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June 6th was the "Longest Day" for the Calgary Highlanders in many
respects, as it included a very ambitious itinerary including three
official ceremonies with additional stops of regimental significance and
historical interest added in.
The first stop was perhaps the most meaningful of the day, as the Regiment
was attending to a long-neglected task: dedicating a monument at the site
where one of the Battle Honours was earned. The inhabitants of the tiny
village of
Clair Tison came out en masse to participate in a service of
remembrance at the site of the plaque dedication. Moving poetry from local
school children (speaking, to the soldiers who were killed at Clair Tison,
about how they were the children the Canadian liberators never lived to
have) mixed with short but meaningful speeches. The Highlanders present
were moved by the sincerity of the day's events; fresh cinnamon buns and
coffee were served immediately afterwards, and as the coaches drove off,
local villagers lined the streets to wave goodbye, as if to blood
relatives. It had been an enormously moving start to the day's events.
The next item on the agenda was also regimentally significant;
Hill 67 was the site of the first combat action of The Calgary
Highlanders in the Second World War. A large contingent of dignitaries
assembled on the crest of the hill - in fact, the northwest promontory of
the famous Verrières Ridge - and the regimental contingent was one group
among many recognized that day, the focus of which was the unveiling of a
monument to Canadian forces that had fought for the Ridge in the summer of
1944. Before the start of the ceremony, Master Corporal Ben Forrest was
awarded the General Campaign Star for his tour of duty in Afghanistan by
the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Vernon. Corporal Michael Dorosh
was also awarded the bar to his Canadian Forces Decoration recognizing 22
years of service in the CF.
The third ceremony of the day took place at the Juno Beach Centre, where
the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery had sent a contingent to dedicate a new
monument to Canadian gunners, in the form of a restored 25-pounder gun. A
sizeable contingent was assembled at the Centre, as is the case every year
on the anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy.
A quieter interlude took place after the Juno Beach service, as the
regiment visited Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, the cemetery
laying claim to having the most Calgary Highlanders interred with 154
burials.
After Bretteville, the buses arrived at the private residence of Michael
Sampson, who opened his private collection of battlefield relics to the
tour, including, it is believed, part of Michael Wittman's Tiger 007.
The evening was closed out by a sit-down dress dinner in Caen, at which
the drum corps of the Pipe Band entertained with a drum salute played on
the tabletops and china, and the Highland Dancers had a chance to show off
their skills. |
Anyone who would criticize the French as
ungrateful for the sacrifices of Allied soldiers during the liberation has
never been to Clair Tison. Image courtesy Nancy Desilets
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