D-Day marked with unique 'Ashes Ceremony' in Yorkton

YORKTON - The Royal Canadian Legion General Alexander Ross D-Day Memorial service was held Thursday in Yorkton to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.

“Today (June 6) marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the Normandy Invasion,” explained Brittany Johnson President of the Yorkton Legion. “Canadians have fought heroically in many battles throughout history. The battle in which Canada fought on June 6th 1944 was no exception. D-Day refers to the day when a military operation commences.”

Johnson went on to give those gathered at the city cemetery some insight into the operations around D-Day 80 years ago.

“Operation Overlord, as the invasion was called, was a combination of naval, air and land assault troops,” she said. “Juno Beach was the Allied code name for a 10km stretch of French coastline stormed by Canadian soldiers in 1944. Over 7,000 ships carried 156,000 men across the English Channel. Of these 14,000 were Canadian troops from the 3rd Canadian Infantry and the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade. The Allied troupes seized the beach and seaside villages under intense fire from German defenders who had fortified the coastline with land mines and concrete bunkers in the 5 years leading up to the invasion. Of these thousands of troops, the Canadian Navy contributed 110 warships and the Royal Canadian Air Force flew in 15 fighter and bomber squadrons to assist the assault that day.”

Ultimately the day proved a hugely significant one for Canada as a nation.

“D-Day is a defining moment in Canadian history because of the Independence Canada gained and the recognition Canada earned among other nations,” said Johnson. “The exceptional military strength presented by Canadian soldiers validated our bravery, preparedness and tenacity. For Operation Overlord, Canada was given their own beach and were the country to advance the furthest out of all the Allies. Canadian soldiers secured a crucial spot where Allied forces could land and eventually take over enemy-occupied Europe.”

The battle left a mark on this nation in other ways too.

“Victory in the Battle of Normandy came at a terrible cost,” said Johnson. “The Canadians suffered the highest casualties of any division in the British Army Group during the campaign.”

So it remains important to remember.

“As the years pass, these sacrifices seem rather distant but the accomplishments of our men and women should never be forgotten,” said Johnson. “As our world changes, we tend to lose sight of our past and forget those who fought for our freedoms and the country that we have today. We need to acknowledge and celebrate those who didn’t return and thank those who did, as they ALL built the foundation of this great country that we call Canada and home.”

The day has added significance for Johnson personally.

“I have been fortunate enough to visit the D-Day Beaches of Normandy two times in my life,” she said

“Juno Beach has changed since the Canadians stormed the beaches of Courseulles-Sur-Mer 80 years ago but one constant will always remain – the emotion that overcomes a Canadian when you set foot on this precious sand will transform you forever. The weather changes in an instant and you experience this firsthand when you are in Normandy realizing how difficult it was to plan such an attack.

“The bravery of these soldiers was immense, knowing what would lie in front of them when the door on that landing craft lowered into the cold waters of the English Channel. My visit to the Juno Beach Center left me in tears as I viewed the stories and artifacts and also learned more about the attack both on land and in the air as well as exactly how pivotal it was in the Allied Victory in Europe almost one year later.

“Like the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Juno landing is a battle that will forever be etched in our country’s history and on our hearts as a Canadian people. Walking the rows of Benny Sur Mer Canadian War Cemetery allowed me to reflect on, and appreciate the sacrifices that were made for our country and people. I brought back sand from Juno Beach and I spread it today in memory of all who served in Normandy. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge this important day in history with us and to remember our heroes.”

One of the unique parts of the D-Day memorial service her in Yorkton is the Scattering of the Ashes, with the tradition being that the Silver Cross mother lay the first ashes. This year’s Silver Cross mother was Bonnie Rushowick.

While volunteer cadets spread the ashes on the veteran graves, Johnson explained how the tradition came to be.

“In 1936 a contingent of 6000 Canadian World War One veterans and their families went on a pilgrimage to Vimy Ridge for the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial,” she said. “Four ocean liners crossed the Atlantic Ocean to France with these distinguished guests.

“General Alexander Ross was a decorated World War One veteran and at the time he was the Dominion President of the Canadian Legion and he was in charge of setting up this pilgrimage to Vimy. Brig. Gen. Alexander Ross is the namesake of our Yorkton Legion as he was a resident of our city and is the one who founded our branch.

“It had been the custom after World War One to sell small wooden crosses in memory to place on veteran headstones and places of remembrance for Armistice Day in England. These crosses would be respectfully burned after being placed on sacred ground around Westminster Abbey in London. The ashes would be saved and then spread on the Vimy memorial in the 1936 unveiling. This exact casket is what held these ashes to be scattered over the east face of Vimy where over 10,000 names of soldiers are engraved into the monument.

“After the Vimy unveiling this casket was gifted to General Alexander Ross. General Ross brought it back to Yorkton and here it remained unused without a purpose as scattering of ashes was not a tradition in Canada and Yorkton.

“After WWII, Yorkton Legion branch member, Comrade Lawrence Ball, suggested that instead of throwing out the ashes from the burnt wreaths that were placed on the Yorkton Cenotaph every Remembrance Day, that these ashes be used to commemorate different memorials around Yorkton.

“The Ashes Ceremony as we know it today is believed to have started in the 50’s and has been an integral part of the D-Day service that we are participating in today.

“This humble gift has become a centerpiece of remembrance in Yorkton and a treasure of the General Alexander Ross Legion Branch 77.”