Battle of Atlantic memorial takes shape

Honorary Captain (Navy) (HCapt(N)) Jeff Topping during a visit to Hamilton, Ont. HCapt(N) Topping was recently named to the ambassador role for HMCS Prevost, the Naval Reserve Unit of London, Ont. Photo: HMCS Star.

Peter Mallett,
Staff Writer 

— 

The newest Honorary Captain (HCapt(N)) of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) hit the ground running with inspiring projects to honour and celebrate the legacy of RCN sailors.

Jeff Topping was appointed HCapt(N) of HMCS Prevost, London, Ont., Naval Reserve Unit (NAVRES), in a March 5 ceremony involving Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee, RCN Commander. Now he spearheads a design and build project for a first-of-its kind national war memorial, supported by many significant community leaders.

Located on the banks of the Thames River in London, Ont., the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial project aims to enshrine the names of 2,000 RCN members, 750 aviators and 1,600 Merchant Navy members who were lost in the longest continuous military campaign of the Second World War. 

Most of these sailors have no gravesite to visit as they were lost at sea, HCapt(N) Topping explains.

“It is intended to serve as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices those who secured our freedom and it’s time Canada paid tribute to them,” Capt(N)Topping says.

While other allied nations have created significant national monuments sites, there is no national memorial in Canada specifically dedicated to the Battle of the Atlantic. HCapt(N) Topping, the project’s supporters at the London Branch of the Naval Association of Canada and HMCS Prevost are planning the groundbreaking in the fall, with plans to complete the project in time for the battle’s 80th anniversary in May 2025.

Topping’s journey to become Honorary Captain began in 2019 when he participated in the Canadian Leaders Alongside program with NAVRES unit HMCS York. That resulted in five days at sea aboard HMCS Calgary where he learned first-hand about the hard work done by sailors aboard warships. 

“It was definitely not a VIP cruise, we learned about all aspects of life at sea, and I returned inspired to support our serving members to the best of our ability,” he said. 

Appointed by the Minister of National Defence, Honorary Captains are distinguished, well-known public, business or community leaders. They play a vital ambassadorial role for the Navy, connecting the RCN with the communities they serve. The Navy currently has 19 Honorary Captains, each bringing a unique set of talents and skills to the table.

In his new volunteer role, one of his goals is seeing the memorial project through while at the same time the monument project will also help build the profile of HMCS Prevost. He estimates the cost of the memorial at $750,000. The Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Project Team and the Naval Association of Canada are behind the fundraising effort with monies raised through private and corporate donations through their website: boamemorial.com.

The memorial will also help honour HCapt(N) Topping’s grandfathers, who served in the RCN during the Second World War.

“It is incredibly humbling to be asked to serve and I immediately thought of my grandfathers, who both have passed, but I know would be so proud to see me in uniform,” he reflected. “My family was very excited because they know how much this means to me personally.”

One grandfather served as a Chief Petty Officer and shipwright in Newfoundland during the war and the other became member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) with wartime sub-hunting service aboard HMCS Skeena, HMCS Haida, HMCS Fort William among other vessels. Young HCapt(N) Topping had a strong desire to follow his grandfathers’ footsteps, but was unable to join NAVRES due to a hearing issue. In subsequent years, he volunteered his time as a civilian instructor specializing in naval history with his local branch of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC) Courageous. 

HCapt(N) Topping says one of his key tasks in his volunteer role will be to educate people in his hometown and across central Canada about the importance of the RCN and the work they do.
 
“Many Londoners don’t realize there is a naval unit in town, and I aim to change that,” he said.  

For more information on the Battle of Atlantic Memorial visit the website boamemorial.com or watch the Taking Back Their Names video available on YouTube.

Located on the on the grounds of HMCS Prevost, the monument’s 1.8-meter tall metal panels will have the names of the fallen sailors. A key aspect of the project also involves the leveraging virtual technology and educational program to bring the life stories of sailors and Battle of Atlantic history. It will allow visitors to access information on their mobile devices. 

“The stories won’t just include facts and figures but the story of what it was like to be at sea in a Canadian Corvette or during convoy duty and protecting merchant ships trying to cross the cold dark Atlantic Ocean,” says Honourable Captain (Navy) Jeff Topping. 

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Battle of Atlantic National Memorial commemorative panels in London, Ont. Photo: Naval Association of Canada.