World War 2: The 75th Anniversary

A Veteran's Son Looks Forward to the Third Day

A significant anniversary is approaching. 

["2194 days of war still affect our wide world"]

Less than nine months from today, on September 3, 2014, the 75th anniversary of England's declaration of war against Germany will be marked. The lengthy timeline of events related to World War ll will include earlier dates, e.g., Germany's invasion of Poland, but September 3rd is a very special date for Allied nations around the globe and will undoubtedly be marked in a variety of ways, perhaps beginning just before lunchtime in London, England.

I read the following at Timeline of World War ll (1939), Wikipedia:

     At 11:15 a.m. British Standard Time (BST), British
     Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces on BBC
     Radio that the deadline of the final British ultimatum
     for the withdrawal of German troops from Poland expired
     at 11:00am and that "consequently this nation is at war with
     Germany". Australia, India, and New Zealand also declare
     war on Germany within hours of Britain's declaration.

["Father and son in Norwich, 1950"]

On September 3, 1939 I was about ten years away from my official birthdate (Sept. 18, 1949), so I wasn't even 'a twinkle in my father's eye' at the time. Father was three days shy of his 19th birthday, perhaps cutting trees in Northern Ontario or hard at work at the Co-op near his mother's house on Spring Street, Norwich to make some kind of wage. But because of various influences in his life - most having strong links to war and the third day of September - he joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and shortly thereafter Combined Operations in the summer and fall of 1941 respectively.

["Dad (left) worked in lumber camps near Burke's Falls"]

["Signed up, 1941"]

He was issued RCNVR enlistment number V8809. Participation in the war changed him for good and ill. He fought demons during and after the war, loved his wife, family, birds and baseball, wrote lengthy memoirs, wanted to be buried at sea and passed away after a long heavy sigh at Parkwood Hospital, London on the third day of February, 2003. I say Dad's a good man and is remembered with growing fondness.

I look forward to the 3rd of September, its importance and deeper meanings.

But then, there is this: Following closely on the heels of the 3rd, each in its turn and tumbling forward like a mighty, thunderous war machine, will come the 75th anniversary of thousands of actions, events and life-changing headlines that, when put together affect the ground upon which we trod this very day.

Be prepared. Know the war that shapes you.

["Dad supported his local Legion for many years"]

Photos by GH

Link to Dad's Navy Days