Adrift in the Bay of Biscay

Story by Sharon Adams

Just after 7:30 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day in 1945, survivors of the minesweeper HMCS Guysborough were in frigid Atlantic waters awaiting rescue. About half of them wouldn’t make it.

Guysborough was about 300 kilometres off the coast of France in the Bay of Biscay en route from Lunenburg, N.S., to England when it was hit in the stern by an acoustic torpedo from U-868 just before 7 p.m. on March 17.

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The new Space Jam: General calls for traffic cops in crowded orbit

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

The head of space operations in the United States is seeking new ways to manage the traffic jam of satellites and space junk crowding the skies over Earth—and to prevent fender-benders and extraterrestrial road rage in the process.

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You could WIN $1,000 in the Win More $$$$ @belairdirect contest! Up to $24,000 up for grabs! Two prizes awarded monthly. Click here to enter or call 1-833-294-2911 for a quote to DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES – be sure to mention you are a Royal Canadian Legion member.

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Snakes on a chopper: Vietnam vets tell harrowing serpentine tales

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

“Any veterans out there run into snakes while serving?”

Thus began a thread on Facebook’s “Vietnam: Helicopter War” page that took readers on a raucous thrill ride through the jungles of Southeast Asia.

The post included a picture of troops holding a fat snake at least six metres long, evidently dead. A well-travelled veteran identified it as a Burmese python.

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Recounting CEF’s first battle

Story by Sharon Adams

The Canadian Expeditionary Force’s first battle experience, aside from a trench raid, came in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in mid-March 1915.

The Canadians were tasked with preventing the Germans from reinforcing their position while the British pushed through enemy lines to advance the front. A new front was established, but the Allies were unable to exploit their advantage and press on due to difficulty transmitting orders and a lack of reserves.

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Hearing is essential. Now more than ever, it is important to stay connected. Legion Members can get a free 30-day trial on the latest hearing aids. New features include rechargeability and Bluetooth® connectivity. You may also qualify to try our invisible device!

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Take your shot—we did, says Gulf War vet

Story by Stephen J. Thorne

Gulf War veteran Paul Schutt has a message for Canadians in these pandemic times: Get your COVID-19 vaccine shots—if not for yourself, for your country.

As a private with Charles Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, Schutt processed and guarded thousands of Iraqi prisoners during the 1991 Gulf War, all while facing the prospect of a biological or chemical attack.

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Sighted sub, sank same

Story by Sharon Adams

The battlefields of Europe were thousands of kilometres away, but Newfoundland and Labrador were definitely in a war zone during the Second World War.

The Allies knew the strategic significance of Canada’s East Coast and the waters around Newfoundland, through which hundreds of convoys sailed to Britain and Russia carrying troops and millions of tonnes of food, war materiel and raw material.

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You’re invited to attend CWT Vacations’ live virtual cruise show hosted by Celebrity Cruises. You’ll hear from the experts about new itineraries for 2022/2023, exclusive sailings for Legion members and learn about Celebrity’s amazing fleet of ships. The event is complimentary and we hope it will inspire you to start thinking about sailing again.

Date: Thursday, March 22, 2021

Time: 7:00 pm EST

Register Now : https://www.cwtvacationclub.ca/legion

REGISTER