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Date published:
August 11, 2024
The BVP 2024 recipients safely arrived and began the first day of their 9 day European trip where they will have the chance to visit a number of historic sites, cemeteries, and memorials from the First and Second World Wars. On this first day, they visited the Villers-Bretonneux Australian National Memorial in Northern France.
We thank the Canadian Beaverbrook Foundation, the Graham and Gayle Cooke Foundation, the Nathan and Lily Silver Foundation, and a number of private donors for making this program a possibility.
On the second day of the 2024 edition of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize, the students spent the day in France where they visited a number of sites including the Juno Beach, the Juno Beach Center, and the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery where Kate and Nicholas gave a presentation to the other students.
Also on this second day the students have begun to share their daily reflections, today Kate and Samantha shared theirs!
Kate Hagens, High River, AB
I think my favourite part of the day today was the Juno Beach Centre because of the rich history and captivating exhibits! We have learned so much about D-Day in school that it felt almost surreal to walk through the bunkers and on the beaches where such a historic battle happened. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine that the beautiful beaches that are left today were once a bloody battle field.
On our tour through the bunkers and at the beach of Juno, we gained insights into perspectives from both sides of the war. Seeing the bunkers that were built at different times during the German occupation showed the mentality of Germany at different stages in the war. The earlier ones were less fortified, where the later ones hinted that Germany knew it would likely face an attack. In this way, the set up of the bunkers, especially the ones built towards the end of the Second World War, were built with the intent of a clear shot at anyone who tried to approach from the sea - exactly what the Allies were doing. This knowledge shows the true courage of the Canadians and other Allied soldiers who landed on June 6, 1944, knowing that they faced death with every step.
Inside the museum, we got to learn in depth about this battle, and many others that occurred during the Second World War. This included insights into planning that went into Operation Overlord, as well as the strategic reasoning of the battle. At the end of the museum, we saw a short yet heart breaking film. This detailed the perspective of a D-Day soldier, including thoughtsof the men who would spend their last moments on Juno Beach.
After our time at the Juno Beach Centre, we were able to visit the British Normandy Memorial. Here, there are over twenty two thousand names of who fell in the Battle of Normandy. Beside each name is the age of the soldier, many of whom were just 17 or 18 when they gave their lives. It is incredible to me to think that they would have been the same age then as I am now. I am overcome with gratitude at their sacrifice, and sorrow in the knowledge that they had so much left in store for them.
Today was an amazing experience! There was never a dull moment; wether it was going back in time to gain understanding into a D-Day soldier, visiting the Memorials built to honour them today, or discussing our findings with the other students, it truly was an impactful day!
Samantha Ostridge, Charlottetown, PEI
Today we visited the Juno Beach Centre, which was where many Canadians landed on D-Day. At the site, we got to experience parts of the battle from both the German and Allied perspectives, which was very interesting as we were able to visualize what it would have been like on both sides of the battle. Our guide Orlina encouraged us to visualize what it would have been like to land on D-Day, which I think was particularly impactful as I was almost able to see into the minds of the soldiers and how terrifying it must have been landing on the beaches, being faced by large numbers of enemy soldiers. Today, I also presented my soldier at the Beny-Sur-Mer War Cemetery.
I believe my soldier presentation went really well as after doing a good deal of research on my soldier and conversing with a member of his family, seeing his grave made the figure who I had only learned about through secondary sources even more of a reality. Seeing his name among the many gravestones and then later walking through the cemetery and seeing other soldiers from his same unit, many of whom he most likely knew... Made me think: he was 18 years old when he enlisted (which was a very typical age for the soldiers) and I'm 17 right now... So I can only imagine what they would have been thinking and feeling when they went into battle. My soldier was only 18, he was at the warfront in Europe until he was killed when he was only 23... 5-6 years is a long time to be a soldier and being here to see this grave in person really removed me from my textbook and into the realization that he was real, alive, and now at Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery for his memory to rest.
Visiting the memorials today, and being about to analyze the scale of the landings in Normandy turned the events I had only read in books into a true reality for me. It is hard to imagine an event that large, or the horrors that occurred there, but being able to visit the memorials and the beach today gave me a glimpse into the past.
On the 3rd day of this year’s Beaverbrook Vimy Prize Program the students continued their journey through France where they visited The Mulberry Harbours, as well as the La Cambe German War Cemetery.
And today Haardik and Nadine shared their reflections on the day's visits!
Haardik Garg, Surrey BC
Today, I visited two really impactful places called Mulberry Harbor and La Cambe German cemetery. Both of them, in different ways, were able to convey the idea about the true meaning of war is full of complexities and the presence of human sides to it, which are too frequently overlooked.
Standing at Mulberry Harbor, I was surprised by the sheer scale of what had been accomplished there during the Second World War. This harbor, a work of genius from an engineering point of view, was indispensable for the success of landings in Normandy. Now, as I looked out at what remains today of that ingenious structure of such vital importance, I couldn't help but wonder if how it is possible to forget the engineers, laborers, and other workers who made things like this possible. Although these people did not stand on the front line, bearing arms, they were really vital to the war effort. Their ingenuity and hard work never stopped under the immense pressure and danger, forming an instrumental force in making sure that the Allied invasion succeeded. Yet, their stories are often eclipsed by more dramatic accounts of soldiers in combat. It reminded me of just how easily we forget those whose contributions, no less important, were perhaps a little quieter. Even now, their contributions remain largely unrecognized. This signifies the lesson that much of history is written with an emphasis on the most visible, rather than the most essential, participants. This was very personal to me as an aspiring engineer. I couldn't help but wonder how I would feel if, after having dedicated my skills and energy to a cause, that work was undervalued and largely overlooked by history. It is a sobering thought, one that made me appreciate the often-unseen contributions of those whose names may never be known but whose efforts were absolutely essential.
Later, at La Cambe German cemetery, a different, more somber reflection began to take shape. The complication was brought home by the lines of graves, each marking the final resting place of a German soldier. Unlike many Allied cemeteries, La Cambe is no place of unambiguous remembrance. The soldiers buried here fought for Nazi Germany, a regime responsible for some of the worst atrocities in human history. Yet many of them were conscripts—forced young men to fight in a war with which they had little choice and often for a cause they didn't believe in. That realization, to me, added tragedy to the visit. As one considers war, it is easy to paint in broad strokes of heroes against the villains. However, that truth is very nuanced. Many of these soldiers were caught up in forces much larger than themselves, victims of a brutal regime that they might not have supported, yet were compelled to fight for. It got me reflecting on how complex war really is and how the stories we tell often strip the full and nuanced stories from those on all sides. One grave that impressed me belonged to Poblofzki, a young man who was able to avoid participating in the Hitler Youth by joining the Red Cross. I felt a deep sadness for him and many other boys like him who were caught in this impossible situation. What struck me about him, more than anything, was the bravery required to find some way through the terrifying reality of his time, without simply submitting to it. It is his story alongside so many others there, which reminds us that war is almost always the most complex thing in the world, and the stories to which we cling to are often an oversimplification of the true reality.
Overall, these two places provided me with new thoughts of new realities outside of the textbook and I am excited to see what's next.
Nadine Telesford, Toronto, ON
On day three of the BVP, we visited a variety of places and those that stuck out the most to me include: Longues-Sur-Mer German Battery site, La Cambe German War Cemetery and Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial.
At Longues-Sur-Mer, my group presented our field presentation detailing the daily lives of soldiers. Overall, it went really well but it was quite stressful in the beginning because we performed it as a play and prior to this program, had not practiced in-person beforehand. Anyhow, it was a great opportunity to educate the other participants in an interesting and unique way because my team thought it would be the most effective way to present how soldiers would have lived their lives day-to-day along the warfront. What caught my attention the most at this site was the way it was experienced by other visitors. I observed many families and young children gathered together and walking the paths who were greatly interested in exploring the historical site and reading its informational panels. There were also many people climbing up and around the blockhaus German batteries, I even saw a child pose for a photo at the top of one. My initial expectations of the site were that people would be quiet and contemplative of the site, but what I saw was more of an outward interaction with the site.
Seeing the German War Cemetery in contrast to the American cemetery we visited later was really interesting. The first thing I noticed was how empty and how few visitors there were inside the cemetery. I expected very few people to be there because it didn't look as grand as the previous Commonwealth museums we had visited in the last two days. In comparison to the American cemetery we visited afterwards, upon reflection, this German cemetery felt smaller and less recognized. It led me to reflect on the way we treat varying nations war dead. With the German cemetery, there was a really complex conversation which we had as a group surrounding their burials and how these soldiers were to be remembered after the war(s).
In comparison, the American memorial appeared very grand with a white marble memorial, with plenty of people walking through the crosses of graves. The American flags were displayed near most of the graves in unison - or even in place of flowers along with a US penny, while almost all of the graves for the Germans seemed to not have been visited for a while. The German graves that had something were only small flowers that were wilted and not tended to. I also found it unique in the aspect of remembrance taking into account the German graves having volunteers to ensure its upkeep versus the American ones where there was a large carving stating “proud remembrance.” I found it was interesting the way that it felt to me very apparent that the American graves were being well taken care of whereas the German graves it was really only volunteered help cleaning up the site.
Ultimately, I found the day to be quite impactful and took away some new meanings of what it means to visit these sites in person and this firsthand experience has really affected the way I view the term "remembrance".
On the 4th day of the Beaverbrook Vimy Prize Program the students visited a number of cemeteries and memorials near Caen and Falaise, France such as the Bretteville Canadian Military Cemetery, the Civilians in War - Falaise Memorial, and the St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen. The student's ended their day with some free time in Dieppe where some took the opportunity to take a dip in the Ocean!
Sydney and Elliott also shared their reflections for the day!
Elliott Tsai, Montreal, QC
Today is Wednesday August 14 and I decided to wake up slightly earlier since we had a busy day ahead… After breakfast we hopped on the bus and hit the road.
Our first stop was the Bretteville Canadian cemetery, which was very close to where we were staying in Caen, and it was a beautiful site surrounded by open fields and the vast farmlands of Normandy. Today was a cloudy day with slight rain. Our visit of the cemetery started with a field presentation by Sydney and Gregory on Indigenous People’s contributions in the World Wars. I was really interested in their presentation because it really showcased how suppressed they were by Canada despite their sacrifices and selflessness just like any other soldier. I find that it is extremely important to learn exactly about this topic of minority representation because it’s the story of thousands of people who sometimes gave everything for a country that in most cases, discriminated them even after returning from war. Personally, I had never learned about indigenous war efforts in school and I’m really glad I got to learn more about it today. After this presentation, we had time to explore the cemetery by ourselves. It was also a moment for me to reflect on the devastating effects that wars have on many after seeing so many seas of graves these past few days. At that same cemetery, we were met by two employees from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who explained the commission’s work as well as the history behind the fallen buried there. The guide who led our group also informed us of soldiers’ war diaries and personal stories in front of their headstones, which really brought them to life for me.
Next, we hit the road for a bit longer, this time towards the Dieppe area. On the way, we stopped at a civilian museum in Falaise where we explored exhibits detailing the life of civilians during the Second World War. A curator of that museum also showed us artefacts of the wars, like old ration tickets and even a bit of an exploded artillery shell. To finish our visit of the museum, we entered a sort of theatre that played an immersive experience (video and surround sound) in the goal of simulating the intensity of bombing runs done on Falaise civilians. What I found the most fascinating about this experience was the fact that we were sitting over the basement of a house that had been destroyed by bombs left in its original condition since the Second World War.
For the last at stop of the day before Dieppe, we stopped at the Cimetière St. Sever, which was probably one of my favourite cemeteries that we had visited so far. It was a very diverse cemetery compared to all the others too. At the beginning of the the visit we listened to Gregory’s second presendation of the day, this time a soldier presentation. We were then allowed to explore the cemetery a little. It was mainly a civilian cemetery but a military section was added on later. The reason why I appreciated it so much is because of the diversity of soldiers buried there. In fact, I got to see British, French, Jewish and even Indian soldiers! It had been my first time seeing some of those types of graves and I found it really great to be able to pay tribute to fallen fighters of other nations (an opportunity a rarely get).
We finished the day at Dieppe, first by a cliff view of the Dieppe Beach then by a pizza dinner in the hotel. We had the night free and some of us I’m even got to dip into the ocean. Altogether, today was a very great day!
Sydney Li, Saskatoon, SK
We visited the Bretteville Canadian military cemetery near Falaise. For me, that was the most exciting part of the journey because we were able to explore and expand our outlook on the involvement of minority ethnic groups on the First and the Second World War. It is a topic that is often overlooked or even denied due to political complications.
The cemetery was situated on the midpoint of Caen and Falaise. It was founded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, dedicated to the memory of those who had fallen in the two world wars. At this sacred memorial, Gregory and I had the chance to conduct our field presentation, which was about the engagement of indigenous peoples in the First and Second World War. The whole group were able to communicate their thoughts on the reasons of voluntary enlistments of indigenous soldiers which were commonly seen during the wars. During our discussion, we discovered that despite the previous disputes with civil rights and land ownership between the indigenous people and the sovereignty, many indigenous individuals enlisted in service for their well-developed and profound thought of protecting the land they lived in regardless of the possession of the land. While it is sometimes assumed that indigenous people enlisted for practical purposes, the real reasons, as it turned out, was seeking for rights as citizens and following their spiritual beliefs for lands.
Later on, we learned about the story of an indigenous individual named Clutesi who was killed in action. He was buried at the Bretteville cemetery, and we commemorated him at his grave. We looked at two documents: one of which is the letter from the officials notifying his death to his family; the other one is his mother letter to the government asking to receive the support for deceased veterans which were easily accessible for major Canadian communities but not for indigenous communities. The letter from his mother was never readdressed by the authorities. This is a piece evidence to the point that discrimination was popular not only on the front, but also among some official institutions in that time period.
There are many other soldiers from minority ethnic groups like Clutesi whose contributions to their nation were ignored, and they could not escape flagrant discrimination even after their death. I see on humanity’s way of becoming a more civilized entity we still could not be entirely freed from biased values and thoughts of segregation based on skin colour and lifestyles. More facetiously, some would only lay down their bias for other people’s lifestyles when it comes to a moment of life and death, but retrieves that bias as soon as they return to civilization. So I believe discrimination is not a trait that human beings naturally own but a false navigation during the process of the development of ideas.
After that, we were in Falaise for the Memorial of Civilians in war. This was a reflection of the civilian side of war which is often overlooked as well. It is to the point that war is not just on the front but behind the lines there are people struggling to survive from industrial machines and political repressions. It shows the true process of man versus nature and man versus society.
We then went to a joint cemetery in Rouen, where I was able to see more people in minority ethnic groups of the First and Second World War. There were gravestones for people from Egypt, China, India and etc.. It is touching to see that the efforts made by these groups were preserved and not forgotten.
Tomorrow, we will head out to Peronne where more journey awaits. I remain excited to learn more about this complicated part of history.
Also today Gregory shared a poem he wrote for Dr. Thomas Fleck Graham aspart of his soldiers presentation.
A Healer’s Sacrifice
By Gregory Perri
In fields of sorrow where poppies grow,
A tale of valor I believe we must know,
Of Dr. Graham, kind and brave,
Who gave his all, so many lives he saved.
In England’s fields and France’s strife,
He mended bodies, and gave new life,
In Doullen, he tirelessly provided care,
Amidst the bombs, his courage was rare.
I wish I could speak with you, to understand,
Why?
Why did you enlist? How did you keep going?
Far from home, friends dying before your eyes, I ask
Why didn't you just stop, and simply cry?
I wish I could ask you, weren’t you afraid?
In moments so dire, did your resolve stay the same?
Did you feel a true passion to save?
Or were you just simply playing the game?
In the chaos of war, where hope seemed thin,
You, Dr. Graham, with words of courage, kindled within,
You were a friend to all who crossed your path,
A soothing balm to war’s fierce wrath.
But fate’s cruel hand would call you soon,
Beneath September’s fateful moon,
With a heart of gold, and a spirit high,
You kept the faith, and said goodbye.
In Rouen’s quiet, you now lie,
A hero’s rest beneath the skies,
“He kept the faith,” his stone does say,
A message that guides through night and day.
So let us hold this story dear,
Of Dr. Graham, whose heart knew no fear,
In times of strife, we’ll think of him,
Whose light in the darkest hours did glim.
A Canadian son, brave and few,
Whose love and hope we now renew.
So thank you Fleck
Kind and true
We will always, always, remember you.
A moment of silence, I propose we do
To remember Dr. Graham, who saw it through.
Today was the 5th day of the 2024 Beaverbrook Vimy Prize Program and this marks the midway point of this year’s program. The students started their day in Peronne where they visited the Historial de la Grande Guerre before continuing to the Noyelle-sur-Mer Chinese Cemetery, and the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery.
As we have reached the midway point of the program, the chaperones asked the students to describe their experience thus far in just one word and here is what they said!
Kate: Immersive
Nadine: Surprising
Allen: Story
Samantha: Perspective
Nicholas: Individuality
Suzanne: Échange
Gregory: Human
Neve (Rain): Once
Dylane: Thrilling
Mahima: Overwhelming
Elliott: Understanding
Chloe: Togetherness
Haardik: Duty
Sydney: T.I.G.H.T. (Timeless, Implication, Growth, Heart, Treasure)
Today, on the 6th day of the 2024 BVP program, the students spent time at a number of memorials including the Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, the Thiepval Memorial, the Delville Wood South African National Memorial, and the Mametz Wood Welsh Memorial.
Today, Dylane and Neve also have shared their daily reflections!
Dylane Hoang, Regina, SK
Our day started rather abruptly with the fire alarm ringing in the hostel, around three in the morning but thankfully it was a false alarm and everybody went back to sleep. To begin, we visited the site of Beaumont-Hamel, a site dedicated mostly to the Newfoundland Regiment. This was the site I was most looking forward to seeing in our entire program. Our guide, Gabriel, showed us around the site, pointing out British front lines and shell craters. He explained the different uses of certain trenches and elaborated on both British and German strategies. When we arrived at the danger tree, a replica of a dead tree that had been there previously, he told us that out of the 801 Newfoundland regiment soldiers, only 68 of those soldiers reported for duty the next day. This site made me particularly sad because of how much of a tragedy this event was. A series of miscalculations and unfortunate events led to the death of so many British and Newfoundland soldiers. Having a site like Beaumont-Hamel, which commemorates primarily the Newfoundland Regiment, makes this memorial so much more special because it highlights the immense courage and sacrifice of these brave men through the museum and the caribou statue, symbol of Newfoundland. This site was unlike any other; knowing what these soldiers had to go through simply broke my heart. It reminded me of our visit at Juno Beach: soldiers during D-Day, who saw their friends fall as soon as they stepped foot in the water, knew they had to jump in even though their chances of dying were so high. Similarly, at Beaumont-Hamel, the soldiers had to watch their brothers, friends and fellow comrades get brutally killed because every soldier had to pass through a thin breach in the barbed wire in order to advance. This made the German shooters’ job so much easier since it is as if they were able to shoot four people at the same time instead of one. I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been to follow orders and to advance even though it was clear this attack had already failed. This great deal of courage is now what resonates to me when I think of the Newfoundland Regiment.
We also visited a huge crater, which was caused by a mine that was detonated by the British but ended up being used as a German defensive position. It was impressive to see how fast an explosion had shaped the environment, and how these damages are still present to this day.
Then we visited the Thiepval memorial, which is a grand site to commemorate British and South African soldiers with no known grave as well as to celebrate the partnership between France and Great Britain. This memorial was very beautiful, with many arches and gorgeous scenery. The mist around the site made the memorial even more noble and added to the solemn quietness of the place.
We also had a conversation about colonialism in the South African memorial. In small groups, we analyzed war-time posters which also served as propaganda in Africa. These posters reflected the flagrant racism towards black people back in the day, since these posters contained disturbing racist elements. For me, Africa’s involvement in the wars was never discussed, so I loved learning about it.
Finally, we ended our day with a presentation about conscription with Samantha and Elliott which was quite insightful. We learned about how conscription affected different people across the globe and how people felt about it being an obligation to serve. Altogether, today was a very educational, emotional and interesting day!
Neve Elrain Ting, Fredericton, NB
So far on the program, I've been reflecting a lot on the horrific circumstances that those in the wars had to endure (specifically the soldiers in actual trenches) such as trauma, casualties and death, compared to my current menial issues, and I made it a goal to be more grateful with my situation and to absorb to the best of my ability all we would see today, and for the rest of the week.
After a quick breakfast and getting to know my bus seat-mate more, our adventure across more historical French sites of the World Wars began. During the ride, I read through the itinerary and saw that we would be going to 4 memorials today, each from different countries and regions. I have always loved to explore different cultures and traditions, especially when it comes to commemoration and history (being an immigrant Filipina-Canadian myself!), so I was really quite excited.
Our first stop was at Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, where our lovely tour guide recounted the tragic tale of the allies and the Newfoundland army (specifically the “Blue Putties” soldiers) and their losses against the Germans at the Battle of the Somme. There we explored various spots at the location, such as the front lines of both French and German armies, various cemeteries dedicated to the different nationalities who fought, and the visitor centre where we could learn additional information about the site. To do this, we learned how to orient and find ourselves and different places on maps, which was a valuable skill to learn for the future. We also learned about Francis Thomas Lind and his affectionate letters to the British army, and this connection across nationalities truly inspired me to see friendship found amongst such difficult conditions.
Next, we visited the Hawthorn Ridge crater that was made by bombs around the same time as the Battle of the Somme during the war. While there was not much to see as the site was overgrown with grass and erosion unlike its initial muddied state, hearing about its intricate history and origin placed in miner tunnels to disrupt the work of enemy German soldiers still fascinated me because of its literally “explosive” impact in the war.
Our third location was the towering and ever-beautiful (a massive understatement on both terms) Thiepval British Memorial, which housed the names of over 72,000 missing soldiers and officers again during the Battle of the Somme. I say with immense gratitude, appreciation and respect that this site was my favourite spot of the day. I could go into detail and explain why in the fullest, but that would take an entire novel to write and unfortunately the time and the limitations to this blog are not on my side... But anyhow, my favourite aspects of this visit were learning about the artistic choices to the massive arches on the walls and roofs of the open cathedral-esque structure (representing an ethereal entryway to eternal life), and also the large cemetery dedicated to both French and British soldiers alike, placed on either side of the field. I found it sweet to see these two normally opposing nations reunited in such a massive undertaking like the First World War, even in death, and it just goes to show the camaraderie , bravery and sacrifice made by the allied soldiers and those commemorating them have for one another.
Afterwards, we went to was the Delville Wood South African Cemetery. Here, Thomas explained to us in detail about French and German colonialism aspects within Africa, as well as their reactions, revolts, applications and conscription. We all got the chance to read some testimonies and excerpts alongside this, and at the end, we presented in groups our opinions and interpretations of various propaganda and often racially-offensive posters made by the colonizers of these colonies. I found it quite disturbing how blatantly targeting and caricaturing these depictions of African minorities and people were, and I think that it was an eye-opening experience to see the sad social realities of the war that are often ignored or overshadowed amongst the tales of fighting.
And finally, our last stop was at the Wales National Memorial, where we listened to a presentation of my fellow program mates on the topic of conscription during the First and Second World Wars. I found it very interesting seeing just how harsh it was for many of these workers to be forced into battles they never wanted to have or be in, as well as the difficulties faced by the families they were often pulled away from without remorse, and the consequences that would happen if these conscription rules were not respected… fines, prison and quite possibly death.
And that was it for today. It is incredibly difficult for me to end this blog because I honestly don’t want the experience of reliving this to end, just because of how many learnings and themes I would love to mention and what I’d love to say more of this incredible opportunity so that you can also live such an incredible rarity and chance. But if I had to summarize, I’d say that today was incredibly fulfilling in terms of seeing through the perspectives and eyes of people across the world, alongside minorities and problems who are often overlooked in the grand scheme of the wars. I found that going to more memorials where we got to actually go to the places where people fought, as well as having the opportunity to read and discussing these issues in a group setting really made it more immersive and I found I learned a lot today as they focused on topics not usually mentioned in school nor in the typical textbooks. I am incredibly grateful to be here today, and for the opportunity of this program in all.
I can say with certainty that the BVP is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life, and throughout it, I will never forget the stories of those who fought for the future we have today and bring their memories to light for years to come.
On the 8th day of the 2024 BVP Program, the students headed towards Ypres, Belgium where they had the chance to visit several cemeteries and memorials from the First and Second World Wars including the Catingy American Cemetery, The Saint Julien Canadian Memorial, Tyne Cot. The students then continued to the Menin Gate where they had the opportunity to participate in the Last Post Ceremony.
Today's reflections were shared by Mahima and Gregory!
Mahima Binu, Portsmouth, UK
Day 8 of our BVP program: a quick breakfast and off we went to see even more interesting and astounding places today as we headed to Ypres
Our first stop was Mèharicourt Cemetery for Nadine's absolutely stunning presentation of pilot officer Andrew Charles Mynarski and his brave acts during the Second World War when he died saving his friend in a burning aircraft . One thing different about his cemetery was that he was buried in a place which mainly reserved for civilians unlike other soldiers we visited where they had separated burial sites for war dead.Nadine also shared the experience of
Pat Brophy , Andrew's best friend who sacrificed his life and how he is the one who brought forth the heroic act of Andrew . It was really an empowering and encouraging feeling to hear his personal story and how smart he was to promote himself to an aircraft pilot and made me feel extremely proud of the sacrifice the soldiers have made for us . It was also really satisfying to hear that he won the prestigious Victoria Cross for his bravery
Our next stop at the Cantigny American Memorial was Neves' soldier presentation. Her soldier was Filipino born American based soldier Tomás Claudio y Mateo and his experience on the front line. Neve gave a really impressive presentation in 3 languages !!!
English , French and Filipino!!!
Her soldier sacrificed many in his life just to feed his family after his father died and enlisting being one of his actions to keep his family float. His story was inspirational to me and I think I could never ever do such courageous things for his family ever at his level.
We also had a quick stop to see a Newfoundland soldier gravestone which was identified recently in 2024!!
It is shocking how they are still finding and identifying soldiers from the first world war.
Just like Sean said “ The last page of the first world war and never written and it will never be”
It just feels unreal and kinda unsettling how there are millions of soldiers under the soil of the earth who are unidentified and never acknowledged in this world despite their sacrifice and bravery . We also learned more about how long it takes to identify a soldier and how much hard work is put into making sure of every single information of the soldier.
Lunch was fantastic and we are zooming off to the next site!
Our next stop was Tyne Cot Cemetery.
We really had a unique experience and I was also presenting my soldier presentation. We had this musical band there and I found it really magical to have it right when I'm presenting and I felt really special and honored. My presentation went really well in my opinion and I hope people also learned about the emotional strains of being a soldier from the soldier I presented to Henry Hilbert Dilks who suffered from shell shock at the young age of 19.
We had the opportunity to go a bit out of the itinerary and visit a German cemetery Known as Langermark, seeing around 22,000 Germans, like around 8 soldiers in 1 cemetery!! We also saw a mass grave with 25,000 German soldiers buried under a mass grave.I think it was really an honor to see these sites and just to acknowledge all the soldiers buried there and to Imagine this wasn't even half of the people buried and dead is shocking . I found it impossible to imagine that all these people had their own lives and families and their own world and dreams .
Lastly, we participated in the Last Post Menin Gate Ceremony tonight. A fun fact that I learned about this ceremony which was really surprising to me is that this event has happened everyday at 8 PM since 1926 and it only stopped once when Ypres was occupied by Germany in the Second World War. This ceremony has been happening every night since, even during the COVID pandemic. It was a very prestigious moment for us as a team and we were extremely lucky and honored to be there to remember the respectful war dead.
After that we had a reflective circle before of of one of the 6 canadian memorial where we went around sharing our experience in the programme and I am very sad to say it did end in happy tears on how grateful and privileged we are to be here and just meet all this sites and all this new people who made us a lot wiser than we already were. We heard from our chaperons as well as our teammates on what all they learned and reflected during the programme and we all had to agree on the thing that this programme did open a new perspective to us on war . Overall this was a emotional and meaningful day for us as a team and personally .
Gregory Perri, Toronto, ON
Hello, blog! My name is Gregory Perri, one of the recipients of the 2024 BVP. Join us today as we embark on our adventure to learn about the First World War on this day, the 18th of August 2024. This morning, we woke up and packed our bags as we prepared to leave Peronne. It was somewhat of a scramble, as some of us slept in. After packing, we had breakfast and set off for our first stop on what would be a very busy day.
Firstly, we drove in the opposite direction of our original destination, Ypres, to visit a unique military cemetery, a small extension to an already existing plot. Here, many members of the British Royal Air Force who died in plane crashes were buried. We were there for my classmate Nadine to present her soldier presentation on Andrew Mynarski, a recipient of the Victoria Cross. Hearing her presentation, I was blown away. Simply blown away. What he did was an unimaginable feat of courage: he caught on fire during a plane crash in order to save his friend, who was trapped in the plane. Reading testimonies from his friends and officers couldn’t even begin to describe the courage needed to accomplish such a task. To sacrifice one’s life for a friend, and to push past human limits—the pain of fire—just to do so, is one of the greatest acts of selflessness and courage I have ever known. As I write this blog, I think to myself, why? Why do such a thing? Why burn and fall out of a plane just for a chance to save a friend? The answer to this question? I do not know, but as a self-reflector, I will continue to live my life asking myself what his motivations were. I implore you to do the same because in doing so, I believe we can all learn more about the simple and innate desire to do good that exists in all of us, causing us to question the very nature of ourselves.
After this, my classmate Neve presented her soldier presentation at a US memorial. Her soldier was the only Filipino ever recorded to have fought and died overseas in the First World War. I was originally going to do my own presentation on him, but considering that I had no personal connection to him, I decided to look for another. However, I was shocked but extremely glad to find that someone else would tell his story. I was honored to be a part of that presentation. Neve’s merging of Filipino, English, and French to compose a reflection on his life (as he fought for all three countries represented by these languages—the Philippines, the USA, and France) revealed to me just how simple acts of courage and bravery can unite nations in the common act of commemoration.
Following the second amazing presentation of the day, we proceeded to a third at the largest British cemetery in the world, Tyne Cot, where something truly unique happened. At this cemetery, a ceremony was taking place to bury two newly discovered soldiers. Music was present all around, contributing to an unusually reflective atmosphere—a rare circumstance. Here, my classmate Mahima gave an equally unique presentation, focusing on a soldier of the Great War who dared to speak about the mental trauma of the war. Knowing that people like him, only 19 years old, saw their friends drown in the mud of Passchendaele, screaming out to be saved but knowing they couldn’t, haunted my thoughts in combination with the music playing in the background. Mahima’s reflection was a letter, addressed to future generations, based on his experiences. This reflective account contributed to the reflective tone of the moment, leading me to consider the often neglected importance of men’s mental health, not only on the Western Front and in wars, but in our day-to-day lives as well.
After the third and final soldier presentation of the day, we entered Ypres and visited a very little-known German WWI cemetery, hidden inside a small clearing. Before we entered, our chaperones informed us that 44,000 people were buried there, but this statement left me confused. Why? The plot of the cemetery was extremely small. Then I entered and was shocked. Flabbergasted. I stood in shock at the sight of up to 20 German soldiers buried under a single headstone. Imagining all of their corpses stacked on top of each other made me realize that this was the same number of people in the entire Vimy group, under one headstone. This left me very sensitive, forcing me to take a walk. If this wasn’t a large enough statistic, I soon found out that in the middle plot of the cemetery, the remains of 25,000 soldiers were buried in a space no larger than maybe 29 headstones. I was overwhelmed. I thought to myself: what are the ethical considerations of doing this? What caused such concentration?
Then, I heard the story of a tour guide who couldn’t tell his Belgian grandmother that he worked here, as she would have screamed at him. Hate. Resentment was the answer. The resentment and misunderstandings between the two nations, still alive, present, and talked about, caused it. The sight of this made me realize that at the end of the day, we should all try to look at the individuals, not just the numbers. The thought that the entire BVP group could be buried under one headstone, all of us with our own stories, lives, and families that I have just recently learned about, overwhelmed me and made me think that there must be a better way.
At the end of the night, we attended the Menin Gate ceremony, hosted by the same organization as the Last Post ceremony at the Tyne Cot cemetery. Here, I heard a real military bugle ceremony for the first time. When the sound hit my ears, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion pass over me, the tradition of the bugle being over 100 years old. Looking up at the arch where the ceremony took place warmed my heart, as I realized this ceremony happens every day, and that people truly do remember, no matter what. The common statement "we remember" became a reality to me for the first time. In light of this, I will ensure that I continue to keep this message alive through my actions.
Last stop of the day was Hill 62 where the most meaningful experience of this program so far took place for me. We assembled in a circle at sunset and had a true and honest conversation about why we joined this program. Here, many tears were shed between us as we realized that in less than 48 hours, we would never all be together again. The honesty shared here was profound, giving me insights into each and every one of our hearts. I shared my own personal reflection on why I joined, holding back tears. The reason I decided to come to the program was to gain wisdom, which would influence my actions, which would affect others. If I could learn from the lessons of all who died in both great wars, apply that to my wisdom, and share it with others, I could be a part of the solution. I could be part of a force driving for such atrocities to never happen again. This is my purpose, why I take the actions I take—to help others. I hope that in reading my blog, you were able to grasp a piece of the emotions I felt today, and the life lesson I have come to resonate with on this trip: become better to help others become better.
While at the Cantigny American Monument, Neve Elrain also shared this poem that she wrote in honour of Private Tomás Claudio y Mateo a Filipino soldier who served in the U.S. Army.
Tomás,
Tomás,
Tomás.
Isang binata,
Puno ng sinag ng kaligayahan, ng apoy ng mandirigma
Halos tangayin ng hirap at kamatayan,
Nabuhay sa pagsisikap at sa bukirin
Na may pagmamahal sa pamilya, at tibay ng loob
One soldier,
Mutilated twice by the shells of rejection, lives on
To the division where eagles cry, the bullets of persistence in his gun
Marching to the beat of his destined drum, his heart pounds to the rhythm of each step
A marine, diving into unknown waters, into a pool of his own bloodshed
Un héros,
Un martyr baigné dans les larmes des cris de trois nations,
Se battre pour la terre de la liberté, la révolution et le soleil
Le fardeau de la victoire, il porte le drapeau de l'union alliée
Vers un avenir qu'il ne verra pas, que son sang arrose les racines du nouveau monde
“And the Rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our Flag was still there;”
« L'étendard sanglant est levé,
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ? »
“Perlas ng silanganan,
Alab ng puso
Sa dibdib mo'y buhay.”
We sing for thee our anthem songs of war and brotherhood,
Notre hommage à vous, nos âmes s'unissent pour celui que vous aviez perdu
Ang aming sigaw sa iyo ay uma-alingawngaw sa buong mundo.
Tomás,
Tomás,
Tomás
Nous nous réunissons pour vous, nous, du monde entier
From the town of Morong to the Château-Thierry
Ngayon, bukas, kami ay taas-noong magpupugay
À votre honneur,
To your service,
At sa iyo,
Dans les rues de ta patrie, sur le pont de ta vie
In plaques and in statues, this ingrained vision of your memory
Sa mga paaralang ng iyong pamana, sa kaalamang dala namin
Nous vous souviendrons,
We thank you,
Mahal ka namin habang buhay,
Héro,
Soldier,
Binata ;
Tomás,
Tomás,
Tomás.
The students began their final day of the 2024 Beaverbrook Vimy Prize program before they make their way back home tomorrow at the Berks Cemetery Extension where Nicholas gave his soldier presentation. The students then continued their journey through Belgium by visiting a number of other cemeteries before taking a guided tour of the city of Ypres with the In Flanders Fields Museum.
And the final student blogs of this year’s program were shared by Nicholas and Suzanne!
Nicholas Moreau, Toronto, ON
August 19th, 2024, was our last day living this beautiful adventure.
The first stop for today was the Berks Cemetery Extension, where I presented my soldier. It was really interesting to do research on him, because of his Métis heritage. As someone who is also Métis, his story was very inspiring for me, as he sacrificed so much for a country that did not give him equal rights or treat him as an equal. When I was at his grave, I felt a heightened sense of gratitude for his sacrifice in the hope of making Canada a better place. Because of his and other sacrifices, Indigenous and Métis people have a better future in Canada today, and I felt thankful to him for that.
The next place we visited was Brandhoek Cemetery, where my friend Haardik presented the story of Captain Chavasse, an officer in the Royal Medical Corps and the only person to receive two Victoria Crosses in either of the World Wars. He saved countless lives under heavy fire and continued to do so even while fatally wounded. As I listened to his story, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the sacrifices he made in order to help others. His choice to leave his secure practice in England in order to help soldiers in horrible conditions made me consider how both how much he sacrificed and also how, even amid the horrible conditions and brutality of warfare, there is still a strong desire to do good, something that is exemplified here. His story really inspired me to contemplate further the important roles of those not directly fighting on the front lines, and how vital these roles were. Without the service and sacrifices made by people like Captain Chavasse, many more lives would have been lost. He truly deserves his two Victoria Crosses.
Then, we visited two more cemeteries, where I learned about the experiences of two young soldiers named John Lambert and Valentine Strudwick, who died during the First World War. They were both underage when they signed up to join the army, 16 and 14 respectively. This resonated with me as I am around the same age as them currently, and it shocked me to think of what they must have gone through at such a young age. It is horrifying to think of the experiences they had, of endless mud, rats, shelling, and constant fear of death. Because of their sacrifice, I am able to be in a world where, as a 16 year old, I do not have to experience the horrors that they had to live through. Visiting their graves and learning about their stories made me very thankful for that.
The last stop on today’s journey was the city of Ypres, a city heavily shelled during the First World War. But as we walked through the famous Menin Gate, I didn’t see any bullet holes or other damage. On the outside, the city looked like one untouched by war. However, through the guided tour we took, I was able to realize the true tragedy that occurred here.
The first thing that stood out to me was the fact that virtually none of the buildings in Ypres are more than 100 years old. This stunned me. To think that an entire city, not just some buildings, needed to be fully rebuilt is shocking and proved to me the true destruction war causes. As I was contemplating this, we approached Ypres’ Cloth Hall, a symbol of resistance during the First World War. Our guide informed us that after the bombing, all that was left of Cloth Hall’s walls was a section as tall as myself. Cloth Hall’s rebuilding process only finished in 1967. I found it interesting and sad that the effects of 4 years of war on Ypres took around 50 years to repair. For me, this showed the immense cost of war on both lives and infrastructure of the area. Something that really summed up this tragedy that occurred at Ypres was a picture in St. Martin’s Cathedral of it during the bombing of Ypres. The church was in ruins, with broken parts of the ceiling and walls littering the floor. This helped me picture the effects of the bombing, and gave me a haunting reminder of the loss and tragedy inflicted by the consistent shelling at Ypres.
As our BVP journey comes to an end, I feel immensely grateful to have participated on this immersive journey through the two World Wars. Everything I have learned reminds me of the privilege most of us take for granted on a daily basis, a privilege that is a basic human right: peace. I hope that through this blog entry, you have gained a better understanding on how most of soldiers felt during their days of battle, and how that correlates to me because after all, we are all human, and share the same values and ultimate desire to live in a free, beautiful world.
Thanks,
Nicholas.
Suzanne Robart, Duisans, FR
« I now understand that lift is a gift». Voici ce que je retiens - et que je recopierai certainement en lettres capitales dans mon journal de bord - de la lettre d’Allen en l’honneur de J. Lambert. Cette phrase est tellement vraie et je pense qu’elle pourrait résumer à elle seule mon expérience dans ce programme. Oui, la vie est un cadeau, un cadeau de ceux qui ont livré la leur sur les champs de bataille pour NOUS offrir une vie meilleure.
Bien que très bref, je ne peux faire l’impasse du cimetière Essex Farm, où si vous avez l’occasion de vous y « promener », vous vous arrêterez sans doute à la vue d’une petite voiture bleue pour enfant et d’un ours en peluche qui siègent au pied d’une des tombes. Puis vous vous approcherez pour regarder l’âge de celui qui y repose, et là vous verrez le nombre 15. 15 ans. À peine plus jeune que moi. Je n’ai pas besoin je pense de vous faire une présentation sur la cruauté de la Première Guerre Mondiale qui emporta avec elle des personnes - enfants - dont on ne pourrait pas même imaginer l’âge. Juste le nom de V.J. Strudwick suffit.
Ok bon cette fois, je vous épargne la partie lunchtime (on a mangé des sandwichs et une barre chocolaté, ok là je vous ai vraiment tout dit !) Je vous avoue que, avant de repartir à l’aventure, il y en plus d’un qui n’ont pas résisté aux fameuses chocolateries de Belgique( et je ne fais pas exception …)
Je pense que je vais m’arrêtez là, on a beaucoup marché, et c’est l’heure de partager un dernier moment au resto (et oui, on a vraiment beaucoup marché !). J’espère vous avoir pu faire vivre une infime partie de tout ce que j’ai vécu !
Ah oui, j’allais oublié ! Le lion ! Il était aussi présent aux portes d’Ypres, et ce fameux guide nous a raconté qu’au début de la Première Guerre mondiale, ces derniers se dressaient sur des socles de chaque côté de la route traversant les murs de l'enceinte. En 1936, la ville d'Ypres décide d'offrir ces lions originaux, endommagés par la guerre, en guise de cadeau au peuple australien. Ils symbolisaient ainsi la relation étroite qui s'était développée entre la ville et l'Australie à cette époque (eh oui, on a jamais fini d’apprendre …)
Merci à tous ceux qui ont permis cette aventure inoubliable, Suzanne.
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