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.