CBC Reconfirms Commitment on Valour and Horror
OOSTERBEEK, THE NETHERLANDS, May 11, 1995
STATEMENT FROM PERRIN BEATTY
The controversial mini-series, The Valour and the Horror, will not be rebroadcast on the CBC in its present form.
This statement was made today by Cliff Chadderton, CEO of The War Amps, to a cheering delegation of 100 veterans of the Holland Campaign who are closing out a ten day visit to the land they liberated 50 years ago.
Chadderton was quoting from a letter (April 28th) from Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the CBC which stated in part, "With respect to the question you raise about The Valour and the Horror, let me reiterate the assurances given to you by my predecessors; namely, that the CBC has no plans to rebroadcast the series. Should that change, the commitments made by the former officers of the Corporation regarding the programs' need to conform to CBC journalistic policy would be respected."
"The Canadian veterans were very pleased to receive the news from the new President of the CBC. They did, however, express concern regarding two other films which are being made by the same producers - Brian and Terrence McKenna. The first deals with the naval war in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the second with the Polish division which fought with the Canadian forces in Normandy," Chadderton said.
Naval veterans expressed concern that the film would criticize the Navy in regard to the heavy losses suffered by the Merchant Marines. It is believed that 23 merchant ships were sunk in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Those army veterans whose units fought in Normandy were quick to suggest that the McKennas might overplay the effect which arose from the unfortunate bombing incidents by both the R.A.F. and the U.S. airforce, which created havoc with the Polish forces in Normandy. Canadian forces were bombed as well.
The other area of concern was that the film would ignore the part played by the Canadian divisions in the closing of the Falaise Gap, giving what might amount to undue recognition to the effective contribution of the Polish forces in that campaign.