Vancouver Boutique Hotel - St. Regis Hotel - Blog

Looking at it’s modern cosmopolitan face, it’s easy to forget that Vancouver has a long military history. It is Canada’s major Pacific Port and several garrisons are still active within the city. The St. Regis Hotel opened just before the start of World War I and like every hotel in Vancouver, it played host to many soldiers arriving and leaving during WWII.

Recently, we were sent a poem by Andy Michaelson, from the League of Canadian Poets, about a veteran of the Dieppe landing. This Veteran had made a daily habit of visiting the St. Regis Bar and Grill for a single beer, drunk in quiet solitude. Howeverm each August 19th, on the anniversary of the Dieppe Invasion, a different ritual would play out. The Veteran would arrive in his regimental attire and seat himself at a table for five with four empty chairs. He’d order, then toast and drink five whiskeys, one for himself and one each for his departed mates who left the landing craft with him on that day.

Here’s the poem for you, printed with thanks to Andy for reminding us of the sacrifices and history which can be so easily lost and forgotten. This August 19th, hopefully we can each raise our own toast to the Veterans of Dieppe.

DIEPPE
Andy Michaelson ©

He is a pile of clean clothes
untouched by an iron
talking to himself,
wrinkeled face, white hair,
tucked into a corner of the bar

He never stays past three in the afternoon
sips a single beer
takes no space at all
waits to join the rest
knows there were five
knows he is the last

Each August 19th
he arrives in a shiny blue blazer
a white shirt, starched
a tie with regimental markings
sits straight, front and centre
at a table with four empty chairs
he lays out the memories
snaps a order for five whiskeys

He drinks each, by name
one by one
chases away any intruder
with a hard command

Remembering the run up to the beach
hearing the Sergeant
oer landing craft engines
over shell fire
“Don’t be afraid, boys
sing something to chase the fear”
remembering five voices,
“Happy Birthdayt to you, Happy Birthday to you”
seeing the ramp drop,
knowing instantly they were four,
tasting bitter surrender
marching 300 kilometres, manacled
surviving three years in the camp,
being freed as three,
in time just two,
now him alone
singing

November 22, 2007
Revised January 4, 2009