Letters to the Editor
The Best Plane To Buy?
I read with studied interest Eye On Defence by David J. Bercuson in the March/April issue. He draws his conclusion that Canada must have the best fighter in the world, i.e., the F-35. I disagree. Canada has always been hoodwinked by the United States into supporting their concept of defence spending—the biggest, the best and with the most “bells and whistles.” While the U.S.A. may be able to afford this level of spending, we are not. Look at the history of the Avro Arrow and how the U.S. played a large part in the demise of this program which resulted in our purchasing fighters from them ever since!
Bercuson makes an accurate observation about how long and protracted defence procurement projects are in Canada, and he correctly states that there are shocking lapses in the technology and testing phases of any new fighter. He is right and we are now seeing just how rapidly the price tag for the F-35 is still climbing into the stratosphere. He is correct in saying that these problems will be fixed but it is too costly for Canada to continue to support the program.
Canada does not need to absolutely mirror the U.S. in selecting a fighter. Our allies already have modern fighters which have proven to be interoperable with the U.S. in theatres of operation. We can upgrade our existing fighters at far less money and achieve at least a three-to-one ratio in the number of aircraft we could purchase when compared to the price of the yet unproven and not-yet-in-production F-35.
We have a need to protect a huge domestic airspace and Arctic sovereignty is coming more into focus. These considerations should be of primary concern when we select a fighter. We can still do this and meet our obligations with our allies in selecting a fighter that we need and that we can buy off the shelf right now at a far more affordable rate!
Brian Preston, Portland, Ont.
Remembering David Hornell
I write regarding the Canadian Victoria Cross recipients poster in the January/February issue of Legion Magazine.
Before retiring to France, we lived in the Shetland Isles in northern Scotland. During a memorial service on Nov. 11 many years ago in Lerwick, we came across the Commonwealth war grave of Flight Lieutenant David Hornell VC. He is buried alongside various service personnel in the Knab Road cemetery overlooking the southern entry into Lerwick harbour, it’s a splendid setting.
His photograph and an article about him and his crew’s exploits also appear in the deep depths beneath Derby House, Liverpool, which was originally the Western Approaches Command Centre.
Robert Slawson, Aumagne, France
Mixed Uniform
During a briefing on unification attended by most of the Atlantic Fleet in Halifax, Defence Minister Paul Hellyer lost his cool when challenged about the changing of the uniform, and said that the navy thought their uniform was ordained by God.
The greening of Canada’s military not only severely affected the morale but, most of all, destroyed the identity of its proud members (Canada And The Cold War, November/December).
In the late 1970s, I travelled by rail in the company of several British Army personnel to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization conference. When asked what my views were of the unification, I replied that the colour for the uniform made us look like out-of-place truck drivers. The cap badge I was required to wear indicated I was of the air element, and rank badge—master warrant officer—was army. Nothing on the uniform showed that I was actually a chief petty officer in the navy.
The total silence in the compartment was broken when a captain muttered, “Bloody politician.”
William Cardiff, Victoria
Care Should Be Taken With Last Post Forms
First let me congratulate Legion Magazine for producing an interesting and important publication. The Last Post is a valuable addition and a fitting last tribute to those who served their country and returned to tell about it.
I have only one concern and my comments are directed to those who submit the names for publication. As a decorated veteran of both of the British Malaya and Borneo conflicts, I am in my 73rd year. Although as a child in the United Kingdom I endured the horrors of the Second World War, I would never consider myself as being a veteran of that conflict. Therefore I am greatly concerned when I read submissions in Last Post giving the age of the deceased as being 72 or even 80 and referring to them as being veterans of WW II. I know many enlisted when they were underage, but a 72-year-old would have been four at most to have served in one of the military branches during the Second World War.
I ask all branches who submit names for the Last Post to be more careful and double check before detailing the subject’s background. Such errors affect the credibility of the publication. It is a simple request and requires only slight attention to detail.
Keep up the good work in Legion Magazine. I and thousands of others look forward to its arrival each time.
Reg Couldridge, Keswick, Ont.
Our Readers Respond
In our March/April issue we asked readers if it was important for young Canadians to understand the role the military has played in our history.
Without a doubt, young Canadians need to be informed about the role of the military in our history.
Canada has contributed greatly in two world wars. If I remember correctly we had approximately one million Canadians who served in the Second World War when our population was approximately 11 million. I question how many other countries had the same ratio as we did. We veterans are dying so fast these days that soon there will be none of us left from the Second World War. Those who served in other areas in the world since then, are also reaching old age.
With so many immigrants coming into Canada I believe it is critical that they also know the history of our part in the conflicts of the past. To my knowledge nothing is supplied to them in the form of a printed book or articles that they should be requested to read as part of their becoming Canadians. The Canadian Forces have won respect in every area they have served in and only through a concentrated effort will this be known by our future generations.
We should be very proud of all our veterans. Whether they served overseas or not, they should be recognized as having played a prominent role in the past, as have many in the very recent Afghanistan conflict. Our service men and women served and sacrificed their younger years so that the next generation could live in relative peace.
J. B. Reid, Caledon, Ont.
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Our Legion, Normandy Branch in Boiestown, N.B., has a small memorial room with deceased veterans’ medals, pictures and items from the Boer War through to Afghanistan. At one time, just before Remembrance Day, students were bussed from the school to the branch to view this room. They would ask questions about the artifacts and pictures of veterans, a lot of whom would be relatives.
Most of our young people have no idea what these veterans faced in whatever war. I certainly agree that military history should be taught in school.
Merle Hunter, Boiestown, N.B.
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There is a desperate lack of Canadian military history taught in our schools, in all grades.
How can we teach freedom to our students without explaining the part that the military played in forming Canada as we know it? Part of our history includes our military being deployed to assist others, whether it is a humanitarian effort, such as in Haiti, or to protect a civilian population in times of conflict. Let them not forget that this freedom allowed the recent Occupy protests to take place across our country.
The students must be taught that the members of the military fought for the principles of freedom and democracy. They must know that this is more than airplanes, ships, tanks and guns. The sacrifice of lives lost and casualties is immeasurable. The role of the military involved, among other things, a drastically increased economy, development of a national pride, the introduction of women in the workforce and an increase in volunteer efforts.
Let’s ensure that our Canadian military history is not relegated only to school visits by veterans during the week prior to Remembrance Day.
Yvonne Olson, Shubenacadie, N.S.
A Question For Our Readers
June 18 will mark the 200th anniversary of the United States’ declaration of war on Britain and the start of the War of 1812. Do you think Canadians should commemorate the war?
Comments can be sent to:
Letters, Legion Magazine,
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