Acclaimed author Ted Barris visits CFB Esquimalt

Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory author, Ted Barris

LCdr (ret’d) Paul Seguna — Award-winning author Ted Barris visited the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum the week of March 20-24 to present his latest book.

The dynamic and informative presentation was a lead-up to the annual commemoration of the loss of HMCS Esquimalt on April 16 and the Battle of the Atlantic in May.

Ted’s latest title focused on Canadian military history – Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory – details the strategic overview and tactical aspects of this longest battle of the Second World War while telling the personal stories of those who experienced it.

Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory, book by Ted Barris

Ted toured the museum’s Battle of the Atlantic gallery in the company of one of the few remaining veterans of that epic conflict: Commander (ret’d) Peter Chance, after whom the gallery is named. Remarking on Peter’s wartime reminiscences, Ted underlined his focus on relating the individual experiences of war as something of critical importance, to which Peter responded with the succinct answer, ‘damn good!’.

Ted presented the topic of his book to a full room at the museum on Friday.

The attendees represented a broad spectrum of those interested in Canadian naval history. Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A/SLt) Max Lucas, new to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and currently undergoing training at HMCS Venture, said the presentation was ‘excellent’.

Author, Ted Barris addresses an audience during his last visit

“His knowledge and enthusiasm for the topic were unmistakable as he invited the audience into the lives of the men and women who lived through one of the most brutal and consequential events of the Second World War – The Battle of the Atlantic,” A/SLt Lucas said.

He attended with a personal interest in the topic as his grandfather served in the RCN during the Battle of the Atlantic.

“I believe the individual stories that Ted has illuminated so beautifully, like my grandfather’s experience, are meaningful ways for us to reflect on our naval heritage, and to understand where we come from to better prepare for where we are going,” A/SLt Lucas said.

A special family interest also came from Jonathan and Sarah Hilliard, who attended as the grandchildren of a figure from the book – Captain James Douglas (Chummy) Prentice, Distinguished Service Order (DSO), Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) & Bar (in recognition of a further award of the DSC medal for subsequent acts of service before the enemy).

Author, Ted Barris spends time looking at museum exhibits with local Peter Chance.

B.C.-born and raised, Prentice joined the Royal Navy (RN) in 1912 at age thirteen. He served during the First World War at the epic Battle of Jutland. He resigned from the RN in 1934 and returned to B.C., joining the RCN at the outbreak of the Second World War. This charismatic leader and RCN tactician, known for his ever-present monocle, improved the effectiveness of Canadian corvettes in their actions against the U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Ted’s book is available in local bookstores. For more information on his many books on Canadian military history and other subjects, visit his website at tedbarris.com.