A merchant navy veteran is not giving up on his mission to create the IslandB次元官网网址檚 first Battle of the Atlantic memorial in Esquimalt.

Bill Emberly, who presented his case to the townshipB次元官网网址檚 heritage advisory committee again last week, said is long overdue.

B次元官网网址淚 feel pretty sure (the committee) will go for it. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of people there who are sympathetic, but theyB次元官网网址檙e worried about money,B次元官网网址� he said.

Emberly spent six years making the harrowing three-week crossings from Canada to the United Kingdom, the longest single battle of the Second World War.

B次元官网网址淎ny time you get an opportunity to more formally and officially create a memorial to recognize (people), itB次元官网网址檚 a good thing to do,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Dave Hodgins, a council liaison on the heritage advisory committee.

B次元官网网址淭he issue that I did hear was where it should be.B次元官网网址�

Approximately 1,600 Canadian merchant seamen lost their lives providing crucial supplies to Europe during the

Second World War, but they faced discrimination for more than a half-century from the Canadian government.

B次元官网网址淲e fought like the devil for 25 years just to get recognition and it was 63 years before they gave me a pension,B次元官网网址� Emberly said.

It was only in 2000 that then federal veterans affairs minister George Baker made merchant mariners eligible to receive benefits and pensions, and only in 2003 did Canada formally designate Sept. 3 as Merchant Navy Veterans Day.

Hodgins said the committee will speak with Esquimalt parks and recreation about the placement of the memorial, and will look at any existing regulations before moving forward.

Emberly said the delay is frustrating, but expected.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 normal for me, IB次元官网网址檝e been going through that for 67 years,B次元官网网址� he said.

dpalmer@vicnews.com