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PAGE 8 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, NOVEMBER 6,2002 www.durhamregion.com Remembrance Day Monday, Nov. 11 Remembering those who 'faced what they had to face' w î a&iii Western Front Association keeps memories alive BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer DURHAM - The veterans of the First World War are almost all at rest now but one local group is making sure their valour will not be forgotten. The Central Ontario Branch of the Western Front Association (COBWFA) meets, researches and most importantly remembers the deeds of the men who served, fought and died in the Great War. "The veterans are pretty well all gone now and our main theme is remembering remembering that first war. generation and moving into the second," says Captain Captain John Haslam, COBWFA's president president and founding member. "We don't glorify war. Standing in one of these cemeteries you know there is no glory to war." But ensuring the memories are kept alive of those who fought to preserve preserve the Canadian way of life is the primary goal of the group. • "Remembrance Day for us is every ; day, not just on Remembrance Day," the captain, now retired from the Ontario Ontario Regiment, says. The Western Front Association assists assists individuals and organizations researching researching the war and helps people from around the world trace relatives who were lost in the war. "I'm amazed at the number of people people all over the world who have a Canadian Canadian relative," says Capt. Haslam. The group hears from people as far away as Australia. "It can be quite a busy thing, : this passion we all believe in. History is not just times and dates. It all ha$:to.do :■ with human beings." ' " • The Central Ontario branch of the' Western Front Association was formed following a pilgrimage in May, 1993 to trace the steps of Canadians who served in the First World War. Capt. Haslam, and other members of the Ontario Regiment, Regiment, primary army reserves, based in Oshawa went to France and Belgium and searched through more than 100,000 graves to trace 500 of the Canadians laid to rest in 90 cemeteries in Northern France and Belgium. "We said, let's not just honour them, let's go where it took place and retrace their steps." During the journey the group encountered members of the Western Front Association, based in the United Kingdom with branches worldwide worldwide and "realized there is nothing like this in Canada," relates Capt. Haslam. Worldwide, the organization has more than 6,000 members but the COBWFA is the only active Canadian branch, he says. The group initially met for a full Saturday once a month but with members members coming from across southern and central Ontario that became onerous. Now COBWFA meets three to four Canadian operations on the Western Front The Canadian troops participated in the following operations on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918: • The Battle ofYprcs, April-May 1915 • 'flic Actions at Fcstubert and Givenchy, May-June 1915 • 'flic St. Floi Craters, Mareh- April 1916 • The Battle of Mount Sorrel, June 2-3 1916 • The Battles of the Somme July- November 1916 • The Battle of Vi my Ridge, April 9-12, 1917 • The Battle of the Scarpe, April- May 1917 • The Capture of Hill 70, Aug, 15- 25, 1917 • The Battle of Passcheiulaele, Oct. 26 to Nov. 10, 1917 •The Battle of Amiens, Aug. 8-11, 1918 • The Battle of Arras, Aug. 26- Sept. 3, 1918 • The Canal du Nord and Cambrai. Sept, 27-Oel. 11,1918 • The Capture of Valenciennes, Nov. 1-2, 1918 times a year with historians from as far as Ottawa attending attending the meetings. In August 1998, members of COBWFA returned for a pilgrimage to recognize the 80th anniversary of the war's end. While there, the group met leaders in villages surrounding surrounding Amiens where the Canadian efforts were instrumental. instrumental. Today, each Aug. 8, those villages commemorate the memory of the Canadian soldiers soldiers with wreaths placed by the children of the region. Capt. Haslam, a British immigrant who came to Canada 23 years ago says he believes it is important for every Canadian to know this countiy's history. "They went to face what they had to face and we should never forget them. Every Canadian should stand on Vimy Ridge," where Canada won a significant strategic battle at a great cost. More than 11,000 Canadian soldiers died, were injured or went missing capturing Vimy Ridge. "If you don't understand your past, you have no future. It's your history history that makes you Canadian," Canadian," says Capt. Haslam, who adds preserving this countiy's countiy's history is one way to give back what it has given him. "It's my duty to pay Canada back. I wanted my girls to have a better future and Canada has given them a better future." The next meeting of the Central Ontario Branch of the Western Front Association Association is Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bow- manville Legion, 109 King St. E„ Bowmanvillé. il f :r 1 a 1 , K;: f i ~ 1 'i wttoLlimL, fl x ; U?i J l Hi C<\ ! 1 1 m 1 . \-§, \ ft À H ■ |i 1 u f 1 ' " ■ Members of the Central Ontario Branch of the Western Front Association made a pilgrimage to France and Flanders in 1998 for the 80th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Capt. John Haslam took a picture of the group, from left: Mike Haskins, Bowmanville, Larry Levett, Oshawa, Rod Ayres, Whitby and Cliff Nyen- huis, Oshawa. Please recycle St. Mary's Cement- Bowmanville Plant ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION w, BRANCH 178 BOWMANVILLE REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADES & SERVICES Fri. Nov. 8/02 Newtonville Cenotaph 10:30 A.M. Sun. Nov. 10/02 Orono 2:00 P.M. Parade will move off from the ODD FELLOWS HALL at 1:30 P.M. to the cenotaph. Mon. Nov. 11/02 Bowmanville Cenotaph 10:30 A.M. Parade will move off from LEGION PARKING LOT at 10:20 A.M. to the Bowmanville Cenotaph. Mon. Nov. 11/02 Newcastle Cenotaph 10:30 A.M. Please try to attend these services to remember our veterans who fought and died so we could enjoy our ■ freedom we have today. THOSE , WHO SERVED "... at■ the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them." McGregor I.D.A. Drugs 5 King St. W. 623-5792 Bowmanville Let us remember those who gave... Let us pause in remembrance of those who died in the service of our country. For their gallant efforts in the preservation of our freedom, let us honour them and never forget them. Remembering those who made the supreme sacrifice Morris Funeral Chapel Ltd. 4 Division Street S. (905) 623-5480 Bowmanville ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 178 BOWMANVILLE POPPY TRUST FUND October 1,2001 - September 30,2002 A. Balance in Branch Poppy Trust Fund as of 1 October 2001 $14,932.97 B. Income from Campaign and All Other Sources $40,351.00 SUBTOTAL $55,283.97 C. Campaign Expenses 1) Poppies and Wreaths 2) Promotional Material 3) Other Local Expenses SUBTOTAL EXPENSES $9,179.63 $1,555.36 $131.60 $10,866.59 D, Disbursements 1) Grants to Ex-service Persons 2) Bursaries 3) Donations As authorized at articles 1105-1107 General Bylaws $1,711.39 SUBTOTAL DISBURSEMENTS $18,857.74 $2,146.35 $15,000.00 E. TOTAL EXPENSES AND DISBURSEMENTS $29,724.33