Battle of Atlantic parade and ceremony returns to Goderich

Revisiting a long-lost tradition, Goderich is readying for the Battle of Atlantic memorial parade this weekend. CTV London's Scott Miller reports.

Gord Hulley was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Navy from 1951 to 1954.

“He loved it. He talked about it all the time. And he made many, many friends through the Legion here in Goderich, and all his Battle of Atlantic friends,” said Hulley’s daughter, Bev Lecomte.

While he didn’t serve in it, the Battle of the Atlantic was one of the reasons why Hulley joined the Navy. The longest continuous military battle of the Second World War lasted more than five years, from 1939 to 1945, pitting allied war and merchant ships against German submarines for control of Atlantic Sea routes.

The battle saw 70,000 military members die, and 3,600 ships lost, including 4,600 Canadians and 75 Canadian ships.

Hulley used to organize the annual Battle of Atlantic parade in Goderich to honour those that perished, but that ended 12 years ago due to aging veterans. But the Battle of Atlantic parade and ceremony is coming back to Goderich,thanks to Patrick Armstrong.

“There’s an HMCS Goderich that served in World War II, and we’re right on the water. It’s the perfect place to bring back the Battle of the Atlantic parade,” said the Bayfield native.

Armstrong, a navy veteran himself who also founded the Huron and Area Search and Rescue Team, said he found renewed interest from the Goderich Legion and local Air Cadets to reignite the Atlantic honourary parade and ceremony, happening Saturday, May 3 in Goderich.

“I think it’s important to bring in, like, even our squadron, to bring in the younger cadets so that they can keep the memory of all these soldiers that fell in the Battle of the Atlantic, kind of keep their memory alive,” said Natalia Ferguson, Sergeant with the Royal Maitland Air Cadets based in Goderich, who will taking part in Saturday’s parade.

“Coming from a military family myself, I have the utmost respect for the men and women that have gone before us. And the men and women that serve now. So, for me, this is really a very good ceremony to have here,” said Liz Petrie, who will also be marching in Saturday’s Battle of Atlantic parade.

Armstrong plans on making the parade’s return an annual event so that Canada’s military sacrifices are remembered on more than just one day in November.

“As time goes on, and the pictures, black and white, become faded, it’s the duty of the living to ensure that we’re telling the stories of those that have passed, and that we’re always remembering, so that we don’t forget those sacrifices,” said Armstrong.

Gord Hulley’s family said he’d be so happy to see the parade he once walked in and organized return to his hometown.

“He was a really proud Navy man. It’s a wonderful career to get into. He had lots of travel, lots of stories, and he saw Europe because of the Navy. So, it was just a wonderful opportunity, and we’re so happy to see the parade come back,” said Hulley’s grown children, Bev Lecomte, Sandra Popp, and John Hulley.

Saturday’s Battle of the Atlantic parade and ceremony is open to the public. It starts at 10:30 a.m., along Goderich’s waterfront, travelling along Harbour Street and Cove Road, onto Goderich’s pier.