll W )M > Hlfc lJ|t ( k<tl» b $5 $ EXPIRES NOV. 22*V00 (IMMi) 3 1 1 / 0 6 ? j» <Authors challenge military history Battle at Falaise not a defeat taking a group of German soldiers prisoner at St. Lambert, on Aug. 19, 1944. The photographs, which appeared in newspapers and made the an 55 years of history be front covers of books, were taken by wrong? Yes, say Lt. Donald Grant, a Canadian Army Brigadier-General Denis photographer. and Shelagh W hitaker of The caption reads in part: "As close Oakville, co-authors of as we shall ever get to seeing a man Victory at Falaise: The Soldier's Story. According to official Canadian mil win a Victoria Cross," penned by Canada's Official'Military Historian, itary history, Canada and the Allies Col. Charles Stacey. were defeated at Falaise. That batde, fought in Normandy, Currie had almost single-handedly ended Aug. 21, 1944, just 76 days taken 120 men of Germany's seventh after it began. The men o f the army at gun point. Canadian, American, British, French For his heroic effort, Currie, a mar and Polish armies paused to enjoy ried father of one from Owen Sound, their success before turning north on was called from the battlefield two the scattered remains of two German months later awarded the Victoria armies. Cross by King George VI. Currie died in 1986 at age 73. "It was an extraordinary achieve ment and one that should have been celebrated, but instead the reality of ie Whitakers, who already victory was turned into the appearance have three critically of defeat," says book publisher acclaimed books to their HarperCollins, which has recently credit about World War II, released the W hitakers' fourth book. Dieppe: Tragedy to Victory at Falaise , co-authored with Triumph; Rhineland: The Battle to military historian Terry Copp o f Elora, End the War; and Tug o f War: The Ont. Allied Victory that Opened Antwerp; A week after the book came out in were not planning to pen another war September, it made the best seller list. story "until our grandson's soccer HarperCollins describes the book as coach intrigued us with his knowledge a "fascinating and dramatic reassess of David Currie," said Shelagh. ment of the Battle of Normandy" and Turns out that Stephen Campbell of a "bold and fresh look at this momen Manotick, near Ottawa, has a "life tous battle that led to the liberation of time obsession" with Currie, having Europe." collected enough material over the past The book reads like a "war thriller," 25 years to fill 17 large scrapbooks says the publisher. about his war hero. "With its extraordinary first-hand "So, we decided to write a fourth accounts - from both the Allied and book," said Shelagh, and "we dedicat German soldiers - Victory at Falaise ed it to Stephen Campbell." reads like a fast-paced war thriller." For Denis, it was difficult to set the The book singles out the heroics of record straight. one man, Major David Currie, a tank In addition to interviewing people squadron commander with the South about events that happened half a cen Alberta Regiment. tury ago, wading through archives and Victory at Falaise includes two war diaries, he found himself challeng ing officially accepted Canadian, photographs of Currie, pistol in hand. B E A V E R F O C U S E D IT O R B y W ilm a Blokhuis C Photo by Peter C. McCusker Shelagh and Denis Whitaker pose with their four books - Rhineland, Tug of War, Dieppe, and Victory at Falaise. British and American military history. "The historians have denigrated the Canadian effort for 50 years, by saying our men were slow, that they didn't try hard enough, that they should have gotten to Falaise earlier," charged Denis, pointing out the famed photos of Currie taking the Germans at gun point. "He demonstrated isolated extreme heroism," said the 85-year-old highlydecorated war veteran who saw action in Normandy and was wounded. "We're challenging the historians," he continued in explaining why, in their senior years, he and his wife have decided to write another war book. "We're brave to challenge the accepted history of this campaign. The British were also criticized for being ineffective, poor soldiers, and for being slow. Falaise has been treated as a disaster. Many historians are critical of the lack of speed." Yet, the battle ended faster than anyone ever expected, he adds, "three weeks earlier." "It was `D-Day plus 90,' Sept. 6th, when the Allies got to the Seine River. The Allies defeated two German armies and got to the Seine three weeks early. "We trapped the German army at Falaise," said Denis, "45,000 Germans were taken prisoner, and 20,000 of them were killed. Only a few escaped over six miles of rugged terrain. "They were part of the 12th SS Hitleijungend, or `Hitler Youth,' trained since their early teens for bat tle. "They started with 20,000 men on D-Day and 150 tanks, and after Falaise, they were down to 100 men, 10 tanks, and no guns. "We consider that a victory." Denis remains critical of the histori ans who "criticized our performance as soldiers," and is particularly unhap py with "non-fighting historians (among them Stacey) criticizing us, the Canadians and Allies, for our lack of speed, and how the generals con ducted the war in Normandy." The book reads like a day to day account through the eyes of a soldier, and how the Canadian and the Allies outsmarted and outmaneuvered the Germans, leading up to the Germans being trapped at Falaise. (See `Previous books . . . ' page B2) T The Oakville Club is opening its doors to the community on Saturday, Nov. 11th, from 5 to 7 p.m., for a spe cial Remembrance Day celebration of the 55th anniversary o f World War II. Oakville veterans, including one of Canada's most highly decorated sol diers, Brigadier-General Denis Whitaker, will be honoured guests, offering the general public a unique opportunity for discussion. The event is sponsored by -the Oakville Club, Booker's Bookstore and by three publishing houses: HarperCollins, Stoddart and McGfaw Hill. There is no admission charge and refreshments are complimentary. The Oakville Club is on 56 Wafer SL in downtown Oakville. T im e fo r s e le c tio n *129 Qualcom m Q C P 2700 (on 12 month term) *179' Qualcom m Q C P 2760 (on 24 month term) W ith a n y 1 2 m o n th s e rv ic e a g re e m e n t y o u g e t M e s s a g e C e n tre E xp ress s e rv ic e F R E E fo r 1 2 m o n th s * Applies to new 12 and 24 month service agreements fa >a B el Mobitttv post paid rate plan wttta a minimum access rate of S2\mth (minimum S3S/mth for StarTAC 3000), and after mall-in rebate. G e t th e B e ll E xp ressV u 2700 s a te llite system an d Save like never before! 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