Honouring Australia’s Fallen at the National Military Cemetery
Wreath Laying and Remembrance Service
Earlier today, representatives of the Australian High Commission gathered at the National Military Cemetery of Canada for a solemn act of remembrance, honouring two young Royal Australian Air Force trainees who lost their lives while serving and training in Ottawa during the Second World War.
Commander Andy Duff, Royal Australian Navy, served as Master of Ceremonies, joined by High Commissioner Kate Logan and Captain Emma Gaudry, RAN, Australia’s Defence Advisor to Canada and members of the Defence Team. Together, they laid a wreath in tribute to Aircraftman Douglas Mervyn Lord and Leading Aircraftman Harry William Long, reinforcing the enduring bond between Australia and Canada, nations long united in service, sacrifice, and shared history.
Shared History Through the Empire Air Training Scheme
During the Second World War, Australia and Canada were central contributors to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) - known in Australia as the Empire Air Training Scheme. Canada became the world’s largest training ground for Allied aircrew, offering immense airspace, safety from enemy attack, and a climate suited to year-round flying.
More than 10,000 Australians crossed the Pacific to train in Canada. These young men strengthened Allied air capabilities across the European, North African, and Pacific theatres, forming one of the most significant international training movements of the war.
Aircraftman Douglas Mervyn Lord, born in Melbourne in 1919, was among those who came to Ottawa for pilot training. On 6 May 1941, his aircraft crashed near Uplands Airport, killing both Lord and Flying Officer Bennett L. Duffey. Lord was 22 years old.
Leading Aircraftman Harry William Long, born in 1921, also trained under this program. He died at 20 years old when his Harvard trainer crashed at Black Rapids on 15 August 1941.
Their deaths remind us that training itself carried extraordinary risk—risk accepted willingly in service to a world in crisis.
A Partnership Forged Across Generations
Australia and Canada have stood together across decades of global conflict and peace operations: Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, multinational maritime missions, and intelligence and security partnerships that continue today. The sacrifice of Lord and Long speaks to the deep, ongoing ties between our nations, ties born of shared purpose and shaped by generations of service members who stood for the same values.
A Moment of Reflection: The Full Reading of For the Fallen
One of the most powerful moments of today’s ceremony came with Commander Duff’s full reading of Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen.
It is rare for the entire poem to be read during a remembrance service. Hearing every verse offered a deeper, more solemn reflection on loss, courage, and the enduring responsibility to remember. The full reading connected those gathered not only to the famous Ode of Remembrance, but to the broader themes of sacrifice and hope that Binyon intended, a profound tribute to these young Australian airmen who never returned home.
At the National Military Cemetery, we remain committed to honouring the men and women who served under the Empire Air Training Scheme and all who answered the call of duty. The stories of Douglas Mervyn Lord and Harry William Long live on through our shared commitment to remembrance and through the enduring partnership between Australia and Canada.
We will remember them.