Remebrance Day 2025 - Stories of Canadian Heroes
Remembrance Day 2025 - Stories of Canadian Heroes
Lt. Col. Ross Ellis, DSO, CD
Lt Col Ross Ellis, DSO, CD
Born in High River, Alberta, in 1915, Ross Ellis joined the Calgary Highlanders regiment in 1932. By the time the war began in the fall of 1939, he had been promoted to lieutenant, leading a 40-man platoon. After the regiment was sent to England, there was a long wait until they finally got into action, but they used the time for training. Ellis was sent back to Canada to train recruits, and while there, he married his beloved Marjorie.
The bond between them was incredibly strong. Even after Ellis went with the Highlanders to France in early July 1944, their connection remained unbreakable. He believed it was her love that kept him safe despite the danger of frontline warfare, and that she was his good luck charm. He could well believe that – out of 800 original Calgary Highlanders who travelled to England in 1940, only 13 returned at the end of the war, and Ellis was one of them. Ellis was the regiment’s battle adjutant under Lt.–Col. D. G. MacLauchlan.
Ellis always seemed to be in the thick of things, bolstering the confidence of the soldiers, hammering out plans with the junior officers and NCOs, and scouting ahead for possible threats. He cared about the men, and they would do whatever he asked to the best of their abilities.
Walcheren Island
Just before the November 1 launch of Operation Infatuate (the fight for Walcheren Island that would end German occupation of the Scheldt estuary and open the port of Antwerp to Allied shipping) MacLauchlan was sent home and Major Ross Ellis became the Calgary Highlanders’ commanding officer.
Ellis had two days to prepare for a battle that would take place in a killing ground: a one-km. long causeway bristling with German defences. The Highlanders made several attempts to cross, and one company of the regiment made it to the eastern edge of the island; where they were eventually driven back by a determined counterattack.
But as the enemy was distracted by the Highlanders on the causeway, the British were making a successful amphibious assault on the other side of the island. Ross Ellis later said that the “main accomplishment we got out of there was that we got as many as we could out alive”.
The Siegfried Line
He was awarded a well-deserved Distinguished Service Order for his actions on February 8, 1945 when the regiment was breaching the Siegried Line near Wyler, Germany.
His citation reads, in part:
"The courage, clear appreciation and prompt decisive action demonstrated by Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis in this operation is typical of this officer … His enthusiasm and complete disregard for his personal safety, coupled with sound judgment and tactics, and his exceptional leadership are reflected in the aggressive proud spirit of the men of his battalion, and its record of achievement."
Ross Ellis led the Calgary Highlanders until April of 1945, when he was taken ill and sent to hospital in England; his friend Lt.-Col. Heyland took over command until VE Day. After the war, Ellis returned to High River, where he and Marjorie raised their family. He and Dalt Heyland bought a car dealership together. Ellis also served several terms as High River’s mayor, and a term as a member of provincial Parliament. He died in 1983.
Corporal Charles Byce, MM, DCM
Charles Byce
Charles Byce was born in Chapleau, Ontario, in 1916, the son of Louisa Saylors, a Cree First Nations woman, and Henry Byce, a veteran of the First World War. Growing up, Charles faced hardship, spending years in the St. John’s Residential School where his Indigenous identity was suppressed. Yet, he went on to follow his father’s path of service and courage.
In July 1944, at 24, Byce joined the Lake Superior Regiment. He landed in Normandy shortly after, alongside his unit, which provided close infantry support for armoured regiments in the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade. Byce and his comrades faced their first battle on the Caen-Falaise road, contributing to the Allied effort to close the Falaise Gap—a critical point in the campaign to liberate Europe.
In January 1945, Byce’s courage was recognized in a daring Maas River raid. Amid fog and German gunfire, he crossed into enemy territory, fought off attacks, and captured a German soldier’s paybook, providing Allied intelligence with valuable information. For his actions, he was awarded the Military Medal.
Later, in March 1945, during Operation Churchill, Byce and “C” Company took part in the intense battle for the Hochwald Gap. Outnumbered and exhausted, they held their ground through fierce German counterattacks. When his company was ordered to withdraw, Byce covered his comrades with a sniper rifle, allowing eight men to escape safely. For his bravery, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal—Canada’s second-highest award for gallantry.
Despite his heroic service, Byce returned home to continued discrimination. Indigenous veterans like him often struggled to access the same resources and support as others. Byce’s quiet determination, resilience, and dedication to his country shine as a powerful example.
Learn more about Charles Byce on his very own story map below!
Warrant Officer Class II Charles Cromwell Martin, DCM, MM
Lieutenant E.M. Peto, Company Sergeant-Major Charlie Martin and Rifleman N.E. Lindenas, preparing to lay a minefield in Bretteville-Orgueilleuse, France, 20 June 1944.
Born in 1918 in Wales, Charles “Charlie” Martin emigrated with his family to Ontario in 1928. Settling in Cooksville (now Mississauga), he worked on his family’s farm and attended Port Credit High School.
In 1940, at the age of 21, Martin enlisted with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. His journey would lead him across Europe as one of Canada’s most decorated soldiers of the Second World War. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Martin’s company was part of the first wave to land on Juno Beach. Under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, they fought through the French village of Bernières-sur-Mer, sustaining 50% casualties but pressing forward.
Later that day, Martin and his men continued to push 11 kilometres inland, capturing strategic positions as they advanced. Martin’s leadership and calm under fire became evident as he rallied his troops through some of the war’s most brutal fighting. Over the next 11 months, Martin’s courage was tested again and again. He was wounded four times but refused to leave his men.
In November 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his “utter disregard for personal safety” and his ability to inspire his men under fire. His bravery continued in the Hochwald Forest on 4 March 1945, where he led a daring charge that routed the enemy, accounting for 26 dead and 47 prisoners.
For his actions, he received the Military Medal, with his conduct described as “a magnificent example of courage and devotion to duty.” Following the war, Martin returned to Canada, where he built a life of service in his community. He became an author, sharing his experiences in Battle Diary, one of the most vivid memoirs of Canadian soldiers in the war. Charlie Martin passed away in 1997, but his legacy endures.
Discover the intense fight through the Hochwald Forest on our Clearing the Hochwald Story map below.
Sergeant Samuel “Moe” Hurwitz, DCM, MM
Moe and his brother Max
Samuel Moses “Moe” Hurwitz was born on January 28, 1919, in Montreal, Quebec, the eighth of thirteen children in a family of Jewish immigrants. Growing up in the industrial neighbourhood of Lachine, Moe’s early life was marked by the challenges of being part of a small Jewish community surrounded by predominantly French-Canadian and British neighbours. Anti-Semitic incidents were common, including the time his father was arrested after standing up to a man making pro-Hitler remarks. Despite these challenges, the Hurwitz family built a close-knit life, eventually moving to “The Main,” Montreal’s Jewish quarter, where Moe felt more at home.
As a young man, Moe was a talented hockey player. He played for the Montefiore Red Wings, an all-Jewish team, and quickly gained a reputation for his skill and toughness. His talent on the ice eventually led to an invitation to try out for the Boston Bruins. But by 1940, with news of Hitler’s advances in Europe, Moe felt a greater call to serve. He turned down the hockey opportunity, telling his family, “There’s no time to play hockey when millions of my brothers are getting killed in Europe.” Just days after the fall of France, he enlisted with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, determined to join the fight against fascism.
Moe trained as a tank commander with the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment, spending nearly two years in England preparing for the Allied invasion of Europe. By the time he landed in Normandy in August 1944, he was a seasoned sergeant known for his “indefatigable” spirit and leadership skills. His first taste of combat came during Operation Totalize, a bold Allied offensive aimed at breaking through the German defences south of Caen. In his tank, “Geraldine,” Moe led his crew into heavy fighting, charging through enemy lines with extraordinary courage. In the chaos, Moe dismounted his tank, storming enemy positions on foot, taking prisoners, and neutralizing German positions. For his bravery, he was awarded the Military Medal, a rare honour for a Canadian soldier.
As the Allies pushed further into occupied Europe, Moe’s actions continued to stand out. In September 1944, near the Dutch town of Philippine, Moe and his crew encountered a heavily fortified German “hedgehog” position. With his tank immobilized and his men under fire, Moe made the bold decision to fight on foot. Armed only with his Sten gun, he led a daring assault, personally clearing multiple enemy positions and capturing German soldiers. His actions played a key role in the Canadian advance and earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), Canada’s second-highest military honour for bravery.
In October 1944, during the Battle of the Scheldt, Moe’s luck ran out near the Dutch village of Wouwsche Plantage. Leading his troop in a fast-moving assault, Moe’s tank became separated from the rest of the Canadian forces and was ambushed by German troops. In the confusion, Moe and his crew were captured. Rumours circulated for months about his fate, and his family clung to hope, but by March 1945, word arrived that Moe had died of his wounds while in German custody.
Moe Hurwitz’s legacy endures. His story is one of unmatched courage, resilience, and sacrifice. His medals, including the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal, are displayed in Montreal’s Guards Museum, and the Hurwitz Cup, named in his honour, is awarded annually to the top marksman in the Canadian army cadet program. Though he never received his medals in person, Moe’s father, Chaim, travelled to Ottawa to accept them on his son’s behalf, a tribute to a young man who gave everything for his country and his people.
Discover Moe's journey with our story map:
Lt-Col. Albert Arnett ‘Bert’ Kennedy, DSO
Albert Kennedy riding a jeep under the hot Sicilian sun
In the late afternoon of Dec 5, 1943, Acting Lt-Col. Albert Arnett ‘Bert’ Kennedy was trying not to panic. The orders had just come down from Battalion HQ (BHQ) that Kennedy’s Hastings & Prince Edward regiment (Hasty P’s), was to find a way across the fast-running Moro River to establish a bridgehead for 1st CID to advance into Ortona. He was to send his men across the river at night, in the dark, with little opportunity to scout ahead. There was to be no preliminary bombardment to soften up the enemy. Tanks were unable to cross the muddy riverbanks.
Frantic, he sent Farley Mowat, his intelligence officer, ahead to scout for crossing points. Mowat found a possible fording spot at a sandbar, and at 2200 hours a platoon of A Company attempted to cross.
But the German resistance was heavy and most of A Company was blocked from the ridge line by a sheer cliff. With the attack failing, Kennedy ordered a withdrawal. He immediately had another idea, and cleared it with the Commander of 1 CIB, Brigadier Howard Graham.
Mid-afternoon on Dec 6, an artillery barrage kept the enemy’s heads down, while Kennedy sent C and D Companies up the steep side of the river valley. Heavy fire from the Germans sent C Company reeling back and contact with D Company was lost. Fearing the worst, Kennedy looked across the river and saw something miraculous: D Company had surged into the German lines, and the enemy had momentarily retreated. Never one to waste an opportunity, Kennedy personally led A and B Companies across the Moro River valley, where they dug in on the north side of the river.
The night that followed was horrendous, but in the rain and the cold, the Hasty Ps held their ground. The next morning, the battlefield looked like something from the Great War. Kennedy, returning to BHQ for orders, was told he had to hold the ground, so that the rest of the brigade could use it as a bridgehead to take the surrounding villages.
On Dec 8, after a night of frantic preparations, a major artillery bombardment began at 1530 hours. The brigade broke through the Moro River Line, and Hasty P's headquarters received messages from Howard Graham and from Montgomery, congratulating the regiment on seizing and holding the bridgehead that made it all possible.
For his leadership in this battle, Bert Kennedy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The citation reads, in part: During 8 December, the battalion remained in their position and repulsed small enemy attacks, and were incessantly subjected to mortar and artillery fire... Major Kennedy moved from company to company inspiring and encouraging his weary men…Throughout these four days, 6-9 December, Major Kennedy has constantly gone about organizing and improving his position, and by his personal courage, aggressive leadership, and calm judgement in a most hectic period, has maintained this important ground, and inflicted grievous damage upon the enemy.
Follow the journey of 1 Canadian Infantry Division from Sicily to the Moro River on our story map below:
Captain Frederick “Fritz” Peters, VC, DSO, DSC & Bar
Captain Peters pictured while re-enlisted in the Second World War.
Captain Frederick Thornton "Fritz" Peters was born on September 17, 1889, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, into a family steeped in Canadian history. His father, Frederick Peters, served as Premier of Prince Edward Island, while his mother, Roberta Hamilton Susan Gray, was the daughter of John Hamilton Gray, a Father of Confederation. Raised with a strong sense of duty, Fritz’s courage and devotion to service would become legendary.
Fritz joined the Royal Navy in 1905, beginning a long and distinguished career. By the time the First World War broke out, he was a lieutenant. His bravery in naval combat earned him both the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). After the war, Fritz retired but continued to split his time between Canada, Britain, and the Gold Coast, Africa. Yet, when the world edged towards another conflict in 1939, the 50-year-old Fritz rejoined the Royal Navy, ready to serve once more.
In 1942, Fritz was part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. His mission, Operation Reservist, aimed to seize Oran Harbour in Algeria to prevent its destruction by French forces aligned with Vichy France. Commanding the HMS Walney, Fritz led his ship and crew directly into the harbour under intense enemy fire from French shore batteries, destroyers, and gun emplacements. Undeterred by the barrage, he steered Walney through the harbour defenses, reaching the jetty while suffering heavy losses.
Blinded in one eye and the only surviving officer on the bridge, Fritz continued to lead, helping secure mooring lines so troops could disembark under relentless enemy fire. Though Walney was ultimately disabled and sank in flames, Fritz’s bravery inspired his men. Captured by the French, he and the other survivors were imprisoned until the French garrison surrendered days later.
For his heroism, Fritz was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest honour for valour, and also received the United States Distinguished Service Cross for his actions, making him one of the rare individuals to receive such high honours from both Allied nations.
Tragically, just three days after his release, Fritz’s life was cut short. On November 13, 1942, he was en route back to Britain in a Sunderland flying boat, which crash-landed in Plymouth Sound due to thick fog. Despite efforts by the pilot, who held onto Fritz in the water for over an hour, he did not survive. Fritz’s body was never recovered, and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in England.
Captain Frederick “Fritz” Peters’ legacy endures, honoured by a mountain in British Columbia named after him, a memorial in Charlottetown, and the pride of Canadians who remember his gallantry. His medals, including the Victoria Cross, DSO, and DSC with Bar, remain symbols of his extraordinary life of service and sacrifice.
Flying Officer George “Buzz” Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar
Beurling chalks up his “kills” on the fuselage of his Spitfire
George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling was born on December 6, 1921, in Verdun, Quebec. Known as "The Falcon of Malta" for his remarkable skill as a fighter pilot, Beurling became Canada’s most successful Second World War ace, credited with downing 27 enemy aircraft over Malta in a span of just 14 days. His relentless drive and unparalleled marksmanship led him to a total of 31 confirmed kills, making him one of the most celebrated yet unconventional Allied pilots of the war.
Growing up in Montreal, Beurling showed an intense interest in flying from a young age. He flew his first solo flight by the age of 17, and by 18 he had a commercial pilot’s licence. Determined to serve, he faced initial rejection by the Royal Canadian Air Force for lacking academic qualifications. Undeterred, he sailed to England and enlisted with the Royal Air Force in 1940, beginning an extraordinary journey that would see him rise to fame during one of the most desperate battles of the war.
n 1942, Beurling joined No. 249 Squadron and was deployed to the besieged island of Malta, where his fearless flying and deadly accuracy quickly earned him a reputation. Known for his exceptional eyesight and skill at deflection shooting, Beurling developed a style that focused on precision. He preferred to engage at close range, firing only when he was certain he could destroy his target. Over the next few months, he shot down Italian and German aircraft with unmatched precision, becoming the highest-scoring RAF ace over Malta and one of the island’s most celebrated defenders.
On July 27, 1942, Beurling achieved his most notable feat, shooting down four enemy fighters in a single day. For this display of courage and skill, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) with a Bar. He continued to rack up victories, and despite being wounded and suffering malnutrition during the siege, he remained a relentless fighter. Beurling’s unorthodox methods and lone-wolf approach frustrated his superiors, who valued teamwork, but his results were undeniable. By October, he had received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), and his name had become synonymous with Malta’s defiance.
However, Beurling was not immune to the dangers of his profession. Over Malta, he was shot down four times, each time surviving close encounters with death. In October 1942, after his last flight over Malta, he was seriously wounded in a dogfight and forced to bail out into the sea. Soon after, he was sent back to Britain, where he survived a crash into the sea on a transport plane en route.
Beurling’s fame in Canada grew, and he returned in early 1943 to participate in a war bond drive. Despite his hero status, his frank statements about enjoying aerial combat unsettled the RCAF, and he eventually returned to England as a gunnery instructor. In 1944, Beurling joined the RCAF but clashed with commanders due to his penchant for stunting and lack of teamwork, leading to his grounding.
After the war, Beurling struggled to find direction. In 1948, he accepted an offer to fly for the Israeli Air Force. Tragically, he was killed in Rome on May 20, 1948, in a plane crash while en-route to Israel. The circumstances of the crash remain unclear, with suspicions of sabotage. His body was eventually interred in Haifa, Israel, where he remains a revered figure.
George “Buzz” Beurling’s legacy is complex but enduring. He remains an iconic figure in Canadian and Maltese military history, remembered for his unmatched skill and dedication to the art of aerial combat.
Brigadier-General Sydney “Rad” Radley-Walters, CMM, DSO, MC
Radley-Walters receiving his DSO from Field Marshal Montgomery.
Sydney Valpy Radley-Walters, born on January 11, 1920, in Malbay, Quebec, was one of Canada’s most accomplished tank commanders. Known simply as “Rad,” he grew up in the rural Gaspé Peninsula, where he excelled at sports, especially football. After attending Bishop’s University and enrolling in the Canadian Officer Training Corps, he was commissioned in the Sherbrooke Fusiliers in 1940, just months after the start of the Second World War. Rad’s journey would make him one of the Western Allies’ most successful tank aces.
In 1942, Rad’s regiment was reformed as the 27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment) and was deployed to Britain. By June 6, 1944, D-Day, Rad was leading A Squadron in his Sherman tank, “Caribou,” as they landed on Juno Beach with the 3rd Canadian Division. Their mission was to support the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade’s advance inland. On the second day of fighting, Rad achieved his first tank kill, knocking out a German Panzer IV. Over the following weeks, he would survive three tanks being destroyed under him, two combat injuries, and a direct hit from a land mine that knocked him unconscious.
In the intense Normandy fighting, the Sherbrooke Fusiliers engaged the 12th SS Panzer Division. Under the infamous Kurt Meyer, this unit included fanatical young soldiers from the Hitler Youth, who later massacred Canadian prisoners of war. On August 8, during the battle of Cintheaux, Rad and his men are believed to have played a role in destroying the tank of Germany’s top tank ace, Michael Wittmann, known as the “Black Baron.” For his bravery and leadership throughout the Normandy Campaign, Rad received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Military Cross (MC).
By the end of the war, Radley-Walters had commanded his regiment at the astonishingly young age of 25. His tally included 18 destroyed German tanks, establishing him as the top tank ace of the Western Allies. His courageous service and tactical brilliance earned him the admiration of his comrades and commanders alike.
Lt.-Col. James Riley ‘Big Jim’ Stone ,CM, DSO & Two Bars, MC, CD
“I learned one thing there: always trust the man on the ground. Don’t worry about what you think is the situation – listen to what he says.”
Photo of Jim Stone serving as a Colonel
James Riley Stone was born in England in 1908. He came to Canada at the age of 19, working in ranching and forestry in the West. At the time war was declared in September 1939, Stone was in the Peace River country of Northern Alberta working for the Alberta Forestry Department.
He rode his horse Minnie into the nearest town, then hitched a ride to Grande Prairie where he joined the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, “the Eddies”, as a private. By the time the Eddies left for England in late 1939, Stone was a corporal. His leadership qualities showed themselves during training and in March 1942, Stone was commissioned as the Regimental Sergeant Major.
In July of 1943, as part of 1st Canadian Infantry Division, the Eddies landed in Sicily for Operation Husky. 1st CID pursued the Germans northward through Sicily, then through Italy. Some of the worst fighting in the war took place in the town of Ortona at Christmas 1943. Often called “Canada’s Stalingrad”, Ortona was a siege of a well-entrenched enemy that was determined to slow the Allied advance at any cost. It was here that Big Jim Stone’s leadership as a Company commander really came to the fore.
Because the CO’s HQ was so far from the front lines, Big Jim Stone became, in effect, the Eddies’ commander, creating tactical plans for attacks and looking after the men. The pressures on him must have been enormous, but he never showed signs of it. He just got on with the job. Having convinced the Three Rivers Tank commander to support an advance into the town using as much shock-and-awe tactics as they could muster, the formation was stopped cold by an enemy anti-tank gun emplacement.
Stone threw a smoke grenade, ran forward, and dropped a fragmentation grenade over the shield of the German cannon and silenced it. He was awarded a Military Cross for this act of bravery. In other actions in the war, he was given a DSO and bar as well. One of Colonel Stone’s DSO citations read in part:
“There were many instances where Lt.-Col. Stone’s personal leadership was a contributing factor to success in battle. His initiative and courage are unsurpassed.”
His leadership was inspiring to his men. Big Jim had learned that when the job seems impossible and the opposition seems too strong, do the unexpected. The Loyal Edmonton Regiment also fought in Germany at the war’s end, by which time Big Jim Stone was a Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the regiment.
In July 1950, Canada called on Col. Stone once again to lead the P.P.C.L.I. in Korea. In late April of 1951, the regiment came under a heavy attack at Kapyong. They were able to hold off a force at least five times larger by skilled use of the terrain and artillery. This was the last major thrust of the Chinese forces, and they soon entered into ceasefire negotiations.
For his leadership at Kapyong, Big Jim received another bar to his DSO, and the P.P.C.L.I. was given the Presidential Unit Citation.
But Big Jim Stone had a softer side too.
In an interview in 1980, he recalled with emotion a little boy in Italy named Angelo who sang for him and his men. The men went through the stores of uniforms and found some clothing and some small boots that weren’t too outsized and gave them to Angelo. It was the first shoes the boy had ever owned. Angelo’s mother, a widow, visited Big Jim and gave him two eggs – he called it “the widow’s mite” – in gratitude for the kindness shown her son.
Jim Stone was appointed Provost Marshal of the Canadian Army following the Korean conflict. After his daughter Moira lost her vision to cancer, he was so upset that many other blind children didn’t have access to the services and equipment they needed that he launched a charity, the Military Police Fund for Blind Children. Moira passed away at age 7. The charity still exists.
Big Jim Stone was given the Order of Canada in 1994. He died at age 97 in 2005 in Victoria, B.C.
Sergeant Tommy Prince, MM, Silver Star
Tommy Prince serving with the First Special Service Force
Thomas George “Tommy” Prince, a proud member of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, is one of Canada’s most decorated Indigenous soldiers. Born on October 25, 1915, in Petersfield, Manitoba, Prince grew up learning the skills of a tracker and marksman from his father, an experienced hunter. Those early lessons would serve him well in the coming conflicts that would take him from Canada to Europe and Korea, where he became known as a soldier of rare courage and skill.
Prince enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940 after facing multiple rejections likely due to the racial discrimination of the time. He first served as a sapper with the Royal Canadian Engineers but soon volunteered for the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion. This elite unit later merged with an American battalion to form the legendary 1st Special Service Force, also known as the “Devil’s Brigade.” The unit was a specialized force trained for reconnaissance and assault, operating behind enemy lines with a level of skill that earned them fear and respect on the battlefield. Prince’s role in this group would see him take on missions of extraordinary danger.
In early 1944, while serving in Italy, Prince distinguished himself with a display of bravery and cunning near Anzio. Tasked with running a communication line out to an abandoned farmhouse that served as an observation post, he was positioned just 200 metres from German forces. When the line was severed by shelling, Prince boldly ventured outside, disguised as a local farmer. Hoe in hand, he casually moved along the broken line, pretending to tend his crops under the watchful eyes of German soldiers. With remarkable composure, he reconnected the line while feigning annoyance, even shaking his fist at the opposing forces in a convincing act of frustration. His intelligence reports guided Allied artillery fire, leading to the destruction of four German positions and earning Prince the Military Medal (MM).
In southern France, Prince continued to prove his prowess. During an operation in September 1944, he and a fellow soldier conducted a harrowing reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines. After walking 70 kilometres through treacherous terrain, he returned with precise details of a German encampment. The intelligence he provided led to the successful assault on the position, and for his bravery, he was awarded the American Silver Star. Prince was one of only three Canadians to receive both the Military Medal and the Silver Star, a testament to his extraordinary contributions.
Silver Star citation: “So accurate was the report rendered by the patrol that Sergeant Prince's regiment moved forward on 5 September 1944, occupied new heights and successfully wiped out the enemy bivouac area. The keen sense of responsibility and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Prince is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the Allied Nations.”
When the Second World War ended, Prince returned to Canada as a celebrated war hero. Yet, despite his honours, he faced significant discrimination. Denied the same benefits as other veterans, he struggled with unemployment and the lack of basic rights available to Indigenous people at the time. Determined to make a difference, he became an advocate for Indigenous rights, serving as a spokesperson for the Manitoba Indian Association and lobbying for changes to the Indian Act.
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Samuel Moses “Moe” Hurwitz was born on January 28, 1919, just two months after the end of the First World War. He was the eighth child of thirteen born to Bella and Chaim (Hyman) Hurwitz, of Montreal. Moe’s parents were Jewish immigrants who had arrived in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century.