Remember Sacrifices Of Those To Whom We Owe
Our Freedom
By Lieut Colonel (Retd) Pritam Singh Jauhal World War II Veteran
The Remembrance Day is observed to remember the sacrifices made by men and women who fought during the two World Wars, the Korean Conflict, Afganistan War and many other United Nations Missions to protect the Commonwealth and to preserve the Democracy that allows different people to live together in peace and enjoy freedom.
In Canada, the Remembrance Day is celebrated in all Royal Canadian Legions, Colleges and Schools on November 11 at 11 after 11 a m. Ceremonies in Legions include Parades Marches with Colour Parties, Guests, Veterans, Cadets, Scouts and Pipes/Brass Bands. Ceremonies at the Cenotaphs are Offering of prayers for the War Dead, Placing of wreaths, Observance of 2 minutes Silence, Sounding of Last Post, Sounding of Reveille and delivering of Speeches by invited Guests/Dignitaries in Lounges.
Remembrance Day is of great significance to me because my late father and I both put our lives on the line of fire, in World War I and World War II respectively, alongside the Commonwealth Armed Forces. Irrespective of the different nationalities, faiths and cultures, fighting in North Africa during World War II in the 8th British Army under World famous Field Marshall Montgomery, we developed comradeship, esprit de corps and tenacity and formed ourselves into a United Family. “Not only did we respect each other, we would even die for each other”.
Together we faced successive enemy air raids and intensive firing from tanks, artillery, rocket launchers and small arms. But we survived. We also survived when our reinforcements did not arrive on time, when our ammunition stocks ran low, when our rations and water supplied by Air were cut in half and half again, when we had sleepless nights due to non-stop enemy hostilities, when we received no mail from our kith and kin back home for months together and when we faced extreme heat and non-stop dust storms of the World famous Western Desert of Africa.
My late father once mentioned that while fighting at Basra, Iraq during World War I, their rations ran out and they had to live on mule meat alone for days.
We kept advancing in the enemy territory all the time. Before attacking At El-Alamein we halted for properly planning a major Corps attack. I vividly remember that supported by the Royal Air Force bombers and fighters, and ground artillery, we launched the attack on the enemy, at its heavily fortified, strategic, mountainous positions. After a stiff and lengthy battle which included hand to hand fighting, we captured our objectives. The enemy which suffered very heavy casualties was defeated. The morale of the enemy forces being extremely low, they ran helter-skelter. Withdrawing in a most disorganized manner they left their dead, wounded and large quantities of arms and ammunition behind. We also captured thousand of Prisoners of War (POWs) whom we sent to our Rear Echelons for interrogation.
During World War II, being an Operator Telegraph, I was always detailed with the forward-most fighting troops where my duties consisted of providing signal communications for the Commanders enabling them to plan and execute Operations of War as required. “Life there was not a bowl of cherries. It was a matter of touch-and-go.”
The mere fact that I too, fought alongside those men and women who lost their lives fighting bravely in war, fills me with pride. Luckily, I survived. I consider their deaths my personal loss. And when I remember those dear departed friends, I find it difficult to control my emotions and cannot help shedding many tears on each Remembrance Day.
Does every Canadian and Immigrant know how many Canadian men and women lost their lives during World War I and World War II, leaving their aged parents, young wives and tiny kids behind at the mercy of others? The official figures being 60,000 and 40,000 respectively are damn scary. I can say without hesitation that those of us who luckily survived, constantly suffer from the nightmares of the war and one ailment or the other during our retired life. A great many friends who lost their limbs fighting were incapacitated for life. The destruction of properties was unimaginable.
Considering the total loss of lives of the Axis and Allied Forces, hazards of war and devastation of properties during the World Wars, is there any sensible person on Earth who thinks of another World War? The answer being a big NO, All Human Beings enjoying the freedom in peace must pray to God Almighty that there never be a World War III.
In Canada, promoting an understanding of the significance of the contributions and sacrifices of all Canadian Veterans, 2005 was declared ”the Year of the Veteran” to honour and thank all Veterans who served their Country in times of the War, Military Conflict and Peace“. The Canadians were asked to actively remember, honour, celebrate and learn about the services and sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans during the Commemorative Year.
Under “Heroes Remember-Canada Remember Project” Veterans Affairs Canada videotaped oral histories of Veterans available on its website to encourage Canadians, especially the Youth, to remember the important sacrifices and achievements of the Veterans and to create a portrait of Canada’s history through the eyes of those who have served and to preserve this rich legacy for future generations. Being a World War Veteran, I too was interviewed and my videotaped oral history is available on Veterans Affairs Canada’s website.
The British Government attaching great importance in identifying, recognizing and thanking World Wars Veterans who through their commitments and sacrifices in the War years, helped to save the World from tyranny, declared the Year 2005 as “the International Year of the Veteran” and issued special Veterans Badges to all World War Veterans. The Badges are to be worn by their recipients with pride on High Streets, in the Buses, in Public Places and on all Commemoratives Events when dressed in civilian attire. By so doing, they will remind the citizens to say a heart-felt ‘Thank You’ for the Victory they won and for the freedom people now take for granted. I received a Veterans Badge through my Cloverdale Legion.
To commemorate World War Veterans, Lower Mainland Region of Professional Photographers of British Columbia voluntarily made phonographic portraits of the Lower mainland Veterans by donating their time and expertise for the photography, a gesture highly appreciated by the Minister of Veterans affairs and President BC/Yukon Command. The Portraits have been displayed at important locations throughout the Lower Mainland and also presented to concerned Veterans. A hard-bound Album of all portraits was created and kept by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Archives as a visual record of the legacy of honored Veterans. I received my portrait through my Cloverdale Legion.
People enjoying freedom in peace must not forget that it was won for them by the brave World War Veterans and those who have their tomorrow for our today. They (people) therefore, owe them their presence at all Remembrance Days in future and to say a heart-felt ‘'Thank You' for the freedom and their sacrifices.
World War Veterans attending Parades and other ceremonies should wear their hard-earned medals. Poppy campaign to raise funds for Seniors, mentally disabled children and other charities has begun in all Lower Mainland major Stores. All Canadians and Immigrants should obtain their Poppies by donating cash for the noble cause and wear them above their hearts, till the forthcoming Remembrance Day.
Lieut Colonel (Retd) Pritam Singh Jauhal World War II Veteran
Founding President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia, Canada
E.mail: colpsjauhal@hotmail.com
Tel: (604) 581 9383
November 7, 2012
By Lieut Colonel (Retd) Pritam Singh Jauhal World War II Veteran
The Remembrance Day is observed to remember the sacrifices made by men and women who fought during the two World Wars, the Korean Conflict, Afganistan War and many other United Nations Missions to protect the Commonwealth and to preserve the Democracy that allows different people to live together in peace and enjoy freedom.
In Canada, the Remembrance Day is celebrated in all Royal Canadian Legions, Colleges and Schools on November 11 at 11 after 11 a m. Ceremonies in Legions include Parades Marches with Colour Parties, Guests, Veterans, Cadets, Scouts and Pipes/Brass Bands. Ceremonies at the Cenotaphs are Offering of prayers for the War Dead, Placing of wreaths, Observance of 2 minutes Silence, Sounding of Last Post, Sounding of Reveille and delivering of Speeches by invited Guests/Dignitaries in Lounges.
Remembrance Day is of great significance to me because my late father and I both put our lives on the line of fire, in World War I and World War II respectively, alongside the Commonwealth Armed Forces. Irrespective of the different nationalities, faiths and cultures, fighting in North Africa during World War II in the 8th British Army under World famous Field Marshall Montgomery, we developed comradeship, esprit de corps and tenacity and formed ourselves into a United Family. “Not only did we respect each other, we would even die for each other”.
Together we faced successive enemy air raids and intensive firing from tanks, artillery, rocket launchers and small arms. But we survived. We also survived when our reinforcements did not arrive on time, when our ammunition stocks ran low, when our rations and water supplied by Air were cut in half and half again, when we had sleepless nights due to non-stop enemy hostilities, when we received no mail from our kith and kin back home for months together and when we faced extreme heat and non-stop dust storms of the World famous Western Desert of Africa.
My late father once mentioned that while fighting at Basra, Iraq during World War I, their rations ran out and they had to live on mule meat alone for days.
We kept advancing in the enemy territory all the time. Before attacking At El-Alamein we halted for properly planning a major Corps attack. I vividly remember that supported by the Royal Air Force bombers and fighters, and ground artillery, we launched the attack on the enemy, at its heavily fortified, strategic, mountainous positions. After a stiff and lengthy battle which included hand to hand fighting, we captured our objectives. The enemy which suffered very heavy casualties was defeated. The morale of the enemy forces being extremely low, they ran helter-skelter. Withdrawing in a most disorganized manner they left their dead, wounded and large quantities of arms and ammunition behind. We also captured thousand of Prisoners of War (POWs) whom we sent to our Rear Echelons for interrogation.
During World War II, being an Operator Telegraph, I was always detailed with the forward-most fighting troops where my duties consisted of providing signal communications for the Commanders enabling them to plan and execute Operations of War as required. “Life there was not a bowl of cherries. It was a matter of touch-and-go.”
The mere fact that I too, fought alongside those men and women who lost their lives fighting bravely in war, fills me with pride. Luckily, I survived. I consider their deaths my personal loss. And when I remember those dear departed friends, I find it difficult to control my emotions and cannot help shedding many tears on each Remembrance Day.
Does every Canadian and Immigrant know how many Canadian men and women lost their lives during World War I and World War II, leaving their aged parents, young wives and tiny kids behind at the mercy of others? The official figures being 60,000 and 40,000 respectively are damn scary. I can say without hesitation that those of us who luckily survived, constantly suffer from the nightmares of the war and one ailment or the other during our retired life. A great many friends who lost their limbs fighting were incapacitated for life. The destruction of properties was unimaginable.
Considering the total loss of lives of the Axis and Allied Forces, hazards of war and devastation of properties during the World Wars, is there any sensible person on Earth who thinks of another World War? The answer being a big NO, All Human Beings enjoying the freedom in peace must pray to God Almighty that there never be a World War III.
In Canada, promoting an understanding of the significance of the contributions and sacrifices of all Canadian Veterans, 2005 was declared ”the Year of the Veteran” to honour and thank all Veterans who served their Country in times of the War, Military Conflict and Peace“. The Canadians were asked to actively remember, honour, celebrate and learn about the services and sacrifices of Canada’s Veterans during the Commemorative Year.
Under “Heroes Remember-Canada Remember Project” Veterans Affairs Canada videotaped oral histories of Veterans available on its website to encourage Canadians, especially the Youth, to remember the important sacrifices and achievements of the Veterans and to create a portrait of Canada’s history through the eyes of those who have served and to preserve this rich legacy for future generations. Being a World War Veteran, I too was interviewed and my videotaped oral history is available on Veterans Affairs Canada’s website.
The British Government attaching great importance in identifying, recognizing and thanking World Wars Veterans who through their commitments and sacrifices in the War years, helped to save the World from tyranny, declared the Year 2005 as “the International Year of the Veteran” and issued special Veterans Badges to all World War Veterans. The Badges are to be worn by their recipients with pride on High Streets, in the Buses, in Public Places and on all Commemoratives Events when dressed in civilian attire. By so doing, they will remind the citizens to say a heart-felt ‘Thank You’ for the Victory they won and for the freedom people now take for granted. I received a Veterans Badge through my Cloverdale Legion.
To commemorate World War Veterans, Lower Mainland Region of Professional Photographers of British Columbia voluntarily made phonographic portraits of the Lower mainland Veterans by donating their time and expertise for the photography, a gesture highly appreciated by the Minister of Veterans affairs and President BC/Yukon Command. The Portraits have been displayed at important locations throughout the Lower Mainland and also presented to concerned Veterans. A hard-bound Album of all portraits was created and kept by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Archives as a visual record of the legacy of honored Veterans. I received my portrait through my Cloverdale Legion.
People enjoying freedom in peace must not forget that it was won for them by the brave World War Veterans and those who have their tomorrow for our today. They (people) therefore, owe them their presence at all Remembrance Days in future and to say a heart-felt ‘'Thank You' for the freedom and their sacrifices.
World War Veterans attending Parades and other ceremonies should wear their hard-earned medals. Poppy campaign to raise funds for Seniors, mentally disabled children and other charities has begun in all Lower Mainland major Stores. All Canadians and Immigrants should obtain their Poppies by donating cash for the noble cause and wear them above their hearts, till the forthcoming Remembrance Day.
Lieut Colonel (Retd) Pritam Singh Jauhal World War II Veteran
Founding President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia, Canada
E.mail: colpsjauhal@hotmail.com
Tel: (604) 581 9383
November 7, 2012
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