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The Battle of the Atlantic The Battle of the Atlantic which lasted 2,075 days, was the longest campaign of the Second World War. It pitted Allied navies against German and Italian naval forces, especially submarines, in a battle to safeguard the essential flow of shipping between North America and Europe. On any given day 125 merchant vessels were sailing in convoy across the North Atlantic. It was during these treacherous, stormy crossings that Canada's navy matured and won the mantle of a professional service. Our navy escorted 25,343 merchant vessels across the Atlantic. These ships carried 181,643,180 tons of cargo to Europe - the equivalent of eleven lines of freight cars, each stretching from Vancouver to Halifax. Without these supplies, the war effort would have collapsed. Although it was largely unprepared for war in 1939, Canada's navy grew at an unparalleled rate, eventually providing 47 percent of all convoy escorts. Rear Admiral Leonard Murray, Commander-in-Chief North-West Atlantic, who directed convoy battles from Halifax would become the only Canadian to hold an Allied theatre command during the war. By 1945, the Royal Canadian Navy comprised 378 fighting ships and 95,000 uniformed men and women. It had suffered 2,210 fatalities, including six women, and had lost 24 warships. It had destroyed or shared in the destruction of 33 U-Boats and 42 enemy surface craft. In partnership with Canada's maritime air forces and merchant navy, it had played a pivotal and successful role in the contest for seaward supremacy. Each year on the first Sunday in May, Canada's naval community commemorates those lost at sea during the Second World War. The ships company of H.M.C.S York are proud to uphold the legacy of those who fought in the Battle of the Atlantic by pledging themselves "Ready, Aye, Ready" to face today's security challenges with pride and professionalism. H.M.C.S. Haida, the site of this ceremony, is a National Historic Site. The Friends of H.M.C.S. Haida are a registered charity formed to assist in the preservation and maintenance of Haida as a museum, memorial, and historic site. Taken from the Battle of Atlantic Memorial Service pamphlet. Read about the Wren Association of Toronto's participation in the parade and service. |