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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.

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.

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!”

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Major Howard Keirstead Hampton War Hero By Makayla Cole

10/8/2018

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.

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.

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The Gothic Line: The 8th Hussars in the Italian Campaign I by Makayla Cole

8/27/2018

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.

The main task of breaking the line fell on the Canadian corps. They were assigned a sector of the line along the Adriatic coast. The Hussars quickly realized how difficult of a task this would be. On August 25th, 1944 the Canadians forced a crossing of the Metauro river. Crossing the river alone took five days. The plan from there was a two-division operation of the Eighth Army, tasked with breaking through the layers of the defensive line one at a time, until they reached Rimini. However, things did not go as planned.

The 5th Canadian Armoured Division, including the 8th Hussars, was in the Foglia River region. Their commander, Major-General Bert Hoffmeister was overlooking the river from a hilltop and noticed that the main German positions seemed to be unoccupied. He realized that the Germans were struggling to replace worn-out troops after the fighting that had preceded them, leaving key positions deserted. Hoffmeister immediately proposed to the Canadian Corps commander that they attack; creating a hole in the Gothic Line where they would be able to feed tanks and troops through to the other side. This was the action the 8th Hussars had trained so long for.

The following day the new plan was underway. Despite heavy casualties, the Canadians were successful in breaking through, allowing tanks to move 5km into the Gothic Line. They encountered a German Panzerturm at this point that could have destroyed the allied Sherman tanks, but was unmanned. The Gothic Line had been fractured in three days, and the vulnerability of the Germans at this stage in the war was becoming evident.

It was September 21st 1944 when the last German defensive position fell. The Canadians, including the Hussars were left overlooking the Po River with confidence that the 5th Armoured Division would be able to push the remaining German forces out of Italy. Breaking the Gothic Line resulted in over 40,000 casualties; 4,500 casualties for the Canadians. Although commonly overshadowed by the events in Normandy around the same time; this marked the last major allied gain in Italy and was one of the most important victories for the Canadians during War.

If you would like to find out more about the Gothic Line, The Italian Campaign, or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street.

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Sussex Summerfest: 8th Hussars Museum Homecoming Presentation

8/27/2018

By 1945, it was becoming clear that the war in Europe was coming to a close. German High Command had exhausted most of its forces on the Western Front in the failed Ardennes Offensive, and the Red Army was nearing Berlin. On April 30th, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker. By May 8th, 1945, Germany had surrendered.

Following V-E Day, the 8th New Brunswick Hussars had the good fortune of being garrisoned in the Netherlands rather than in truculent and devastated Germany. Thanks to this fortunate reality, a lively social life sprang up complete with dances, movies, sightseeing, and sailing.

As a result, Headquarters added other responsibilities and opportunities to stave off boredom and indiscipline among the men. Leaves were granted to England and Paris, among other places, and particular emphasis was placed on educational courses and sports to keep the soldiers at the top of their game.

Others occupied their time working on the regimental newspaper, known as the 8th Hussar, which proved to be instrumental in maintaining morale and keeping former members in touch.

More importantly, however, the 8th New Brunswick Hussars provided vital support to the people of Eelde in the tough times after the war. In addition to providing support in the area's reconstruction, the Hussars provided help in other ways. For instance, the townspeople burned peat to heat their homes, but had no way of moving it because the Germans had taken with them all heavy equipment and functional vehicles. So, the regimental command arranged a driver-maintained course that took the trucks out to where the peat was stored. From there it was driven back and distributed from the town square.

Eventually, the men began to return home in various ways. 202 men got home early by volunteering to join the continuing fight against Japan, while others got home based on a complicated points system that took into consideration a variety of factors including time spent in the army and overseas. Soldiers received two points for each month of service in Canada, three points for each month of service overseas and a twenty percent bonus if they were married. The higher the score the better the chance was for a speedy return home.

In July 1945, the men were forced to part with their M4 Sherman tanks. Though inanimate steel machines, the men often formed special bonds with these vehicles forged throughout years of war.

Finally, the Regiment withdrew from the Netherlands on November 27th, 1945.

The 8th Hussars returned home on January 26th, 1946. The liner Ile de France made port in Halifax. From there they embarked on a train headed towards Sussex.

The train was hours late and it was early in the morning of the 27th before it reached Sussex.

Upon disembarking from the train, the men were greeted by the Mayor, military and civil dignitaries, cheering crowds, and a band.

Veterans received $100.00 to buy civilian clothing.

65 Hussars paid the ultimate sacrifice and never made it home

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Revenge of the 8th Hussars: The Shelling of Tollo Crossroads

8/8/2018

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”.

From their position, there was little the Hussars thought they could do to knock out the German artillery, as the enemy guns could not be seen from where the Canadians were situated. Yet, day by day the urge for retaliation grew. Brigadier Bradbrooke of 5th Brigade lobbied Corps HQ to send a representative to discuss the situation with the artillery commanders. Major Howard Keirstead of the 8th NB Hussars was selected to go.

After hours of discussion it was decided that B Squadron of the 8th Hussars, with the assistance of the Corps Artillery Survey Regiment, would attempt to demonstrate firing the main guns of tanks against unseen targets out in the Adriatic Sea. This was unprecedented, as the 75mm guns fitted to M4 Sherman tanks were designed for direct fire – that is, firing at a target within the gunner’s line of sight. In this case, however, the 75mm guns on the Shermans would be acting as artillery, firing indirectly at targets beyond the gunner’s line of sight. Such a task was a tall order, as the tanks lacked the instruments required to do this accurately.

To overcome the problem, the Hussars and their counterparts in the Artillery Survey Regiment worked out an intricate system of pegs to direct the tanks into position and then to direct their fire. Tanks would drive up on embankments so their guns could be positioned at predetermined angles. If all went according to plan, the shells would follow a parabolic arc and rain down on the target. Throughout this process, the Regiment's own Sergeant Prosser was integral to conceptualizing and planning the operation. When all was said and done, the exploit was a stunning success. Despite being given only five rounds of ammunition per tank, the Hussars obliterated the targets floating in the Adriatic. The stage was set. B Squadron had proved that tanks could act as artillery.

Next came the real show – putting the technique to use against German forces. Preparations to bombard German positions had already begin before approval came down from Headquarters, but a suitable target still needed to be selected. The crossroads at Tollo, a village a few miles past Ortona, was chosen as the target. An observation plane was ordered to survey the area during the operation, so the results could be monitored. Soon everything was in place, and at the order of Major Bob Ross 48 tanks opened up, each firing 15 rounds in rapid succession. The loaders, fueled by weeks of built up resentment and frustration as a result of German bombardment, completed their task in less than two minutes. By the time the tanks ceased firing, Tollo crossroads had been pounded by over 720 high explosive shells.The whole spectacle was visible from the air. Upon seeing the results of the shelling, the pilot of the observation plane reportedly said that it was “the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in a long time.” The target was destroyed and the mission accomplished.

When the tanks finished firing, they quickly exfiltrated their positions and headed back to their pits to avoid German counter-battery fire. Moments later the German response came. The positions where the Hussar tanks had been were torn up by German counter-battery fire. Thankfully, the Sherman tanks and their excellent mobility afforded the Hussars the ability to evacuate quickly. Not one man was injured.
The shelling of Tollo crossroads is believed to have been the first instance of tanks firing their guns indirectly. The technique perfected by the Hussars and their comrades in the Artillery Survey Regiment would go on to be emulated by American and British forces in Italy and elsewhere. Nevertheless, the plucky Canadians who developed the technique rarely get the credit they deserve.

To find out more about the shelling of Tollo, or about the 8th Hussars in general, stop by the 8th Hussars Museum located in the historic Sussex Train Station along Broad Street. The Museum is fortunate to have Sergeant Prosser's medals and bracelet in its possession.

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John Saunders

6/5/2018

John Saunders
(b. 1 June 1754; d. 1834)

1775, an illegal rebellion against the Crown had been initiated by American traitors in the 13 colonies. At this time Virginia was at the epicenter of power on the continent. It was in this colony that John Saunders ruled his estate. At the time of the insurrection, John Saunders was attending University where he studied law. A loyal son of the British tradition, John Saunders remained a staunch Loyalist, despite repeated overtures from American rebels. His opposition to the American rebels predates the conflict, when his fellow colonists proposed the political distancing of Virginia from the Motherland he let his opposition be known.

As war overtook the colonies, Saunders raised a troop of personal cavalry to fight for the Crown. Bloodied in their first battle of the war at Great Bridge, his regiment was merged with the Queen's Rangers (Hussars). This merger was fortuitous, it created what became the most respected and effective cavalry troop on both sides of the rebellion. In part, this was due to the eclectic nature of the regiment's composition. Its men employed a combination of infantry, cavalry, and artillery tactics allowing it to act as a self-contained army. This combination served the regiment throughout the rebellion, their only defeat coming at the end of the rebellion when the British surrendered.

During the rebellion, John Saunders served as a Captain with the Queen's Rangers. Commanding the infantry, John Saunders was twice wounded in battle. Following this, in 1778, John Saunders returned to his roots as commander of three company of Hussars that had joined the regiment. Following this post, in 1780 he was requested to serve with General Leslie. However, this posting did not last long. John Saunders was present of the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, where the British were defeated. Saunders escaped with his troop of cavalry and headed to New York. With his estates confiscated, Saunders and the regiment set sail for re-settlement in Nova Scotia, arriving in the post of Saint John in 1783, which became New Brunswick in 1784.

In 1782, John Saunders went to England where he finished his legal training and was called to the Bar. Financially secure following the recompense paid by the Crown for his service and losses in Virginia, Saunders headed back to New Brunswick in 1788. Once there, he began purchasing land to build his estate. However, before this occurred, Saunders was appointed to the New Brunswick Supreme Court in 1790. Moreover, Saunders became the only Judge to be appointed to the Court and elected to the House of Assembly. Saunders became the largest landowner in New Brunswick, yet it was not until some time after his death that his grandson, John Saunders, built the estate at Fox Hill, Apohaqui. As an accomplished soldier, Saunders returned to military service in 1808 due to fears of American aggression. Finally, Saunders is credited as the grandfather of the 8th Canadian Hussars.

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The 8th Hussars Museum and Camp Sussex

5/30/2018

The 8th Hussars Museum and Camp Sussex

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

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

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.

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.

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

Opening 2018 Summer Season

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.

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

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

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.

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:

https://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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LtCol H.S. Gamblin

3/12/2018

Memories of WW1 - Harold S Gamblin

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Canada 150th Celebrations

10/22/2017

The Act of Remembrance

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

This weekend, during the Association of 8th Canadian Hussars (PL) Inc’s annual general meeting and reunion, we, the 8th Hussars Museum, celebrated the Regiments and the Town of Sussex's military contributions during Canada's 150 years as a nation. The 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) Regiment is one of only a few Regiments in Canada who can celebrate service to Canada for that entire period of time and the Town of Sussex has been home to the Regiment for all of those 150 years plus as well.

The towns military history also includes Camp Sussex and the role it has played in Canada military life, while supporting Canadian war efforts in both World War I and II.

Friday Night a Meet and Greet was held at the Sussex Milton Gregg Armory, where old friends gathered sharing stories and memories.
A game of trivia, based on the history of the 8th Hussars was enjoyed- Cpl Byron Ostrum was the winner,

Roll of Honour - Dan Lynch - Jamie Kendall

The Memorial Service was held at the 8th Hussars Museum at the historic Train Station in Sussex with the dedication of the new UN and NATO memorial cairn as part of the service. The Regiment marched on at 0945 hrs followed by the arrival of the Town Executive and special quests. A number of veterans from the peacekeeping years and the NATO tours were on hand to share in the unveiling process. The cairn was placed directly in front of the Lynx monument and several historical vehicles were on static display for the event.

The 150th dinner was held at the Royal Canadian Legion, We attempted as closely as possible to duplicate the turkey dinner served in 1867 when a troop of Hussars trained at Fox Hill, NB and held a party to honour the founding of Canada. The 8th Hussars Museum volunteers and members of the Regiment presented a military history of the Regiment and the Town in three segments featuring 50-year periods of time. Vignettes illustrating specific events were included and most of the parts were played by soldiers of the Regiment. The evening was closed out with the entertainment provided by Differentfolk, a traditional band from central New Brunswick.

Dan and his wife’ Monique are posing in the above photograph. They are from Arnprior ON and traveled down to join the event along with numerous other former members of the Regiment from Ontario.

Photographs taken at meet and greet Friday night , Memorial Service Saturday morning , Lunch with the soldiers and association members and Regiment at AGM . ENJOY !

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summer2017

8/29/2017

“Summer 2017”

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.

A Few Words from Matthew :
I was pleased to have been able to spend another summer with the 8th Hussars Museum in Sussex this year.

This fall I will enter my third year of studies at St. Thomas University in Fredericton where I am pursuing a double-major in International Relations and Economics.

For the majority of the summer, I spent time doing archival work on photographs of the Regiment from the Cold War era. Hopefully some former or current Hussars will be able to visit the museum and take a look. Some pictures will definitely bring back some fond memories and cause a few laughs!

I was also happy to play a part in the creation of the Camp Sussex Presentation given at the museum as a part of Sussex Summerfest 2017. Through my research for this project, I learned some very interesting details about life in Camp Sussex around the turn of the century.

Along the way I had the opportunity to speak with many veterans and many other interesting people who were able to stop into the museum. Especially as many of our WWII veterans continue to grow older, I make it a personal mission to learn as much as possible from these extraordinary men and preserve their crucial contributions for future generations.

All and all, I am thankful to have the opportunity to have a summer job in a field that I am passionate about, and one where I can learn from the life experiences of the Greatest Generation.

A few words from Hayden
I'm grateful for the opportunity to come and work at the 8th Hussars Museum for a second year. I am currently entering into my third year of university, working towards the completion of a double-major in political science and psychology. This is in preparation for graduate school, were I intent to study law. In light of this, working at the Museum has provided me with experience applicable to my area of study, especially related to understanding differences between individuals.

My main focus at the Museum this year was on archival preservation. Over the course of this summer, I have had the opportunity to examine numerous historical photographs pertaining to Canadian Forces Operations in Canada and throughout the world. These photos provide insight into the operation of the Canadian Military Machine and the ever evolving doctrines employed by the Military Establishment.

Additionally, Museum staff participated in the Town of Sussex's Summerfest program; this saw the Museum host a presentation pertaining to the former Military Camp, Camp Sussex. I was fortunate to be able to participate and learn about this often neglected part of New Brunswick history.

Besides this, I have been fortunate to meet a plethora of individuals, ranging from veterans to tourists from across the continent. Many of these people were kind enough to share their experiences, both in and out of the armed forces.

A message from Olivia
Thank you Carol for an amazing summer. I have had so many enjoyable learning opportunities over the course of the summer. Yesterday , I gave a tour to a past member of the 8th Hussars, it was a nice challenge to expand my knowledge and share everything I learned over the course of the summer. I have met some very interesting life changing people over the summer. Working at the museum was an experience that I was very fortunate to have been able to share with every new person I met. The world is a small place and it was amazing to see people who did not have knowledge on the world be opened up to a new concept and realize the pain and suffering people went through. You guys were amazing people to work with. Thanks again for an amazing experience that I will certainly never forget.

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Merit

8/4/2017

The 8th Hussars Museum has been selected as a recipient of the 2017 New Brunswick Day Merit Award, which is designed to provide the opportunity for the community to honour our unsung heroes and recognize achievements in six different fields of endeavor: Arts and Culture, business ,community leadership, environment, sport, recreation, active living and volunteer service.

We were chosen to receive the New Brunswick Day Merit Award for Arts and Culture, for the preservation and display of the military regiment and and connections to the community.On behalf of the Town of Sussex and Members of the Council we were invited to attend the New Brunswick Day Ceremony today for the 2017 New Brunswick Celebrations at O'Connel Park. On this special occasion , we, the Members of the 8th Hussars Museum are very honored and proud to have received the Merit Award for Arts and Culture.

The 8th Hussars Museum was founded in 2004 under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Sussex and the Association of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) Inc. The opening of the museum was held in support of the 100th Anniversary of the Town of Sussex. The museum functions both as a museum with 3645 artefacts nationally registered and as an archive with documents dating back to 1793 and over 14,063 historical photographs scanned and saved.

The source of many of the museums numerous artefacts is the 8th Canadian Hussars (PL) regiment which is one of Canada’s oldest continually serving cavalry/armoured regiments, having been established in Kings County in 1848. The museum also has a mandate to preserve and share the history of Camp Sussex, one of the first permanent military camps established in Canada after Confederation. By focusing on these two roles, it allows the museum to provide a venue to share the rich military heritage of the southern part of the province and the many local military personnel who have volunteered to fight for peace and freedom and often paid the Supreme Sacrifice.

The museum has actively engaged with numerous partners across Canada and Internationally to better improve the quality of our displays. All artefacts received by the museum are accessioned and uploaded to the Canadian Heritage Information Network for national access, and all archive materials are registered and uploaded to the Council of Archives of New Brunswick database. Due to their efforts in digital preservation the museum was asked in 2015/2016 by CHIN to volunteer as a trial archive to develop a nationally accepted standard for digital preservation of photographs for small museums. This very successful trial resulted in the development of a national preservation policy and plan that was provided to all small museums in Canada. Other programs of note include the development of “The Story of Camp Sussex, A Century of Service to Canada” which is available nationally on the CHIN Virtual Museum and our support to the Faces to Graves project currently underway in the Netherlands which is attempting to put a face to every soldier’s head stone in that countries Canadian War Graves. This program came about due to the museums efforts in supporting the Twinning of Towns between Sussex and Tynarloo NL celebrating the anniversary of the end of WW II and the subsequent presentation of a gold medal to the Regiment in 1952.
The 8th Hussars Museum is operated by museum committee of 10 volunteer members and an additional six volunteers assist in planning, development and construction of new displays.

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CampSussex

8/2/2017

37 Comments

Lead-up to the Creation of Camp Sussex

In 1794, the first New Brunswick Parliament created its own Militia Act. Men from age 16 to 60 were to attend annual musters to train for few days. No funds were provided, but absentees were fined

Camp Sussex became a focal point for militia around the province because of its central location, easy access to rail, long flat stretch of soil, and proximity to clean water for horses

In 1876, a soldier's daily pay started at 50 cents, but horses were paid 75 centsPay was not always available, and many times militia volunteers did not expect it or the provision of rations
At the time, soldiers were so short of rucksacks and other equipment that men had no method of carrying their daily rations
Due to the chronic lack of government funding, the Hussars built their own stables for the horses by collecting money from members of the regiment

The Brighton Engineers were formed in Woodstock in 1881. The following year, equipped only with five augers, seven axes, one handsaw and one crosscut saw, the Engineers cut 450 trees over two days, going on to build a 111 ft bridge across Trout Creek in just over four hours. The bridge was then tested by a horse pulling an artillery cannon across

Whereas soldiers were often transported by rail, sudden movements of railcars could give horses concussions and other injuries. As a result, many soldiers were against the rail transport of horses

The Heyday of the Militia

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

The typical day of the militiaman began at 0530 and continued on until 2200 hours. A archetypal daily routine was as follows:

-Reveille: 5:30 AM
-Collection of Daily Rations: 6:00 AM
-Breakfast: 6:30 AM
-First Drill 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
-Officer Hour: 9:00 AM
-Second Drill: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM
-Dinner: 12:30 PM
-Third Drill: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
-Tea: 5:00 PM
-Rations - Groceries: 5:30 PM
-Guard Mounting: 5:30 PM
-Retreat: 5:30 PM
-First Post: 9:00 PM
-Last Post: 9:30 PM
-Lights Out: 9:45 PM

Sick parade for ill soldiers was at 11:00 AM, but horses were to be attended to at 06:30 AM regardless of any ailments a soldier may have been suffering from

The loss of a horse would prompt an investigation and possibly even corrective action, as the animals were so valuable to the militia at the time. Nevertheless, there was a marked lack of veterinary kits

1893 was the first year since 1881 that the Hussars could come to camp to train as a single unit. Before then, financial troubles made this difficult

The caretaker house was built in 1896, and permanent armouries in 1901. The rifle range was completed in 1906, and was in operation during both World Wars. During the same period the officer's mess, known as the Bungalow, was constructed and went on to become a major social hub in the Town of Sussex

In 1895, there were 395 horses stationed at Camp Sussex, but by the eve of WWI, that number increased to just over 1000

In 1897, members of the Militia represented the area at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

As the camp became larger, brush clearing was conducted and dykes were built along Trout Creek. The Officers Bungalow

In 1913, no less than one-hundred automobiles visited the camp. The automobiles spooked horses, and many soldiers were sceptical of the new technology. Within three years, plans to manufacture tanks were being discussed

A company of 2nd (Special Service) battalion 2RCR was raised for the Boer War and consisted of 1000 men. Following the end of the Second Boer War, Camp Sussex served as one of the first military instillations to teach lessons learned from the conflict

Camp Sussex artillery fired a "feu de joie" for the Coronation of George V in June, 1911

In July 1914, on the eve of the First World War, military planners started to realize the size limitations of Camp Sussex and began to discuss construction of a new, larger military base in New Brunswick at either Gagetown or McGivney. However, the outbreak of the Great War in the following month shelved these plans for almost 40 years

The Interwar Years

The first summer camp after the First World War took place in 1920; however, given that the public viewed the First World War as "the war to end all wars", there was very little support from the general population for any military activity

Soldiers would sometimes go on half pay to double the number of camp attendees. On one occasion all pay was forfeited to cover the expenses of the camp. This went on until the mid-1930's

In the summer of 1931, only the 8th Hussars and the 74th Battalion (New Brunswick Rangers) trained at Camp Sussex

Camp repairs were funded at the expense of unit officers, and the Federal Government gave only partial reimbursements

Between 1923 - 1926 funds were so restricted that camp attendance was often limited to officers and NCOs

Between 1931 - 1936 volunteer soldiers continued the military presence without pay

Nevertheless, the 8th Hussars traveled to a machine-gun competition in Valcartier and won the national competition, all at the expense of the commanding officerThe first training on motorized vehicles took place in 1936. Vehicles (mostly Model T Fords) were rented from local owners for $10.00 a day. Bootleggers'' cars that had been seized by the Mounties were also used. Many had rumble seats that the officers would stand up on. Naturally, many accidents occurred

WWI and WWII

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.

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Hirschfeld

8/1/2017

Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Herman Marland Hirschfeld, CD, PSC, PLFC -

Lieutenant-Colonel Hirschfeld was born on the 5th of August, 1941 in Goldenville, Nova Scotia. In 1962, he joined the Canadian Army and graduated from the Armoured Corps School in Camp Borden, Ontario, as a Second-Lieutenant in 1963.

During his thirty-four year military career, Hirschfeld served with both the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the 8th Canadian Hussars. His duties included Troop Leader, Battle Captain, Squadron Commander, and Regimental Second-in-Command. He was also a member of Canada's Olympic National Biathlon Ski Team.

He also served extensively at the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown, being one of the first officers to serve at the newly formed Combat Arms School.

Hirschfeld took part in a year-long Australian Army Command and Staff Collage Course in Queenscliff, Australia in 1981. While Outback, Hirschfeld made many new friends and enjoyed his time. The Slouch Hat on display was given to him by his Australian friends.

Notably, Hirschfeld served with NATO's Central Army Group HQ in Germany as the Senior Canadian Liaison Officer from 1987-1990. He retired from the Army in June 1996 and currently lives with his wife in Oromocto, New Brunswick

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Riley

7/30/2017

Cpl Hugh Riley, the 8th Hussars oldest surviving Veteran turns 102!

His birthday on 12 July 17, was hosted by his daughter Sharon and a large number of his family attended including a number of his surviving siblings. Lots of jokes and stories were told and little brother Pat ( age 94) really got things going when he spotted an 8th Hussars place mat and wanted to know where the artillery ones were at. Best wishes from the 8th Hussars Regimental Association and the 8th Hussars Museum were delivered by Major (Ret) Tom McLaughlan.

Riley family members who served during WW II. L to R; Stan, Jack, Lilla, Pat and Hugh

Hugh Geoffery Riley, regimental number G250, joined the 4 Canadian Motorcycle Regiment, 8th Princess Louise (NB) Hussars in the August of 1940. Hugh enlisted in Sussex, New Brunswick, the same day as his brother Jack,
regimental number G251. Other family members would also join the war effort, with brother Pat joining the artillery, sister Lilla to the RCAF, and brother Stan to the army. Prior to signing up, Riley worked in the woods, sailed wooden ships in the South Seas for a time, and also trained in Camp Sussex for two summers with the militia.

After his enlistment, Riley trained with the 8th Hussars in Camp Sussex, Camp Borden, and Camp Petawawa, before going on to continue his training with the regiment in Great Britain.

During the Second World War, Corporal Riley served as the 8th Hussars Regimental Signals Section.

Hugh's duties in Signals and Military Intelligence took him all over the Italian Peninsula, and much of his work involved traversing the mountainous Italian terrain in a scout-car to observe enemy action and gather information.

During his time in Italy, Hugh recalls two days spent hiding in a wine casket when German soldiers overran their position. Riley also recalls working with Col. Robinson to design the 8th Hussars shoulder flash and also worked with the Regimental Adjutant in writing large sections of the 8th Hussars War Diary.

During the Regiment's time in Great Britain, Riley recalls meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and dancing with famed-singer Vera Lynn. This is the same time the Union Jack was supposedly obtained that Frank Gaunce spoke about being borrowed from 10 Downing St in London while they were driving Winston Churchill around in the Canadian Tanks.

Corporal Riley returned home in February 1946 and was discharged on 8 March 1946. Upon his return to Canada, Hugh was asked to stay on with the Army as he spoke five languages including Russian, but Hugh was keen to get on with family life and leave the army behind.

For his dedicated service, Hugh received the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star , the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with pin and clasp.

Hugh Riley currently lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick and just celebrated his 102nd birthday.

Hugh's lifetime of accomplishments truly illustrate his extraordinary character.

Hugh Riley is celebrating his 102nd Christmas. He is currently residing at the Veterans Health unit at the Doctor Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton. He is the 8th Hussar's oldest living veteran at 102 years of age and has rallied very well after a series of health concerns earlier in the fall.The veterans Christmas party at the Health unit was put on by various Legions in the area and as you can see from the photograph Hugh was in fine spirits and actively engaged with the party goers. This photograph was provided by his daughter and primary care giver, Sharon Riley.

4 Comments

Lynx

6/30/2017

Getting the Lynx monument in place at the 8th Hussars Museum is part of the Museum's fall 150th celebration and memorial to 8th Canadian Hussars who have been killed in Service as part of Peace keeping and NATO duties for Canada.
Darren Spicer explains a little history on the Lynx.

Thanks to Darren Spicer and Bart Ostrum, the hull was cleaned, painted and re-stenciled with the exception of it’s call sign which is still on our to do list. The call sign, as Darren stated will be 42 Charlie. Darren successfully negotiated the support of MSA Towing Service who were available June 29,2017, to donate their time to move the monument and also Arbing Equipment who provided other support to the project free of charge.

A number of former Hussars stopped by to watch the unloading and shared some old times with us.

Jason Thorne from the town was in attendance to ensure the positioning of the vehicle met the towns requirements

This project would not have gone forward without the support of the CO, Regt 2IC, RSM and other support staff and the museum volunteers . We are looking forward to completing the planning for the fall ceremony which will take place October 21, 2017.

Enjoy viewing photographs of the move from Armories to 8th Hussars Museum

1 Comment

Sifton

4/23/2017

Ellis Wellwood Sifton

Ellis Wellwood Sifton was born in the small SW Ontario farming community of Wallacetown in October 1891. Stating his occupation as Farmer, Sifton joined the Canadian Expeditionary force early and enlisted in St Thomas Ontario with the 18th (Western Ontario) Battalion in October 1914. Unlike the large Convoy that conveyed 1st Canadian Division overseas, 2nd went to England on separate troopships and liners. Staying with the 18th, Sifton went overseas on the SS Grampian from Montreal, met another troopship at sea and arrived in Liverpool England in late April 1915.Their stay in the United Kingdom was to be brief. His service file is brief and says little of his time in the UK. Sifton was dutiful in sending $15 assigned pay home to his Father, John J. Sifton in Wallacetown every month.

18th Battalion was part of 4th Brigade 2nd Canadian Division was led Boer War Victoria Cross hero and controversial commander, Major General R.E.W. Turner and began to deploy to the Front to join 1st Canadian Division in September 1915. The newly promoted Corporal Sifton was among his C Company mates and left Folkstone for Boulogne on the 14th of September 1915.

The Division spent a cold but quiet winter in the line through Ploegsteert Wood and St. Eloi in the Belgian sector but in the early spring of 1916 began to come into constant action with the enemy. Cpl Sifton went through some of the bloodiest battles for the Canadian in 1916 seemingly un-scathed. From the actions at St Eloi craters in March/April to the Battle of Ancre Heights in October/November, the 18th Battalion and 2nd Canadian Division learned their trade in battle leading up to the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Cpl Sifton would have come through the battles of Mount Sorrel, Flers-Courcelette, Thiepval and Le Transloy but again his file is absent of any wounds, injuries or ailments. At some point, he was working behind the lines in the Divisional Train as a Driver but had volunteered to willingly return to a fighting role with his old C Company to “take a chance with the boys in the front line”. Promoted Lance Sergeant on the 14th of March 1917, Sifton would step off at the battle of Vimy ridge with his Battalion less than one month later.

On the 9th of April 1917, Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton and 18th Battalion began the attack on German positions. 2nd Divisions frontage was much narrower that their 1st Div neighbours on their right. Also, they have less of a distance to travel to their final line, only 2 miles. The battle’s opening barrage was furious and the Division as a whole suffered few casualties as they consolidated on the old German frontline (the Black line). During the attack, Sgt Sifton had noticed a German Machine Gun emplacement taking it’s toll on the advancing Canadians. Without hesitation, he dashed through a gap in the barbed wire and attacked the Germans position with rifle, bayonet and grenades. Crossing open ground, throwing grenades, Sgt Sifton gained the emplacement and killed the entire enemy crew. As his comrades followed behind to consolidate the position, Sgt Sifton single-handedly held off a small German counter-attack on the position with his bayonet and rifle butt. Just as this was defeated, a wounded German soldier snatched up a rifle and fired at Sgt Sifton’s back, killing him instantly.

Ellis Wellwood Sifton was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. His citation was printed in the London Gazette on 8 June 1917. Sgt Sifton lies buried in Lichfield Crater Cemetery at Thelus, not far from where he fell. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Elgin County Pioneer Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario.

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Pattison

4/23/2017

808887 Private John Pattison

John George Pattison was born in Woolwich England on the 8th of September 1875. Woolwich was a Military Industrial town in Kent back then and is part of greater London today. It is not recorded what his background was but it was a mix of middle and lower class residents at that time. By 1906, John was married and had 4 children and had immigrated with his family to Canada.

By 1916, John was living in SW Calgary Alberta and was employed as a labourer with the Calgary Gas Company. It was the enlistment of his son, John Henry with the 82nd Battalion on the 4th of January 1916 that prompted John to enlist himself. He attested with the 137th Battalion in Calgary just two months later. John Pattison was said to have wanted to look after his son in service. At 40 years of age the training as an Infantry Private could not have been easy on him. Maybe more so with his short stature (a bit over 5’2” and 125lbs on enlistment. Still he seems to have been in fine shape and has no sickness recorded on his service file.

Departing Canada in August 1916 with the 137th Battalion, Private Pattison remained with his Battalion until they combined with the 175th Battalion and formed the 21st Reserve Battalion in England in January 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field. It less than a month later that Private John Pattison joined the 50th Battalion, also a Calgary-recruited Battalion, in France. By then the 50th had seen action, as part of 10th Brigade 4th Canadian Division at Ancre Heights in October 1916. They spent a quiet winter in preparation for the upcoming Vimy Battle and that was about when John Pattison joined them. He did managed to be wounded in February, receiving “multiple contusions” from some unknown action but was back with his unit in a few days.

On the 9th of April 1917, the 4th Division, on the far left of the Canadian Corps, had measurably the least distance to cover to reach their first day objectives. Unfortunately, there were considerable terrain and enemy obstacles in their way. That combined with some gaps in the artillery fire plan led to the Division having a very difficult time. Pattison’s 10th Brigade was to act as follow on troops to the 11th and 12 Brigades and not attack the feature known as the Pimple until the following day. Events in 4 Divs front changed that plan.

On the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, 11 and 12 Brigades ran into immediate difficulties and left many pockets of resistance still fighting and objectives un-taken. Canadian Battalions were greatly dispersed over their front and German cross-fire was even affecting 3 Div on the right. Hill 145 and the Pimple remained untaken and the units attempted to take their objectives in front of Givenchy En Gohelle. It wasn’t until the next day, 10 April that that Hill 145 was taken and 50th Battalion was committed. They and the 44th from Winnipeg were moved south and their task was to vault over the Hill and take the woods at the rear of the ridge.

It was on this approach that Private John Pattison won his Victoria Cross. As the Battalion struggled forward under fire, Pattison noticed a German Machine Gun stronghold taking it’s toll on the Canadians. Crouched over and going forward from shell hole to shell hole, he advanced on the position. When he was within range, Pattison stood up and threw three grenades at the enemy. Before the crew could recover, he charged with bayonet fixed and the German position was put out of action. Pattison comrades could resume their advance, taking ground and their ultimate objective. Private Pattison’s bold single-handed attacked led greatly to the entire Battalion advance continuing. His VC was announced in the London Gazette on 2 August 1917 but 42 year old Private John Pattison never read it. He was killed in action on 3 June 1917 near Lens. He is buried in La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, Vimy. His son, went to the front one month later but happily, survived the war.

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Milne

4/23/2017

427586 Pte W.J. Milne

William Johnstone Milne was born in Cambusnethan, Scotland in December 1892. This town, located just off the road between Glasgow and Edinburgh must not have had much to offer a lad as, in 1910 at the age of 17, he left for Canada.

William Milne took up the profession that so many Europeans who came to Canada in those days took; Farming. Handy sized 160 acre lots of prairie were available by a wise Canadian government who knew that the opening-up of the West to immigrant settlers and their subsequent development of these lands benefitted the Dominion as well. All that was required was hard back breaking work to tame it.

As the First World War took hold of the British Empire, many rushed to the colours and many did so at a more relaxed pace. Many of those British-born had begun to benefit from their efforts and were not drawn immediately to enlistment and some were anxious to return to the British Isles. While patriotism must have played a large part, some must have found it a convenient excuse to “go home” after failing to find their fortunes or finding the toil too much. Statistically, those from the British Isles did less well in the rural Canadian settlement and British-born made up almost 70% the CEF enlistments early in the war. William Milne’s fortunes as a Farmer are not specifically recorded but it was not until a full year into the War that he enlisted in the 46th Battalion of the CEF in Moose Jaw SK, in September 1915. He was 23 years old.

Arriving in the UK with his Battalion in November 1915, Pte Milne’s Service File is rather bare until April 1916 when he spent alternating stints in Hospital in Aldershot and Bramshott for Influenza and Venereal Disease. Considered almost a self-inflicted wound, he was appropriately docked sixty cents a day in pay for his VD. He transferred to the Continent in June 1916 and joined the 16th Battalion in the Field. Here Canadians would serve on the great Somme battlefields until November. Although his actions at his Divisions battles at Flers-Courcelette and Ancre Heights are not recorded in his file, Pte Milne remained on strength with his Battalion despite repeated visits to Field Ambulance Units for Influenza complaints throughout the winter of 1916/17.

On the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the 9th of April 1917, Pte Milne and 16th Battalion as part of 3rd Brigade 1st Canadian Division were on the right of the Canadian Corps and have the furthest to advance to gain the day’s objectives. Almost as soon as his Battalion rose out of their jumping off trenches, Pte William Johnstone Milne noticed an enemy machine gun holding up the advance to their first objective at Black Line. Skillfully creeping by crawling on his hands and knees with a bag of grenades over his shoulder, through mud and shell holes, he approached the enemy position unseen and threw a grenade. The blast destroyed some of the crew and demoralized the rest into surrendering., the MG was captured and the advance continued. Later, in front of the Red Line, 16th Battalion was again held up by enemy fire. Milne again crept forward hole to hole and again made use of a grenade to blast an MG in a camouflaged concrete pillbox. He completed its submission with a bayonet attack that demoralized the MG crew to the point of surrender. Again, the advance continued but at some point, shortly thereafter and in some unknown manner, Pte Milne met his end on the Vimy battlefield. Although seen to fall, his remains were never recovered but he is enshrined on the Vimy Memorial and his Victoria Cross and two war medals are displayed at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

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MacDowell

4/23/2017

Major TW MacDowell VC DSO

Thain Wendell MacDowell was born in Lachute Quebec on the 16th of September 1890. MacDowell only spent a brief time there as his parents separated and he was soon living in Maitland Ontario, just down stream on the Saint Lawrence from Brockville. Educated at Brockville Collegiate Institute, he joined the local Militia Unit, The Brockville Rifles. Spending a year with them, he then went off as a Student at the Univ of Toronto in 1910. While in Toronto he spent 4 month as an Officer Cadet in the Queens own Regiment. He completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree and in January 1915 was Commissioned as an Officer in the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. MacDowell served with three other brothers, all going overseas, and one earning a Military Cross.

Now a Lieutenant, MacDowell and 38th Battalion began their war with a period of Garrison duty in Bermuda from August 1915 until May of the following year where they were succeeded by a French-Canadian Unit. The 38th proceeded directly to England and crossed the Channel to the front in early August joining 12th Brigade 4th Canadian Division in Belgium.

It wasn’t long before they were in the trenches and under fire but their initiation in the attack had to wait a short time. At the end of September, they moved south to join the Canadian Corps in the Somme operations and on the 18th of November went over the top for the first time. Newly-promoted Capt MacDowell was in the thick of battle and led his Company’s soldiers with dash and daring. Their advance was impeded by German Machine Gun fire but MacDowell was able to move close enough to silence not one or two but three MG nests by single handed use of grenades. He closed within throwing distance of the excellently sighted and murderously efficient positions and destroyed them aiding greatly in the capture of all their objectives. The course of the day’s battle was costly with the 38th having some 500 casualties killed or wounded, Thain MacDowell among the latter. He had been wounded slightly in the hand that day but also had been “blown up” by a shell that evening receiving a concussion. These wounds were to cause him great discomfort and he was evacuated to England to recover. For his Bravery and courage in that attack, Captain MacDowell was awarded the Distinguished Service order or DSO, an award just beneath the Victoria Cross in importance. In January 1917, he re-joined the 38th Battalion and was an Acting Major in the trenches in front of Vimy Ridge as the unit prepared for the Battle.

On the 9th of April 1917, the 4th Division was on the far left of the Canadian Corps and had the least distance to cover to their objectives. A lot of his was uphill in tightly constrained with trenches, wire, Machine Guns and concrete pillboxes. MacDowell had studied the maps and photos of the front line carefully and was meticulous in his own planning. From his previous experiences, he knew it was important to know where one was on the battlefield. His unit’s objective was just over the crest of the ridge itself. As the advance began, MacDowell and two of his Runners or Messenger soldier became separated from the main body of soldiers. MacDowell knew where he was so opted to press on. Spotting a Trench work that he thought would be a good HQ he was dismayed to find it covered by two German Machine Gun positions. MacDowell attacked one with grenades and destroyed it so effectively that the other gunner ran away in fright down an underground dugout. Following, Capt MacDowell and his two soldiers went down some 50 steps of tunnel before being confronted by 2 German officers and 75 of their soldiers. Thinking quickly and using the fact that the Germans could not see up the tunnel, Captain MacDowell made that he had a much larger force behind him and the Germans promptly surrendered. The 38th gained all their objective that day, more than 400 casualties was the bill.

Thain MacDowell was again slightly wounded in this action and when his unit came out of the line two weeks later, he was evacuated back to England. In June of 1917 it was announced that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions on 9 April. He did return to the front briefly but was evacuated again and returned home to Canada to recover from the wars many effects. He did not return to the front again. Thain MacDowell had a successful business career after the war and remained in uniform as an Honorary Colonel. He died in the Bahamas in 1960.

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Dunning

4/14/2017

Interview with Nick Dunning

Battle of Vimy Ridge diorama donated to 8th Hussars Museum

A New Brunswick man, Nick Dunning , who creates realistic dioramas of military battle scenes out of his home calls it a passion and a duty and he has now donated a piece in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge to the 8th Hussars Museum. Each piece of work Dunning creates has its start in his basement, which he calls “the bunker.” Dunning spends hours combining his passion for military history and his artistic eye for detail to recreate battles from the First and Second World Wars.

In 1968 / 1969 Nick wore the black beret as a reservist
with the 8th Canadian Hussars in Moncton at No. # 5 depot.

On March 29th 2017, a group of 8th Hussars Museum committee members were at the Museum to greet Nick Dunning. Nick arrived to donate a new diorama honouring the Battle of Vimy Ridge . Incredible Work!!
We are very proud to have the addition of this diorama to our 2017 exhibits at the 8th Hussars Museum as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle.

Nick Dunning Donates Vimy diorama

Photographs by Don Robinson

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Cadman

4/3/2017