2015 Year In Review
The 8th Hussar Museum is coming up to the end of a very successful , exciting and busy year. To all those people, and there are lots that have supported us this past year . THANK YOU!
Our year started off with the Museum's AGM in February held at Resurgo Place Moncton with lunch served by Museum Board Member Diane Lutes . Our next event took place in Sussex at the Irving Chapel with NB Youth Orchestra performing Keeping Faith Concert, which commemorates the centenary of The Great War. The concert included Kevin Lau’s moving composition “A Dream of Dawn” and timeless classics by Borodin, Ravel, and Shostakovich. The Museum's focus was a display " A Vimy Memorial ", the story of two Sussex soldiers from WW I who joined up together and lost their lives together at Vimy Ridge. Family members from these soldiers stay in touch with the museum on a regular basis.
During the months of January, February and March the Museum's front room was a bee hive of activity and MESS as "The Guys" worked on our new exhibit "The Ditch" where we depicted the April days in 1915 when the Germans attacked using poison gas for the first time. (click here for details ) During this time plans were well under way for the the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Netherlands event held in Sussex , March 30th between the Town of Sussex , Town of Eelde (Tynarloo) and the Regiment. This event was actively supported by the Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands and was led by the Embassy military attache, LCol Krista Oppers-Beumer. Flags were exchanged between all three parties and on Tuesday 05 May at 0800 hrs the two towns raised each other’s flags, along side the Regimental flag , to mark the event. On the morning of 05 May 1945 the 8th Hussars received the following message “ Effective 05 May 45, 0800 hrs. Cease all operations” For the Hussars WW II was over after 5 long years of military operations. The Hussars would then move into a small town in the Netherlands called Eelde and there they would stay until repatriated to Canada in Jan 1946. Eelde would become a second home to the Regiment. (click here for details ) On April 1st a group of Museum Board Members traveled to the UNB Currie Center with a display for their 70th Anniversary of Liberation Event. This event was well received by the Dutch Canadian community.
Our year started off with the Museum's AGM in February held at Resurgo Place Moncton with lunch served by Museum Board Member Diane Lutes . Our next event took place in Sussex at the Irving Chapel with NB Youth Orchestra performing Keeping Faith Concert, which commemorates the centenary of The Great War. The concert included Kevin Lau’s moving composition “A Dream of Dawn” and timeless classics by Borodin, Ravel, and Shostakovich. The Museum's focus was a display " A Vimy Memorial ", the story of two Sussex soldiers from WW I who joined up together and lost their lives together at Vimy Ridge. Family members from these soldiers stay in touch with the museum on a regular basis.
During the months of January, February and March the Museum's front room was a bee hive of activity and MESS as "The Guys" worked on our new exhibit "The Ditch" where we depicted the April days in 1915 when the Germans attacked using poison gas for the first time. (click here for details ) During this time plans were well under way for the the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Netherlands event held in Sussex , March 30th between the Town of Sussex , Town of Eelde (Tynarloo) and the Regiment. This event was actively supported by the Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands and was led by the Embassy military attache, LCol Krista Oppers-Beumer. Flags were exchanged between all three parties and on Tuesday 05 May at 0800 hrs the two towns raised each other’s flags, along side the Regimental flag , to mark the event. On the morning of 05 May 1945 the 8th Hussars received the following message “ Effective 05 May 45, 0800 hrs. Cease all operations” For the Hussars WW II was over after 5 long years of military operations. The Hussars would then move into a small town in the Netherlands called Eelde and there they would stay until repatriated to Canada in Jan 1946. Eelde would become a second home to the Regiment. (click here for details ) On April 1st a group of Museum Board Members traveled to the UNB Currie Center with a display for their 70th Anniversary of Liberation Event. This event was well received by the Dutch Canadian community.
We did not slow down in April as we anxiously waited for summer student grant news, interviews and hiring of our summer staff. Plans were made and actioned for season opening on May 13th . Mr. Barton's grades 6 and 7 French immersion class presented the museum with a book of short stories prepared by the students . The 8th Hussar Museum was very honored and pleased to receive a copy of a project prepared by the Sussex Middle School. L'experience Canadienne a Vimy: Une restrospective. At the same time we opened our new Exhibit,"The Ditch" Visitors would see a highly realistic replica of a World War One trench at a time shortly after the gas was released. There are sandbags, mud, blood and a wounded Canadian desperately trying to breathe. HUSSARS MUSEUM REMEMBERS GAS ATTACK . (click here for details )
To keep us on our toes during the summer months activities included a visit from 2859 Sussex Army Cadets , an exhibit at the Moncton Highland Games , Monton Motorcycle group visit, a visit from the MacAulay Family which donated artifacts and archives of James MaCaulay 1895- 1969 and Carl came to the Museum to take photographs of our Regimental china dating back to the late 1800's. Late July Guy Tremblay and Andre Godin (Heritage Branch) visited. We shared many stories and "Showed off" our new exhibits that we are very proud of especially our Sussex Trench. During the summer season we had over 1900 visitors. Summer staff also worked on both our archive and Virtual Collection data bases, scanned photographs and created a library and list of books owned by the Museum. Early September Arnie Jantz and his wife Betty stopped by for a visit on their travels from Petawawa ,and more stories were shared.
Flea Market and Balloon fiesta fund raising was successful again in 2015 - Also Mr. Paul Butler, President of the Army Cadet League of Canada (New Brunswick) presented an Appreciation Award to the Museum Committee of the 8th Hussars Museum at the Cadet Leagues annual meeting at CFB Gagetown. This award recognizes the efforts of the museum committee in raising funds to support four of the Regiments Associated Cadet Corps in Sussex, Moncton, Dieppe and Port Elgin during the past years during their fundraising efforts parking cars at the Sussex Balloon Fiesta and Flea Market. These two events draw over 40,000 visitors to Sussex annually. The funding supported corps events such as field trips, accoutrements and in some cases band instruments.
Flea Market and Balloon fiesta fund raising was successful again in 2015 - Also Mr. Paul Butler, President of the Army Cadet League of Canada (New Brunswick) presented an Appreciation Award to the Museum Committee of the 8th Hussars Museum at the Cadet Leagues annual meeting at CFB Gagetown. This award recognizes the efforts of the museum committee in raising funds to support four of the Regiments Associated Cadet Corps in Sussex, Moncton, Dieppe and Port Elgin during the past years during their fundraising efforts parking cars at the Sussex Balloon Fiesta and Flea Market. These two events draw over 40,000 visitors to Sussex annually. The funding supported corps events such as field trips, accoutrements and in some cases band instruments.
In Mid- September the Association of 8th Canadian Hussars held their annual AGM in Sussex with a memorial service held at the Museum The Service was opened by MLA Bruce Northrup, Dr Lee Windsor presented an account of the liberation of the Netherlands at the closing of World War II and as usual Lee did an outstanding job of making us feel like we were there and gave us a lot to think about . The Roll of Honor was read and service was closed by the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph . Veterans Mary and Gordon Bickerton and Raymond MacAulay were in attendance as well as the Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Bech and Regimental Sergeant-Major Chief Warrant Officer Thom Halfkenny , Soldiers , Veterans ,and many family members of veterans and friends . After the service an excellent dinner was served at the Royal Canadian Legion Sussex branch.
We move into October - On the morning of 3 October 2015 8th Hussar Museum Board Members, Volunteers and Friends traveled to Gagetown for the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps 75th Anniversary Parade . On the parade square there was a spectacular line up of tanks from the very large leopard to a vintage Bren Gun Carrier and Ferret! The Vintage vehicles lead the parade, a Ferret Scout Car owned and driven by Mike Baxter , followed by the Bren Gun carrier owned by the 8th Hussars Museum Sussex N.B. The Bren Gun Carrier was driven by Museum Board member Darren Spicer , dressed in an original War II uniform. Our Bren Carrier was used in the roll past and by the inspecting officers Gen Bowes, and Gen Dean, out going Colonel Commandant of the Armoured Corp. Gen Dean, He specifically asked for it since his first experience with the military included a ride in a Bren gun Carrier. A proud moment for the 8th Hussars Museum! (View a Power Point)
We move into October - On the morning of 3 October 2015 8th Hussar Museum Board Members, Volunteers and Friends traveled to Gagetown for the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps 75th Anniversary Parade . On the parade square there was a spectacular line up of tanks from the very large leopard to a vintage Bren Gun Carrier and Ferret! The Vintage vehicles lead the parade, a Ferret Scout Car owned and driven by Mike Baxter , followed by the Bren Gun carrier owned by the 8th Hussars Museum Sussex N.B. The Bren Gun Carrier was driven by Museum Board member Darren Spicer , dressed in an original War II uniform. Our Bren Carrier was used in the roll past and by the inspecting officers Gen Bowes, and Gen Dean, out going Colonel Commandant of the Armoured Corp. Gen Dean, He specifically asked for it since his first experience with the military included a ride in a Bren gun Carrier. A proud moment for the 8th Hussars Museum! (View a Power Point)
All year long behind the scenes Chairman of the board Tom McLaughlan was setting up plans for our exhibit at Lest We Forget History of Service Exhibition Moncton November 10th and 11th. Museum Board Members , Volunteers and Friends worked together for weeks to build an exhibit that walked people through the 167 year history of the 8th Hussars from the beginnings, 1785 through to present day Regiment. We had panels with corresponding photographs created to tell the story along with a few artifacts and mannequins dressed in original or replica uniforms. We have a blog click here that will walk you through from start to finish. This has been our largest outreach accomplishment to date. We had a small time frame to set up and we had to be totally prepared. With only a couple of small glitches our Exhibit was an outstanding success and enjoyed by many.
As we were knee deep in preparation for Less We Forget , a phone call in late October from Lorraine Pollock asking if we could participate on November 5th in helping plant the Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden . Yes we sure can was our answer as this garden is planted in front of Town Hall in Sussex surrounding the flag poles where on each year on May 5th flags will be flown between the Town of Sussex , Town of Eelde (Tynarloo) and the Regiment. How cool would it be if the tulips were up on May 5th 2016? That is our hope . (click here for details)
As we were knee deep in preparation for Less We Forget , a phone call in late October from Lorraine Pollock asking if we could participate on November 5th in helping plant the Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden . Yes we sure can was our answer as this garden is planted in front of Town Hall in Sussex surrounding the flag poles where on each year on May 5th flags will be flown between the Town of Sussex , Town of Eelde (Tynarloo) and the Regiment. How cool would it be if the tulips were up on May 5th 2016? That is our hope . (click here for details)
November 11th the 8th Hussar Museum was opened to the public for Remembrance Day. We had an awesome day and visit with veterans over coffee and donuts once again sharing many stories. Gary Bowser was very proud and honored to place a wreath in Sussex for friend and board member Diane Lutes, in memory of her brother, F/O Robert Howard who was with the RCAF and was killed in service on a flight from Ottawa to NORAD HQ on 29 April 1960 when the entire crew were lost due to a weather related crash. This was Gary's 50th year in a row presenting a wreath or memorial on Remembrance Day. Click here for details
To end off the year a Christmas Dinner was held in Hampton by the Harold Gamblin Chapter. A great time was had by all.
To end off the year a Christmas Dinner was held in Hampton by the Harold Gamblin Chapter. A great time was had by all.
A few behind the scenes activities included our Archive data base moved over to a new AtoM website, our Museum was chosen as a small museum in Canada to participate in digital preservation policy and procedure plan, we attended AMNB Conference in Moncton, a CANB workshop in Fredericton , monthly zone meetings in various locations and the 8th Hussars Museum has a new and updated website . The people behind the scenes are a diverse group of people all coming together regularly with different talents to keep the Museum running smoothly . We are all volunteers with a strong devotion to preserve, display and illustrate the military history and heritage of the region through education, and outreach using various media and social techniques. Click here to meet our team .
The 8th Hussars Museum is sponsored by the Association of 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louises) Inc. http://www.8chassociation.com/. We are supported by the Province of New Brunswick ,Grants were received from the Heritage Branch and the NB Council of Archives to hire an employee to update the Virtual Collections program and convert our old archive database over to the new provincial system, AtoM. Both programs are available to the public through the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) and the NB Provincial Archives. This work was completed by 30 Mar 15. We were the first museum in NB to complete this first phase of the establishment of this program. The 8th Hussars Museum is also very much supported by the Town of Sussex . To show our appreciation we, the 8th Hussar Museum board members presented the Town of Sussex during a council meeting a Miniature Guidon. A special thanks to Jason Thorne for approving and allowing us to use all available space in the Train Station to display our Exhibits.
Plans are under way for events in 2016.
PHEW !! When we started this post off we said , "The 8th Hussar Museum is coming up to the end of a very successful , exciting and busy year." WE SURE DID !!
Happy New Year and we will see You in 2016!!
Plans are under way for events in 2016.
PHEW !! When we started this post off we said , "The 8th Hussar Museum is coming up to the end of a very successful , exciting and busy year." WE SURE DID !!
Happy New Year and we will see You in 2016!!