With 2017 being the centennial of the Battle of Passchendaele in the Flanders region of Belgium during the First World War, that battle was highlighted during the Remembrance Day service held at the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute on November 9.
Students and staff of Victoria School joined the KCI students and staff at 11 a.m. for the service which included a presentation by Bdr. Jordan Guenther of Kamsack, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, who talked about Passchendaele, along with other conflicts that involved the Canadian military.
A reserve force artillery gunner with the Canadian Armed Forces, Guenther is stationed at No. 10 Field Regiment in Yorkton.
“My responsibility in the Army is to provide means of indirect fire support to engage the enemy,” Guenther told the packed KCI gymnasium, while a slide show was being presented. “Doing this work has taught me a lot. I have much more appreciation for the incredible sacrifices of those who served in the military long before me.
“I’ve discovered that their stories aren’t just facts in history books. In fact, today’s TV and movie super heroes have nothing on our veterans,” he said. “These ordinary Canadians became remarkable heroes when facing extraordinary challenges. And boy, did they face challenges.”
Guenther said that a perfect example of those challenges is Passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War, and said that Lt.-Col. John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, had written In Flanders Fields after his experience at Passchendaele.
“Flanders was a vital supply route for the German army. Young Canadian soldiers fought the Germans to disrupt their supplies and gain control of the territory.
“They had to cross a muddy landscape amid heavy German machine gun and artillery fire. They waded through mud up to the knees and, in some places, up to the waist. They had little cover from the hail of bullets and shrapnel as men scrambled past shell holes. Holes filled with cold, filthy water and, all too often, fallen fellow soldiers.
“Slowly, but surely, the Canadians were able to capture new ground, succeeding where other Allied forces had previously failed. In an assault known as Attack 8, the Canadian Crops pushed forward and defeated the German enemy. Thanks to their bravery, almost 100 years ago today, the Passchendaele Ridge was in Allied hands.
“Unfortunately they paid a heavy price for their sacrifice. More than 4,000 young men lost their lives in October and November 1917; almost 12,000 more were wounded or taken prisoner.
“Generation after generation of brave young women and men, most of them just teenagers or in their early 20s, have been in other terrible battles to protect our way of life and to bring peace to the world. They did it to make sure that people like you and me could grow up and live in a safe, prosperous country like Canada where we enjoy all kinds of rights and freedoms.”
Guenther reminded everyone that 2017 is Canada’s 150th anniversary and has been a special year to remember the country’s heroes and its military heritage, particularly during the First and Second World Wars.
The centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge took place in April and the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid was observed in August, he said.
More than 650,000 women and men served in Canada’s military during the First World War, he said. One in every 10 died and more than one in every four returned home wounded.
“The Second World War also saw brave Canadians in fierce battles in the fight for world peace (and Canadians) were deployed all around the world. More than one million served during the Second World War. This is incredible when you think that there were only 11 million people in the country at that time.
“Again, war took a terrible toll. Over 45,000 Canadians gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded during the Second World War.
“We must never forget the sailors, soldiers and air crews who served and died in the cause of peace and freedom. It is up to us to ensure the memory of their many sacrifices lives on.
“We cannot ignore the valiant contributions of merchant seamen either. They endured dangerous sea conditions, and often enemy fire, to get supplies to the front during the war.
“Nor can we forget the more than 125,000 Canadians who took part in nearly 50 United Nations peacekeeping missions around the globe.
“All Canadians can be proud of the generations of women and men who served in conflict zones on our behalf,” he said, adding that 40,000 Canadian women and men had stepped up when duty called in Afghanistan, and of those 158 never came home.
“And those who did return home were often wounded, not only with physical wounds, but sometimes with mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder.
“As members of the Canadian Armed Forces, we participate in multinational operations to deter terrorism and defend human rights in hot spots around the world. We are involved in training missions, helping partner countries to improve and build their own military strength.”
Guenther said that dangers are not confined overseas and mentioned Cpl. Nathan Cirillo who was killed guarding the war memorial in Ottawa a few years ago. He said that Forces members also respond to all kinds of emergencies including floods and fires.
“It is an honour and a privilege to put on the uniform every day and defend our country, like those we are remembering this week,” he said. “This job to me personally has been a rollercoaster of challenges, but I love what I do. I have learned many skills, and learned to appreciate the diversity of our country and the strength of our people. Canada has one of the most professional militaries in the world, something we all can be extremely proud of.
With Kailey Sterzer, Koryssa Woloshyn, Max Stone and Kira Salahub as emcees, the program began with the entrance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Colour Party including members of the Kamsack branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and Kamsack air cadets led by Keri Lindsay playing the bagpipes.
The KCI band performed O Canada, a Grade 4 choir from Victoria School, under the direction of Darren Kitsch sang a selection, and playing a traditional drum, the Keshane Singers performed an honour song. A short film was shown of the late Leonard Cohen recitingIn Flanders Fields.
Lemay Bear and Cameron Cote read the names of First Nation veterans, while the Honour Roll of war dead from Kamsack and Togo was read by Eric Moriarty, Julianna Raabel, Serenity Friday and Tylan Waugh.
In her presentation, Lemay Bear said she had been proud to realize that of the men from Cote First Nation who were of age to serve during the First World War, over half had enlisted, outnumbering the enlistment of any other First Nation in Saskatchewan.
Kyler Kitsch played The Last Post and Reveille and several wreaths were laid at a cenotaph, including one by Jim Woodward on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion.
