26th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery-XII Manitoba Dragoons Museum
1116 Victoria Avenue R7A 1B2 Brandon, MB, Canada

What a moving tribute to Canadian soldiers from our friends in the Netherlands Every Canadian should see this heartwarming Christmas message

Noel Butcher turns 100 years old today. While he celebrates it in a retirement home under partial lockdown, let’s take a moment to wish him a Happy Birthday. No...el was involved in one of the deadliest conflicts of Canadian history, the Battle of Ortona. Christmas Day 1943 particularly stands out in his memory, almost 77 years later. Noel described this day to me, There was word that there was patrol of Germans trying to surround the headquarters of another regiment. They sent us in and we drove the patrol back. We got into a little scrap with them. That was our party. The Christmas party ended for Noel when he was hit in the leg with the shrapnel from a potato masher grenade. Three days later, Ortona was liberated. Despite this being Canada’s first big stand-alone victory of the war, the Battle of Ortona is largely forgotten by most Canadians. Today, 5 km from Ortona, there is a place that never forgets. In the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, there are 1,375 are Canadian graves. The freedom we enjoy in December 2020 exists because of these men's December 1943. Noel contributes his own life being saved by the diphtheria he got shortly after his injury. While he was recovering in a hospital, his regiment suffered serious casualties during their next encounter with the Germans, the Battle in the Liri Valley. Noel rejoined his men for the rest of the Italian Campaign and the liberation of the Netherlands. He was 25 years old when Victory in Europe was declared. When questioned about how he felt this day, Noel responded, Several people have asked me, Did you go and get boozed up after that? And I say, no. For most of us in our group, it was anti-climax. You weren’t really sure that it had happened. It was hard to believe after 5 years, whether it’s really true or not. We just went to bed. It was another day. Today is not another day. 100 years is an incredible milestone for any man. And someone who sacrificed 5 of those years fighting for Canada deserves an extra special mention. Happy Birthday Noel!

Here are a few more photos of a great lady. Fair winds and following seas Betty

On 24 November 2020 this beautiful lady left us. Betty was involved in her community for her life. Just to name a couple - Hon Col of 26th Field Reg RCA. Ships sponsor of HMCS Brandon. She will be sorely missed and greatly loved.

RCAF 426 Squadron Halifax bomber crew from WWII including my father. August 1944. Lest we forget

Sargent William Bill Batt of A Squadron. Miss you daily and am very grateful for what you and your brothers did for the rest of us! Always loved and never forgotten!

Sgt. George Morton. Member of the XII Manitoba Dragoon’s. WW2. Thanks Dad. Respect.

It is at this time I share my grandfathers picture from April 1917 part of the 8th overseas draft Canadian Expeditionary Force. He did return...as a young guy I... used to ask him why would you want to do this? He would get mad and tell me it was what you had to do Defend King and Country he would say. He volunteered! My father was a Captain with the 26th Field Regiment and I was a Gunner in the 26th Field Regiment...We all volunteered our service to the Queen, if called upon, no questions asked until my 27th Birthday. Captain A.R. Hurst centre bottom row. See more

Merchant Navy Veterans Association ceremony, East Saint John Cenotaph, Jervis Bay-Ross Memorial Park, circa 1995. Do you recognize anyone: 1. John MacArthur ... 2. Paul Irving 3. Stanley J. Devine 4. 5. Gilbert Paulin 6. 7. 8. Frank Withers 9. Randolph Hope 10. 11. 12. Ossie McLean 13. Ward Duke 14. Sailor Don McKinnon 15. Bob Manzer Posted in memory of Sonny Garnet, Life Member, Jervis Bay Memorial Branch #53 who passed earlier this year.