Inspiring church service in Picton for Hasty P's

The heroic record of The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment in the Second World War, starting with the invasion of Sicily 80 years ago was commemorated with a special choral concert and audio-visual presentation in St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church in Picton Sunday with around 100 attending.

As a key part of the British Eighth Army in the invasion, the regiment contributed mightily to the reputation of Canadian troops as a “fierce , fighting force” said Michael Korn, producer of the event, in his remarks. During the Sicilian and following Italian campaign, the HPER earned more than 60 battle honours, more than any other Canadian infantry regiment in that conflict. Korn also reminded that the massive Picton Armouries, now a commercial plaza, was built just before the First World War and in 1939 it was the official headquarters of the regiment. The regiment departed Picton by train on Dec. 17, 1939 but there was a military ban on any news publication of that date until several weeks later. But with the full strength of the regiment in one location, plus their families and followers, a crowd estimated at 10,000 was there to see them off.

The choir, now called the Lakeshore Chorus, of more than 30 voices was recruited from experienced choristers from Toronto through to Belleville and Picton, with Heather Christiansen, director of the Belleville Choral Society, as director. Tom Dietzel, prominent local musician, played piano accompaniment. Most of the singers had taken part in an earlier presentation two years ago to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II with a special choral presentation.

While the choral part of the program started at 3 p.m. it was preceded by an audio-video presentation filmed by Cablevue 4, Belleville, several years ago with a cluster of the few remaining veterans of the regiment. All of the speakers in the video, now deceased, focussed on what remains considered as the regiment's “crowning glory,” the successful taking and holding of Mount Assoro in a surprise night time climb, and holding their position despite fierce counter attacks. The video was presented and enhanced by Capt. (ret.) Neil Burrell, now a curator for the regiment's official museum in the Belleville Armouries. Burrell noted with pleasure that among the audience was one former commanding officer of the militia regiment, Col. John Inrig.

Total fatal casualties for the unit in the combined Sicily-Italian campaign was more than 40 of the original pre-combat regiment's strength. Even at the end of the Sicily drive, the regiment's strength from losses of dead, wounded and taken prisoner, represented about three quarters of its strength, the rest made up from replacements, said one of the speakers in the video.

The service opened with the choir piped in by piper Andrew Kerr of Napanee, followed by O Canada and the Royal Anthem and patriotic songs, The Maple Leaf Forever and Song for the Land, a poignant but rhythmic ballad about “a home for you and me.”

To highlight the regiment's departure for England was the wellknown song, Farewell to Nova Scotia, plus Now Is the Hour, Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye, and a women's only timepiece, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

Two native Sicilian songs about war and loss, Bella Ciao, a marching song, and a poignant Signore Della Cime followed.

Following intermission, a remembrance ceremony opened with the hymn, Abide With Me, with audience participation, a ballad, Drop, Drop Slow Tears, Verleih Uns Frieden, by Mendelssohn, and a piper's lament, Hector the Hero, leading into a reading of the names of all the original regiment members who perished in the war by the rector, The Rev., Dr. Bramwell Pearce, followed by two minutes of silence and a tradition piper's lament.

Closing songs included I Vow to Thee My Country and the famous D Day Dodgers song to the tune of Lili Marlene, Song for the Unsung Hero and the choir piped out to Scotland the Brave.

Commenting on the event, Col. Inrig, who commanded the militia regiment for a spell during the 1970s, ,summed it up as a delightful and meaningful surprise.