World War II veteran Percival Smith was a teenager when he joined the British merchant navy, but after years at sea he became a man returned to a family he “couldn’t even recognize” after the war.

Smith, 101, was among thousands of people gathered in downtown Vancouver for the 100th anniversary of Remembrance Day ceremony at the Victory Square cenotaph.

Smith said he was happy to remember friends who gave their lives to serve king and country during World War II, but he did not know if his health would hold up to next year’s ceremony at the memorial inaugurated the year after his death. birth.

Smith said that although he was in “terrible danger” for most of his service, he and his shipmates were not thinking about death, but rather about “what the next day would be like.”

But danger aside, his wartime gave him discipline and it was “the best time” of his life, he said.

The threat of rain eased during Monday’s ceremony, and just before 11 a.m., the military horns fell silent and a wave of calm washed over the crowd, dots of bright red poppies pinned to their hearts.

Remembrance Day services were held across British Columbia, including in Victoria, where approximately 5,000 people gathered at the Legislative Assembly Cenotaph.

Retired Cpl. Neil Dancer, who served in Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, told Victoria the service helped him in his struggles to overcome mental health issues related to his military service.

“I ended up carrying a lot of responsibility there and it really messed with my head over the years,” he said.

“You live with the decisions you had to make. It’s not always easy and that’s why we come here every year so that none of the kids here have to go through what each of us had to go through to cross.”

Retired Captain Tim Cheesman, who served in the Royal Regina Rifles reserve regiment, said he was happy to see the large crowds in Victoria, especially so many young people.

Cheesman said he has not been deployed overseas, but the regiment has served in conflict zones.

“We have been deployed numerous times on peacekeeping missions and numerous times to Afghanistan, and all members of our regiment have returned home safely.”

Jason Overy attended service in Vancouver as a civilian, having participated in numerous ceremonies as a military drummer, first with the 5th Regimental Field Band in Victoria before joining the 15th Regimental Band. campaign in Vancouver.

He retired in 2020, after 30 years of service, and said he missed participating in the ceremonies.

“It was an honor for me to serve this long,” he said. “But these are the things that I miss, moments like this, being part of the celebration itself, of remembering or honoring the sacrifices that were made for us. So being part of these traditions was very powerful in the army and I missed those aspects.”

The Rev. Andrew Gates, chaplain of the Royal Canadian Legion, offered a prayer at Victoria’s ceremony.

“May God bless you with your anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you work for justice, fairness and peace,” he said. “May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, famine and war, that you may reach out to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 11, 2024.