Latest news with #BattleOfTheAtlantic
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Northern Ont.-based sculptor unveils bronze monument in Norway honouring WWII hero
Sculptor Tyler Fauvelle, is shown here with his 'Make Waves' monument – a life-sized bronze monument commemorating Canadian war hero Fern Blodgett Sunde - in Farsund, Norway on May 8, 2025. (Supplied/Tyler Fauvelle) Sudbury-based sculptor Tyler Fauvelle unveiled Make Waves, a life-sized bronze monument commemorating Canadian war hero Fern Blodgett Sunde, in Farsund, Norway, on May 8 – the 80th anniversary of VE Day, also celebrated as Liberation Day in Norway. Crowd in Farsund, Norway The crowd in Farsund, Norway, as 'Make Waves' – a life-sized bronze monument commemorating Canadian war hero Fern Blodgett Sunde made by northern Ontario-based sculptor Tyler Fauvelle on May 8. 2025. (Supplied/Tyler Fauvelle) The statue honours Sunde, a trailblazing radio operator who served aboard the Norwegian merchant ship Mosdale during the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. The public ceremony included dignitaries, veterans, and military representatives from Canada, Britain, and Norway. The Farsund monument is a twin to one Fauvelle unveiled in 2020 in Cobourg, Ont., Sunde's hometown. Born in 1918, Sunde dreamed of a maritime career – an unlikely ambition for a young woman at the time. 'Fern made righteous trouble pushing past schools that didn't want to train women as professional wireless radio operators, and then she broke all kinds of barriers to get on that ship in 1941, the most dangerous time of the Battle of the Atlantic,' Fauvelle said in an email to CTV News. The sculpture's name, 'Make Waves,' reflects Sunde's perseverance, the radio waves central to her work, and the wartime social changes for women. Tyler Fauvelle Sculptor Tyler Fauvelle, is shown here with his 'Make Waves' monument – a life-sized bronze monument commemorating Canadian war hero Fern Blodgett Sunde - in Farsund, Norway on May 8, 2025. (Supplied/Tyler Fauvelle) Aboard the Mosdale, Sunde faced seasickness, torpedoes, mined waters, and storms. In 1942, she married the ship's captain, Gerner Sunde, as both risked their lives in the war effort. The couple completed 78 of the Mosdale's record 96 Atlantic crossings, transporting vital supplies. In 1943, Norway's King Haakon VII awarded Sunde the Norway War Medal – an unprecedented honour for a Canadian woman – recognizing her bravery and the bond between Norway and Canada. 'Monuments such as Make Waves are tangible reminders,' Fauvelle said. 'History is always speaking to us. How can we recognize and resist the erosion of our liberties, without the example of those who came before us?' Sunde settled in Farsund after the war and lived there until her death in 1991. Back of Make Waves The back view of Sudbury-based sculptor Tyler Fauvelle's 'Mak Waves' monument in Farsund, Norway, on May 8, 2025. (Supplied/Tyler Fauvelle) The new bronze stands at Fern Sundes Plass, overlooking the Farsund fjord. Its counterpart remains in Cobourg's Victoria Park, commemorating Sunde and all Battle of the Atlantic veterans. Head of Make Waves The head of Sudbury-based sculptor Tyler Fauvelle's 'Make Waves' monument in Farsund, Norway, on May 8, 2025. (Supplied/Tyler Fauvelle) Fauvelle, a professional sculptor since 2008, has created numerous commemorative works across Ontario.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Derry remembers Battle of the Atlantic 80 years on
A special event recreating wartime in Londonderry is taking place to commemorate the city's role in the Battle of the Atlantic. The naval base in the city - shared by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Navy – was pivotal to winning the longest continuous military campaign of World War Two. At one time, 140 Allied escort ships, vital to the protection of convoys in the Atlantic, were based on the River Foyle and in May 1945 eight German U-boats surrendered close to the city. A recreation of the German surrender is taking place at Ebrington Square on Saturday, where a number of wartime museum collections have been on display over recent days. "Derry is a city steeped in history and often we forget its strategic importance during World War II, although in terms of global significance it played a huge role," the city's mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr told BBC News NI. The Battle of the Atlantic was fought for control of vital supply routes, beginning as war broke out in 1939. German submarines were the Allies' principal threat at sea. Winston Churchill once wrote: "The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." Skirmishes in the Atlantic continued until the war ended in 1945, but the Allies sank particularly large numbers of U-boats in May 1943, effectively winning the Battle of the Atlantic. Thousands of merchant ships and tens of thousands of lives were lost during the longest continuous military campaign during World War Two. More than 66,000 Allied merchant seamen, sailors and airmen died, with 175 Allied warships and 5,000 merchant ships destroyed by German U-boats. Derry is acknowledged as the Allies' most important escort base during the Battle of the Atlantic. On 14 May 1945 the first of the U-boats berthed at Lisahally, the naval port on the city's outskirts, and formally ordered to surrender by Admiral Sir Max Horton, commander-in-chief, Western Approaches. The mayor said as well as holding such vital strategic importance during the Atlantic campaign, the city was also changed by the influx of north American service personnel, housed at Base One Europe, the US Navy's operating base in Northern Ireland. "The billeting of Allied servicemen here during that time also had a major cultural influence here in the city, where people mingled with the US and Canadian forces," she said. Derry City and Strabane District Council's head of culture said Saturday's event will give people a sense of the historic significance of events in the city in 1945. Princess Anne visits Londonderry to mark Battle of Atlantic The German U-boats surrendered 'yards from our house' 'I am a Derry man' - Montgomery and the Maiden City "We want to give people a snapshot of the era by re-enacting some of the events of the day, and the atmosphere of celebration as the city was freed from the shadow of the war," said Aeidin McCarter. "Through our living history characters we will retell the story and give people a glimpse of 1945 Derry through the music and fashion from the day." The Ebrington event will run until 17:00 BST on Saturday and will give people the chance to enjoy the music of the roaring 40's and see how the fashion of the time began to reflect the international influence of the troops. Military vehicles including a replica spitfire will also be on display. Earlier this week The Princess Royal visited Derry to attend a commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Derry remembers Battle of the Atlantic 80 years on
A special event recreating wartime in Londonderry is taking place to commemorate the city's role in the Battle of the Atlantic. The naval base in the city - shared by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Navy – was pivotal to winning the longest continuous military campaign of World War Two. At one time, 140 Allied escort ships, vital to the protection of convoys in the Atlantic, were based on the River Foyle and in May 1945 eight German U-boats surrendered close to the city. A recreation of the German surrender is taking place at Ebrington Square on Saturday, where a number of wartime museum collections have been on display over recent days. "Derry is a city steeped in history and often we forget its strategic importance during World War II, although in terms of global significance it played a huge role," the city's mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr told BBC News NI. The Battle of the Atlantic was fought for control of vital supply routes, beginning as war broke out in 1939. German submarines were the Allies' principal threat at sea. Winston Churchill once wrote: "The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." Skirmishes in the Atlantic continued until the war ended in 1945, but the Allies sank particularly large numbers of U-boats in May 1943, effectively winning the Battle of the Atlantic. Thousands of merchant ships and tens of thousands of lives were lost during the longest continuous military campaign during World War Two. More than 66,000 Allied merchant seamen, sailors and airmen died, with 175 Allied warships and 5,000 merchant ships destroyed by German U-boats. Derry is acknowledged as the Allies' most important escort base during the Battle of the Atlantic. On 14 May 1945 the first of the U-boats berthed at Lisahally, the naval port on the city's outskirts, and formally ordered to surrender by Admiral Sir Max Horton, commander-in-chief, Western Approaches. The mayor said as well as holding such vital strategic importance during the Atlantic campaign, the city was also changed by the influx of north American service personnel, housed at Base One Europe, the US Navy's operating base in Northern Ireland. "The billeting of Allied servicemen here during that time also had a major cultural influence here in the city, where people mingled with the US and Canadian forces," she said. Derry City and Strabane District Council's head of culture said Saturday's event will give people a sense of the historic significance of events in the city in 1945. Princess Anne visits Londonderry to mark Battle of Atlantic The German U-boats surrendered 'yards from our house' 'I am a Derry man' - Montgomery and the Maiden City "We want to give people a snapshot of the era by re-enacting some of the events of the day, and the atmosphere of celebration as the city was freed from the shadow of the war," said Aeidin McCarter. "Through our living history characters we will retell the story and give people a glimpse of 1945 Derry through the music and fashion from the day." The Ebrington event will run until 17:00 BST on Saturday and will give people the chance to enjoy the music of the roaring 40's and see how the fashion of the time began to reflect the international influence of the troops. Military vehicles including a replica spitfire will also be on display. Earlier this week The Princess Royal visited Derry to attend a commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Battle of the Atlantic: Londonderry remembers 80 years on
A special event recreating wartime in Londonderry is taking place to commemorate the city's role in the Battle of the naval base in the city - shared by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Navy – was pivotal to winning the longest continuous military campaign of World War one time, 140 Allied escort ships, vital to the protection of convoys in the Atlantic, were based on the River Foyle and in May 1945 eight German U-boats surrendered close to the city.A recreation of the German surrender is taking place at Ebrington Square on Saturday, where a number of wartime museum collections have been on display over recent days. "Derry is a city steeped in history and often we forget its strategic importance during World War II, although in terms of global significance it played a huge role," the city's mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr told BBC News NI. What was the Battle of the Atlantic? The Battle of the Atlantic was fought for control of vital supply routes, beginning as war broke out in submarines were the Allies' principal threat at sea. Winston Churchill once wrote: "The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril."Skirmishes in the Atlantic continued until the war ended in 1945, but the Allies sank particularly large numbers of U-boats in May 1943, effectively winning the Battle of the of merchant ships and tens of thousands of lives were lost during the longest continuous military campaign during World War than 66,000 Allied merchant seamen, sailors and airmen died, with 175 Allied warships and 5,000 merchant ships destroyed by German is acknowledged as the Allies' most important escort base during the Battle of the 14 May 1945 the first of the U-boats berthed at Lisahally, the naval port on the city's outskirts, and formally ordered to surrender by Admiral Sir Max Horton, commander-in-chief, Western Approaches. The mayor said as well as holding such vital strategic importance during the Atlantic campaign, the city was also changed by the influx of north American service personnel, housed at Base One Europe, the US Navy's operating base in Northern Ireland."The billeting of Allied servicemen here during that time also had a major cultural influence here in the city, where people mingled with the US and Canadian forces," she City and Strabane District Council's head of culture said Saturday's event will give people a sense of the historic significance of events in the city in 1945. "We want to give people a snapshot of the era by re-enacting some of the events of the day, and the atmosphere of celebration as the city was freed from the shadow of the war," said Aeidin McCarter."Through our living history characters we will retell the story and give people a glimpse of 1945 Derry through the music and fashion from the day." The Ebrington event will run until 17:00 BST on Saturday and will give people the chance to enjoy the music of the roaring 40's and see how the fashion of the time began to reflect the international influence of the vehicles including a replica spitfire will also be on this week The Princess Royal visited Derry to attend a commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Princess Anne visits Londonderry to mark Battle of Atlantic
The Princess Royal has made a visit to Londonderry to attend a commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Anne met with World War Two veterans, Royal Navy personnel, members of the Royal Naval Association and Canadian naval visitors during a reception at the Ebrington site in the wartime naval base at Derry was vital to the protection of convoys in the Atlantic and, at one time, 140 Allied escort ships were based on the River was one of a number of engagements the Princess Royal carried out during her visit to Derry. Earlier, Princess Anne was welcomed to the Cathedral Youth Club by local primary youth club, formed 50 years ago, was last year awarded The King's Award for Voluntary later viewed the International Sailor Statue at Ebrington Square before attending the reception to mark the ending of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign of World War final visit of the day was to Altnagelvin hospital's Clinical Translational Research & Innovation Centre (C-TRIC), a state-of-the-art clinical research facility.
