Along with a significant number of current military families living on the West Shore, many residents have family members that served overseas.While there are no more living survivors from the battle of Vimy Ridge, West Shore ties to that World War I event still remain strong as residents honour those who died every year with a service at the monument in Veterans Memorial Park.
This year, one West Shore couple will join other Islanders and B.C. residents in France next month during the 100th anniversary ceremony for the battle on April 9.
B次元官网网址淚t was a significant event in Canadian history B次元官网网址� Many people argue it was the first time we were represented internationally,B次元官网网址� said Langford Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Geoff Spriggs, who will attend the overseas ceremony with his wife.
B次元官网网址淢y wifeB次元官网网址檚 father was military his whole life,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he Vimy story itself is pretty amazing.B次元官网网址�
While not going in an official capacity, Spriggs asked council for permission to wear his Langford Fire Rescue dress uniform at the ceremony. B次元官网网址淢y thought was more about being present and sharing that back to the community B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 quite a bit of connection to this area.B次元官网网址�
Initially, Spriggs tried to rally fellow firefighters and other community members to travel to France for the official ceremony. But there was such overwhelming international interest in the event organizers closed registration months prior to the original deadline.
B次元官网网址淭hankfully, we were registered ahead of time,B次元官网网址� Spriggs said about himself and his wife.
A news clip on TV initially drew his attention to the event. It highlighted several B.C. pilots that will be flying over the ceremony, including Dale Erhart of Comox.
B次元官网网址淲hat we are hoping to do is honour the First World War veterans, as well as all veterans,B次元官网网址� said Erhart, who joined the Vimy Flight team last year. B次元官网网址淲hen (the Vimy) memorial was first presented by King Edward in 1936, they had five planes flying overhead. WeB次元官网网址檙e trying to re-enact that.B次元官网网址�
Erhart and other team members have been test flying Nieuport 11 biplanes at the Courtenay Airpark. The planes are scaled-down reproductions of the Nieuport 11, which was designed in France before the First World War and became a critical counterpoint to the dominance of the German Fokker fighter planes during the war.
B次元官网网址淚t was used as a racing machine for the Schneider Cup and when the war broke out, they found it was very fast and manoeuvrable, so they started using it for fighter aviation,B次元官网网址� Erhart explained. B次元官网网址淚t was one of the very first fighters that the Canadian airmen used when they joined the Royal Flying Corps. Even though it was made in France, it was used by the British, the French, the Italians and eventually the Russians in the First World War.B次元官网网址�
After taking part in the Vimy celebrations, the flying team will return to Halifax and embark on a cross-Canada aerial tour, crossing from Shearwater, N.S. to the Comox Valley between May and November. The flight will include a flypast over the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa on July 1 during the 150th commemoration of Canada.
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B次元官网网址� With files from Scott Stanfield/Black Press
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
