​In July 1940, Lieutenant-Colonel H.S. Gamblin was informed by the Defense Headquarters of Military District No. 7 that the 8th New Brunswick Hussars, Princess Louise, were to be mobilized as the 4th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment in Camp Sussex. 

​Immediately following mobilization, the regiment initiated a series of comprehensive training programs. These programs served to prepare the men to use their equipment, when they eventually got it, and to instill military discipline in the ranks.  In addition to this, regimental recruitment had opened within days of mobilization. The results were impressive, by the end of the month the regiment had taken-on-strength nearly 350 men.
            The majority of recruits had no previous military experience, so it was imperative that the men be whipped into military shape. As such, the regiment ensured that the men had ample time to engage in supplementary physical and social activities. The men were inundated with a series of sports competitions, both inter-regimental and extra-regimental. Besides this, the men were able to attend social events within the Camp. Outside of this, the regiment also ensured the men had access to religious services. As such, Catholic and Protestant services were held regularly at the Camp.
            September broke cold and dreary over Camp Sussex. However, this did not deter the regiment as it continued to build itself into a fighting force. September marked several important developments for the Regiment. Of note is the fact that the regiment paraded for the first time since mobilization with a full arsenal of Ross rifles, unfortunately they were essential defunct. More importantly, the 4th Canadian Motorcycle regiment received their first contingent of motorcycles, driven up from the City of Saint John. This allowed for a shift in training with an emphasis being placed on motorcycle use and maintenance. 

As Fall progressed, a busy training schedule was implemented for the regiment. New motorcycles were brought up from Saint John. This provided additional training opportunities for the men. Unfortunately, as with any new endeavour, several motorcycles were damaged in the course of training, in most cases the operators escaped unscathed, but several had to hospitalized for a brief period. Besides this, the regiment went to work around the Camp. The men were tasked with hauling gravel to build up the Camp’s infrastructure. On top of this, the men were receiving their first series of vaccinations, in preparation for eventual deployment.
            It is interesting to note that despite the rigorous training regimes, it was sometimes difficult to impart the importance of military decorum to the men. Over exuberant celebrations the night before parades could oft result in one or two men being visibly intoxicated at parade the morning after, punishment for this infraction varied from forfeiture of pay to, in extreme cases, demotion. By far the most common breech of military protocol occurred due to the fact that some of the men had difficulty staying within the boundaries of the Camp. This resulted in many soldiers being Confined to Barracks with no pay after being found guilty of going AWOL (absent without leave). However, military discipline began to take hold in the regiment. It helped that the regiment continued to its expand its training regimen, decreasing the amount of time the men had to get into trouble. Qualifying courses for the operation of motorcycles had to be increased as the number of motorcycles the regiment had access to increased. Besides this, the men trained continually on the maintenance and operation of their rifles and equipment. This was especially important considering that an arsenal of old 300 Ross Rifles had been issued to the Regiment in November. 

​As winter set in during the end of 1940, the regimental training began to slow down as Christmas approached. In part, this was a consequence of the weather, which had stricken many with a fierce cold. Notwithstanding this, during this time almost the entire regiment was qualified on the Ross Rifle after extensive drill sessions. Moreover, the regiment received the final contingent of their motorcycles. Finally equipped with enough vehicles, the regiment was able to go on parade with their motorcycles for the first time. With Christmas and New Year leaves approaching, the regiment continued its training, waiting to see what 1941 would hold for them.
            While diligently training as a motorcycle regiment, the men knew that motorcycles were going to be ineffective against the armoured regiments fielded by the Axis. As such, 1941 would bring an end to the existence of the 4th Canadian Motorcycle regiment. On 24th February 1941, Lieutenant-Colonel Gambin informs the regiment that henceforth they would no longer be the 4th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment, but would be re-mobilized as the 5th Canadian Armoured Regiment, 8th Princess Louise New Brunswick Hussars. Despite the new challenges this entailed, the regiment had established a camaraderie and military proficiency that would allow them to meet their new tasking head-on.


​To find out more about the 4th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment, or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street.
 

​After an extensive struggle to breakthrough the Gothic Line in September 1944, the men of the 8th Hussars found themselves halted at Coriano Ridge. Situated just south-east of San Marino in the province of Rimini, Coriano was a small farming town, which once had many similarities to Sussex. However, the area had been plagued by conflict for centuries, and especially during the Second World War. Bombing was heavy and most of the farms and other buildings had been completely destroyed. 

The Hussars were exhausted and had suffered many casualties, but the Germans were in far worse conditions. The battles at the Gothic Line had worn down German troops immensely. The ridge was being held by the few remaining fortified German positions, and a very well-planned attack would be required to advance.
 
The first few days were spent on organization; repairing vehicles and replenishing troops. Many major positions had to be replaced after the battle at the
Gothic Line. The men of the Hussars came back under command of Ian Cumberland's 5th Armoured Division; Captain Lloyd Hill took over 'A' squadron as acting major; Hunter Dunn commanded the new squadron rear link; Tim Ellis was made acting major of the Headquarters squadron; and Ray Neil was promoted to acting captain in 'C' squadron. 

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The weather was working against the men. Torrential rain for days on end caused the rivers to over-flow and the ground to become soft. Hills and mountain sides were subject to mudslides that cut off roads and access points. The poor conditions in the sky halted all air support operations. This delay finally gave the Germans an opportunity to reorganize and replenish their defences. Any advantage the Canadians had when they arrived at the ridge, was lost.
 
The allied attack was undertaken at night on September 13th, 1944. Every tank they had was rushed to front lines. They began crossing the Besanigo River and immediately opened fire on Coriano. They rained 400 shells onto the enemy defence and by morning, 'A' squadron was across the river. 'B' & 'C' squadrons supported the Cape Breton Highlanders in moving up the slopes on the other side. Soon, the Allies surrounded Coriano, allowing for the Irish regiment along with Hussars to advance into the town.  

Inside the town of Coriano was a different type of combat altogether. This was close combat, they no longer had the protection of their Sherman tanks and it seemed all types of enemy fire were coming at the men from all directions. The Hussars and the other regiments proceeded slowly and cautiously but soon realized that the enemy was not as strong as they had thought.  Germany had pulled back and all that remained were scattered snipers. The 8th Hussars had spent 10 days in the worst conditions the regiment had ever seen; but the fight for Coriano was finally over.
 
If you would like to find out more about Coriano Ridge, The Italian Campaign, or the 8th Hussars in general, you can visit the 8th Hussars Museum in the historic Sussex train station. 

​In the late summer and into the fall of 1944, the Allies were fighting to take down the Gothic Line, the last German defence line in Italy. Northern Italy remained under control of the Axis and contained factories and supplies vital to the German war efforts. As well, contained in this area were the cities of Bologna, Modena and Milan where rich agricultural land had been providing food to the Germans and the Axis. Therefore, they fought as hard as they could to make it impossible for the Allies to breakthrough.
 
The regions in Northern Italy that the Germans wished to protect were separated by a natural barrier – the Apennine Mountains. Sitting on this mountain range, the heavily armed Gothic Line stretched approximately from Massa to Pesaro. The mirrored Allied line stretched from approximately Pisa to Fano. The Canadians were situated on the Adriatic coast near Coriano, Italy with the objective of capturing Rimini. 

Coriano was a very important agricultural area for the province of Rimini. It was a small village made up primarily of farmland. The 8th Princess Louise’s New Brunswick Hussars were on the front lines. This regiment based in the small town of Sussex, New Brunswick was made up of mostly farm boys, who were accustomed to the quiet, farming lifestyle. However, amidst the destroyed homes and farms, and the bodies of the dead and wounded, it was hard to tell that Coriano ever held any resemblance to their beloved town.  
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On the night of September 15th, the Canadians had been fighting continuously at Coriano Ridge. Although they were slowly advancing, the Germans were persistent and the sweltering heat was intense. The Canadians felt as if they may never see an end to the fighting. That night, in a moment of silence on the battlefield then men could hear an animal’s cry in distress. They came across a young foal of about 2 or 3 months old pacing around her dead mother. The foal was hungry, injured and confused. It was no question for these young men from New Brunswick that they must save her.

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The 8th Hussars now felt as though they had a purpose. They had a young, distressed animal in need of their help. The responsibility of looking after the foal was given to the mechanics, while this encouraged the soldiers to continue fighting. Gordon Bickerton was one of the mechanics who helped care for her. He recalls that she was very friendly and easy to take care of. When it came time to choose a name for the friendly foal, the men chose Princess Louise, after Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter who had given her name to the regiment in 1882.
 
The fighting continued for another 3 or 4 days before the Canadians took Coriano Ridge. This was one of the bloodiest battles fought in Italy during World War II and was the most action that the 8th Hussars had seen in the history of the regiment. The men had created a banner that said “Princess Louise” on it for the horse to wear on her back. Princess Louise was seen as the inspiration and a morale booster for the Canadians at Coriano Ridge, a true Canadian war hero.
 
 

​Princess Louise became the mascot of the regiment, as well as emerging as a sort of celebrity. She was saluted by soldiers and marched in parades. The men of the 8th Hussars continued to care for her, and she travelled with them for the remainder of the war. Since they weren’t allowed to take any animals out of Italy, this meant putting her in trucks or hiding her while they were travelling from place to place. They even created a stall in a three-ton truck which they concealed with their army kits and baggage to carry Princess Louise through France, Belgium and Holland.
 
At the end of the war, Princess Louise was not able to travel home with the men on the troop ships. She remained in Britain for about 3 months with the British Army’s Royal Army Veterinarian Corps, before being shipped to New York aboard the Dutch liner Leerdam. She then travelled by train from New York to Saint John, New Brunswick where she was met by cheering crowds.
 
She was later reunited with the 8th Hussars, the men who cared for her throughout the war. She was met with an honour guard in Saint John and marched in a parade with full regalia. She was wearing her service medals which included the 1939-1945 Star, The Italy Star, The France and Germany Star, The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and 3 wound stripes. People came from all over to welcome the beloved war hero. School children in Rothesay were even given the day off from school to attend the parade.
 

​Princess Louise became Canadian equine royalty. She was transported to Hampton where she was made a free woman of King’s County and the Community of Hampton. She was also made a naturalized Canadian and given a bale of hay, a bag of oats and a shovel. She was granted the “God given right to trample and eat from any and all vegetable gardens at will, or even from supplies at Sharp’s feed store.” As a final honour she also became a member of the Hampton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion by marking the membership form with her hoof print.
 
Princess Louise served as the Regimental Mascot for 27 years. Throughout her career she participated in ceremonies, church services, Remembrance Day parades and met various dignitaries. On her 25th birthday, a party was held in her honour complete with a large cake. The beloved mascot died at age 29 in 1973. She had 3 foals, Princess Louise II and 2 sons, Prince and Hussar. Princess Louise II took over for her mother after her death.
 
Gordon and Mary Bickerton cared for Princess Louise for most of her life in Canada, and were referred to as the horse’s parents. They recalled that the horse wasn’t only friendly, but was a comic as well. She enjoyed eating cigarettes and drinking whisky and beer. Sometimes during parades Princess Louise would fall asleep and Bickerton remembers having to tug on her ear and yell “Princess Louise, wake up!” 

 The Second World War is the largest armed conflict in recorded history and it encompassed the entire world in one way, or another. Fighting took place in North Africa and the Pacific, but with the largest concentration of fighting in Europe. Cities and farmland alike had been obliterated and transformed into battlefields. Some civilians were killed, others were armed and forced to fight. Soldiers endured the worst conditions possible, and by the beginning of 1941 the number of casualties had already surpassed that of the First World War.
 
            Unaware of the details of these conditions on the home front, the members of the 8th Hussars were eager to see action overseas. They had been mobilized as the 4th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment and patiently waited together at Camp Sussex for a call to battle. One officer particularly interested in the regiment seeing the front lines was Howard Keirstead. He is quoted saying "I think 99 percent of us want to see action and naturally we want to be together... can you tell us anything that will give us some hope & make us feel better?"
 

In the winter of 1940-1941 the decision was finally made in Ottawa to establish two armoured divisions and two independent tank brigades. The 8th Hussars would become part of the first of the two armoured divisions as the 5th Armoured Regiment. This news meant an end to the 4th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment and a return to the tank role that they had previously anticipated. They would move to Camp Borden in Ontario to be informed of what they should expect before going overseas. 


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​Quartermaster Sergeant Howard Keirstead disembarked on October 20th 1941 in Ogbourne, St.George, England with a total of 647 other Hussars for training. Equipment for the regiment was scarce due to primary focuses on Dunkirk and North Africa. 1943 saw division remodelling. QMS Howard Keirstead was promoted to Major and the regiment arrived in the Mediterranean November 24th. By January 19th, 1944, 48 Sherman tanks had arrived on strength. The men were familiar with Shermans from having practiced with them in Britain.  They were impressed with the design of the tanks that gave thought to the crew and the operation, noted in the roomy turret and improved driver’s compartment. By January 28th, they were moving up the front and Major Howard Keirstead was given command of the tank group that went first.

The Hussars had already travelled through much of Italy, they had become seasoned soldiers and had familiarized themselves with the land. When Howard Keirstead and his men arrived at Ceprano May 27th 1944, they were detained by a river. They were informed that boats would be there to help them but there was none in sight. The Irish had been situated 500 yards beyond the other side of the river, and so when movement was seen on the other side, they did not expect it was an enemy.
 
            Keirstead and his men climbed out of their tanks to stretch and make tea. They were taken by surprise and endured 45 minutes of ceaseless fire. Five men were killed in the attack and eight wounded. When Keirstead was informed there was no way to cross the river, he decided to move his squadron to a less exposed spot. They could still see the German vehicles moving away to safety and orders remained that they were not to be touched. After 8 days of combat the ban was finally lifted. Keirstead’s ‘B’ Squadron reported “a pathfinder destroyed, a self-propelled gun damaged, an 88 knocked out and its crew captured, several machine guns and an ammunition dump captured or destroyed.”

​Not long after their ambush at Ceprano, the Hussars would face the Gothic Line; the last major German defence that remained in Italy. The heavily armed human-shield was situated along the Apennine mountain range, cutting the allies off from Northern Italy. The Germans used over 15,000 slave-labourers to create a wall of approximately 2,000 machine gun nests, bunkers, artillery positions, and anything else they could institute to repel the allied forces.              
 The 8th Hussars fought in the battle of Coriano on the Adriatic coast of the Gothic Line. Major Keirstead & Sergeant Fisher became separated from the others after moving down the Besengo slope to confront the enemy infantry. They endured heavy fire and were forced to drive into a deep, dry stream bed to take cover. It gave them temporary protection, but it also trapped them. The enemy crawled toward them, forcing the tanks to return fire. During the hours of the day the tanks could prevent bazookas from advancing close enough to inflict damage. The other allied tanks became pinned and were unable to help. Sergeant Fisher advised his crew to go out through the escape hatch beneath the tank and leave.
 
            September 3rd, 1944. Major Howard Keirstead’s crew remained firm, convinced that they could wait out the attack. Germans approached with the bazookas and open fired, causing the men to abandon their tanks and race for cover. However, the enemy was waiting and as they ran for shelter they were peppered with bullets. Gunner Charlie Stevens was paralysed from the waist down and their driver E.R. Hilchey was killed. Keirstead fell, crippled with two bullets in his left arm and seven in his thigh. Lance-Corporal John Wentworth attempted to crawl towards him but was shot in the lower leg and forced to continue back to the bank where he was wounded again above his right knee.
 

​Wentworth, Stevens and Stevenson contemplated possible escape plans. They agreed since Stevenson was unharmed he would go and try to make it back to the Canadian lines for help. They heard gunfire after he left but what they did not realize was that the Sergeant had attempted to gain radio contact with Regimental Headquarters and he had headed toward the tank instead of immediately departing. In the morning they found his body lying half-in and half-out of the turret.
 
            Keirstead decided that although he was badly injured, he would attempt to make it back to the Canadian lines himself as Stevens and Wentworth were too severely injured to attempt it. September 4th, after hundreds of yards of painful progress, Keirstead heard the sound of approaching mortar shells and flattening out, he waited. The explosion caused shrapnel to tear three fresh wounds in his right leg, one in his shoulder, another in his head, and caused paralysis in his right arm. He continued to crawl but realized he was lost. He decided to make his way to a nearby farmhouse. However, the Italian family living there refused to treat his wounds as they did not want to show preference to either side.
 
            He continued to crawl until he reached the next house. Unlike the first family, the Italian peasants occupying the second house helped him inside and cared for him. They were caught off-guard by the sound of footsteps as three Germans walked in. But, rather than shoot Keirstead, they cleaned him up, diluted wine to clean his wounds, fed him chicken broth and checked his temperature. They then carried him to an adjoining cow shed and placed him in bed. The three men were in fact German deserters. They cared for him as they all had the same wish – to arrive safely at the Canadian lines. However, on September 6th the Italian family intercepted an Irish ally jeep and they took the Germans prisoner and Keirstead to the Canadians.
 
            Meanwhile, Sergeant Fisher had found Stevens and Wentworth. Stevens had suffered four bullets in the back and was given a shot of morphine. He did not even recognize Fisher when he came to his aide. Wentworth’s legs were both badly injured and Fisher quickly attended to them. He buried Hilchey but he could not reach Stevenson’s body as enemy fire continued. Help finally arrived on the night of September 9th. Wentworth was able to recover after months of medical attention but Stevens was not as fortunate. Major Howard Keirstead recovered after months of hospitalization. He was awarded a Mention in Dispatches to commemorate him for his outstanding service. Sergeant Fisher received the Military Medal for “highest devotion of duty” before the King in Buckingham.
 
            Howard Keirstead returned to his home of Hampton, New Brunswick after the war. He continued his work with the family company and started a family of his own. He married Dorothy Patricia Cavanaugh on June 6th 1946 and they had two children; Charles Howard Keirstead, born April 4th, 1947; and Gregory Wayne Keirstead, born April 23rd, 1951. Howard Keirstead became the first elected Mayor of the Village of Hampton from 1967 to 1969. As well he was President of the Hampton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He passed away on February 12th, 2002 at 85 years old, a Canadian War Hero.
           
If you would like to find out more about the Major Howard Keirstead or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street.
 
 
 
 

By the end of 1943 Italy had been divided, yet Germany continued to devote significant quantities of manpower and material to its defence. However, in the fall of 1943, the Allied powers occupied Sicily and conquered as far as Naples by the end of the year. The 8th New Brunswick Hussars were eagerly preparing to join the forces in Italy at this critical point in the war. They disembarked in Naples to move forward into battle as a regiment for the first time.
 
The conflict in Italy traced back to World War I. Italy had been an ally of the Triple Entente Powers. Britain, France and Russia had persuaded  Italy to align with them by promising them territorial compensations that they had been interested in. However, after the war Italy discovered that the Entente had never intended to fulfil their promises. During the inter-war period, fascist governments began to rise to power in several countries across the world. In Italy, this was the National Fascist Party under the authority of Benito Mussolini. One of Mussolini's key campaign points was drawing attention to the Entente's betrayal of their promises. He believed that if Italy would not be granted the territory that rightfully belonged to them, that he would acquire it through military force.
 
Mussolini was anti-communist and also had many imperialist objectives for Italy. He wanted to colonize parts of North Africa as well as claim territory on the Dalmatian Coast. With both territorial expansion and the destruction of communism as common interests, the fascist states of  Italy, Japan and Germany signed several treaties throughout the 1930's solidifying the Axis alliance. After the conflict broke out between Germany and the Allies in 1939, Italy declared war on Albania and joined the conflict on the side of the Axis.  

​In the years leading up to 1943 Italy had suffered great defeats in both the Eastern European and North African campaigns. The Italian Empire had essentially collapsed, Mussolini was arrested, and occupied and annexed territories fell under German control. The Royal Italian Army fell with the empire. However, because of the division with Germany occupying Northern Italy and the Allies occupying the south, Italians were recruited to fight for both sides. The Axis acquired more than 500,000 soldiers from the North. The Allies raised the Italian Co-belligerent Army of 50,000 soldiers, and also acquired approximately 350,000 partisans.
  
The 8th Hussars spent their first few months taking in the sights and culture of Italy between training. In some regions, the looming presence of fascism was apparent through posters and propaganda, and the desolate people who remained in fragmented cities. However, other regions such as the Volturno River and Rome remained mostly unharmed and beautiful. Many leaves were granted for extended vacations, and the Hussars were able to enjoy the warm sunshine on the beach, or the world-class food and wine in the city. When the time came for them to see action, they were well rested and prepared.
​

Throughout 1944, the 8th Hussars and the Allied forces proved to be stronger. They advanced  to Rome on June 4th, and Florence on August 4th and began closing in on the Gothic Line; the last major German defence of the Italian Campaign. The Gothic Line was commanded by Albert Kesselring, one of Germany's most skilled and experienced commanders.  This heavily-armed defence was the only thing standing in the way of the allies occupying the rest of Italy.  It stretched approximately from Pisa on the Tyrrhenian coast, to Rimini on the Adriatic coast. 
 
The Germans created a string of fortified positions 16km deep along the Apennine mountain range to defend the territory. They used over 15,000 slave-labourers to create a wall of approximately 2,000 machine gun nests, bunkers, artillery positions, and anything else they could use to repel the allied forces. The terrain was also working in favour of the Germans. They established various smaller positions in front of the main line, each one situated behind a river. 

By Matthew Gamble 

​​In January 1944, the men of the 8th New Brunswick Hussars found themselves embroiled in the mud and blood of the Italian campaign outside the infamous town of Ortona. Only days before, the town had been the scene of a vicious battle between elite German paratroopers and the Canadian 1st Infantry Division. The house-to-house fighting was so fierce Canadians referred to the town as “Little Stalingrad”. Nevertheless, despite heavy casualties, Canadian forces wrested the town from German control.  

By early January, however, the Germans were seeking their revenge. German artillery fire was pounding Canadian artillery gun-pits, attempting to knock them out, and each salvo of Canadian artillery fire attracted a torrential German response. Eventually, the shelling began to wear on the nerves of the men, and the Hussars found themselves positioned amid the maelstrom, adjacent to the gun-pits. One Hussar noted at the time, “We took a lot of shelling and there were all kinds of narrow escapes. God knows there should have been casualties, but the fact remains there weren’t. Not one death. Not one serous wound. We began to figure we were a lucky outfit”.

Summer is winding down a little too quickly and our summer students are finished this week. Thank you to our three outstanding  students, for a great summer: Matthew Gamble, Hayden Johnston and Olivia McLean. We had a very busy summer, starting with visiting school classes, Sussex Summerfest and numerous visitors in for tours. We have received very positive feedback from the general public informing us of how pleasant of an experience their visit was because of the knowledgeable and pleasant  staff.

The 8th Hussars Museum has summer student opportunities each year, funding is dependent upon grants from Young Canada Works, Community Museums Summer Employment Program and Canada Summer Jobs. Today we had the opportunity to thank Alaina Lockhart MP for Fundy Royal for our funding through Canada Summer Jobs and Young Canada Works.  As well we thank the Province of New Brunswick  Heritage Branch  for their support through  Community Museums Summer Employment Program.

• Shortly after the First World War broke out, Camp Sussex was established as the 1st Training Depot Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James McAvity
  
  

• Units established or trained in Camp Sussex during WWI included the 40th Battalion (Moncton), the 64th Battalion (Moncton), and the 104th Battalion (Sussex)
  
  

• During the First World War, Camp Sussex hosted the Serbian Mobilization Camp, where Serbs recruited in Canada were mobilized before being sent overseas to fight in the Serbian Army.
  
  

• 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
  
  

• Units trained in Camp Sussex during this time included the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Divisions
  
  

• During WWII, it was common knowledge that once your husband was posted to Camp Sussex, it was not long until he was deployed overseas
  
  

• By 1944, the camp focus changed to individual training of soldiers and became the A-34 Special Officers Training Center, under the command of Brigadier Milton Gregg, VC
  
  

• 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
  
  

• Many of the buildings were towed across the frozen Trout Creek during the winter, as there was no bridge crossing Trout Creek until the 1970s. Other buildings were repurposed as homesteads on Peter Street
  
  

• The larger buildings, including the Drill Halls, were repurposed as Sports Centres. One became the King's County Stadium, and the other was taken to Fredericton were it became the York Arena.
  
  

• The Headquarters of Camp Sussex became the King's County Hospital.
  
  

• The death of Camp Sussex was not swift, it continued until 1971, which saw the majority of the land that was formerly Camp Sussex sold to the Town Sussex. This land became what is today the Industrial Park, our ball parks, and the 8th Hussars Sports Centre.
  
  

• The only remnants of Camp Sussex are the Gregg Armoury, which houses B Squadron of the 8th Hussars.