Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 19 My name is Comrade Gary Silliker, and I had the honour of being selected as the NS/NU Command representative for The Royal Canadian Legion’s 2019 Pilgrimage of Remembrance. The pilgrimage was led by Comrade Bruce Julian (1st Vice President Dominion Command), while Danny Martin (Deputy Director Corporate Services Dominion Command) looked after the logistics, and Doris Williams (CANVET Publications) looked after public affairs. While I could write many pages about the pilgrimage, I shall endeavor to touch upon some of my most poignant personal memories. I have always found interest and satisfaction in “walking the ground.” The pilgrimage was conducted over the period of 6 - 20 July with stays in Caen, Dieppe, Ypres, and Arras. Comrade John Goheen, of Port Coquitlam BC, the pilgrimage’s historian and tour guide since 1997, is extremely knowledgeable and as well was being a marvelous raconteur. He took us down many country lanes and into many wheat fields, to explain, “what happened here.” John’s passion and knowledge allowed us to stand on the ground where heroes once stood – and where many of them died in the service of our country. We visited 17 Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries, where we sought out the graves of war dead from our home provinces. We also visited one German cemetery and one French cemetery. The Act of Remembrance was conducted in France at the CWGC cemeteries at Beny-sur-Mer, Bretteville-sur-Laize, and Dieppe, as well as the Abbaye d’Ardenne Memorial, the Beaumont-Hamel. Newfoundland Memorial and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, and in Belgium at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery and the Menin Gate Memorial. Less formal, yet very emotional, memorial services were held on the Essex Scottish Regiment’s landing beach at Dieppe at 5:26 AM, at the end of the Dieppe jetty in memory of the naval forces, and down a wooded path on the grounds of the Chateau d’Audrieu in memory of the murdered Canadian POW’s. JUNO BEACH At Juno beach we walked the sands of the Mike/Red sector where Sapper Arthur Thomas Jackson of Shelburne County became the first recorded casualty of the Canadian assault force (see story - Nova Scotia war dead: D-Day). We also got to view the house at Nan/Red which has recently gained prominence with the newly released Canadian Mint commemorative coin marking the 75th Anniversary of D-Day (see story - “Finding Private Baker”). The Royal Canadian Legion’s 2019 Pilgrimage of Remembrance “Tramping through wheat fields with John Goheen” By Gary Silliker continued ... Bruce Julian (l) and John Goheen (right of cannon) and others at the Hooge Crater Pilgrims at the Vimy Memorial Mike / Red landing sector, Juno beach
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