"Preserving our Past for the Future since 1973"
The Association & Museum of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) Inc.
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The 8th Hussars Museum and Camp Sussex

5/30/2018

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The 8th Hussars Museum and Camp Sussex


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Train Station


The Sussex Train Station itself has significant history. It was completed in 1913, just in time to see troops embark for the battlefields of Western Europe in the First World War.
The building also served as a telegraph office, as the wires followed along the train tracks


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Camp Sussex

  • In 1891, the area around what became Camp Sussex was thoroughly examined by military planners and became a potential candidate for the establishment of a military camp
  • Prior to the formal establishment of Camp Sussex, much of the land in the area was rented out for military use
  • In the Spring of 1893, the Dominion of Canada purchased Morrison Farm, a 344 acre site just east of the present-day Town of Sussex, to be used for militia training. This date marked the formal establishment of Camp Sussex
  • 1894 - 1914 saw the greatest growth of the Canadian militia. In this time period, more men and horses were trained than ever before in the camp
  • During both World Wars, the camp rose to prominence due to its easy rail access and proximity to Halifax. Troops could be transported by rail from Sussex to Halifax in a single night, under the cover of darkness to aid in secrecy
  • During WWII, the camp was built to hold 10 000 men, so entire divisions could be moved in and out easily

  • At the conclusion of the Second World War, a significant portion of Camp Sussex was soon decommissioned. This meant that a large portion of the Camp infrastructure was sold or else demolished

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The 8th Hussars

  • Canada's oldest continually serving cavalry regiment, the 8th Hussars has a long and illustrious history that is intimately connected to Canadian military glory
  • The regiment was officially founded in 1848
  • Hussars in New Brunswick were mostly farm and factory workers from the small towns and river valleys of the southern half of the province
  • In the earlier days of the regiment, the men brought their own horses from the farm to train at camp Sussex. The men were paid more for the upkeep of their horses than they were themselves.

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Some Hussars volunteered to fight in the Boer War from 1899-1902
  • By the eve of the Second World War, however, horses were exchanged for motorcycles and ultimately tanks.
  • The Hussars fought with distinction on the battlefields of Western Europe in WWI, and in Italy and the Netherlands in WWII.
  • The 8th Hussars played a role in rebuilding the town of Eelde in the Netherlands after the end of the Second World War. These actions forged a relationship that endures to this day. On May 5th a special ceremony commemorating the liberation of the Netherlands is held in town.
  • Later the Hussars were stationed in Germany as part of Canada's NATO commitments and took part in peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and Cyprus.
  • Today the 8th Hussars are reserve soldiers, continuing to support the regular army. Some members served in the War in Afghanistan.



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The Museum

Lately, the 8th Hussars Museum has been focusing on highlighting the history of the First World War. 2018 marks 100 years since the last year of what was called "the War to End all Wars." We have a new display about WWI tanks and another about the last Canadian, and perhaps last Allied soldier, killed in the war, including some of his personal effects..
For Sussex Summerfest, the Museum will be presenting with a theme of homecoming, celebrating the soldiers who returned after a hard fought victory.


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Opening Day 2018

5/6/2018

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Opening 2018 Summer Season

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Following the Flag raising ceremony, at Town Hall we made our way over to the 8th Hussars Museum for our official opening of the 2018 summer season.
Tom McLaughlan, Museum Chair, welcomed all visitors and guests.


Tom past the mic over to Brian Clancy, a Sussex Middle School teacher. This year , grade 6 and 7 French Immersion students from Sussex Middle School wrote a book of short essays exploring the inspirational life of Anne Frank. Anne was an 11-year old Jewish school girl living in Amsterdam when the Nazis forced her family into hiding in 1942. The book is titled Cher Kitty, a nod to how Anne began her diary entries each day. The project grew out of their Provincial curriculum, which calls upon students to explore human rights for children. And explore they did! Something extraordinary occurred when they welcomed Anne's 74-year old diary into their classroom. This teenager sparked a remarkable level of curiosity and academic engagement that was just a joy for the teachers to watch unfold.

A copy of this book will be on display at the Museum. Stop by  to read through this remarkable book which we were very honored to receive.
The Museum will be open the week of May 14th .



  Presentations of the school book, Cher Kitty - Lessons from the Life of Anne Frank based on her story from WW II, to the Embassy Attaché, MP, MLA, Town and Museum.


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A Vimy Ridge banner and battle field map was presented to the Sussex Middle School by the 8th Hussars Museum



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The unveiling of the 8th Hussars museum’s 2018 display on WW I and the Last Soldier Killed, 11 Nov 1918 with family members Lawrence and Tammy Price. Assisted by LCol Linssen and LCol Peppard.

Harvey McLeod spoke with the middle school students on the last 100 days of World War 1, ending November 11, 1918. Please make plans to stop by when you have the opportunity to step back in time and view our 1918 trench display.
A busy morning was followed by a Reception held at the new Sussex Arts and Culture Centre, and lunch at Knocks Cafe hosted by the Town of Sussex .
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May 5th 2018

5/6/2018

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73rd Anniversary of Liberation 2018

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.

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May 5th 2018 - Based on the agreements signed in 2015, the Town of Sussex and the Town of Tynarloo (Eelde) in the Netherlands agreed to fly each others flags on 05 May annually to celebrate the end of WW II in the Netherlands, and to recognize the war time role played by the 5th Armoured Regiment - The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s), a regiment that has resided in the Town of Sussex for 170 years continuously.


At town hall Jason Thorne welcomed  guests and visitors-
A history of the event and it’s significance – Jason Thorne
Welcomes – Mayor Marc Thorne, MP Alaina Lockhart, MLA Bruce Northrup
Responses – LCol Ton Linssen, Military Attache, Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands and LCol Tom Peppard, Commanding Officer of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s)
Mayor Thorne – An invitation to fly the flags of the 8th Canadian Hussars and Tynarloo (NL) in the Town of Sussex. LCol Linssen and LCol Peppard assisted by soldiers of the Regiment,
MCpl Rick Jones, Cpl Brad Janssen and Sgt Darren Spicer.

An email message from Rob & Annemieke Gulmans

As a Dutch citizen I am humbled by the itinerary of celebrations you are holding to commemorate the 73rd Anniversary of the end of WW II in the Netherlands. As a former resident of Sussex (and a current resident of Annen- the neighbouring town to Eelde, liberated by the 8th Hussars) I recently informed what kind of celebrations the municipality here had organised for the May 5th celebrations.

The municipality of Tynaarlo told me that on April 13th (the day of liberation of Eelde) and on May 5th, they fly the flag of the 8th Husssars, the Sussex flag, and the Dutch flag in unison. However, there are no special  presentations or ceremonies as such.
 
The Historical Society of Eelde (Ol Eel) informed me that they too are flying the flags of the 8th Hussars (a local made replica), Sussex and the Netherlands on their community building (the former town hall of the town of Eelde). They have a small ceremony on April the 13th where they commemorate by having a minute of silence. See link on their website for picture: 
 
 h
ttps://oleel.nl/images/2actueel/DiverseActiviteiten/Vlag_uit_13april18.JPG)
 
The Historical Society also has made a movie of the occupation and liberation of Eelde (
https://oleel.nl/beeldbank/filmpjes/88-bevrijding-eelde). Unfortunately completely in Dutch, but it has some nice pictures and movie clips of the liberation.
 
Further I found during my last visit to the church of Eelde a commemorative plaque, which might interest you (see attached pictures).
 
So even though I personally find it dissapointing to learn that the municipality of Tynaarlo has no official ceremonies or celebrations with regard to the liberation of Eelde and the 8th Hussars role in this, I do am very pleased to see the 8th Hussars are still warmly remembered by many citizens in Eelde.
 
Kind regards,
 
Rob & Annemieke Gulmans

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    Welcome to the 8th Hussars Museum
     The 8th Hussars Museum is located in the historic Train Station in Sussex, NB. The building has been restored to its original grandeur and is situated in the hub of the Town of Sussex. The Victorian-era structure houses many of the important artifacts of the museum and is accessible to the general public. Since the later part of the 19th century, countless Hussars arrived by rail to train at Camp Sussex and later to serve in the South African War, WWI and WWII.
    The collection includes many items representing the life of the Regiment with original uniforms dating back to 1881, original Routine Orders dating back to 1893, memorabilia from members who represented the Regiment at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, WWI, WWII, UN/NATO peacekeeping tours as well as the Afghanistan engagement. Of particular interest are the flags from each of these eras. The Museum also proudly holds the original accouterments of HRH The Princess Royal who is Colonel Commandant of the Regiment.

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