Parade commemorates 99th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

Above: Morinville 3061(1 CER) Royal Canadian Army Cadets posing near the 1943 Chevrolet Staghound Armoured Car marked for NW Europe.

by Lucie Roy

The Battle of Vimy Ridge 99th Anniversary Commemoration Parade was held Sunday afternoon at the Edmonton Garrison Lecture Training Facility.

More than 300 cadets gathered from 17 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps from Northern and Central Alberta, including Morinville. Corps from as far away as Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Thorsby and Slave Lake participated. They were supported by 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.

Members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) were on hand with their display of seven vehicles, which included a 1943 Command Car three-quarter-ton military soft top jeep, a 1943 M3A1 Scout car, a rare 1943 Chevrolet Staghound Armoured Car marked for NW Europe used by 12th Manitoba Dragoons, a Willys M38A1 CDN 3 jeep, and other vehicles.

Major (Retired) Kenneth J. Usher CD provided the opening remarks. Honourary Colonel J“Lyn Nye, Major McCully, Lt. Colonel McLoughlin, Honourary Lt. Colonel Gordon Steinke and Captain Whitebone were also in attendance.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought Apr. 9 to 12, 1917. The battle cost Canada 3,598 lives and another 7,004 were wounded.

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Above: Brigadier General Eyre, Her Honour, The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell and Morinville 3061(1 CER ) Royal Canadian Army Cadet Captain Robert Hagerty.

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