THE 1st CANADIAN PARACHUTE BATTALION & THE AIRBORNE BROTHERHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, SUPPORTED BY PARACHUTE COMPANY, 3rd BATTALION, PRINCESS PATRICIA’S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY, GATHER TO COMMEMORATE THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF THE 1st CANADIAN PARACHUTE BATTALION & THE 68th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY

The Ex Coelis mountain range with (L-R) Normany, Ardennes, Rhine & Elbe Mountains

1400 HOURS WEDNESDAY 6TH JUNE 2012
AT THE CAIRN OF THE 1ST CND PARA BTN (AIRBORNE MONUMENT) SIFFLEUR FALLS, ALBERTA

Airborne Creed

What manner of men are these who wear the maroon beret? They are, firstly, all volunteers and are toughened by hard physical training. As a result, they have that infectious optimism and that offensive eagerness which comes from physical well being. They have "jumped" from the air and by so doing have conquered fear. Their duty lies in the van of the battle; they are proud of this Honour and have never failed in any task. They have the highest standards in all things whether it be skill in battle or smartness in the execution of all peacetime duties. They have shown themselves to be as tenacious and determined in defence as they are courageous in the attack. They are, in fact, men apart - every man an Emperor. Of all the factors, which make for success in battle the spirit of the warrior is the most decisive. That spirit will be found in full measure in the men who wear the maroon beret. Field Marshall, The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

 

PROGRAM OF EVENTS - MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Master of Ceremonies: Captain (Ret'd) Bill Dickson, CD.; Parade Commander: Captain (Ret'd) Gord Carter, CD.; 1 Can Para Veteran: Private (Ret'd) Bill Talbot; Piper: Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret'd) J. Moffet, O.M.M. CD.; Bugler: Sergeant Dave Morgan, RCA Band
Parade Fall In Colours Take Post General Salute National Anthems Invocation Tribute/Readings Maj-Gen (R'd) Herb Pitts, MC CD. Airborne Prayer Last Post Two Minute Silence Lament Reveille Binyons's Verse Wreath Placements Announcements The Queen General Salute Colours Retire Parade Fall Out/Dismissal -
Military headdress will not be removed during the service

 

AIRBORNE PRAYER

May the defence of the Most High be above and beneath, around and within us, in our going out and in our days and all our nights, until the dawn when the Son of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings for people of the world. Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

1st CANADIAN PARACHUTE BATTALION 1942-1945

The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was created by an order of the Canadian War Cabinet on Canada Day, July 1, 1942.
In the first hour of D-Day, 6 June 1944, the battalion parachuted into Normandy, France with the British 6th Airborne Division. Despite heavy casualties, the battalion survived its objectives and held off determined German attacks until the mid-August breakout.
The battalion advanced against German forces until it reached the Seine River. After returning to England in September to be reinforced, the battalion was ferried to Belgium on Christmas Day 1944. There it fought in the Ardennes Battle of the Bulge. By the end of January 1945, the battalion took over and held defensive positions along the Mass River in Holland until the end of February. On 24 March 1945, the battalion parachuted across the Rhine River near Wesel, Germany in the largest concentrated airborne operation of the war. After a series of hard fought battles, the battalion, with its division, in a six week 300 mile trek across Germany, reached the town of Wismar on the Baltic Sea. As the division lead battalion, the Canadians entered Wismar on 2 May 1945, three hours ahead of the Russians.
At the end of the war in Europe, the battalion returned to Canada in June and was disbanded on 30 September 1945.

BINYON'S VERSE

"They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them"

Airborne !