History

WW2 Liberation of northwest Europe

In 1944 and 1945, the predecessor units of the Royal Canadian Hussars, the 17^th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars and the 6^th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars were both heavily involved in the liberation of northwest Europe.  This was an intense campaign that resulted in many casualties, but the action taken by the Canadian soldiers were greatly appreciated by the people who were liberated.  Here are several accounts of that campaign as told by individual soldiers or by members of their families.

• Memories of Sergeant George Dunlop about his service in the Second World War and subsequent life– as told to his son-in-law, John Riley

• Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Harris, of the 7^th Reconnaissance Regiment (17^th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars), his part in the Liberation of the Netherlands in 1945, and his life thereafter – prepared with the help of Dutch Historian Edwin Meinsma, and Pat Harris Wensman.

  • Commemoration of the liberation of Wergea in the Netherlands and of Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Harris

• A Story told to me by my father about a heartbreaking incident during the liberation of the Netherlands – By Gordon Routley

• Military History of Warrant Officer Bruce Westgarth, CD

• Working as a dispatch rider during the Second World War – By Trooper George MacKenzie

• History of «B», Squadron, 17th DYRCH, during the Second World War – By Major Charles Wesley MacLean

• The liberation of Neufchâtel-en-Bray, France, 31 August 1944