Today, Canadians commemorate the 81st anniversary of the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War.
Members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Royal Canadian Air Force, and those connected to the naval community gather today to honour the hardships and sacrifices of the thousands of sailors and aviators who fought with determination, as well as the civilian workers and merchant mariners who supported the war effort.
The Battle of the Atlantic began on September 3, 1939, with the sinking of the SS Athenia by German submarine U-30. Thirteen days later, on September 16, 1939, the first supply convoy departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the United Kingdom. By 1944, 494 fast and slow convoys totalling more than 26,800 ships had crossed the Atlantic, with approximately 540 ships lost to enemy action. Allied forces fought continuously for control of the North Atlantic Ocean to sustain the war effort until the conflict ended in 1945.
Canadian sailors worked tirelessly to protect vital convoys carrying life-sustaining supplies between North America and Europe. Through dark days and long nights, the Battle of the Atlantic lasted 2,075 days, ultimately claiming the lives of more than 2,210 sailors, 900 aviators, and 1,700 Canadian Merchant Navy sailors. Their bravery and sacrifices were instrumental in securing victory for the Allies.
