World War II

CFB Esquimalt base commander Capt. J. Jeffrey Hutchinson (left) and base chief Al Darragh (right) lay a wreath at a Battle of the Atlantic ceremony Sunday (May 7). (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Battle of the Atlantic remembered in Victoria

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest campaign of the Second World War

 

CFB Esquimalt base commander Capt. J. Jeffrey Hutchinson speaks at the 2023 HMCS Esquimalt memorial service on Sunday (April 16) at Esquimalt’s Memorial Park. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

HMCS Esquimalt honoured as final Royal Canadian Navy ship lost in WWII

The HMCS Esquimalt memorial service was held Sunday

 

Eileen Griffin, who arrived in Canada as a war bride with her baby daughter in 1944, celebrates her 100th birthday on June 3, 2022. She is pictured here with her congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II and a framed photo of ‘RMS Mauretania’, which brought her to Pier 21 in Halifax. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

A life well lived: Qualicum Beach resident celebrates 100th birthday on June 3

Centenarian Eileen Griffin has a 107-year-old sister in England

 

A panel is pictured from “But I Live,” a graphic narrative of Israeli Holocaust survivor Emmie Arbel’s experiences during the Second World War. (Courtesy of Barbara Yelin)

Graphic novels featuring survivors of Holocaust published by UVic prof

Series gives voice to those silenced by Holocaust in youth-friendly format

A panel is pictured from “But I Live,” a graphic narrative of Israeli Holocaust survivor Emmie Arbel’s experiences during the Second World War. (Courtesy of Barbara Yelin)
Group photo from Ucluelet’s gathering on May 21, from left: Bob and Vi Mundy, Ted Oye, Ellen Kimoto, Suzie Corlazzoli, Dave McIntosh, Bruce Oye, Josie Osborne, and in front, Mary Kimoto. (Barbara Schramm photo)

Island Japanese-Canadians react to B.C.’s $100M pledge to address wartime internment

“It was really important this event happened while there are still survivors left”

Group photo from Ucluelet’s gathering on May 21, from left: Bob and Vi Mundy, Ted Oye, Ellen Kimoto, Suzie Corlazzoli, Dave McIntosh, Bruce Oye, Josie Osborne, and in front, Mary Kimoto. (Barbara Schramm photo)
Group photo from Ucluelet’s gathering on May 21, from left: Bob and Vi Mundy, Ted Oye, Ellen Kimoto, Suzie Corlazzoli, Dave McIntosh, Bruce Oye, Josie Osborne, and in front, Mary Kimoto. (Barbara Schramm photo)

Japanese Canadian internment: Ucluelet’s Japanese community reacts to B.C.’s $100M pledge

“It was really important this event happened while there are still survivors left”

Group photo from Ucluelet’s gathering on May 21, from left: Bob and Vi Mundy, Ted Oye, Ellen Kimoto, Suzie Corlazzoli, Dave McIntosh, Bruce Oye, Josie Osborne, and in front, Mary Kimoto. (Barbara Schramm photo)
Al Ennis with Marie Donais Calder, author of Forever in the Clouds, which tells the stories of the 21 RCAF officers killed in a crash near Estevan, Sask. in 1946. (Photo courtesy of the Ennis family)

Langford man rekindles memories of tragic Saskatchewan air crash

RCMP volunteer connects with author of book on Second World War pilots who died in peacetime crash

Al Ennis with Marie Donais Calder, author of Forever in the Clouds, which tells the stories of the 21 RCAF officers killed in a crash near Estevan, Sask. in 1946. (Photo courtesy of the Ennis family)
Memorial designer Illarion Gallant places roses on Lt. Robert Gray’s memorial. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Memorial dedicated to Victoria Cross recipient at aviation museum in North Saanich

Ceremony for pilot Lt. Robert Gray attracts military top brass, high-level diplomats

Memorial designer Illarion Gallant places roses on Lt. Robert Gray’s memorial. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Ken Mizokoshi shared his images of items left behind in Nagasaki after the Aug. 9, 1945 atomic bombing by the U.S. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Greater Victoria photographer creates vivid story of Nagasaki bomb aftermath

Ken Mizokoshi’s collective work has been featured in Japan, New York City; Victoria could be next?

Ken Mizokoshi shared his images of items left behind in Nagasaki after the Aug. 9, 1945 atomic bombing by the U.S. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A World War II reenactor pays tribute to a soldier on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, Sunday, June 6, 2021, the day of 77th anniversary of the assault that helped bring an end to World War II. While France is planning to open up to vaccinated visitors starting next week, that comes too late for the D-Day anniversary. So for the second year in a row, most public commemoration events have been cancelled. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

Normandy commemorates D-Day with small crowds, but big heart

On D-Day, more than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches 77 years ago

A World War II reenactor pays tribute to a soldier on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, Sunday, June 6, 2021, the day of 77th anniversary of the assault that helped bring an end to World War II. While France is planning to open up to vaccinated visitors starting next week, that comes too late for the D-Day anniversary. So for the second year in a row, most public commemoration events have been cancelled. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Trudeau delivers apology to Italian Canadians for internment during WW2

31,000 Italian Canadians were labelled ‘enemy aliens,’ fingerprinted and scrutinized

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Carl Kolonsky CROP. Photo by Luke Shields

Campbell River veteran receives flowers, letter of thanks from Dutch student on Liberation Day

Dutch city honours Canadian WWII veterans for role in liberating the Netherlands

Carl Kolonsky CROP. Photo by Luke Shields
Italian-Canadian prisoners at the Kananaskis prisoner of war camp in Alberta. (University of Calgary/Contributed)

Italian moved to Okanagan with hope; he ended up being sent to a WWII internment camp

Raymond Lenzi shares his grandfather’s story ahead of Canada’s planned formal apology to Italian-Canadians

Italian-Canadian prisoners at the Kananaskis prisoner of war camp in Alberta. (University of Calgary/Contributed)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Italian-Canadians to get formal apology for treatment during Second World War

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will issue a formal apology next month, acknowledging internment camps

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
File - In this Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 file photo, survivors of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz arrive for a commemoration ceremony on International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism inside Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland. The commemorations for the victims of the Holocaust at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945, will be mostly online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, file)

Auschwitz survivors mark anniversary of liberation online amid pandemic

Nazi German forces killed 1.1 million people at the Auschwitz death camp in occupied Poland

File - In this Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 file photo, survivors of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz arrive for a commemoration ceremony on International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism inside Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland. The commemorations for the victims of the Holocaust at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945, will be mostly online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, file)
Dan Vedova holds up an Ensign retrieved from the HMCS Clayoquot as she was sinking on Dec. 24, 1944. (Andrew Bailey photo)

No virus required: A harrowing story of one Christmas Eve past

Short of lifeboats, dozens of sailors jumped into the black frigid water

  • Dec 24, 2020
Dan Vedova holds up an Ensign retrieved from the HMCS Clayoquot as she was sinking on Dec. 24, 1944. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Port Hardy mayor Dennis Dugas receives the first poppy of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Port Hardy poppy campaign. Right, Port McNeill mayor Gaby Wickstrom receives the first poppy of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Port McNeill poppy campaign. (District of Port Hardy Facebook photo/Gaby Wickstrom Facebook photo)

A father’s service: memories of dad hit close to home on Remembrance Day

North Island mayors reflect on how the war shaped their fathers, and in turn themselves.

Port Hardy mayor Dennis Dugas receives the first poppy of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Port Hardy poppy campaign. Right, Port McNeill mayor Gaby Wickstrom receives the first poppy of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Port McNeill poppy campaign. (District of Port Hardy Facebook photo/Gaby Wickstrom Facebook photo)
Inside Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria bells join cacophony marking 75th anniversary of Japanese bombings

Bells ring Aug. 6, 9 in remembrance of the victims of Nagasaki, Hiroshima

Inside Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Carl Kolonsky receives a Certificate of Recognition for his service during the Second World War. Kolonsky, 95, was in the Netherlands during the country’s liberation. He is currently receiving care at the Campbell River hospital. Photo by Island Health

Campbell River veteran honoured while in hospital

Carl Kolonsky was just 20 years old when he arrived in Belgium in 1944

  • Jun 9, 2020
Carl Kolonsky receives a Certificate of Recognition for his service during the Second World War. Kolonsky, 95, was in the Netherlands during the country’s liberation. He is currently receiving care at the Campbell River hospital. Photo by Island Health
Duncan veteran recalls war’s end

Duncan veteran recalls war’s end

War changed Jack Bridges’ life forever

Duncan veteran recalls war’s end