2003 Battle of the Atlantic (Paxton)

The City of Liverpool has been planning this anniversary since 1995. The city leaves no doubt that the Canadian Navy was the main reason that the Battle of Atlantic was won. They have taken a section of the strand (which is main road running alongside the Mersey River). They have renamed this section Canada Boulevard. They have planted 56 Maple trees along this section. They have placed a plaque on this boulevard (see attached). They have also placed plaques on each of the 24 ships that were lost in the battle; these are implanted in the concrete walk.

Liverpool was and is still known as "Western Approaches". Because of its tremendous docking and anchorage facilities, and a naval repair base it was known as the Gateway to Britain during the war. 50,000 workers were involved during the war years in unloading the ships and servicing the escorts so that they could get back to sea.

The city received 1,285 convoys during the war. Germany knew that Liverpool was the port that would have to receive the ships from the West and made it a main target.

1,285 convoys meant that approximately 40 ships were coming into Mersey every day and one half. To unload these ships and get the cargo onto trains, trucks etc. were an almost impossible task.

In May 1941 Germany blitzed Liverpool for weeks; the docks and surrounding areas were virtually destroyed.

At that time the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Alderman Sir Sydney Jones, speaking after the blitz said -

"I think I can say, without boasting but with great pride, that Liverpool has stood up enormously well to its task. We need steadfastness, courage, foresight, and we are glad to find these qualities prevailing throughout the city.
We still have that unshaken belief in the ultimate victory."

The 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic refers to the month of May 1943. That was the month that the tide of battle turned in favour of the Allies. Up to that time, the U-boat Commanders referred to the North Atlantic as the Happy Hunting Ground. In the month of May 1943 41 U-boats were sunk or put out of service. This was proof that the tide of battle was turning.

There were now enough war ships to allow separate destroyers, frigates and corvettes to roam independently of the convoys. In addition there were more aircraft with longer range facilities, so that the "Black Pit" was virtually eliminated. This meant that U-boats could no longer stay on the surface without a good chance of being sunk.

The German Navy enigma code was also broken which allowed the Allies to find U-boat locations and direct convoys away from them, and the hunting groups to them.

The 60th anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic is celebrated at this time because 60 years ago, May 1943, the tide of battle turned in favor of the Allies. The years 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942 and the first three months of 1943 was the time the U-Boat commanders called the North Atlantic the "Happy Hunting Ground."

Nearly a thousand ships that were torpedoed managed to reach friendly ports to 'unload their cargo.

The normal crossing time for an Atlantic convoy in the early years was 17 - 24 days. (Convoy speed was dictated by merchant ships)

This battle was the longest battle of the Second World War. The battle was the only battle of the war that came close to the Eastern shores of North America. The Ferry Cariboo was torpedoed and sunk on its regular trip from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, 123 passengers lost their lives. It began on September 3rd, 1939 when the liner Athenia was torpedoed and sunk and the battle last for 5 years, 8 months and 4 days. It ended when the Germans surrendered.

During the battle, 5,219 merchantmen were sunk and 769 U-boats were destroyed. The Canadian Navy convoyed 25,343 ships across the Atlantic. These ships carried troops and also delivered over 181 million tons of food, fuel, munitions, tanks and all the other requirements of the military, as well as the inhabitants of the British Isles.

If this cargo had not reached England, there would have been no "D" Day and no Victory for the Allies.

In 1939, the Canadian Navy consisted of 13 ships and 13,000 personnel. In 1945 the Canadian Navy had 375 ships and 110,000 personnel. There were 122 corvettes in that total. The Canadian Navy had 24 ships sunk with a loss of 2,252 sailors. Canada Shipyards built 403 merchant ships, 281 fighting ships, 206 minesweepers, 254 tugs and 3,302 landing craft.

In the early years of the war, the corvettes had magnetic compasses, no radar, no direction finding equipment, communication between ships were in their infancy and were not reliable. The crews were mostly new both to the ocean and the warships, they were volunteer reservists. There was little or no time to be trained. They learned on the job. Losses of shipments were increasing steadily during 1939, '40, '41, '42 and the first 3 months of 1943. It got to a point that the Royal Navy and Winston Churchill himself actually feared that the battle was lost.

F.R. "Ted" Paxton was a Leading Seaman L.T.O. serving on the corvette, Shediac, January 1942 up to March 20, 1943. On receiving his commission he served with the Royal Navy and was discharged April 1946.

CANADA BOULEVARD PLAQUE

THIS BOULEVARD OF MAPLE TREES IS DEDICATED AS A LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE SACRIFICE, VALOUR AND INDUSTRY OF CANADIANS IN THE DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

DURING THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC 1939-1945

AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP THAT DEVELOPED BETWEEN CANADA AND THE CITY OF LIVERPOOL DURING THOSE DARK DAYS.

COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE. DEDICATED 13TH OF MAY 1995.

LEST WE FORGET

OBSERVATIONS.

I have been totally surprised that so few people know anything about the Battle of Atlantic. Apparently I appeared on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News about the Battle of Atlantic on Sunday. To date I have heard from 53 people who saw me on TV. Of these, 38 knew absolutely nothing of the Battle of Atlantic, 8 others said they had heard something about a battle but did not know what it was.

At this date we have not received any dialogue, pictures or TV film from England. Therefore this is a brief outline of the ceremonies.

A full report and description of the events will be presented as soon as this information is received.

This is Ted Paxton’s belated account of his participation in the commemoration ceremonies given above. This took place in 2003 but Ted, being such a busy and successful businessman, has never found the time to put his thoughts on paper – until now.

Ted served with both the Royal Canadian Navy in the North Atlantic and also in the Pacific theatre of war with the Royal Navy. In 2003 he was chosen as the sole representative of the Canadian Naval Officer’s Association to partake in these ceremonies. Quite an honour Ted !

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA BRANCH

Battle of the Atlantic Commeration