JUST A GAL FROM GLIDDEN: Honouring those who gave everything
By Kate Winquist
For 16 years, I’ve had the privilege of curating a special edition dedicated to Canadians who served our country—past and present—especially those who paid the ultimate price. Each page is a reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the freedoms we enjoy because of them.
My personal inspiration comes from my great-uncle, Bruce Maclennan, who gave his life at just 21. His story, like that of so many others, reminds us of the cost of freedom.
Bruce served with the Moose Squadron during the Second World War. One mission in particular still haunts the pages of history. In an effort to strike at U-boat manufacturing yards in Voss, near Hamburg, 28 Lancaster bombers took to the skies. Heavy clouds masked the target, and most bombs missed.
Bruce’s group, the last to arrive, reached the target ten minutes behind schedule. The delay meant they had no fighter escort, leaving them exposed. Soon, 30 German Me 262 jet fighters descended from 10,000 feet, swarming the slower Lancasters with devastating speed and firepower. The Moose Squadron had faced the Me 262 before, but the encounter cost lives. Two crews were lost that night, including KB869.
The story of KB869 was later recorded in the POW report of P/O Milne, one of only three survivors. He described the intercom being knocked out, the pilot, F/O Bowes, motioning the flight engineer and bomb aimer to escape, and the chaos that followed. An explosion tore through the nose of the Lancaster, leaving only destruction behind. Milne, along with Rowlands and Berry, survived to identify the bodies of their crewmates—likely under the watchful eyes of German officers. The aircraft crashed near Hittfeld, nine kilometres south of Hamburg.
These acts of bravery were not just historical events. They were young Canadians, many barely older than teenagers, facing unimaginable danger. Every year, Canadians honour them. We wear poppies, attend ceremonies, and visit memorials. But remembrance should not be limited to a single day. Peace, like freedom, requires constant effort—a duty we all share.
On this day, and every day, let us remember the sacrifices of Bruce and all those who gave everything. Their courage still speaks to us, and their legacy demands we never forget.