Maybe it was a typo, perhaps the Prime Minister didn't have his reading glasses on yesterday, or maybe the research team at the PMO needs a refresher course on Canadian History. Whatever the reason, Paul Martin rewrote Canadian and world military history in Gagetown yesterday.
While addressing Canadian troops at the Army base in New Brunswick, Martin took us back to 1944 as Canadian, British and American forces worked together planning the liberation of Europe. From the Martin briefing papers we are led to believe that the road to the end of tyranny began in Norway. As most Canadians know (or at least we hope they know) the invasion of Normandy was the launching pad against the Third Reich and the beginning of liberation of all of Europe.
The Queens own rifles were the first Canadian battalion to set foot on Normandy's Juno beach, over the following hours they would be followed by many more Canadians, from a wide variety of units. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, The Sherbrooke Fusiliers, The Regina Rifles and Royal Winnipeg Rifles, just a few of the members of the 3rd Canadian Division and 2nd Armoured Brigade to see battle that day. The least we can do is try to remember that part of France which they claimed for freedom, at the expense of many lives.
The total after D-Day stood at 340 Canadians killed, 574 wounded and 47 captured. Cemeteries across France tell the stories of those that gave their lives for the greater good, stories that deserve a bit more research when made part of a political speech.
For the benefit of his research team, here are a couple of suggested readings for the PMO.
Pierre Berton's Marching as to War; pages 453-62 (pay particular attention to page 458, the state of Canada's military in 1944 eerily similar to that of today, a cautionary tale for the Prime Minister).
J.L Granatstein and Desmond Morton; Canada and the Two World Wars (a very good description of the D Day landing there)
Mr. Granatstein also has two other works for the PMO to take to heart;
Who killed Canadian History, and Who killed the Canadian Military.
One would hate to think that the finger has to be pointed at the Prime Minister!
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