​THE TELEGRAPH was the most commonly used mode of communication during battle. They would be used to inform families of their soldiers passing, capture, or wounding. Soldiers often sent telegrams to their families about their travels or that they had survived a battle. Governments and war correspondents could communicate effectively and efficiently. The messages were often kept abbreviated due to the expense of sending one. 

​During several major wars in our history there were many ways to communicate. In the early days there were specific soldiers nicknamed “Runners”. These soldiers’ primary roles were to deliver critical information on foot from one command to the other. While serving, the runners had to have extensive knowledge of the terrain they were travelling on. If you were a runner during a war you had to master certain skills such as: Map-reading, speed, and precision. It was easy to tell which soldier was a runner as they wore a red armband on their left forearm.

When the new breakthrough of field telephones appeared it too caused many problems. The field telephone was very difficult and time consuming to set up. During the heat and chaos of battle, there was very little time; and messages had to be delivered as soon as possible. 
As such the runners were more effective compared to the commonly used carrier pigeons. However, these birds provided great use during the war, but sometimes they missed their targets. Because of this, critical information couldn’t be delivered when needed.

When being a runner your job would bring you to defy death almost every single time you were put to a destination. Runners were mainly targeted by enemy soldiers to make sure that messages did not reach their intended destination.
 
While being heavily targeted by enemy troops the runners had a lot of ground to cover. The average distance between the trenches and on the front line was about 150 yards. If a runner was spotted by enemy troops, they had to avoid heavy machine gun fire, artillery, and snipers to deliver their messages safely.

Riders: Motorcycle and Horseback: While Runners were very important to the war effort there were other means of communication that also did their part to help the Canadians succeed in battle. An alternative method of communicating were Riders. These were soldiers that were mounted on Horseback or Motorcycle.
 
Horseback riders were more common in early wars because of their flexible availability. Riders rode across deadly terrain to deliver important messages to their officers.
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Similarly with Runners the Riders had to memorize deadly terrain and navigate swiftly to complete their missions. Commonly enough Riders were often targeted by enemy soldiers, and the Rider had to think quickly to make sure him and his horse would survive while being targeted and to deliver the critical information on time.

​In March of 1945, the war was rapidly drawing to a close. The German Siegfried Line had broken, and Allied troops were beginning the final leg of their liberation of Europe.
The 8th Hussars, however, were given a different target. West of the Rhine lay the Netherlands, occupied still by German forces after years of war. The people were starving, weary of the brutality of their overlords. The 8th Hussars, along with other elements of the 1st Canadian Corps, were sent into the Kingdom of the Netherlands to cast off the German yoke.

Their first task was to defend members of the 11th Brigade, who were clearing the line between Nijmegen and Arnhem. It was fairly quiet work, consisting mainly of patrolling the area to check on potential enemy positions. When they determined what locations the Wehrmacht used, they shelled them. A few skirmishes resulted from contact with enemy patrols, but there was little opposition in that region.
As these patrols occurred, the rest of the regiment was preparing to move up. On the 12th of April, the Hussars were moving to the Ijsselmeer. The Canadians were tasked with seizing two bridgeheads in Arnhem and Apeldoorn. The Hussars themselves were actually sent into Germany, on their way to the Dutch town of Wehl. By the 14th, the British had taken Arnhem, and the Hussars entered the city. Amid its ruins, ravaged by the Germans during their departure, the Hussars received their orders. They, along with their sister regiments, were to clean out the 30-mile area between Arnhem and the Ijsselmeer in four days. It was, quite appropriately, named Operation Cleanser.

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​The next day, the 8th Hussars were confounded by roadblocks as they drove to the Ijsselmeer. As they broke through them, they were fired upon by the enemy. The attack moved to the Arnhem airport, which provided no cover to the Hussars. In one of the most dramatic and daring movements the regiment ever performed, the 8th Hussars crossed the Arnhem airfield, surrounding every infantry-filled scout car with tanks, so that the German machine guns couldn't get a shot at them. The field was crossed, but not without casualties.
Their progress through the Dutch countryside was by no means easy. Their lines were rugged and tanks were lost to the elements or the enemy. Still, the blitzkrieg of Operation Cleanser pressed on, and, by the second day, were near to the city of Barneveld, just seven miles from the Ijsselmeer. There, the Hussars witnessed firsthand the tragedy of the German occupation. Hundreds of Dutch civilians were starving, while the traitorous Dutch S.S. were harassing the Hussars from the shelter of a nearby wood. A whole regiment of artillery focused their fire on the forest where the enemy took cover, and incinerated all but seven of the 300 contained therein.
The following day, the Canadians advanced to the town of Voorthuizen, from where they would move to take Putten and cut off the Germans in Holland from those in the eastern Netherlands. It was a turbulent day, but the 1st Division triumphed, with the town falling into Allied hands by evening. At the day's end, the 8th Hussars found themselves a mile from Putten and the sea. Behind them lay a trail of chaos extending back to Arnhem. Emboldened by their successes, the Colonel of the regiment ordered a night attack on Putten, the town where Operation Cleanser was to end. Putten was not to fall that night, however, as A Squadron rode into the town, they were ambushed by German troops and driven back. Their will unbroken, they regrouped, and, at 9 o' clock the next morning, the 8th Hussars took the town. After five years of Nazi oppression, the people of Putten rejoiced, taking to the streets and throwing their arms around their liberators.
Not long after taking Putten and closing the Allied line to the Ijsselmeer, the 8th Hussars were sent off again with the 5th Division to partake in one last great battle. In the northernmost part of Holland there lay the port of Delfzijl, a German stronghold boasting impressive fortifications and a garrison of 3000 men. By April 24th, the Regiment found themselves supporting four battalions of infantry surrounding the city, a struggle that lasted for eight days. Attack after attack moved through the sodden spring fields of Holland, waves of infantry followed by the great steel tanks of the Hussars. Each time the Germans would advance in counter-attack, and each time they were dispatched at point-blank range by the Canadians. Many tanks were lost in the muck, but still the advance continued, capturing guns and men, and seizing metre after metre of occupied territory. As the victorious hand of the Allied armies closed slowly around Nazi Germany, so too did the 5th Division, 8th Hussars included, close around the port of Delfzijl. Eventually, after eight days of blood and mud, the garrison of Delfzijl surrendered, marching out of the city in hundreds, and into the waiting arms of the 5th Division.

​ The war ended days later, and the people of the Netherlands rejoiced in their newfound freedom. In the village of Eelde, the Regiment was presented with a parchment and gold medal from the mayor and council of the municipality commending them for their role in liberating the town. The people of Eelde still honour the 8th Hussars to this day by raising our town flag on May 5th, the anniversary of the day they were liberated. Thousands of miles across the sea, Sussex raises theirs.

​Operation Diadem was the codename used to denote the Battle of the Liri Valley. This battle took place from 11 May to 4 June 1944 in western Italy. If Allied Forces could break through in the Liri Valley, it would be a straight shot onto Rome. However, the campaign would not be easy. Using the mountainous terrain, the Germans had created a series of defensive lines that cut across the Italian landscape. Allied Forces would have to knock the Germans from their defensive perches in order to march on Rome.       A night assault was launched against the first hurdle in the Liri Valley, the Gustav Line. Allied Forces breached the line and eventually broke it, forcing the Germans to retreat to the Hitler Line on 17/18 May. Following this, preparation began for the assault on the Hitler Line. The 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise’s New Brunswick Hussars) would be moved to the front to take part in the Liri Valley campaign from 18 to 30 May. 

​The Regiment began moving on the 18th, it would take several days for the Hussars to reach their destination. Traffic congestion kept the roads clogged; the Regiment would finally reach their preliminary staging ground on the 20th. Orders came down the next day, Allied Forces were to assault the Hitler Line on the 23rd. On the 22nd, the Hussars were given their regimental orders. Operation Chesterfield would see the Hussars and their attached infantry regiments form a beachhead across the Melfa River, after Allied Forces had cleaved the Hitler Line. From there, the Regiment was to exploit towards Ceprano.
However, in order to get to the Melfa, and Ceprano beyond, a hole had to be punched in the Hitler Line. This line served as the defensive fallback for the Germans retreating from the Gustav Line. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 5th Canadian Armoured Division, as part of the British 8th Army, drove a wedge into this line on 24 May. After extensive fighting, this wedge was widened into a breach. The Hussars were hurled into this breach.
In the breach, the men found chaos. The Germans were retreating before the advance of the Canadians. However, their retreat was sporadic. The Hussars encountered clusters of infantry and anti-tanks guns. Some of the Germans ran, others surrendered, and those that did neither were engaged and eliminated. After a series of these encounters, the Hussars had made their way to an assembly point just before the Melfa. They would spend the night there, after silencing some German artillery.
On the morning of the 25th, the regiment began their crossing to provide support to the infantry on the other side. To get there, the regiment had to take their tanks up a donkey path that had been widened by the engineers. At the top, the tanks of C Squadron encountered some stiff resistance, but after several minutes of heavy fighting, this immediate resistance was cleared. However, the regiment would experience consistent mortar strikes throughout the night of the 25th. 
With the Hitler Line penetrated, the Germans began their fighting retreat. In the process they provided no fixed front, and so the battle became fluid. The enemy was engaged where he could be found: in houses, clusters of trees, and the villages. For the Hussars, the town of Ceprano was the next target. This small town on the Liri River was a key strategic target as it was at a crossroads heading out of the Valley. Taking this town would hamper the German effort to withdraw their forces from the Hitler Line.
When the infantry finally entered Ceprano, all they found was a deserted town, the Germans had already withdrawn. Unfortunately, the Hussars were stuck on the other side of the Liri River as there was no bridge to get across. So, the Hussars waited; it would be the 28th before the engineers were brought forward to put up a bridge. However, once on the other side, the advance slowed considerably. The dense foliage prevented the easy movement of tanks and material to continue the advance. Eventually, the terrain made the Sherman tanks ineffectual. Command gave the word on the 30th, the Hussars were to halt the advance their part in the Battle of the Liri Valley Their role was finished.
With the Hitler Line smashed, Allied Forces weaved their way through the Liri Valley and unto the Italian prize, Rome. The laurels would go to the Americans who, under the command of General Clark, entered a Rome empty of Germans on 4 June 1944, ending the Battle of the Liri Valley. 

​Following the capture of Montecchio, the Allies were poised to consolidate their gains and pierce further through the Gothic Line. The Cape Breton Highlanders led the way, capturing Monte Marrone on the night of 31 August, 1944. With the path clear, the 8th New Brunswick Hussars could move their tanks up the hill and dig in. From their imposing position, they were just over a kilometer away from the twin peaks of Monte Luro and Point 253. Situated on a spur on Point 253 lay the town of Tomba de Pesaro, the next objective awaiting the Canadians.
A barrage of 75mm shell fire from Hussar M4 Sherman tanks signalled the start of the battle. The Axis defenders furiously returned fire, immediately knocking out Lieutenant Bill Spencer’s tank. Lorne Fraser and Harper were subsequently killed. Other tanks fared better, with enemy armour-piercing shells bouncing off their turrets. Around 12:00 noon, under heavy anti-tank and mortar fire, Major Howard Keirstead ordered No. 2 troop to move about a kilometer and a half to the left of the main force and mount a flanking maneuver. 

​Once No. 2 troop arrived, they surveyed Tomba de Pesaro through binoculars, identifying targets and potential enemy positions. Marked targets were then blasted with 75mm shells and machine-gun fire. Enemy anti-tank crews reacted quickly and returned fire, although they were swiftly knocked out after giving away their position. Nevertheless, several enemy high-explosive shells hit their mark, and damaged the gun on one of the Hussar tanks. The firing continued and ammo began to run low. One of the tanks risked moving up the crest of the hill and opened up on several houses with machine-gun fire. White flags were waved and surrendering Italian troops emerged from the houses.
However, the fighting was far from over and stubborn enemy resistance remained firmly entrenched in the town. By the afternoon, Point 253 had fallen to the combined attack of the Irish Regiment and C Squadron from the 8th Hussars. The stage was set to move into the town of Tomba de Pesaro. While staging for the main attack, the tanks came upon several hidden concentrations of German infantry. They proved no match for the heavy Canadian armour, and some seventy soon surrendered. 

​The tanks began moving up the ridge towards the town, with infantry from the Irish Regiment riding atop the tanks. Advancing uphill along rocky terrain was difficult, and several tanks lost their tracks. Around 1800 hours, the main attack on the town began, with the tanks providing heavy covering fire as they advanced. The Germans never fired back however. Sensing an opportunity, the infantry dismounted and entered the town. Rather than encountering resistance, they found the Germans had abandoned the town and fell back. In celebration, the infantry hung a banner that read, “Bobby Clark-ville – In Bounds to All Canadian Troops”, in honour of the Commanding Officer of the Irish Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Clark himself had nothing but accolades for Cliff McEwen and the 8th Hussars. As a token of appreciation, he handed McEwan a gallon of rum. 

Thanks to the combined efforts of the 8th New Brunswick Hussars and the Irish Regiment of Canada, Tomba de Pesaro was now firmly in the hands of Allied forces. The Gothic Line had been definitively breached, and the Germans were once again forced to fall back. Slowly but surely, the Italian campaign was reaching its conclusion.
To find out more, visit the 8th Hussars Museum, 66 Broad Street, Unit 3, Sussex, New Brunswick.
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​The Battle of Liri Valley was an Allied Operation that, if successful, would give the Allies a direct corridor unto Rome. In order to gain access to the main highway to Rome, the Melfa River had to be forded. The Canadians from the Westminster Regiment and Lord Strathcona’s Horse would be the first units across. The Westminster’s would cross in the early morning hours of the 24th of May 1944. They established, and held, a beachhead against stiff German resistance until they were reinforced.
The 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise New Brunswick Hussars) would be ordered forward to the Melfa Crossing to help enlarge the beachhead on the other side. At 0800 hours on the 24th, the Regiment began their move. However, due to traffic, the regiment would not be at their muster-point until 1100 hours. German artillery fire began raining down on the tanks as they moved, but the shellfire could not penetrate the Shermans. From there, the regiment would be on the move again at 1500 hours. It would be during this move that the Hussars would see their first action of the Melfa Crossing.

​The Germans had begun pulling back, and command wanted them stopped. So, the regiment swung to cut across the German withdrawal and the Reconnaissance tanks were sent out to sweep the area. Unexpectedly, German infantry began firing at these lead tanks. A Squadron was sent in to assist in clearing this resistance. During this brief engagement, two Sherman tanks became stuck after attempting to make their way through a gulley. In the same Gulley, the Hussars found a German Panther. From where they were stuck, none of the tanks could fire on the other. Some small-arms fire was exchanged and a German killed. The rest surrendered.
Ultimately, the action on the 24th would be short lived and sporadic. The German withdrawal meant that there were no defined enemy positions, instead the regiment engaged pockets of infantry and the occasional Panther as they stumbled upon them. As the day closed on the 24th, the regiment was redirected back to the Melfa Crossing. Enemy tanks had been sighted by the Canadian infantry, and the Hussars were needed to stave off a possible attack. As darkness fell, the regiment settled down to get what sleep they could, all the while the shellfire rained down on them.

​The regiment would be resupplied on the morning of the 25th. From there, the Hussars moved to their new muster-point. At 1500 hours, the regiment would begin crossing the Melfa River. A donkey trail had been widened by the engineers to allow the tanks passage to the top of the bank on the other side. It was a nerve-wracking climb. At one point, a terrified young driver abandoned an anti-tank gun he was towing to the beachhead. The driver had completely blocked the trail and had stalled the regiment’s advance. Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson ran from his tank and cajoled him into continuing the advance.
On the other side of the river, the regiment linked up with the Cape Bretons and took over the advance. The beachhead had to be expanded. In setting out to accomplish that task, the Hussars would drive into the teeth of a German ambush. Shortly after 1700 hours, a withering German fire would be hurled at the Hussars. The anti-tank fire came at them with unparalleled ferocity. The volume of fire was such that the gunners were practically blind. There was no where to go but forward, so the Hussars charged blindly ahead their guns firing at random.
In desperation, the gunners keep firing, wherever it was suspected that a German gun might lie, a shell was fired off. Three tanks had been destroyed by the Germans, some going up in flames. Another, that belonging to Major Lane, was targeted for destruction. The Germans managed to knock it out of commission, in the process seriously wounding the Major and his crew. The Hussars kept pressing on, as one tank was knocked out, another would come to fill its place. In this manner, the regiment made it nearer to the German positions.
With the threat posed by the closing Shermans, the Germans began their withdrawal. By this time, the other squadrons of the regiment had made it up from the Melfa Crossing. The Hussars had eliminated several 75mm guns and a self-propelled anti-tank gun. This brief conflict lasted only a quarter of an hour. With the Germans driven back in the immediate area, the day’s action for the Hussars would end. The Hussars tried to get what sleep they could amidst the German shelling, for tomorrow the fight would go on.

Despite earning its reputation as a nascent military power on the battlefields of Europe, the Canadian armed forces fell into precipitous decline following the end of the First World War. After the November 11th Armistice and the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Versailles, much of the then large and battle-hardened Canadian Army was demobilized.
By 1920, Camp Sussex, which had trained units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force headed overseas, was a shadow of its former glory. Appalled by the state of affairs, Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Markham made the decision to whip the most important fixtures of the Camp back into shape. The government eventually provided some funds, but most of the repairs came out of the Regiment’s coffers. The repairs were a success, and by 1921, the Regiment was back to holding summer militia training camps, albeit on a much smaller scale than before. 

​However, cutbacks had taken their toll. The first summer, 21 officers, 88 men, and 78 horses mustered for training. The number of men who showed up for training dwindled the following year, and by 1923, each horse was shared by two men. Meanwhile, federal money had dried up, and the Hussars frequently turned men away because they could not afford them. Consequently, training focused on building up a nucleus of key men to form the backbone of the Regiment in the event of war.
By the late 1920s, there was growing realization that the era of sword and saddle was coming to a close. Mechanization, as it was understood, was the wave of the future. Many cavalrymen, however, were skeptical of these trends and continued to do whatever they could to maintain the relevancy of cavalry.  

​The 1930s proved even more challenging for the 8th Hussars, and the Canadian Militia as a whole. The Great Depression, the most calamitous economic downturn known to industrial society, began in 1929. Amid growing unemployment and shrinking government revenue, the Hussars came under growing financial strain. In 1931, the Regiment was informed it would be allocated a mere $675 for training, the lowest amount ever. Later, the financial situation deteriorated further, and Ottawa informed the Regiment there would be no funds for summer training and only a small amount for evening drill. As a result, much of the training had to be conducted on a voluntary basis, out of the pockets of the Regiment’s officers.
Nevertheless, the men made the best of it. A.T. Ganong took personal responsibility for the success of the Regiment, and his leadership was instrumental in its survival through this period. His successor, Lieutenant-Colonel Keltie Kennedy became the inheritor of this legacy and became, in the words of the historian Douglas How, “one of the stoutest champions the Regiment has ever had.” Colonel Kennedy’s leadership inspired the men to go above and beyond, and his steady hand was instrumental in keeping up morale during this difficult period

​When Kennedy was still a Major, he suggested to a high-ranking officer at dinner that the 8th Hussars machine-gun troop would like to attend the central marching-gun camp at Valcartier, Quebec. The senior officer scoffed at the idea, highlighting the unfairness of sending mere militiamen into competition with specialist machine-gun units. Major Kennedy responded by saying that if the troop performed poorly, he would pay for its trip out of pocket. The Hampton troop went to Valcartier in the summer of 1935 and bested every other unit there.
In many respects, the performance of the 8th Hussars machine-gun troop reflected the essence of the era. Short on cash and manpower, the Hussars did what the could with what they had, in many cases with astounding results. With another world war around the corner, this training proved invaluable as Canada once again rebuilt its army

To find out more about the 8th Hussars and the interwar period, visit the 8th Hussars Museum, 66 Broad Street, Unit 3, Sussex, New Brunswick. 
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​The Canadians had been in Italy for a year when they liberated Ravenna. It was December 4th, 1944. The Fifth Division is still celebrated today for its bravery in freeing the ancient city. As their actions in Ravenna succeeded, however, another failed. The First Division participated in a hastily-organised attack across the Lamone River, which was repelled by the Germans and forced a Canadian retreat. Together, the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment suffered close to 200 casualties, some of which were inflicted by their own artillery as they clung to the riverbank.

​Despite this setback, command began the organization of a second offensive across the Lamone, a week from the failure of the first. Nothing was spared in preparing for this attack. Both Canadian divisions, the 1st and 5th, were to attack simultaneously, while a British brigade would conduct a feint attack nearby. The Desert Air Force would support the ground attack by bombing enemy positions on the other side of the river.
The attack went of the night of December 10th, 1944. Several infantry divisions used boats and inflatable bridges to cross the river, swelled 60 feet across by Italy’s winter rains. The 48th Cape Breton Highlanders, Carleton and Yorks and West Nova Scotians all crossed that night. Engineers erected bridgeheads across the river. The enemy had been disorganized by the tanks of the 12th Royal Tank Regiment of Britain, and hadn’t recovered when the initial assault began. The advance was swift and effective. By two in the morning, the Canadians had captured several towns on the north bank of the Lamone, and taken over a hundred prisoners. The Desert Air Force was doing its job well, performing 312 sorties on December 11th alone.
It was on the eleventh that the Germans regrouped and counterattacked in two places, hoping to regain some of their lost ground. The attacks were held off by the Westminster Motor Regiment, who would later distinguish themselves beside the 8th Hussars during the liberation of the Netherlands. The Allies held their ground, while the engineers completed the bridgeheads. By the twelfth, the rest of the Allied troops were ready to cross.

​All this time, the 8th Hussars had been making their way north from Cervia to Ravenna, their mood sour. Their long-time commander, Lt.-Col. G. W. Robinson, had been promoted out of the regiment and sent to Holland to command the 2nd Armoured Brigade. In addition to the loss of a dear leader, the 8th Hussars were to act as infantry when they arrived in Ravenna. Major Bob Ross, the acting commander of the regiment, had haggled with the brass and persuaded them to allow C Squadron to keep their tanks. The other two squadrons, however, were left high and dry, and were drilled as infantry on arriving in Ravenna. There they remained, from the ninth of December to the 12th, when they were told to attack the town of Mezzano, eight miles north of Ravenna on the Lamone.
They crossed the river early on the 12th, the new infantry of A and B Squadrons clinging to the tanks of C. Their point of crossing was a Villanova, from where they moved northeast up the Via Aguta. The 8th Hussars would attack Mezzano from the north. Ultimately, however, Mezzano proved empty. There were no Germans for them to fight in the town itself. Actual contact with the enemy was brief, and occurred just east of town. Major Ross moved the regiment along, taking occasional fire from snipers and machine guns. 8th Hussar patrols pushed 2000 yards to the Naviglio canal, allowing for the engineers to their rear to finish constructing a bridge over the Lamone that would allow the rest of the army to cross. Only one man was wounded: during a skirmish, Sergeant Patterson of Recce Troop was shot by a sniper. Altogether, the 8th Hussars killed about 80 enemy soldiers that day.

​It was later that night, at about 11 o’ clock, that the Germans retaliated. To the left of the Regiment’s position, the 12th Brigade of infantry had begun an attack across the Naviglio canal. Shells soared across the plain, crashing into the fertile Lombard ground around where the 8th Hussars were halted. Machine gun fire shattered the stillness of the Italian night. In response, the Regiment dug in, just as any infantry regiment would have, and defended themselves. The Navoglio offensive would eventually succeed, but not without cost. The Princess Louise Dragoons lost 21 men to death and another 46 to capture. The Lanark and Renfrews were holed up in a house across the Naviglio for two days, losing 38 men in the process. The Hussars position remained on the near side of the Naviglio until the 15th.
Eventually, their new colonel arrived, relieving Major Ross of his temporary command. On the 15th, the Regiment was told they could stop playing infantry and have their tanks back. It was a joyous occasion for every 8th Hussar on the field. After the Lamone experiment in infantry, Princess Louise’s Regiment was home, insofar as they were armoured again. The 16th was spent with their vehicles, checking them over and preparing them to ride into the bloody, unknown future of the Italian Campaign.

​During the autumn of 1944, the 8th Hussars took part in a great Allied offensive intended to break the Gothic Line; a 200-mile long, 10-mile deep wall of German artillery and fortifications. Stretching from the port of La Spezia on the Tyrrhenian Sea to the city of Pesaro on Italy’s eastern shore, the Gothic Line provided a near-impenetrable barrier to the heartland of the Italian Social Republic, the Nazi puppet state that played host to all the German troops in Italy. If the Allies were to liberate Italy, the Gothic Line had to fall.​

​After a long summer spent training and relaxing in the Roman countryside, the 8th Hussars mounted their tanks for another campaign. They travelled north, battling their way through the Apennine Mountains, skirting German defenses as they went. As August faded and the first traces of autumn were felt, the Canadians came to the narrow plain that separated the mountains from the Adriatic Sea. Between them and their destination of Rimini lay 40 kilometers of alternating valleys and ridges, bristling with the strength of the German 10th Army. The 8th Hussars, as part of the 5th Division, were a part of the initial force tasked with breaching the Gothic Line and pushing to Rimini, a contrast to their role in the battle of Monte Cassino, where they had played a supporting part in the action.
            The first action they saw on the Gothic Line was the battle at Montecchio, in which the Cape Breton Highlanders attacked three times before withdrawing. Eventually, the Hussars came to their assistance, and they captured the village, taking 130 prisoners. At the same time, A Squadron defended Point 111 a short distance away. The villages of Monte Luro, Monte Marrone, and Tomba di Pesaro fell shortly afterwards to the advancing Canadians. On September 3rd, 1944, the Canadian forces arrived at Misano, a small village perched atop a ridge, and one of many anchors of the Gothic Line. The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Westminster Regiment led the charge, with the 8th Hussars providing armoured support to the infantry units.

​There was no major battle at Misano Ridge. Instead, the next four days would prove to be a series of confused skirmishes between the attacking Canadians and the Germans, now on the defensive. A Lieutenant Burns of the RCR would bravely lead a bayonet charge against the enemy, driving them from the town square. The 48th Highlanders advanced to attack, but were forced to retreat when heavy enemy fire pinned them down. The 8th Hussars attacked the hamlet of Besanigo, a hamlet on the seaward slope of Misano Ridge, early on the 4th of September. Mortars held them up, with "B" Squadron pinned on the ridge for most of the day, as "A" Squadron tried futilely to help. They fired smoke shells at enemy guns on neighbouring Coriano Ridge, but the enemy were not fazed, and the Hussars did not capture Besanigo.
            The 8th Hussars lost six tanks that day, but one Hussar received the Regiment's first Distinguished Conduct Medal during the battle. Sgt. W. P. Fleck dismounted his tank when daylight was running out and making it hard for crew commanders to see anything. Fleck led his tanks to their objective, killing five Germans with a machine-carbine and capturing eight more. He was wounded by shrapnel, but continued on with his injury until he passed out from loss of blood.

​The following morning, the Cape Breton Highlanders and the Irish Regiment of Canada were able to capture Besagino. Two days previous, the Hastings and Prince Edward companies captured the village of Santa Maria di Scacciano from the enemy. By the end of the fifth, all of Misano Ridge was under Canadian control.  The battle for the Gothic Line, however, was just getting started. A ridge over, at Coriano, the Germans began a vicious mortar and shelling campaign, a resistance unanticipated by the Allies, but calculated and executed coldly and precisely by the defending Nazis. Just as the first skirmishes were beginning to pay off, the advance to Rimini was abruptly halted.
            For the next ten days, the Canadians fought for every scrap of land they could hold. The center of that struggle, a simple, idyllic hilltop village, was to be the sight of one of the most destructive and hard-fought battles in the 8th Hussars' entire career as a regiment. In the end, Misano was a warm-up, paling in comparison to the utter, indiscriminate destruction of Coriano Ridge.

​The decades following the end of the First World War would see Camp Sussex decline as an epicentre of military training in the province. Several of the local militias, like the 8th Hussars and New Brunswick Rangers, would still assemble at the Camp for annual training. Beyond this, the Camp would be relegated to secondary importance, especially as the Great Depression began ravaging the country. With the government tightening the strings on the treasury, funding for the militia would become scarce. Austerity would become the only policy available to many militia’s and their training centres.  
            However, prior to the onset of the depression, many militia regiments managed to make good use of the Camp. The 8th Hussars Officer’s Bungalow, constructed in 1904 and renovated following the First World War, would become a focal point of community activity in Sussex. 

​Situated in Camp Sussex, this building would welcome visitors from the Town of Sussex and officers from other militias, in the process becoming famous for its hospitality. Besides this, a new militia, the 7th Machine Gun Battalion was formed, and did much of their training, in Camp Sussex following the First World War. As one last hurrah before the onset of depression, Canada-wide Merit Cup Competition, an annual cavalry competition, was held in Camp Sussex in 1930. But, with the onset of the Great Depression, funding for the militia would be curtailed. Pay cuts, fewer days training, and for many voluntary training became the norm during the depression years.
            However, as the country began moving out of the depression, Camp Sussex would go on to retake its place as the pre-eminent military training centre in Atlantic Canada. As the situation in Europe began to deteriorate in the late 1930s, the militia began to prepare. For the Hussars, this meant new methods of training. The First World War had shown that the use of cavalry in modern war was untenable. So, the Hussars began to mechanize. With some confiscated Model T-4s, the regiment would practice maneuvers in the fields of Camp Sussex. 

The outbreak of the Second World War would be the catalyst that would reinvigorate the Camp. In the early years of the war, a massive building programme was undertaken. There were not enough beds to house all the soldiers that were being sent to the Camp for training. From 1940-1941, the Camp was expanded to house approximately 10 000 men at a time. To accomplish this, H-hut barracks were constructed on the grounds, covering a significant portion of the Camp. Canteens, officers’ quarters, administrative buildings, latrines, hospital, all the infrastructure that the Camp needed was smashed onto the grounds. Yet, so great was the influx of men, the bell tents still had to be used to quarter some of the men.
​During the early years of the war, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, and elements of the 7th Canadian Infantry Division would be trained in Camp Sussex. Each division comprised approximately 10 000 men. The 3rd and 4th were overseas combat divisions, the 7th was a home division. Training included learning to operate heavy weapons like the 2 inch and 3 inch mortars at the McGregor Brook Range, rifle and machine gun practice, amphibious assaults, map reading, administrative tasks, and many other skills essential for combat.

As the war progressed, the A34 Special Officer’s Training Centre was established at Camp Sussex. It was under the command of Brigadier Milton Gregg, a recipient of the Victoria Cross in the First World War. The British Army had experienced a high rate of casualties among their junior officers. As such, the A34 training centre would train the CANLOAN officers; these officers volunteered to be loaned to the British Army. Approximately 650 officers would be sent to Camp Sussex to be trained under Brigadier Gregg before being shipped to British Regiments.

​The close of the Second World War would ring the death-knell for Camp Sussex. As the Canadian Army was repatriated home, the operation of the Camp came under government scrutiny. Size was a problem; the Camp simply did not have enough room to accommodate both the soldiers and the land needed for training. So, an old idea was revived, Gagetown New Brunswick would be selected as the new Canadian Forces Base for New Brunswick. In the meantime, Camp Sussex would still be used. The 8th Hussars had 6 Sherman tanks located at the Camp, they trained with these until they were removed by the government in the late 1950s.

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​. For a while, the Black Watch was headquartered in the Camp following the end of the War.
When CFB Gagetown opened in 1958, military training began to be concentrated there. For Camp Sussex, this saw much of its infrastructure taken away. Some of the H-huts were towed across Trout Creek and converted into residential complexes. One training hall became the York Arena in Fredericton, another became the Kings County Stadium. The Gas Hut were taken to Peter Street and made into a home. The tank hanger now houses the Agricultural Museum. Finally, the land itself was sold to the Town of Sussex in the early 1970s. The Gregg Armouries on Leonard Drive, which houses B Squadron of the 8th Canadian Hussars, is the only military connection to what was the premier training base in Atlantic Canada. And so, after 100 years of military service, thus ended Camp Sussex. 

​By early summer, 1944, Axis forces in Italy were on the backfoot. Allied breakthroughs at Anzio and Cassino meant that German forces were at risk of being surrounded and cut-off. However, disagreements between British and American commanders over who would be first to liberate Rome gave German forces time to retreat to the Gothic Line and consolidate their defences. As a result, a new line of dangerous fortifications needed to be breached by the allies.
The 8th New Brunswick Hussars were to play a role in this operation. On the 29th of August, 1944, the Regiment moved into position in the hills south of the picturesque town of Foglia. Their objective: cross the valley below and occupy the high ground before occupying the town of Montecchio. The Germans had other plans, and elements of the German 10th Army were hastily digging-in in preparation for the inevitable Canadian offensive. A formidable 14-foot anti-tank ditch was dug, and machine-guns and anti-tank guns were positioned on the high ground with interlocking fields of fire. Montecchio lay surrounded by these formidable defences. It would not be an easy fight. 

​In the battle to come, B Squadron, with infantry support provided by the Cape Breton Highlanders, was to take Point 120, a prominent knoll to the west of the town. Meanwhile, A Squadron, with infantry support provided by the Perth Regiment, was to take Point 111, the edge of a long ridge in the area. Finally, C Squadron, supported by the Irish Regiment of Canada, was to take the high ground surrounding Tomba di Pesaro.
The attack began at 1730 hours on the night of the 30th, and was met by feeble German resistance. The Canadians had caught the Germans off-guard as they hurriedly tried to man their positions. Seizing the opportunity, Major Howard Keirstead and his tank advanced down the valley to join the Cape Bretons. This time, the Germans were prepared, and the Major’s tank faced a wall of enemy fire. Captain Bob McLeod and his tanks were eager to join the battle, but were held up in a traffic jam by a Provost. McLeod continued by motorcycle under fire in a bid to find Keirstead, who ordered the tanks moved up. With the tanks still being held up by the Provost, McLeod made a call to Colonel Somerville, seeking permission to get his tanks moving again. 

​The Cape Bretons encountered fierce German resistance at Point 120. Despite tank support from the Hussars, the enemy was not to be dislodged. Nevertheless, A Squadron, under the command of Frenchy Blanchet, found more success at Point 111. Artillery fire proved very effective at neutralizing German gun emplacements, and the hill was taken without heavy casualties.
The next day brought the inevitable German counterattack. The line held, and the Regiment consolidated its gains, with Cliff McEwen and C Squadron reinforcing Point 111. From the high ground, they pounded enemy positions in and around Montecchio. The fire was effective, and the Irish Regiment easily mopped up remaining German resistance. Outflanked, the Germans defending Point 120 quickly fell soon after. 

Lacking infantry support, A Squadron encountered much heavier resistance as they attempted to take the high ground at Point 136. Ten Hussar tanks were knocked out by enemy fire, and the attack was blunted. Major Blanchet and his tanks were forced to fall back into a defensive position until infantry support arrived. After linking up with the Perths, the Hussars were finally able to take Point 136 from its exhausted defenders.
From their newly-conquered commanding positions above the valley, the Hussars took stock of the cost of their conquest. Burnt out tanks littered the valley, and the Regiment spent the next several hours digging graves. The grim cost of war.
Fighting in and around Montecchio was just a taste of what was to come in later battles, as the Allies breached the formidable defences of the Gothic Line.
To find out more about this story, and the 8th Hussars in the Italian campaign, visit the 8th Hussars Museum on 66 Broad Street, in the historic Sussex Train Station. 
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​Camp Sussex was the largest Military Base in Atlantic Canada. It was officially opened in 1893. However, the land had been used for training by local militias as early as the 1870s. For example, the 8th Princess Louise's New Brunswick Regiment of Cavalry trained on the grounds in 1885; there were so many men in attendance that the band was brought in for the duration of the Regiment’s time in Camp. In addition to this, the regiment would parade at the future camp in 1889. As the decades passed, Camp Sussex would become the premier military training installation of the Maritimes until it was eclipsed, and eventually shut down in the 1970s, by the opening of CFB Gagetown.     The area chosen by the Dominion Government in 1893 for the Militia Camp was located near the heart of the Town of Sussex. The Camp Ground’s terrain consisted of field, forest, and stream. The terrain would be suitable for cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The most prominent cavalry regiment at Camp Sussex were the 8th Hussars. The 74th Battalion trained at the camp every year until the regiment was disbanded following the Second World War. The Newcastle and Woodstock artillery regiments frequented Camp Sussex numerous times. However, training in these early decades would be performed mostly in the summer and fall months as the camp had no permanent buildings. For the cavalry, this allowed them to perform drills in the dry summer months, which helped prevent injury to horse and rider.

​For the men attending camp, they would make use of the Bell tent, with 10 men assigned per tent. Eventually, these tents would be mounted on a wooden base to keep the men and their equipment off the damp ground. The first permanent structure that came to Camp Sussex was the Armoury. It was built in 1904 by the Dominion Government. The Armoury would be assigned to the 74th Battalion and the 8th Hussars to use for storage and supplies. This building would remain in service until after the Second World War.
            In the years leading up to the First World War, militia training would reach its zenith at Camp Sussex. This is despite the fact that a soldier’s pay was often negligible. For example, a soldier in the 74th Battalion could receive anywhere from 0.50 to 0.85 cents per day in 1907. The 8th Hussars used a comparable pay structure. However, the Hussars could receive an extra $1.50 as the Government would rent their horses. Notwithstanding the low wages, many militia regiments would train in Camp Sussex leading up to the First World War. Annual militia training was a key component of Dominion defense; as such, the militia regiments were mobilized annually to take part in 1 to 2 weeks of training in the summer. This annual training did not preclude the regiment’s from conducting their own training camps throughout the year. In Military District No. 7, New Brunswick, this annual training often saw over 1000 men gathered in Camp Sussex to perform drills, practice their shooting, and go on parade.

​As a result, the annual militia training became a local attraction for the citizens of the Town of Sussex and the surrounding countryside. A lively social life was struck up centering around the officers and men in Camp Sussex. The Cavalry charges and ceremonies often brought out the men and ladies of the town to watch. For example, the Camp held a parade, which many people flocked to attend, on 22 June 1911 to celebrate the Coronation of King George V. These were the idyllic years of Camp Sussex; however, they were not to last, the Camp was about to undergo a metamorphosis in the explosive years of the First World War.

​The First World War would highlight the importance of Camp Sussex. For example, a Serbian Mobilization Battalion was established at the camp to train Serbs for combat. Besides this, 1000s of men would be shipped by train through the Sussex train station and into the Camp. Some of these regiments were: the 55th Battalion, 104th Overseas Battalion, 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion, 74th Battalion (New Brunswick Rangers), 64th Battalion (The Princess Louise Fusiliers). These regiments all made Camp Sussex their home before they embarked for the United Kingdom, and the battlefields of Europe. The training done by these men was done primarily in a Camp with few permanent buildings. While there were some dining halls for the officers and administrative buildings, the men would spend most of their time in the Bell tents used since the Camp opened. 
As the First World War approached its final year, the Canadian Government placed an emphasis on recruiting more soldiers. In response, the 1st Mobilization Depot Battalion was raised and headquartered at Camp Sussex in April of 1918. Their task was to increase the number of recruits training to replace those men lost at the front. Overseeing the Battalion was Lieutenant-Colonel James McAvity. However, the establishment of the Depot Battalion would be the last great development at Camp Sussex for the next two decades. 

75 years ago, the guns of the Second World War fell silent. The Hussars already knew in late April, early May of 45 that the war was all but done, just tell the Germans that.
 
From the War Diary of 03 -05 May, 1945, this is what is written.
 
3 May 45. Thunder showers predominate throughout the day. The regiment chiefly spent the day reorganizing personnel and generally getting sorted out after the recent operation. The tank crews enjoyed a much longed for shower and change of clothing. Capt R.H. Dunn and Lt J.J.M. Scovil left for England for a period of duty as instructors.
Major G.R.H. Ross was ordered to proceed to GODLINZE (3831) and take command of a force to be designated the “ROSS” Force. It was composed of the following: “C” Squadron 8NBH who were moved from HEVESKES (4824) and a Dutch Independent Company. The task was to patrol the area and to act as an anti invasion force as the enemy were still in strength on the FRISIAN ISLANDS. By dusk the force was complete and situated as ordered. Attached as appendix is the order denoting the boundaries and and sectors of the “ROSS” force.
 
Holland 1/100,000       4 May 45. The weather was very changeable with heavy showers GRONINGEN W Sheet M1     throughout the day. 2 Officers and 30 Other Ranks left at 0300 hrs  MR 218067                                                 on privilege leave to the UK along with 4 Other Ranks on  EMDEN L1                                      rotational leave to Canada. Lt- Col J. W. Eaton held an “O” GRONINGEN Sheet M1 E                     Group at 1330 hrs, attended by all squadron and echelon
                                                                 commanders at which he stated that the present role of the division was an occupational force with the task of holding and patrolling the coast line from the Ems River to Ijssel River, our regimental  task until the 6 May 45 being to patrol the sector of coast from 383398 to 40296  occupied by the “ROSS” Force. Lt–Col J. W. Eaton stated that all captured staff cars in the regiment must be registered and controlled by an officer of field rank. “V” Day celebrations will be supervised as much as possible to avoid accidents. Due to a number of tanks being bogged down and left separate from the squadrons in the last actions, considerable difficulty arose over delivery of rations to these crews. A meeting of the 2 ICs of squadrons is to be held by the Quartermaster to discuss the problems of rations. The squadron commanders were asked for further nominations of awards resulting from the last actions. “A” and “B” Squadrons spent the day doing maintenance, painting and general refitting of tanks. Capt J.W. Stobbart, Auxiliary Services, has arranged to show a film twice a week for all ranks. At 2230 hrs the long awaited for message was received from Rear 5 Cdn Armd Bde, “Cancel all offensive operations, cease fire at 0800 hrs 5 May 45”. The “ROSS” Force was situated as follows: one troop “C” Squadron and one platoon Dutch Independent Company at SPIJK (4033) and one troop “C” Squadron and one platoon Dutch Independent Company at ZIJLDIJK (3434). The remainder and force HQ were stationed at GODLINZE (3831). The enthusiastic Dutch were allowed to do all patrols under supervision of the “C” Squadron troop leaders concerned. The patrol reports were nil. A dance was held by the officer’s mess during the evening.
 
 
05 May 45. The day dawned amidst scattered showers with a cold, strong breeze blowing. The day was chiefly spent by the maintaining of vehicles and by personnel having their clothing cleaned etc., and the resumption of the out of action schedule. The “ROSS” Force spent a quiet day. All reports of any unusual activity being received. During the afternoon the “ROSS” Force was relieved by the BCDs and “C” Squadron returned to their former quarters at PATERSWOLDE (2106). A regimental officers mess is now functioning. As a result of the two operations many new faces were amongst the Officers and men.
 
After everything was said and done, the Regiment would spend another eight months in Europe before returning home to Sussex in late January 1946.
 
Sgt. Don Abbott
8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s)
Historical Archives NCO

​Following the calamity of the Second World War, Europe stood divided. The Western Allies occupied much of Western Europe, while Eastern Europe fell into the Soviet orbit. Soon, tensions between the two camps became irreconcilable, and a tense standoff developed. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and others, responded with the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Collective security was institutionalized under Article Five of the Treaty; thus, an attack on one member would be considered an attack on all. This principle came to form the cornerstone of security architecture in Europe. As part of its NATO commitments, Ottawa established Canadian Forces Europe, a military formation to be stationed in West Germany, the frontline of the Cold War.

It was not until December 1958 that the Regiment was informed it would join the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group in Germany the following year. Preparations began in the new year and continued throughout the spring and summer. Major Brennan's advance party left for Germany in late September 1959, while Lieutenant-Colonel Radley-Walters and the main force departed from Quebec City several weeks later. By mid-November, the Hussars were stationed at Fort Beausejour, just west of Iserlohn in West-Central Germany. The Fort was described as "a neat and cozy complex of barrack blocks, hangars, messes, and canteen, with a postage stamp-size training area in back."  
            While in Germany, the Regiment was to keep in top shape, as there was a very real danger that the Cold War could turn hot at a moments notice. Soldiers conducted intense training, and polished their skills in tank gunnery, camouflage, small arms, and crew training. The Centurion tanks were pushed to their limits, with a few almost being lost in a bog on one occasion. Meanwhile, various military exercises were conducted with NATO allies, and such excursions often brought the Hussars into the streets of German towns and villages. Additional time was filled with sports and competitions including boxing, volleyball, and softball. The Regiment returned to Canada in 1962, but three years later, 'C' Squadron would return to Germany to provide reconnaissance for 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group until 1970. 

​In 1987, the 8th Canadian Hussars were once again deployed to Germany, this time to CFB Lahr, relieving the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Although the Cold War was winding down, the Regiment remained on alert. By this time, the organizational sophistication of NATO had increased substantially, as did the scope and scale of military exercises. The Regiment took part in several large maneuvers, the most notable of which being the annual Reforger exercises, which simulated rapid deployment of military forces to Germany in event of a major conflict with the Soviet Union and/or its allies. Yet, the Regiment's time in Germany was also filled with sports of all kinds. Particular emphasis was placed on team building and competitive sports, and various trophies and awards were often up for grabs. At the same time, a high premium was placed on positive engagement with local communities, and the Regimental armouries were occasionally opened up to the public. All of these moments have been well-documented by Regimental photographers, and the photos are on file at the museum archive, both in print and digitally.

​When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the Regiment had at its disposal 77 Leopard C1 tanks, 20 Lynx armoured reconnaissance vehicles, 36 M113 armoured personnel carriers, 2 M577 command vehicles, and 6 Bergepanzer armoured recovery vehicles. Indeed, in the event of a major conflict, the 8th Canadian Hussars would have formed the armoured backbone of Canadian forces in Germany. By 1993, a major drawdown of forces was taking place across the continent, and Canadian Forces Europe was disbanded. The Hussars subsequently returned to Canada with another overseas deployment under their belts. CFB Lahr subsequently closed its doors for the last time in 1994. 

​Following the Suez Crisis, the United Nations’ Emergency Force I would remain in Egypt until 1967. This mission was critical to the prevention of war between the Israelis and Egyptians. As a result of the longevity of this mission, the 8th Canadian Hussars would be tasked with returning to man a sector of the armistice line on the Gaza Strip. The Hussars would deploy ‘D’ and ‘A’ Squadrons for 12-month rotations in the country starting in 1964. As Peacekeepers, the Hussars were to provide a stabilizing presence in the region. Unfortunately, their deployment was not without risk, two Hussars would be killed while serving with the Peacekeeping Force in Gaza.

​            In February of 1964, D Squadron made landfall at Camp Rafah, Egypt, in the Gaza Strip. Here, the Canadians would serve as a shield between the Israel Defense Force and the Egyptian military. These men were to take over the duties of Lord Strathcona’s Horse, who would be repatriated to Canada. The Regiment’s main operational centre within Camp Rafah was Fort Worthington. When not in the Camp, D Squadron maintained two permanent outposts along their assigned section of the ‘International Frontier.’ The northernmost position was Fort Robinson; thereafter, the line was held by the Brazilians. The Southernmost position was called Fort Saunders; further south, the line would be held by the Yugoslavs. Between these two posts, the Squadron would be responsible for patrolling over 30 miles of border.
            In terms of logistics, the Squadron was divided into troops. This ensured that they had sufficient manpower to maintain a continual presence along their defensive line. Moreover, it allowed for the rotation of soldiers into, and out of, the demarcation zone. Finally, this arrangement allowed the frontline soldiers to be taken from the line for rest and relaxation. The Hussars would be equipped with American Jeeps, sidearm's, and several Browning machine guns for good measure. Fully equipped, the Hussars would be subsumed in their peacekeeping duties. The border area falling under the operational control of the United Nations was beset by several challenges. First, the Hussars had to be vigilant of the operations being conducted by the Israelis and Arabs on both sides of the border. However, a more pertinent issue was the constant violations of the border by the Bedouins, nomads, and Palestinians. This could often raise the ire of Israeli soldiers resulting in skirmishing. While this proved challenging, it was not the most pressing danger experienced by the Hussars. They had to contend with thousands of mines, which remained buried following the disengagement of the Israelis and Egyptians. 

​Tragedy would soon take two lives. While out making their rounds, two Hussars would pick up a Bedouin infiltrator. These three men would make the return journey to Camp Rafah. On the way, their Jeep would trigger an anti-tank mine, killing the three men and destroying their Jeep. Corporal Paul Wallace and Trooper Adrian Bons would be buried with full military honours at the Gaza War Cemetery. D Squadron would finish their peacekeeping tour without further incident.
            A Squadron would relieve D Squadron in February of 1965. These Hussars set out to improve the relationship with the indigenous peoples. This included providing provisions for the Bedouins and engaging with local leaders. The most serious event of the Squadron's deployment occurred when one of the Squadron's personnel threatened other Hussars with his sub-machine gun. Fortunately, this threat was quickly neutralized. Ultimately, a lively social life sprang-up for the Hussars. There were dances and inter-squadron sports to keep the peacekeepers occupied.
            A Squadron would be the last of the Hussars to participate in Peacekeeping with the UNEFI in Gaza. At the end of 1965, the Squadron was informed that they would be rotated out. A Squadron would lower their flags in February of 1966. Their positions would be taken up by the Brazilians in the North and the Yugoslavs in the South. While no additional Hussars would go on to serve in Egypt, this would not be the  last Peacekeeping mission for the 8th Canadian Hussars. 

 
Bibliography

Information Technology Section/ Department of Public Information. United Nations          Emergency Force I                                                                                                                          https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/past/unefi.htm          
 
Sabretache, 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's). Issue 1/66. CFB Petawawa, 30  June 1966
 
Sabretache, 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's). 1964
 
The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) 1962-1987

Editors note:  As a memorial to Tpr Bons and Cpl Wallace, their vehicle pennant, recovered from the site, is on permanent display at the 8th Hussars Museum in Sussex, NB

The Suez Crisis, 1956, was an international controversy involving Great Britain, France, Egypt, and Israel. President Nasser of Egypt sought Western Investment to help his government construct a hydroelectric dam. He was rebuffed by the International Community. As a result, his government nationalized the Suez Canal. This Canal was run by a consortium of French and British companies. Angered by the nationalization, and the explicit threat to their trade, the French and British conspired with the Israelis to retake the canal. The Israel Defense Force invaded Egypt. French and British paratroopers were sent to the canal to ‘protect’ it during the ensuing turbulence. 
​In an effort to pre-empt the actions of the Superpowers, Lester Pearson’s Peacekeeping initiative would be implemented. It would be in 1956 that an international contingent of soldiers would embark for Egypt. While they came from different countries, they would serve under the flag of the United Nations. They came to stand as a shield between the fighting Egyptians and Israelis. Canadians were among those sent, and the 8th Canadian Hussars were among the Canadians.
                                                             Camp Rafah, Egypt     
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​​A Reconnaissance Squadron of the Hussars would make landfall in Egypt in 1958. They set out from Canada and arrived in Camp Rafah early in February. While there, the REECE Squadron would be responsible for 35 miles of the ‘International Frontier.’ As such, they would be equipped with Ferret Scout Cars and a number of supplementary vehicles. As Peacekeepers, the Hussars would be lightly armed, their main armaments being sidearms and rifles.
To assist with logistics, Operational Posts would be constructed at the furthest extremes of the International Frontier. Winnipeg would be in the North and Toronto would be located in the South. Initially, these outposts were sparse; However, as the mission progressed, the Hussars were able to co-opt some base engineers to help improve the amenities at the outposts. Using the material at hand, these outposts would be equipped with look-out towers. From these posts, the Hussars maintained regular patrols of the Sinai Desert.

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 Ultimately, the Hussars would be repatriated back to Canada in 1959. Their mission to Gaza had been a success. The Hussars left behind a border that was more secure than when they had arrived. Additionally, their efforts at improving the infrastructure on the International Frontier would be key to the success of future deployments to that area. In a few short years, their comrades in ‘A’ and ‘D’ Squadron would return to the same region to pick up where the Reconnaissance Squadron had left off. ​

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​Guiding the 8th Hussars through some of its bloodiest fighting in the Second World War, the "trusty and well-beloved George William Robinson Esquire" forged a reputation as one of the Regiment's greatest and most well-respected commanding officers.     Robinson assumed command of the 8th Princess Louise's New Brunswick Hussars in 1942, after joining the Regiment as a Major. Robinson proved himself early on, and he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) by June. Upon taking command, Robinson sought to transform the Hussars into a competent fighting force, capable of facing battle hardened Axis troops. Initially, some of the Hussars, mostly Maritimers, were apprehensive about having a native Ontarian as their Commanding Officer. This soon changed, however, as the men quickly came to realize their new leader was not only a highly effective commander, but one who cared deeply for their safety and well-being. 

​Under Robinson's command, the Hussars embarked on an extensive training program. The new C.O. understood well the gravity of the situation facing the men, and thus ensured no stone was left unturned. Nevertheless, Robinson was a fair man, and ensured everyone under his command received downtime when deserved. As time progressed, the men forged close bonds. They would soon be put to the test.
            In late 1943, the Hussars were bound for Italy. Robinson remained in command, overseeing the trip to the peninsula. While on Italian soil, he continued to work tirelessly in his role, recognizing that the safety of the men ultimately rested on his shoulders. Here, he gained a reputation for being meticulous, often planning every operation down to the last detail. Despite his attention to detail, Robinson did not get bogged down in the minutia of administration - he was a soldier with good instincts who led from the front.
            At the Melfa River, Robinson and his men received their baptism of fire. The Regiment was ordered to exploit a breach in the Hitler line and form a beachhead across the river. Colonel Robinson moved into position aboard his Sherman tank, equipped with a false gun to allow space for a desk. As the battle progressed, a reconnaissance troop was surprised by a force of German paratroopers. The Colonel quickly committed A Squadron to their defence. Alas, the Hussars suffered their first casualties of the war. No matter what he did, in war death was inevitable. The loss of men under his command weighed heavily on Robinson's mind.
            Following the heavy fighting at the Hitler Line, the 8th Hussars continued operations in the Italian theatre under Robinson's command. The Colonel continued to distinguish himself in subsequent battles, securing his reputation as a highly capable commander of armoured forces. Meanwhile, he continued to forge close ties with his men, including Hugh Riley, a Hussar who sadly passed away in May, 2019 at the age of 103. Thanks to his commitment to excellence, as well as an unyielding concern for his men, Robinson, the outsider from Ontario, became greatly admired by the Hussars.
            On Dec 3rd, 1944, LCol Robinson received word he would be promoted to Brigadier and was to be posted to North-West Europe, assuming command of the 2nd Armoured Brigade. The Hussars were saddened to see him go. One remarked:
"We were proud of his promotion, proud for him and proud for the Regiment. But an awful sense of loss went through all of us when we realized what it meant. He'd made us as a Regiment. He'd taken up there in England when we were far from ready and he'd turned us into a unit and a damn good unit. There is no doubt that his tough training saved us lives and casualties. He fought us well. You couldn't have asked for a better man, anyway you want to look at it. We were awful, awful sorry to see him go. A lot more than one man went when Col. Robinson went."
            For his distinguished service, Robinson was awarded numerous medals including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), a Croix de Guerre with Palm (France), and a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau. He also received a Citation from His Majesty King George VI, and was mentioned in dispatches for his good leadership and inspiration to the men under his command. Brigadier Robinson passed away in 1971. 

​Lieutenant-Colonel James Domville was born in Belize on 29 November 1842. He would emigrate to New Brunswick at the age of 18. In New Brunswick, Domville would play an important role in the development of the 8th Regiment of Cavalry, i.e., the 8th Hussars. He first joined the militia in 1866. He would be required to take to the field when the threat of a Fenian raid cast its shadow upon the province. In 1878, Domville would find himself joining the 8th Regiment of Cavalry in Sussex, then under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Saunders. 

As a major with the 8th Cavalry, Domville would lead a contingent of soldiers to provide an escort for the Governor-General, The Marquis of Lorne, and his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Louise, during their visit to Saint John in 1879. Moreover, Major Domville would greet the distinguished couple when their train stopped in Sussex. This meeting with the Princess would be fortuitous. The charm of the Princess would convince the men to approach her in an effort to have her more permanently associated with the regiment. In the end, she would oblige the regiment and, in 1884, the regiment would be re-designated the 8th Princess Louise's New Brunswick Regiment of Cavalry.

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However, before this could occur, John Saunders would die, leaving the Lieutenant-Colonelcy vacant. Major Domville, a member of the regiment for only two years, would be appointed commanding officer in 1880. Domville would command the Regiment for nineteen years, becoming the longest serving Commanding Officer in the Regiment's history. Under his leadership, the 8th Hussars became one of the most highly respected cavalry regiments across Canada. 

​Moreover, during his tenure with the regiment, Domville would serve the people of New Brunswick as a Member of Parliament. First, as a conservative under the auspices of Sir John A. MacDonald, 1872-1882. Early in his political career, Domville almost sparked a fight on the floor of the House of Commons after calling another MP a 'Bankrupt.' Thankfully cooler heads intervened before this could occur. Ultimately, during his time with the conservative caucus in Parliament, Domville found that he was often at odds vis-à-vis his party's polices. It did not help when Sir John A. MacDonald backed a rival in his riding, leading to his defeat. As such, he would eventually run for the Liberal party and was re-elected under their banner, serving from 1896-1900. Following this, in 1903, Domville would be appointed to the Senate by Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He would serve in the Upper Chamber until his death at age 78 on 20 July 1921. 
​

​Domville's tenure as commanding officer would be remembered fondly by a great many people. He ensured that the regiment always gave its best. For example, during the 1881 Dominion Day celebrations, the regiment would parade with finesse for the visit of the Governor-General, the Marquis of Lorne. However, it would not always be easy for Domville, nor the regiment. A poorly functioning economy would limit the funds directed at the militia. Yet, Domville would not allow this to drastically impact the operation of the regiment. He implemented a rotational training program for the regiment's seven troops. Ultimately, Lieutenant-Colonel Domville's leadership would ensure that the 8th Cavalry remained a top-notch militia regiment which was acknowledged on several occasions by the Federal Government. Despite the success of Domville's tenure as CO, his last few years would be marked by tension within the regiment. A bitter animosity would stifle the relationship between the CO and his second-in-command, Major Alfred Markham. It seemed that the Major, as well as some other officers, believed that the Domville had been CO long enough. Eventually, Alfred Markham would be appointed as commanding officer of the regiment in 1899. He lasted a little over a week. The dispute between the two men would be concluded when higher authorities intervened, retiring both Lieutenant-Colonels James Domville and Alfred Markham in 1899. 
​Besides this, Domville was active in several business pursuits in his adoptive province and across the continent. He helped develop the Albert County shale fields. He also financed a steam ship that carried passengers to the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. As well, on the 14th Dominion Day, i.e., Canada Day, Lieutenant-Colonel James Domville would parade down Broad Street of Sussex. He would be one of 3000 soldiers that turned out to celebrate with the Governor-General. The impact of nineteen years of service would leave an indelible impact on the regiment, and contribute to its future successes.  

United Nations involvement in Cyprus began in earnest following outbreaks of violence between the island’s Greek and Turkish communities. After nearly one-hundred years of British rule, the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus gained independence in the summer of 1960. In subsequent months, the island was plagued by political instability and growing hostilities between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. British efforts to reach a peaceful settlement proved unsuccessful and by 1963, both camps were engaged in open conflict. In response, Turkey threatened military intervention, while the military junta in Athens continued to support aggressive action taken by Greek Cypriots.  To its credit, the United Nations was able to act relatively swiftly. Following appeals by the British government and Greek Cypriot community, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted Resolution 186, which called for the creation of United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), aimed at restoring law and order to the island. Shortly thereafter, a 6 500-strong United Nations contingent arrived on Cyprus to begin its mission. The 8th Hussars would soon join the mission, serving as UN peacekeepers. 

​In January 1966, 'B' Squadron of the 8th Canadian Hussars learned that it would not be headed to Egypt, as the men had anticipated. Instead, they would be headed for Cyprus to join the newly christened UN peacekeeping force on the island. With Major St. Aubin in command, the main force left Canada on 13 April 1966 for a six-month tour with the United Nations. While on the island, the Squadron had three main roles: escorting convoys of Greek Cypriot civilian vehicles through Turkish Cypriot areas, long range reconnaissance patrols, and the manning of observation posts in the North-West sector of the island. Despite being peacekeepers, their mission was still fraught with risk. Fighting could break out at any time, and the island was littered with unexploded ordinance.
            Upon their island arrival, the Hussars began repair and maintenance on a collection of formerly civilian houses that would come to be known as Fort Worthington, the place the men would call home. Once the necessary preparations were made, the Hussars got to work. Operations typically involved patrolling through contested areas, and monitoring the activities of belligerents. The mere presence of UN peacekeepers was hoped to prove a stabilizing presence. Such missions were often conducted outside the wire, far from the safety of the camp. On two separate occasions, the Hussars spent periods of 29 and 33 days on continuous duty outside the camp. Conditions on the island were hot and dry, so the battle with dehydration was constant. With their mission complete, the men returned to Canada on 14 October 1966. During their deployment, the Hussars suffered one casualty: Trooper L. Nass. 

​By 1974, the situation on Cyprus had deteriorated considerably, following a violent coup d'état orchestrated by hard-line Greek Cypriots. The response from Ankara was swift and brutal. Within five days, Turkish Armed Forces launched an amphibious invasion of the island. Once again, tensions threatened to boil over as Turkish troops seized vast swaths of territory on the island’s northern side. Shortly thereafter, thanks to international pressure, a cease-fire was signed, and the perpetrators of the coup on the island were removed from power. From this point forward, however, the island would be formally divided by what became known as the Green Line, with Greek Cypriots administering the south, and Turkey administering the north.
            By mid-June, 1978 the Hussars were once again making preparations for deployment to Cyprus. Exercise GREEN LINE was held towards the end of July, and simulated the conditions of the buffer zone separating Greek and Turkish forces. The Hussars were tested on their reactions to a wide range of possible incidents designed to get the men accustomed to peacekeeping, including the manning of mock outposts de-escalation training. Once their training was complete, the men were ready for deployment.
            On 21 September 1978, the 8th Hussars departed Petawawa for a six-month tour in Cyprus under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Billings. This time, their task was to maintain peace in the volatile capital city of Nicosia; no easy task given the proximity of Greek and Turkish forces in the city. Upon arrival, the Regiment began to man twelve observation posts stretching from east to west. Meanwhile, Regimental Headquarters Reece troop patrolled the entire line, day and night. During their deployment, most of the contingent was lodged at the Ledra Palace, once a five-star hotel. The rest of the men were barracked at the Blue Beret Camp and Camp Maple Leaf. 

​While in Cyprus, the Hussars were treated to a number of high-profile visitors. These included the Minister of National Defence, the Colonel of the Regiment, TV-host Michelle Finney, Miss Edmonton Eskimo, and Miss Grey Cup, among many others. Additionally, each soldier was given a two-week break during the tour to either visit the island, or head to another country. Most soldiers opted to visit their wives at CFB Lahr.
            This time, the tour went off without a hitch. The men recall that the six months passed relatively quickly, thanks in part to the pace of operations. Thanks to countless amenities on the island, along with visits from high profile entertainers, morale remained high throughout the deployment. In April 1978, the Regiment returned home to CFB Petawawa.  
            Today the conflict in Cyprus remains frozen in time. The island continues to remain divided, and the United Nations retains a small presence there. 

The 8th (NB) Hussars played an important role in the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. One of its greatest successes was during the Battle of Coriano near the Adriatic Coast. This battle forged the Hussar’s reputation as one of the best Canadian Armoured Regiments.
In late August of 1944, the 8th Hussars were very much in the fight for control of the Gothic Line, the last and by many accounts, the most fortified line of defence remaining on the Italian boot.
On August 29, the Hussars moved up to their designated outpost zone. They were supposed to have a few days to organize and prepare for battle but as often happens in war, the original timing of attack was changed. It was learned that the Germans were in fact unprepared for a possible attack. Yes, they had the fortifications in place but not the manpower as they had suffered great losses in recent days. It was obvious that this was the time to attack before the arrival of German reinforcements. New Brunswick boys proved their mettle in this success. Howard Keirstead, Bob McLeod, Cliff McEwen, Ron Lisson, Frenchy Blanchet, Jack Boyer and Padre Bill Burnett all distinguished themselves. Their leadership, intuition, determination and self-sacrifice were central to the Hussars movements and ultimate success over the next few days.
By September 1, The Gothic Line was no more. The Hussars had played an important role here. They were exhausted and had suffered many casualties but there was another objective which had to be taken.
The Hussars moved on to Coriano, a farm village perched on a ridge. This was yet another German strongpoint that had to be cleaned out before the allied forces could move on to the Marono River and Rimini. A well-planned attack would be required in order to advance.
By September 3, the Hussars were back in the thick of battle. On September 4, it became clear how strong a foothold the Germans had at Coriano as they let loose on the 8th Hussars “B” squadron. “A” squadron came quickly to assist. Heavy gun fire was exchanged at a range of 1000 meters. During the day, 2 “B” squadron tanks became trapped on a riverbed. It was a precarious situation for the two tank crews: 6 men in total. Earl Hilchie and Charlie Stevenson were killed by German gunfire. Charlie Stevens was paralysed below the waist after being hit in several places. Howard Keirstead received 7 bullets to his leg and two more in the arm. John Wentworth sustained serious leg injuries. Charlie Stevens perished on the way to the field hospital. This story is elaborated in greater detail in the museum. I encourage you to learn more about the heroism of Keith Fisher and Howard Keirstead. Theirs is an incredible story of determination in the face of insurmountable odds.
After this tragedy, the advance on Coriano was paused. It was necessary to tweak the plan. Lee Windsor succinctly sums up the situation in his book “Steel Cavalry: The 8th (NB) Hussars and the Italian Campaign” as the Hussars prepared for another assault on the ridge. Lee states, “The opponent was fresh, strong, prepared, well dug-in, concealed and held excellent defensive ground overlooking the Canadian front. The enemy force on Coriano Ridge was the strongest the 8th Hussars had ever faced in terms of both men and weapons. The mission now was not to break through the enemy line and seize a glorious prize but to wade into a powerful enemy force and destroy it”.
As the Hussars prepared for battle, they also had to contend with constant shelling and torrential rains which made navigating the terrain a real challenge. Changes in leadership were made as a result of injuries and sickness. Gordon Bruce, the new commander of “A” squadron, brought his troops in line with the Perth Regiment. Tim Ellis’ “B” squadron was paired with the Cape Breton Highlanders and Cliff McEwen remained with “C” squadron who were linked with Toronto’s Irish Regiment.
The second Battle of Coriano began on September 12. The front came alive with the sounds of artillery units firing on the Germans, an attempt to soften up the enemy line in preparation for the coordinated advance of the infantry and armour. Allied success was minimal in these initial steps as the Germans had their numerous guns shielded in ravines and reverse slopes behind the ridge. The forward slope of the ridge was protected by the Besanigo Stream and hundreds of mines which slowed down the advance of infantry and tanks.
The Canadians would have to navigate this perilous slope. The Germans, meanwhile, were positioned on a plateau which provided them with an excellent view of the valleys in front of and behind Coriano. The buildings of the town were central to the German defense as they were constructed of thick stone walls with a church and a castle serving as a central fortification within the village.
The key to crossing this plateau and seizing the ridge was to do so with the infantry leading the charge under the cover of darkness. The Perth Regiment would proceed on the left and the Cape Bretoners on the right. Once there, the engineers would clear the mine fields opening up two crossings over the Besanigo for the Hussars. “A” and “B” squadron then would pair up with their respective infantry cohorts to take control of the ridge. Once done, McEwen’s “C” squadron and the Irish would take on the bastion.
By 8:30 on September 13, all three Hussar squadrons had successfully dug into their objectives only to learn the Germans were preparing a counterattack. The allied response was swift as long-range medium and heavy artillery hammered the Germans, followed by an Allied bomber attack on the convoys. The counterattack was no longer a menace. However, the Coriano fortress was still a threat as survivors of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Regiment remained in place and they were backed by a Panzer regiment.
By mid-morning, Tim Ellis’ “B” squadron along with the Cape Breton Highlanders slowly advanced pounding each building along the way. The Highlanders then went in with grenades and bayonets to clean out the German infantry. “C” squadron and the Irish Regiment moved in at dawn. The town appeared abandoned. McEwen’s squadron was instructed to advance on the church and the castle. The 15th Panzer Grenadiers still had men there who were not about to surrender. At 10:25, the Irish Regiment found itself cut off and surrounded.
“B” and “C” squadrons and the Irish were facing a vicious battle. German infantry positioned in the houses surrounding the town piazza fired Panzer faust rockets at the 7 Shermans. The tanks responded and the town square became a close quarter battlefield. The Hussars felt it best to get out of this dangerous situation and withdrew to the northeast edge of town. From here, they shot at targets to support the infantry’s house cleaning operation throughout the day.
As the sun went down, enemy mortar and artillery fire continued to hammer the infantry units and the Hussars. To make the circumstances even more difficult, the Germans had received fresh troops which they positioned in front of the Marono River. Also, the Germans still held control of the castello. The Hussars had two essential tasks to perform:

1. They had to blast the Panzer-Grenadiers out of the castle and cover the Irish Regiment as they moved in.
2. They had to cover the 4th British Division as they advanced beyond Coriano.

As the sun rose on September 14, the Hussars set to work with “A” and “B” squadrons again fighting off counterattacks. “C” squadron and the Irish again went back into town to find it still alive with snipers and some pockets of resistance. The buildings were cleaned out one by one and then “C” squadron focused on the castle. They sent a barrage at the northern walls of the fortress and the Irish stormed the remains. Finally, the Panzer Grenadiers surrendered and the Battle of Coriano was over.
The Hussars had been involved in battle for 18 consecutive days and had lost 25 men. Major Cliff McEwen and Major Tim Ellis both were awarded a Distinguished Service Order for their “skill, boldness and handling” of their squadrons in the face of the enemy during this two-week period. Lieutenant Colonel George Robinson received the Distinguished Service Order, and was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire, for his service with the Hussars and especially for his leadership at Coriano.
It was also during this two-week period that a new four-legged recruit was added to the ranks of the 8th Hussars. During the first attack on Coriano on September 4, “A” squadron spotted a young foal pacing in the middle of the battlefield. She was hurt, hungry and circling the body of her mother killed by a shell. The foal was taken back to the regiment’s aide post where her wounds were tended and she was given a shot of rum. She was named Princess Louise and became the regimental mascot. She would be secretly transported with the Hussars until their last actions in Holland, and after the war, she was brought home where she became a treasured symbol of the regiment and its illustrious service overseas.
The Battle of Coriano remains one of the defining battles of the Hussar history. The regiment truly distinguished itself here during the Italian campaign as it demonstrated its mastery of infantry-armour cooperation during battle.
Today, we honour Coriano’s place in the Hussar history. We remember the Hussars who fought there and came home and those who paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom. Lest we forget.
Bibliography
Windsor, Lee. Steel Cavalry: The 8th (New Brunswick) Hussars and the Italian Campaign. Fredericton NB: Goose Lane Editions, 2011.
Zuehlke, Mark. The Gothic Line: Canada’s Month of Hell in World War II. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2003.
 
Presented by Stephen Wilson at the 8th Hussars Museum on September 28, 2019 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Coriano.

 
                                                         George Lichtenberger
                                                                Corporal B-257
                                            July 8th, 1922 - September 28th, 1944
                                  8th Princess Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars
 
Personal Information: George Lichtenberger was born in Sheffield, Pennsylvania on July 8th, 1922 to parents Joseph & Jennie Lichtenberger. He grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania, a city along the Allegheny River built on prosperous timber and oil industries. He attended and graduated from Warren High School. His father was a labourer and his mother was a housewife. His family belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, and he was the only child.[1]
 
In June of 1941 the United States had not yet entered the war. George was young, single and unemployed at the time. He decided that it was his calling to go to Canada to join the forces fighting overseas. He was only 18 years old and had just graduated from High School when he travelled to Toronto, Ontario to enlist. He and his schoolmate, John Pesko, enlisted together on June 13th, 1941. George was 5 foot 7 and weighed 140 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes and was deemed to be in good health.[2]
 
Military Movements: After his enlistment, he was first taken on strength by the #2 District Depot. George received training at Camp Borden and in Brantford, Ontario. He was soon transferred to the 8th Princess Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars unit of the 5th Canadian Armoured Regiment. Lichtenberger, along with Pesko and the other 8th Hussars embarked for England on March 21st, 1942, and disembarked March 29th. He continued his training in England until November of 1943, when the 8th Hussars would enter the Mediterranean theatre of war.The regiment embarked for Italy on November 14th 1943 and disembarked on November 22nd. George would fight with the 8th Hussars in Italy from November of 1943 to September of 1944.[3]
 
The Final Days: The 8th Hussars were on the Adriatic coast of Italy in 1944. They had spent the summer resting and training for the difficult tasks that lied ahead of them. August was spent breaking through the Gothic Line - the last major German defence in Italy. Most of September would be spent at Coriano Ridge.[4]  
 
On September 28th, the 8th Hussars moved into the area of the Perth Regiment near the Rubicon River. That afternoon C squadron lost one tank on a mine while engaging a German Tiger Tank. The enemy tank took out another two tanks from C squadron and Major C. A. McEwen withdrew his troops. During this fight on the Rubicon River, C squadron destroyed one enemy Tiger Tank. The rain from the days prior had made the ground near the river soft and impassable so the squadrons remained there for the night. Once the men had regrouped it was reported that C squadron had one crew commander killed that afternoon; that was George Lichtenberger.[5]
 
On September 12th 1944, only 16 days before his death, George was promoted to Corporal.
He served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy over a total of 1204 days. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.[6]
 
Lest We Forget: Corporal George Lichtenberger was buried on site near Cesena, reported by Captain D. P. Rowland of the Irish Regiment. On October 5th, 1945 his family received a notice that George’s body had carefully been moved to a grave site in the war cemetery where the other Canadian soldiers had been buried. Corporal George Lichtenberger now rests at Cesena British Empire War Cemetery, plot 3, row G, grave 2. George was killed at age 22 and was survived by his father Joseph Lichtenberger and his mother Jennie Lichtenberger.


[1] Military Service Files of George Lichtenberger obtained from Library & Archives Canada
[2] Military Service Files of George Lichtenberger obtained from Library & Archives Canada
[3] Military Service Files of George Lichtenberger obtained from Library & Archives Canada
[4] Douglas How, The 8th Hussars A History of the Regiment, Maritime Publishing 1964, pp. 184-295
[5] Douglas How, The 8th Hussars A History of the Regiment, Maritime Publishing 1964, pp. 184-295
[6] Military Service Files of George Lichtenberger obtained from Library & Archives Canada

Lest We Forget: Corporal George Lichtenberger was buried on site near Cesena, reported by Captain D. P. Rowland of the Irish Regiment. On October 5th, 1945 his family received a notice that George’s body had carefully been moved to a grave site in the war cemetery where the other Canadian soldiers had been buried. Corporal George Lichtenberger now rests at Cesena British Empire War Cemetery, plot 3, row G, grave 2. George was killed at age 22 and was survived by his father Joseph Lichtenberger and his mother Jennie Lichtenberger.

                                                 




                                                          John Lawrence Pesko
                                                                  Trooper B-258
                                              8th New Brunswick Hussars (Princess Louise                                                                                                       5th Canadian Armoured Regiment
 
Personal Information: John Lawrence Pesko was born on the 26th September 1922 in Warren, Pennsylvania. He was raised by John Pesko and Anna Pesko with three brother and four sisters.[i] The family belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. John Worked as a grocery store clerk and a log cutter at a saw mill in Warren. He had 6 months of experience when he enlisted.[ii] John graduated from Warren High School.
 
John Pesko enlisted June 13th 1941 in Toronto, Ontario.[iii] He was 5 foot 8 and weighed 125 pounds and was deemed to be in good health.[iv] John had a brother who was also involved in the war, he was stationed at a naval air base in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
Military Movements: After John enlisted in Toronto, Ontario, he received training in Brantford and Borden, Ontario. He left Canada for England on March 21st, 1942 and disembarked March 29th. He had further training in the U.K.[v] John then got on a ship, heading to the Mediterranean on November 14th 1943 and disembarked on November 22nd 1943. John was fighting his last battle in Italy, with the Italian Campaign. Over 93 000 Canadians fought in Italy during the Second World War. More than 6000 did not return home.
 
The Final Days: During the Italian Campaign the Germans held the majority of the high ground. An allied attack in Italy helped distract the Germans from other fronts and convinced them to bring more men and equipment into this country and away from the west coast of France where the Atlantic Wall was located. The Hussars would see their first real action in May 1944. They would play a role in the Canadian advance through Liri Valley. The Hussars would assist in breaking the Hitler Line and help the allied forces secure the Melfa crossing.
 
The 1st Canadian Infantry led the effort until the river was crossed and then the 5th Canadian Armoured Division took the lead to Ceprano.[vi] They began on 24th of May; they were trying to make their way to get new positions of the Melfa River. Hussar tanks were caught under heavy fire, 'A' squadron came to the rescue taking out 3 anti-tanks. On May 26th they were advancing closer and closer, while being under light fire throughout the day.
 
On May 27th they reached point 107 and the remainder of the squadron was overlooking Ceprano.[vii] It had been a difficult advance with the Hussars suffering a few casualties. There were numerous troops on the west bank, but they could not engage due to not knowing where the forward troops were located. So, 'B' squadron decided to take a break. As they did so the Germans fired while the men were outside their tanks.[viii]
 
John Lawrence Pesko was killed while taking a break when the Germans opened fire. John died along with four other men: Clinton Groves, Alan McGarty, James O'Reilly, and Alfred Lawton. John Pesko's family was notified that he that he was killed in action.[ix]
 
John Pesko purchased Victory Bonds worth $150 and these were given to his mother, and he had also purchased $1500 in insurance; his parents were named as the beneficiaries. During John's time in the military he received the Defense Medal, War Medal, Italy Star, CVSM and clasp.
 
Lest We Forget: John Lawrence Pesko is buried at the Cassino Military Cemetery plot 5, row J, grave 4.[x] John Lawrence Pesko died at the age of 21. He was survived by his father John (age 56), mother Anna (age 55), his brothers Michael (28), Francis (18), Eugene (15) and four sisters: Mrs. Richard Yaggie (33), Katherine (31), Genevieve (26), and Marion (23). Francis was at the U.S. Naval Air Base in Norfolk, Virginia, and only Eugene and Marion lived at home with their parents at the time of John's passing.
 
Bibliography:
 
Windsor, Lee. Steel Cavalry: The 8th (New Brunswick) Hussars and the Italian Campaign. Fredericton NB: Goose Lane Editions 2011
 How, Douglas. 8th Hussars. Sussex, NB: Maritime Publishing, 1964
 
Archival References:
 Military service files of Trooper John Lawrence Pesko obtained from Library and Archives Canada
 
Internet Sites:
 
Veterans Affairs Canada, Dec. 16th 2015, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2609845

[i] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[ii] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[iii] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[iv] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[v] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[vi] Douglas How The 8th Hussars, Sussex, NB: Maritime Publishing, 1964
[vii] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[viii] Douglas How The 8th Hussars, Sussex, NB: Maritime Publishing, 1964
[ix] Military file of trooper John Lawrence Pesko, Library and Archives, Canada
[x]Veterans Affairs Canada Dec. 16th 2015, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2609845
 
Biography courtesy of the Lest We Forget initiative of Belleisle Regional High School located in Springfield, NB

​Introduction:
100 years ago today, countries from around the world came together in the Palace of Versailles in Paris to sign a peace treaty in order to formally end the fighting of the First World War, and to prevent another war from ever happening again. Evidently, it was the terms of this treaty that resulted in a Second World War only 20 years later and an ongoing struggle to establish an international government to achieve World peace. From World Wars and genocides, to United Nations Peacekeeping missions, find out how the Treaty of Versailles has affected countries around the World over the past 100 years, and how it shaped the both the catastrophic and innovative events of the 20th Century.
 
Ending WW1:
The Great War, later universally referred to as the First World War, was the first mechanized global conflict - encompassing 32 nations and becoming one of the largest and deadliest wars in History. Originating in Europe through a network of alliances - emerging powerful nations were in imperial, military and nationalistic struggle with one another for centuries. It would only take one small spark to ignite the flames of the Great War in Europe, and the rest of the world, and that spark came June 28th, 1914.
 
On June 28th The Archduke Franz Ferdinand, his wife Sophie and party were visiting the Balkan states that had previously been annexed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. While visiting the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, the Archduke and his wife were assassinated by Gavrilo Principe, a member of the Serbian terrorist group, known as the Black Hand. As a result of this assassination, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, the outbreak of conflict between the two powers and other Balkan states that would be known as the July Crisis. The prolonged uprising creating a domino effect of war declarations throughout the European continent and abroad. By the end of August, Germany, Russia, France, Britain and Japan had all declared war. All of these major World powers immediately involved their international colonies and dominions.
 
Britain and France who had been in alliance many years prior, formed the Triple Entente with Russia. Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and eventually Italy, would form the opposing forces known as the Triple Alliance. Smaller nations fell to either side of the conflict. The fighting in Europe began in August of 1914 and was expected to be over by Christmas. However, it was clear by December that the fighting would continue for much longer. In 1917, the third year into the war, Russia pulled it’s forces out to concentrate on a revolution at home. In the same year the United States was brought into the conflict by direct attacks, or attempted attacks initiated by Germany. This included the sinking of the American passenger ship the Lusitania, the Zimmerman telegram asking Mexico to join forces with Germany in order to attack the United States, as well as Germany declaring unrestricted submarine warfare - meaning they would attack ships belonging to any nation, whether they were involved in the war or not. Initially, American President Woodrow Wilson declared neutrality for the country and stated they would not get involved with the overseas conflict. However, given the circumstances in 1917 considering the threat to the American people, he felt they had no choice.  
 
The fighting in Europe continued into the fall of 1918. It resulted in approximately 40 million total casualties. 20 million were deaths, half of those being military personnel and the other half, civilians. The guns fell silent at 11:00 a.m. on November 11th, 1918. On this date the armistice would be signed between the Entente and their opponent, Germany, in agreement to end all fighting on land, sea and air. This day became known as Armistice Day or as we know it in Canada - Remembrance Day. However, the Entente and Allied powers were still at war with one another until an official treaty was signed in June of 1919 to end the First World War on all terms. 

   Photo: Universal History Archives
Opening session of the Paris Peace Conference, January, 1919.
 
In January of 1919 the remaining Entente powers, which became known at this time as the Big Three, organized the Paris Peace Conference. The Big Three consisted of the United States represented by President Woodrow Wilson, Britain represented by Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and France represented by Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. Japan and Italy - as victors who had sided with the Entente at the height of the war - were also invited to attend the conference - Germany was not. The conference included diplomats from 32 countries. However, the five major victorious powers met informally 145 times to discuss and eventually implement all major decisions following the war. The Paris Peace Conference and informal meetings of the five powers ultimately resulted in the Treaty of Versailles. 

Canada:
As a dominion of the British empire, Canada was immediately involved in the overseas conflict when Britain declared war on Germany in 1914. The young nation mobilized the Canadian Expeditionary Force contributing over 600,000 men to the forces of the Triple Entente. They achieved great success at the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Vimy Ridge, their military successes uniting them as a nation. Having thrived industrially during wartime and demonstrating their military strength on a World stage, the idea of an independent nation was on the mind of all Canadians in the wake of the war, including Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden.
 
Having lost 60,000 young Canadians to the war, Prime Minister Robert Borden thought that Canada had paid the price to have independent representation at the Paris Peace Conference and on the Treaty of Versailles. At the signing of the Treaty, Borden requested a signature for Canada separate from the British Empire. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George agreed, however Canada’s signature was indented under Britain to acknowledge it’s ongoing connection to the British Empire. This was essentially the first legal document Canada would sign without Britain.
 
Self determination is the process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own allegiances and government. Asking for a separate signature from Britain in signing the Treaty of Versailles was only the first step in achieving self determination for Canada. Canada’s sovereignty was acquired in the period between the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, and that of the Statute of Westminster1 in 1931 which officially granted Canada independence. During this interwar period, Canadians distanced themselves from their British or other ancestry, and considered themselves to be solely Canadian. This atmosphere in Canada following the signing of the Treaty was more influential than any signature on a piece of paper.
 
14 points & the Treaty:
At the end of the First World War, President Woodrow Wilson delivered a speech outlining the Fourteen Points that he believed would settle the accounts of the war and establish peace, ensuring that another war would not ensue. Compiled by Wilson and a team of 150 American foreign-policy ministers, eight of the points were focused on territorial settlement between nations, five of the points were focused on foreign policy, and the fourteenth point was that the nations of the World should come together and create an international governing system to oversee and administer international policies, known as the League of Nations. These fourteen points would be proposed at the Paris Peace Conference by the United States in drafting the Treaty of Versailles. However, only the final point would actually be adopted.
 
The terms of the Armistice signed on November 11th, 1918 between the allies and Germany were intended to be implemented for 36 days, in which time Germany was to fulfill certain conditions to show its sincerity.  The main concern of the Armistice for the allies was to ensure Germany would not pose a military threat to other European countries again. Under the conditions they were to turn over to the allies;
            5000 guns
            25,000 machine guns
            3000 trench mortars
            1700 airplanes
            5000 motor lorries
            5000 locomotives
            150,000 railroad cars
In addition, they were required to withdraw 20 miles from the Rhine and leave the area a demilitarized zone. They were to restore Alsace and Lorraine to France, and the gold seized from Belgian and Russian territory to their respective countries. As discussions began between the Big Three and other allied powers, the terms were continually extended for periods of 30 days until June, 1919 when they ended by the adoption of the Treaty of Versailles.
 
Immediately after the war all countries began pointing fingers, and most of them, especially Britain and France, were pointing at Germany. They were devastated and wanted to seek revenge on Germany for the amount of infrastructure and the generation of their country’s youth that were lost to the war. The Treaty forced Germany to take full responsibility for the war and as a result, be held accountable for the cost.
 
The terms of the treaty were as follows;
I Germany was responsible for the war. (The Guilt Clause or Article 231)2
II Germany was to turn over all colonies to the Allies (mandated to France, Great Britain and Japan).
III Germany was to  withdraw from Alsace and Lorrain and they would be returned to France.
IV Germany was to turn over the Fleet complete, except 30 boats to be used by Germany for customs, etc.
V An army of occupation was to be maintained in the Rhine and Rhur Valleys, the cost to be paid by Germany.
VI A plebiscite was held, so that any country could ally itself with any other country.
VII A corridor was to be established from Poland to the sea, separating Prussia from the rest of Germany.
VIII Danzig would become a free world port, controlled by the League of Nations.
IX Memel would be given to Lithuania as a sea port, the Hultschin district to Czechoslovakia, and Cession of Eupen-Malmedy to Belgium.
X Poznania, parts of East Prussia and Upper Silesia would go to Poland.
XI A ban would be placed on the union of Germany and Austria.
XII The Kaiser and other war leaders would be tried.
XIII Occupation and special status would be granted to the Saar under French control.
XV Germany’s army would be limited to 100,000 men with no conscription and they were not to re arm. The navy would be allowed six battleships, six light cruisers, twelve destroyers, twelve torpedo boats, and submarines would be forbidden.
XVI Germany would pay £6,600 billion in reparations.
 
As a result of the plebiscite held by Sir John Simon of Britain in 1920 the Rhur became independent and Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bessarabia (Moldova) and Finland were created or separated from Russia. Poland was formed from Russian and German provinces. Political boundaries in Europe had changed significantly, once again, and Germany was at a great loss of territory.

​An American news headline following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
 

​After the treaty was signed, Germany stated that they felt as though they should be armed enough to protect themselves. However, as a method of guaranteeing no aggression against them, the Locarno Pact was signed, where Germany, France, Belgium, Britain and Italy were in mutual agreement to maintain peace in Western Europe. Other European powers wanted to appease Germany, as well as ensure protection for themselves in the wake of a highly destructive war. It was hoped that the forced disarmament of Germany would result in the voluntary disarmament of other nations. Germany was not the only country who considered the consequences of the Treaty of Versailles to be extremely unfair, many countries, including the United States agreed. Woodrow Wilson was aware that punishing Germany too severely could result in another war, but Britain and France ignored his warnings and actually thought the treaty could have been more severe.
 
One of the most important results of the treaty in the shaping of human history in the 20th century was the creation of a World Court and a League of Nations - Wilson’s Fourteenth Point. The League was intended to be the Government of the World under which all countries were to send representatives, in order to administer World affairs. A standing army was to be at the service of the League to enforce the ruling of the World Court. It was hoped that with this new setup that perpetual peace could be maintained. The League was officially established in 1920 and headquartered in Geneva. The first of many small problems quickly arose as Germany was not permitted to join.
 
When the Treaty of Versailles was taken back to several governments for ratification a few refused to sign, so that the strength of the League of Nations was weakened. One of the terms of the League was that no member could declare war on another without first submitting the case to the World Court. The League carried on the best that it could, with good intentions. However, it was greatly handicapped through a number of nations not belonging to the organization. American President Woodrow Wilson was the one to propose the idea of establishing a League of Nations. However, the United States was not a member. Americans did not want to be involved in European or international affairs, out of the fear of being caught up in another bloody conflict. Wilson could therefore not convince American citizens, or the senate primarily composed of members of the opposing Republican party, to join the League.
 
Russia was also not a member of the League, as their communist ideologies clashed with the agenda of the League of Nations. As well, Russia developed a deep hatred for the powerful Western European nations Britain and France, who had primary control over the League. Sensing a loss of power and control, the League relaxed it’s exclusive policies surrounding who was permitted to join. Germany was admitted into the League of Nations in 1926, and 15 other nations were admitted following. However, nations withdrew from the League almost as fast as they were admitted. First Italy, an original member of the League, withdrew when they attacked Ethiopia, Germany when they entered Czechoslovakia and Japan, another original member, when they invaded China. If the League of Nations could have functioned as planned with full international participation, we may have achieved peace in the 20th Century, rather than war.
 
Reactions to the treaty & WW2:
Many nations honestly believed that the League on Nations resulting from the Treaty of Versailles would be the only way to achieve World peace. However, the League presented challenges to nations that had their own political agendas. With plans to expand their territory to accommodate the rapidly growing population, Japan invaded North-eastern China - the region known as Manchuria, in 1931. They invaded following the Mukden incident, which was an attempt by the Japanese Military to destroy part of Japan’s South Manchuria Railway in order to blame the event on China and justify an attack. Although the explosion was unsuccessful in destroying the track, the Japanese Army accused the Chinese of the act and responded with the full invasion of Manchuria. The League of Nations took over a year to formulate a report relating to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and did not take action. Not wanting to disturb relations with a powerful nation, Britain and France essentially allowed Japan to get away with invading China - a less powerful country.  In 1933 they withdrew from the League after being censored by member countries over the invasion. However, they did not face any punitive measures and maintained close ties with Britain. Japan was a signatory of the Treaty of Versailles and an original member of the League. Their withdrawal and lack of consequences for the invasion severely weakened the authority of the League of Nations.
 
Germany also withdrew from the League in 1933, nine months after Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor. Germany was experiencing a major economic crisis. Their biggest problem was not having to pay reparations, but their own war debt. They had full intentions of winning the war and would have paid off their debt by having other countries pay reparations to them. In this time of crisis, the German people were deterred from the democratic Weimar republic and turned their attention to more extreme political parties. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party promised to restore the German economy, establish jobs and regain German territory. He did fulfill some of his promises to the Germany people, but by doing so, breached many of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
 
Major European powers, Britain and France, were not oblivious to Hitler’s breaching of the Treaty. However, with the fear of communism spreading from Eastern Europe, France especially wanted Germany to have a strong enough military force to prevent the Soviet Union and communism from spreading West, so they turned away when Hitler began to rebuild the German army. Having the only two remaining major powers of the League of Nations, and signatories of the Treaty turn away from their policies essentially revoked the authority of the League and allowed Germany to get away with breaching nearly every term of the treaty in the 1930’s, including no longer paying their reparations.
 
Blame for the economic crisis in the country was placed on German Jews by Hitler. Although it was clear the crisis was caused by war, anti-Semitism was rampant in Nazi Germany, and civilians believed Hitler’s claims. The Holocaust, the mass incarceration and extermination of Jewish peoples in Europe and one of the most devastating Genocides in human history, was carried out while the League of Nations was supposedly governing the World and maintaining peace. The Holocaust era emerged in 1933 and without international intervention, carried out for over ten years. The estimated number of those who perished is as high as 11 million.  It was executed by German leader Adolf Hitler who came to power by directly violating the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Had Britain and France respected the opinion of the United States and many other nations 20 years prior and agreed on a less punitive treaty, the German government may not have retaliated with such extreme measures, and millions of lives may have been saved.
 
Following the events of the 1930’s many nations gave up their belief in the ability of the League of Nations to maintain peace or prevent wars from happening. World War broke out once again in Europe in 1939, almost entirely as a result of the highly punitive terms of the Treaty of Versailles. As well, the League of Nations created from the Treaty, as predicted, failed to prevent the Second World War. This war would be the deadliest conflict in World History. The Japanese invasion of China developed into the combat of the Pacific Theatre of War, and similarly the German invasion of several European countries developed into the European Theatre of War. The total death toll for the international conflict has been estimated between 70 and 85 million, devastating the population of many countries.
 
In 1942, at the height of the Second World War, the Big Four powers - the United States, China, Britain and the Soviet Union and a total of 26 countries met in New York City and signed the declaration of the United Nations with the common goal of defeating totalitarianism, and primarily Nazism. After the allied countries won the war, the United Nations was officially founded on October 24th, 1945. The League of Nations had been utterly unsuccessful in it’s term and it was time for the nations of the World to unite once again to restore order and peace. The League of Nations officially disbanded in 1946 and was replaced by the UN.

 Photo: Library of Congress
                         First meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, 10 January 1946.

he UN, although more successful than the League of Nations, still had trouble controlling world conflicts. Little was done to prevent major wars and genocides like the Korean war, Iraq war, and Rwandan Genocide. The United Nations has a duty to intervene, but it can be difficult to configure when and how. In the ongoing conflict in Syria, member countries of the UN have struggled to decide whether military intervention is necessary or beneficial. Some nations are weary about the highly unsuccessful military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Others, however, can not forget the horrors of genocides like the Holocaust that absolutely needed a third party to intervene and put an end to unimaginable crimes against humanity. The effectiveness of a World court and government proposed by Woodrow Wilson in 1919 is still being evaluated 100 years later, today.
 
Positive influence & peace:
To note some of the reputable efforts of the United Nations and other organizations originating from the Treaty of Versailles - as some of the most innovative endeavours of the 20th century resulted from the treaty as well. The United Nations had a far superior international participation and successful peacekeeping force. In comparison, at its peak, the League of Nation had a total of 58 member states, while the present-day United Nations has 193. United Nations peacekeepers hail from various member countries and work solely in the service of the UN. The first United Nations headquarters was constructed in New York City, and today the UN also has headquarters in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, all of these designations being declared international territory, controlled by international law.
 
The first United Nations Peacekeeping force was mobilized to help settle the conflict arising from the Suez Canal crisis in Egypt. The Suez crisis arose in 1956 when Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the canal. Britain, France and Israel invaded Egypt to extinguish Egyptian nationalism and to regain access to the canal for international trade. The United Nations Assembly ordered a ceasefire, and it was the idea of Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to send UN peacekeepers to Egypt to monitor the ceasefire agreement. This first peacekeeping mission would be the model for various other peacekeeping missions in the 20th century, including during the Yugoslavian wars. Today the UN Peacekeeping force boasts around 100,000 soldiers.
 
Canadian self determination continued through service with the United Nations and peacekeeping missions. Canada distinguished itself culturally from Britain having their foreign policy and defense cooperation aligning more with that of the United States. During the Suez Crisis, Canadian peacekeepers was criticized for the use British uniforms and using the term “Royal” to identify Canadian Regiments deployed in Egypt. As a result, to distinguish themselves from the British troops, Canadians were issued the now famous blue beret to reinforce Canada’s role in the UN as a neutral state. The reinforcement of distinction from the Commonwealth and the desire not to be seen as an extension of Britain’s foreign policy established Canada’s new role on the world stage in conflict resolution.
 
Self Determination within the league of nations and the UN did not only affect Canada. For the first time some minorities were given the choice of which nation they would like to be apart of. Many of the new countries created from the Treaty had substantial ethnic minorities that wished to join neighbouring states with culture they were more akin to. The League of Nations sponsored many of these minorities with Minority Treaties, settling disputes between the countries they fell under and those where their ethnicity dominated. Unfortunately, when the power and authority began dwindling from the League in the 1930’s, most of the support for these minority groups was lost. The United Nations picked up the slack having similar geopolitical consequences follow the Second World War as they did the First [World War].
 
Other organizations that were formed from the Treaty of Versailles included the International Labour Organization which still exists today and has worked to advance social justice and promoting international labour standards. Over the last 100 years, June 28th, 1919 - June 28th, 2019, we have come a long way in achieving World peace. Organizations created by the United Nations in the years following the Second World War include the World Health Organization that has worked in preventing epidemics and specializing in public health measures. UNICEF, the United Nations Children Fund was originally established to provide food, shelter and healthcare to women and children affected by the war. Another organization to come out of the Second World War is the World Bank established as an international financial institution with the goal to reduce poverty. The first country to receive a World Bank loan was France, who received $250 million USD to help rebuild after the war. However, after the Marshall Plan3 began moving money into Europe, the World Bank shifted its interests to non-European countries. They worked to reduce poverty in developing countries and in 1960 established the International Development Agency to continue on the path of poverty reduction through equitability and sustainability.
 
The UN fosters communication between member states. Collective compromise and communication between nations has helped to settle much international strife. This has been done through the International Court of Justice established to settle international legal disputes. It has offered legal advice in budding conflicts all over the World including the Asylum Case4 between Columbia and Peru, several aerial incidents or other confrontations between the United States and the Soviet Union and North Sea Continental Shelf Cases.5 The UN’s main goal however was to prevent a WW3. It has been over 70 years and so far, they have done that.
 
Conclusion
The most famous and influential international treaty ever signed, the Treaty of Versailles was pivotal for History in the 20th century. Aimed to formally end the First World War and prevent another war from ensuing, the highly punitive terms of the treaty were the direct cause of a Second World War only 20 years later. Organizations formed from the Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty 100 years ago have had both successes and failures in their goal to unite nations around the World and achieve World peace. We live in a very different World in 2019, but there is still much we can learn from June 28th, 1919 to ensure the unprecedented suffering and events of the 20th century do not repeat themselves in the 21st.
 
If you would like to find out more about The Treaty of Versailles and its long-term effects over the 20th Century, visit us at the 8th Hussars Museum, located in the historic Sussex train station.
 
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Footnotes
1 Statute of Westminster - a British law clarifying the powers of Canadian Parliament as well as those of other commonwealth dominions. It granted these countries legal independence in all areas they desired, and others could remain subordinate to Britain.
2 Article 231 – “The Guilt Clause” – the opening article of the reparations section of the treaty that required Germany to accept full responsibility for starting the war.
3 Marshall Plan - an American initiative to provide economic assistance to European countries struggling after the war.
4 Asylum Case - a case involving the Columbian ambassador to Peru that survived a short-lived Peruvian civil war and was granted asylum by the Columbian government but was denied safe transport out of Peru by the Peruvian government.
5 North Sea Continental Shelf Cases - a series of disputes between Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands regarding areas rich in oil and gas on the continental shelf of the North Sea.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
References:
Oziah, Ken, Treaty of Versailles: The Road to Hitler, American Military University.
 
Dowbiggin, Ian, Why the treaty of Versailles went so wrong, Telegraph Journal, May, 2019.
 
McLauchlan, C. G., Causes leading up to the present war, 1939-1940.
 
The National Archives Learning Centre, The Great War 1914-18, The Treaty of Versailles. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/greatwar/g5/cs2/background.htm
 
World Digital Library https://www.wdl.org/en/item/11598/
 
Collision of Empires: Italy's Invasion of Ethiopia and its International Impact
 
Bailey, Thomas A., Woodrow Wilson & the Great Betrayal.
 
Heard, Andrew, Canadian Independence, 1990. https://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/324/Independence.html
 
Self-determination & new states, History of Western Civilization II, OER Services, ch.27 The Interwar Period.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/self-determination-and-new-states/

Canada was not prepared for the long-lasting effects of the largest attempted seaborne assault in history when 14,000 young Canadians stormed Juno beach on June 6th, 1944. The day was D Day. The biggest turning point of the Second World War. Never before had the outcome of the war depended so much on a single day. The code name D Day was often used to refer to the day a planned attack was going to happen as they often did not select the exact dates ahead of time. However, it has become most strongly associated with the day of the allied beach landings in Normandy. June 6th would become one of the most well-known dates of the Second World War as well as an essential turning-point in favour of the allies.
 
The Second World War in Europe had been progressing in favour of Germany and the Axis powers since 1939. By 1942 they had dominated continental Europe, bringing most European countries under Nazi rule. The Allies required intense strategizing and replenishing of troops before they could attempt to regain any territory. Most of 1943 was focused on the Eastern front, and moving up Italy from the south. By mid 1944 they knew that it would be essential to reclaim France in order to close in on the Axis powers from all fronts. Although the course of the war seemed to be turning in favour of the Allies, they knew that Hitler's strong reign on France would be nearly unbreakable.

Adolf Hitler's 'Atlantic Wall' had been indestructible. He had established an extensive system of fortifications to defend the Western-European coastline, constructed primarily in 1942 and defended throughout the rest of the war. These fortifications included coastal guns and artillery, batteries and mortars. A large portion, and some of the most valuable coastline of the Atlantic Wall was located in Nazi-occupied France. The Allies had already attempted to break through the wall in France with the highly unsuccessful raid on the French port of Dieppe in August 1942. The Germans knew another allied attack would be on its way, but were uncertain of where it would be. 

​The suspected location of the allied attack in 1944 was Pas de Calais. This region offered a number of advantages over the chosen location for the invasion. It was the shortest route to France from the United Kingdom across the English Channel, the fastest way into Germany, and the terrain would have been notably easier to overcome. Knowing that the Germans would expect an invasion in this region, the allies planned a deception strategy code-named Operation Fortitude. Allied forces planted dummy aircraft and dummy landing craft, and even dummy soldiers made of paper mâché in Southeast England and Pas de Calais. They also controlled leaks of information through diplomatic channels that they thought may be passed on from neutral countries to the Germans. The intention was to mislead the German high-command and ensure the German military would not increase their presence in Normandy where the real invasion would occur.
 
Planning for the invasion began in 1943. While many of the Canadian troops were concentrated on breaking through the Gothic Line in Italy, the allies knew that breaking through Hitler's Atlantic Wall would be essential for changing the course of the war. On the Axis side, General Erwin Rommel was commanding their forces. A very skilled military general, Rommel was well known for his astounding successes in North Africa. The Allies knew what they would be facing and decided that surprise would be their greatest weapon. With Operation Fortitude underway, June 5th, 1944 would be the prime opportunity for the allied forces to land in Normandy. With a full moon the night before, the men would not have to prepare for the invasion in total darkness, and the tides would be at the most suitable level to storm the beaches. However, due to poor weather conditions American General Dwight D. Eisenhower commanding the allied forces, was forced to call off the invasion. 

 
The allied attack on Normandy referred to as Operation Overlord commenced with the beach landings on June 6th. They considered postponing the attack once again as the conditions were not ideal. However, another postponing would have meant waiting two to three weeks as only a couple of days in the month would have tides that were suitable to approach the beach. That way the element of surprise would surely have been lost. They set out just after midnight with the Americans landing on beaches Omaha and Utah, the British at beaches Gold and Sword, and the Canadians storming Juno Beach. Across the five Normandy beaches, stretching across 100 kilometres of coastline, more than 150,000 allied troops  would land or parachute in on D Day.
           
More than 6,000 ships crossed the English Channel, approaching the French coastline in the hours before dawn. It was dark, as the skies were overcast. This did not allow for the early morning moon lit visibility hoped for by Eisenhower. However, it also meant the Germans were less suspecting of the attack and were therefore less prepared. The first allied troops to land in Normandy were the paratroopers who parachuted in behind enemy lines in the cover of dark in order to destroy communication and transportation targets, as well as German defenses. Unfortunately, many paratroopers drowned in the flooded marshlands and fields, weighted down by their equipment. The next wave of the attack was allied air strikes. Thousands of planes dropped bombs on the German defenses inland, and as the large warships approached the coast, they joined by bombing the beaches. The sun began to rise in the midst of the bombing, making way for the ships carrying over 100,000 troops, tanks, weapons and supplies to storm the Normandy beaches. 

 
The Americans were the first to reach the beaches and the landing on Utah beach was generally successful. The American troops actually landed more than 1.8km away from their intended landing zone due to strong currents, but found that the area was less protected and they decided to start from there. The men were able to move approximately 6.4km in land by the end of the day. However, the Americans faced the largest resistance and the highest number of casualties at Omaha beach. This landing was significantly more difficult to achieve. The Americans struggled to cross the sands only to be faced with more impassable obstacles. A steep wall-like coastal cliff trapped them on the blood-stained beach away from their objectives. They were bombarded with enemy fire and suffered 300 casualties before even stepping off their boats. By the end of the day they had suffered 2400 casualties and of the five beaches they had made the least advances inland, approximately 2km.
 
At the middle of the five beaches, the British began storming Gold about an hour behind schedule due to the direction of the tides. However, thankfully for the troops, allied air strikes and bombing from the British warships earlier that morning had knocked out many of the German defenses. Within only an hour the British soldiers had secured beach exits and were able to push inland. At Sword, the easternmost beach, the British troops landed around 7:30am, approximately the same time as Gold. They faced more resistance but were still able to secure beach exits with the help of armoured vehicles. The worst resistance was in the farmlands and villages further in-land where not all of the German defenses had been destroyed by previous bombing. However, they were able to move inland approximately 8km. Overall the British landings were successful, they suffered approximately 2,750 total casualties. Although they did not reach their objectives, they were able to secure the beaches. 

Canadians were possibly the most successful with their D Day objectives, but it came at a cost. On June 6th alone, the Canadians suffered 1074 casualties, 359 of them were killed. Most of the men with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had been training in the United Kingdom over the previous year but had never seen combat. They had no idea what they were getting into. Similar to the experiences of the British at Gold beach, the seas were rough and the men were late approaching the beach. Many of them were seasick and anxious, and as soon as they reached the beach, they were cut down by enemy fire from seaside houses and bunkers. Approximately 50% of the Canadian casualties were taken down in the first hour. However, once they were able to get off the beach, the German resistance inland from Juno slowed immensely. The Canadians pushed further inland than any other divisions on D Day. In fact, two Canadian lines were the only ones to reach the final D Day objectives of establishing a frontline 10 to 16km off the beaches. By the end of the day they were able to link with the British on Gold beach as planned.
           
D Day would mark the first day of the Battle of Normandy over the summer of 1944 that resulted in the allied liberation of Western Europe. The Battle of Normandy is known as the "Beginning of the end of the war in Europe." The allied soldiers who landed on D Day pushed their way in land allowing for more troops to land over the following several days. By the middle of June more than a half a million allied soldiers would arrive in Normandy in order to push the German defenses out of France. It was not an easy task. By the end of the campaign the allies had suffered 209,000 casualties, including almost 19,000 Canadians. Germany also suffered approximately 200,000 casualties
 
Canada was a full partner in the success of the D Day landings. The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships and 10,000 men to support the landings. As well, the Royal Canadian Air Force assisted in the preparations by training not only Canadians, but thousands of other Commonwealth airmen. On D Day, 15 RCAF fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons participated in the allied air strikes in the early hours of June 6th. As a nation, Canada proved that they were willing to go to great lengths, and make great sacrifices in order to protect Western European civilization from Nazism.  
 
 
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The 8th Hussars Museum & the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 20 are pleased to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D Day with an event held on Thursday June 6th. Located at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 20, 66 Magnolia Ave. Doors will open at 6:30pm, followed by the story of the D Day landings presented by Dr. Brian Clancy. The program is open to the public and there is no cover charge. The presentation will be suitable for students in Middle School and beyond. 75th Anniversary commemorative pins will be distributed to all attendees. We sincerely hope that you will join us in commemorating this historic event. 

​If you would like to find out more about the allied beach landings in Normandy or the Canadian involvement on D Day, please visit the 8th Hussars Museum in the Historic Sussex Train Station, 66 Broad Street. 

​While the war in the Netherlands was over by 5th May 1945, the 5th Armoured Regiment would not be leaving the country until November of 1945. During this time, the regiment would begin the process that would eventually lead to demobilization. In the meantime, as long as the Hussars where in the Netherlands, they would be put to use assisting the Dutch people. In the process, they forged a bond with the Dutch that would live long into the present. When not assisting the Dutch, the men also found the time to partake in some much-needed downtime.

​                       2015 Celebration of the Liberation of the Netherlands Sussex, NB (8CH Association photo)

​Following the official surrender of Germans forces in the Netherlands, the regiment was stationed in the Municipality of Eelde. The citizens of Eelde held a series of exuberant celebrations in the Town, inviting the Hussars to participate. Notwithstanding this celebratory atmosphere, the regiment had to remain combat ready. As such, the days following the German surrender in the Netherlands were consumed with performing maintenance on the regiment’s Sherman tanks. However, with the announcement of the German surrender in Europe on 8th May 1945, the men had a temporary reprieve. The regiment granted leave to all soldiers for the day to allow them to attend celebrations. While the celebrations continued throughout the country, the regiment began preparations for demobilization.
            As part of this, the regiment would transition from a wartime service to peacetime service. This entailed a comprehensive alteration to the regiment’s training schedule. An increased emphasis was placed on proper parade techniques for a series of regimental inspections. Additionally, vehicles had to be maintained at a new peacetime standard, which meant the men had to keep their tanks clean and in good working order. However, the men and officers still had opportunities to engage in extra-curricular activities. These included sailing, canoeing, swimming, dances, as well as nights on the town. The regiment ensured that all entertainment was coordinated to maximize the number of activities the men could partake in.

​However, with the war in Europe over, thoughts of home began taking hold in the regiment. With the introduction of the point system, the men were given an opportunity to gage at what date they would be repatriated home. But, for some men the war was not over. Word came down from Headquarters that volunteers were needed for the war in the Pacific. Hussars would answer that call, nearly two hundred men volunteered to serve in the Pacific. As such, they were repatriated forthwith to Western Canada for training with the Pacific Force. Fortuitously for these men, the war in the Pacific would end before they would ever have to be committed to the theatre, which would mean early repatriation to their homes.
            For those men still in the Netherlands, they were soon to be put to work assisting with the post-war efforts. The regiment was tasked with guarding the transportation of German prisoners through their jurisdiction back to Germany. By June, the number of German prisoners being guarded by the Hussars had reached the tens of thousands, with more on the way. Outside of guarding prisoners, the regiment contributed to the Dutch reconstruction efforts. The regiment would be based in the Town of Eelde for the remainder of their stay in Europe. From May to November 1945, they provided valuable assistance to the Dutch people in Eelde, assisting them with rebuilding infrastructure in the Town.
            However, with the regiment securely ensconced within Eelde, demobilization efforts quickened. All tank rounds were turned in to a temporary ammunition dump, where it would be disposed of. This was simply the first step. Soon all munitions had to be turned in. Everything from their 50 calibres, to their 9mm rounds for their sidearms, everything was turned in. This was followed by turning in protective gear. Eventually, word had come down that the men would soon be turning in their Sherman tanks too. Starting in July, the regiment began saying their goodbyes to the Sherman’s. By the end of the month, the regiment no longer had its arsenal of armour.
            With their tanks gone, the men realized that they were no longer needed in Europe, which only intensified their urge to return home. Recognizing that their stay in the Netherlands was going to be longer than anticipated, the regiment drafted a series of programs to occupy the men. Outside of the leisure activities of sailing and dances, soldiers were provided with the opportunity to take a series of educational courses designed to enhance their return to civilian life. Besides this, the men were given the opportunity to try their athletic skills against one another. Team sports were organized at the regimental and division levels. This occupied the time of many a soldier, who were all invested in proving their prowess vis-à-vis their comrades.

​                                              Lieutenant-Colonel Bob Ross accepts thanks of Town of Eelde

​While their programs helped stave off the boredom of the troops, it could not quell the rising tide of nostalgia, the Hussars wanted to go home. Those who had earned enough points applied for repatriation, for the rest the point system was simply not working quickly enough. Finally, come November the regiment was informed that it was time for their repatriation. They were leaving the Netherlands. Before they could go, the citizens of Eelde turned out on mass to fete the regiment. The Dutch celebrated the sacrifices of the Hussars and all that they had fought for to liberate them from the German occupiers. They promised that while they had only words at the moment, in the future the effort of the Hussars would be rewarded with gold. So, on 27th November 1945, the Hussars withdrew from the Netherlands setting out to finally return home.
 
To find out more about the relationship between the Hussars and the Netherlands, or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street.

​The Second World War was coming to an end in 1945, and the men of the 8th Hussars had made their way up the Western front to the Netherlands. Still under the command of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, their final task would be open the northern Dutch port of Delfzijl. 

Located on the coast of the Ems Estuary which runs between the Netherlands and Germany from the North Sea, Delfzijl was an important secondary port for the Dutch for both defence and importing goods. The port of Delfzijl was situated directly across the water from the German port of Emden. This made it a main subject of the border dispute of the estuary between the Netherlands and Germany.
 
          Although they declared themselves neutral, the Netherlands was invaded by Germany in 1940 and had been under German occupation since. Most of the southern regions had been liberated in 1944, but the northern and western regions remained under occupation. Those living in occupied regions were struggling to survive and the winter of 1944-45 is known as the "Hunger Winter".
 
          During the “Hunger Winter” the daily ration of someone living in the occupation zone was 32o calories a day. Delfzijl was intended to be a primary port for imported goods to relieve the starving Dutch population. However, it remained under German control and used only for German military transports. 

It was mid-April 1945 and the 8th Hussars had just successfully taken Putten in Operation ‘Cleanser’. Only one Hussar soldier had been killed in the four-day action, and the regiment had rested for a few days in the Putten region. They were prepared when the 5th Armoured Division moved North to Defzijl.
 
​           The sea port was being held by approximately 1500 German troops. This would be primarily and infantry task and ‘A’ and ‘B’ squadrons would be attached to the 11th brigade for the operation. The German forces had many concrete gun emplacements and heavy artillery. The only way to advance the foot soldiers was behind tanks. 

​Operation ‘Canada’ began on April 23rd. Some divisions were sent across the estuary to Emden, while the others pushed towards the city. By the evening of April 30th they had reached Delfzijl’s perimeter. Other regiments attacked that night and were slowed by minefields. However, at dawn the Hussars and their tanks began to work their way into the town. The Irish Regiment along with a squadron of 8th Hussars captured the Eastern part of the fortress that day.
 
For nine days the men of the Hussars fought to open the port of Delfzijl. More than 4000 prisoners were taken and the German garrison commander officially surrendered on May 2nd. Only 3 days later on May 5th the men received word to cancel all offensive operations – the war was over! Operation ‘Canada’ was very successful and demonstrated remarkable bravery from the 8th Hussars; and it wasn’t long before they would see their beloved country again.
 

​If you would like to learn more about Operation ‘Canada’, German occupation of the Netherlands, or the 8th Hussars in general; please visit the 8th Hussars Museum in the historic Sussex train station. 

​While Allied forces had invaded Europe in 1944, the Netherlands would not be liberated from German occupation until 1945. In part this was due to the failure of Operation Market Garden to establish a presence in the eastern part of the country in preparation for a strike into Germany. As such, following the re-deployment of the Canadian Corps to North-Western Europe after Operation Goldflake in 1945, it was left to the Canadians, with British support, to liberate the Dutch people. Understanding the importance of the task, the Corps would participate in a series of operations over the next several months that would drive the Germans back from their strongholds in the Dutch provinces, eventually forcing their surrender in May 1945. 

​Operation Cleanser set into motion  forces that would drive the Germans to surrender. The task of executing Cleanser was given to the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. The objectives were twofold. First, to advance towards the Ijsselmeer, and in the process destroy any German positions that impeded their advance. Second, the Division was to block the retreat of German forces from the assault of the 1st Canadian Division. In order to accomplish this, the Division prepared for a two-pronged advance across the terrain, splitting its regiment into assault columns. On 15 April 1945, the orders came down: full advance, The Division had four days to achieve its objectives, the race to the Ijsselmeer was on.
Joining this race was the 5th Armoured Regiment, 8th New Brunswick Hussars, who were to play a prominent role in Operation Cleanser. After mustering in Arnhem, the regiment prepared for the push to the Ijsselmeer. Intelligence briefings indicated that the Germans arrayed against the regiment were not fielding any heavy armour. Now it was simply a matter of cutting through those German forces that remained. The regiment prepared to engage in tank warfare the likes of which they were unable to experience in the confined spaces of the Italian interior. If successful, the Germans wherever they might pivot would be met by the Canadians on all sides. 

​On the morning of the 15th the Hussars mounted up and sent their armour into the midst of the German occupied territory in front of them. The regiment’s initial pace was reduced due a string of anti-tank fortifications that were erected in the area. Eventually, the Hussars bypassed the last of these fortifications and swept towards the open ground outside of Arnhem. On the way, they dealt several blows to German positions outside the city. By the end of the day, the regiment had captured nearly 200 German prisoners and put out of action a score of anti-tank weapons. However, this was not without cost. The German panzerfausts and 88 mm guns took their toll on the Hussars, knocking tanks out of action and killing several men during the course of the day.  ​
Notwithstanding this, the fight continued with the regiment pushing on towards the coast. Flush from their victory the day before, the Hussars increased their speed. They had to reach the coast before the Germans could join up with their compatriots and mount a resistance against the 1st Canadian Division chasing them. As such, many of the smaller towns were bypassed as the regiment hustled towards Putten. With the Germans nearly encircled, the Hussars quickened their pace, the race to Ijsselmeer was not over yet. 

​As the regiment regrouped for the final push to Putten, and the Ijsselmeer, they came face-to-face with the surreal nature of war. The people they came across were in dire straights, as they had been cut off from a steady supply of food. The populations liberated by the Hussars were bedraggled, hungry, and sickly looking, the army did what it could to help alleviate their plight. Besides this, the Hussars had to face off against Dutch turncoats, men who had abandoned their country to serve the Germans, in the process contributing to the suffering of their own people. Suffice it to say, the Hussar did not let the traitors slip away unscathed. When those Dutchmen offered resistance, they were met with fire, steel, and death.

​Having defeated scores of Dutch turncoats, the Hussars were delayed in their advance to Putten. The Germans were fleeing before the 1st Division, and they had to hold ready to respond. Fortuitously, the Germans were routed at the town of Otterloo, freeing the Hussars to continue their advance. Sallying forth, the Hussars rained destruction on the German positions blocking their path. Throwing their tanks into battle against the German’s anti-tank weapons, the Hussars swept the opposition from the field achieving victory after victory. They capturing the Germans that would surrender and eliminated those that continued to fight. Cutting through scores of men, the Hussars were sitting on Putten's doorstep by day’s end. Being so close to their objective, an attempt was made to capture the town as night fell. Unfortunately, a German ambush confounded the advance causing the Hussars to retire for the night.
 Regrouping for the final assault on the fourth morning, the regiment prepared itself to burst through those last German positions and reach the Ijsselmeer. Moving forward, the regiment brushed aside the demoralized contingent of German soldiers remaining in their path and charged into Putten. The city’s residents turned out to laud their liberators. Shortly after, an advance party had parked itself on the shores of the Ijsselmeer. Four days after setting out, the regiment had accomplished its task. The Germans were successfully contained, and large swaths of the Dutch people had been liberated. The success in this campaign would force the Germans to the table to work out their surrender. The race to the Ijsselmeer had been won.  
 
To find out more about Operation Cleanser, or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street.
 

​Amid the impressive advances of Allied forces in Western Europe, by 1945 it was becoming clear that the strategic importance of the Italian campaign was waning. As a result, it became increasingly difficult to justify the presence of the significant number of Allied troops remaining stationed on the Italian Peninsula. Meanwhile in the Western European theater, operations demanded increasing numbers of troops and growing quantities of materiel. Consequently, Allied High Command devised Operation Goldflake, a plan to relocate the 1st Canadian Corps (including the 8th New Brunswick Hussars) and British 5th Infantry Division, from Italy to North West Europe. 

​The operation posed a significant administrative challenge given that the troops and equipment slated to be moved to Western Europe were scattered across the Italian Peninsula. Men and supplies needed to be trucked from their positions across Italy to the ports of Naples and Leghorn, where they would embark upon ships bound for Marseilles, France. Upon arrival in France, it was then a five-day drive to the front. Embarkation began on 22 February, and by the end of April, over 60 000 men had been relocated from Italy to France at an average rate of 3 700 men and 740 vehicles a day.
The 8th New Brunswick Hussars were pulled off the frontline from the 11th to the 14th of January, 1945. A mere five Sherman tanks were left behind in fortified positions while the Regiment was placed in Corps reserve. There, the men got some well-deserved rest but instead of being mustered for a new offensive as they expected, the Hussars found themselves in the port of Leghorn embarking on ships bound for the south of France.
The entire operation required the utmost secrecy, and several precautions were taken to ensure the Germans were kept in the dark. Should the operation be discovered, the Germans would undoubtedly make efforts to intercept the troops en route to their destination and might attempt to exploit the weakened Allied presence in Italy by launching offensive operations. To maintain the charade, the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals maintained normal levels of radio chatter by sending fake messages to avoid rousing enemy suspicions. Next, a special unit was created with the task of keeping up appearances. These men were tasked with driving along predetermined routes across the front to maintain the illusion that Canadian forces remained in their positions.

​Meanwhile, the men were ordered to strip all uniforms and vehicles of any identifying marks that would indicate they were Canadian. Thanks to these measures, the Germans were completely fooled and the operation was executed without any major problems. Later in the war, captured German documents proved the ruse was a success. Enemy maps showed Canadian units to be positioned in various locations across Italy when, in fact, they had left for France.
Moving to France provided a significant boost to the morale of the regiment. Though the men had become acclimated to fighting in Italy, their relocation seemed to signal the war was entering its final stages. As the regimental war diary notes, “the atmosphere among the men is very cheerful, everyone anticipating their move to France and seemingly happy to leave Italy. A number of the men have been in Italy since November, 1943, and the remainder have spent approximately 15 months in this theater.”
By the 24th of January, the entire regiment had been assembled in France and was given the order to move off.  The first day they moved 250 kilometers, 140 on the second, and 200 on the third. The tanks were moved up on rail cars, while many of the men drove up in wheeled vehicles. Throughout the journey to the front, the men were struck by the breathtaking beauty of the countryside through which they passed juxtaposed by the burnt-out remnants of thousands of German vehicles. Eventually, the regiment found itself stationed at a Belgian town names Roulers. Located in the Ypres area of Great War fame, the Hussars stayed there for three weeks. The Hussars found Roulers to be much cleaner and friendlier compared to Italian towns. Relations with the locals were characterized as excellent, and a lively social life emerged. During the period the Hussars were in Roulers, leaves were granted to England and France, and visits to the battlefields of Ypres and Vimy organized. It was a welcome break for a battle-hardened regiment. 
Despite the happy respite, soon it was back to the business of warfighting. The 5th Canadian Division was reorganized, and armoured regiments, including the Hussars, were reinforced with one extra tank per troop, raising the regimental total from 64 to 85. More importantly, however, each troop was given two Sherman Fireflies armed with an excellent 17 pounder gun. Though a reliable and fast tank, the Sherman had long been held back by its inadequate armament. Its short-barrel low-velocity 75mm gun was designed to engage infantry and light vehicles, so it could not penetrate the thick frontal armour of heavy German tanks. The 17 pounder, on the other hand, was much longer and could impart a much greater velocity on its projectile which enabled it to penetrate the armor on even the dreaded Tiger. The Sherman Fireflies would become the regimental fire brigade, being called upon to provide anti-tank support across the line. Well-rested and newly fortified with new tanks, the Hussars were finally ready to head back into action.
            The stage was now set for the endgame in Western Europe. As the Americans thrust into the German Rhineland the Canadians were given the task of moving into the Netherlands. The next phase of the Regiment’s war was about to begin.
To find out more about the 8th Hussars in North-West Europe, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum in the historic Sussex Train Station on Broad Street. 

The New Brunswick Hussars had been mobilized in 1940. They spent the next year training in Canada. Then, having been attached to the 5th Armoured Division in 1941, they continued with their training schedule as armoured soldiers in Great Britain. The Hussars would not see combat action until 1943, when the 5th Armoured Division was deployed to Italy under Operation Timberwolf  at the end of 1943.
​

​Originally, it was decided early in 1943 that the Canadian contribution to the Italian campaign was to have been temporary. The Canadians were to contribute a contingent of soldiers for the invasion of Scilly, then be withdrawn afterwards. However, this was not to be the case. Prime Minister Mackenzie King, along with the Minster of Defense, had been lobbying the British government to commit a Canadian corps, consisting of the 1st Canadian Division and 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, to the Italian peninsula. The tenacity of these Canadian politicians saw the British relent. As such, Operation Timberwolf was created to oversee the logistics required to transport the nearly 30 000 men from England to the staging grounds in North Africa and Italy.
As part of the 5th Armoured Division, the 5th Armoured Regiment had just completed a series of training exercises in October 1943. The expectation that more training was on the way was altered when Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson informed the men that they were deploying under Operation Timberwolf. As a result, the regiment had to turn in their equipment, in the process being outfitted with new equipment from the United States. Their old equipment was left behind for others to make use of. By mid-November, the necessary preparations had been completed and the regiment could embark on the first leg of Operation Timberwolf. Officially, Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson had informed the regiment that they were deploying to Ireland, but this was not to be the case.

​The regiment made its way to the Port of Liverpool. From there the regiment set sail through the Irish Sea. However, as England dropped into the background and Ireland never materialized, rumours swirled through the ranks as to where Operation Timberwolf was really taking them. The men made the most of their time on board, as long as they were not suffering from seasickness. Outside of sunbathing and enjoying some leisure time, the Hussars engaged in various drills and activates to stave off indiscipline. Finally, land come into view during the latter half of November and the regiment was informed that they were soon to be passing through the Straits of Gibraltar. Not soon after, the regiment’s ship made temporary port at Algeria.
While in port, the regiment was temporarily divided, with Headquarters personnel setting sail into the Mediterranean for their journey's end. The rest of the regiment remained in Algeria for a brief stay. While there, they took in the sights of the country, and partook in some celebratory exploration of the city. While they enjoyed themselves, they knew it would not last forever.

By this time, many of the men had a more concrete idea of just where the regiment was being deployed to. With Headquarters having arrived at their destination, the rest of the regiment boarded ship and embarked for the final leg of the journey.
            As December broke over the Italian coast, the men saw their destination, Italy was on the horizon. Once there, the remainder of the regiment trekked from the Port of Naples on the west coast to their rendezvous point on the eastern side of the country at Matera. There they were armed with British equipment. Unfortunately, the equipment was too decrepit to make extensive us of. Thankfully, the men had time to make what repairs they could, and in the meantime, they received some new tanks to bolster their numbers. Finally, with the regiment armed and armoured they could say that their role in Operation Timberwolf had been achieved, the Hussars had arrived in Italy. 
 
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To find out more about Operation Timberwolf, or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street.