On a day where the weather seemed very British, the City of Barrie honoured the Battle of Britain, which is believed to be one of the greatest air battles of all time.
A flag-raising ceremony took place at city hall Monday with local political dignitaries, members of the RCAF 441 (Huronia) Wing and 16 Wing Borden to commemorate the battle that took place between July 10 and Oct. 31, 1940 and is widely considered the turning point of the Second World War.
Mayor Jeff Lehman raised the flag and told the many in attendance of the deep connection the city of Barrie has to the nation’s military.
“Today certainly feels like a cold and damp British morning, doesn’t it? How fitting it is to have this ceremony today,” said Lehman. “Our city does what we can to honour those who fought to allow us to be here, safe and free. From our military park and wonderful cenotaph to days like today where we can remember those who fought and died in a battle that was absolutely crucial to winning the war, we are forever in their debt.”
The Battle of Britain took place over the English Channel and the southern part of England and saw a small group of skilled airmen and pilots from the Commonwealth and Allied countries halt Hitler’s invasion plans on Great Britain.
The outcome of the battle is why British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared his famous phrase, “never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
In an interview with BarrieToday, Bill Sergeant, president of the 441 Huronia Wing, spoke of how necessary winning that battle was.
“This was 100 per cent the turning point of the war,” said Sergeant. “The Luftwaffe was pummelling Britain, they were numerically superior and they were trying to get air superiority over England so they could launch Operation: Sea Lion, which was the invasion of England. Had the British Isles been taken out as a landing point to relaunch the 1944 Operation Overlord, that would have been it, we would never have been able to stage that except possibly through very difficult means by way Italy from Africa.
"It was those few pilots to which Winston Churchill made reference to that so much is indebted, including 133 RCAF airmen who took to the skies to truthfully protect the free world," he said. "That’s why we’re here today and why we will be downtown on Sunday as well.”
A military parade will take place Sunday, Sept. 16 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Square with many of the Canadian Forces, veterans, first responders and several groups of cadets.
Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard was on hand this morning and spoke passionately about the pride Canadians feel when told the stories of national sacrifice in the Second World War.
“When you look at the history of the battle and what could have happened had both forces, the RCAF and the RAF, not held their ground, not held that stiff upper lip and that stiff resolve, the world would have most certainly been a much different place,” said Brassard.
“We’re so proud as Canadians to be part of the Commonwealth and to work with our compatriots in Britain to remember the sacrifices and the bravery of the men and women who literally gave their lives, heading into battle many of them knew they would not survive and yet they jumped in," the MP added. "We are so proud and being here today, watching this men and women, young and old, salute as the flags were raised, you remember how important it all must always remain.”
The Battle of Britain memorial parade takes place at Memorial Square on Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. Those travelling in the downtown area are reminded to watch for road closures until the event is over.
