Arrived yesterday in Lochem, Holland at our home away from home. Garden looking great and the pancake house is delightful. Time to stock the fridge and pick up my dry aged Black Angus steaks, specially ordered from my friends at Millers of Speyside, in Grantown on Spey, Scotland. Have a look at our little place here www.shandalee.com Better yet, come on over and join us for a spell...Cheers...Gary.

The Caen bridge we will be visiting on our Dieppe 75 tour, where Dad's 112th Bty. went to the front on July 19, 1944, to support 2 Cdn. Div's breakout to Falaise. His H2 gun was sited on top of a brewery on the opposite bank of the Orne. His mate Bill Cameron told me that they found an unexploded bomb in the basement where they had slept. ( Dominique Bidart can you help with any information on the brewery?) WD states that a Staff Sgt. of RCE told us of the stiff fight put up by the 12th SS to prevent our placing the bridge over the Orne to Vaucelles. On the night of July 25, Maj. Conn Smythe's Bty. was heavily bombed and shelled and he was seriously wounded; the war was over for him. The Bty were here until until Aug. 5(18 days) when they moved to Giberville to guard the gun area of 9 AGRA, most notably 9, 11 & 107 Med. Regts. The Bty served under command of 9 AGRA much of the Normandy campaign...Cheers...Gary https://goo.gl/maps/GKYw8zzDZAt

Staying with these beautiful photos, this is the equally beautiful Arras, located very near the Somme. Another critical location for our Canadians in WWI, close to Newfoundland Park (Beaumont Hamel) All our WWI tours start and end in Arras, another one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Join us for a tour and spend some time in magnificent Arras. Cheers...Gary

The stunning Cloth Hall in Ypres, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. And, so important to Canadians in WWI. Join us for a tour and visit magnificent Ypres.....Cheers.....Gary.

Just sent to me by a French colleague, who was born and lives in the area. Merci Beaucoup Dominique! The South Sasks had a sticky go on Verrieres Ridge, in the chest high wheat fields, where they got out in front of their lines and were mercilessly hunted by German tanks. One of the worst days of the war for them.

Just booked Liberation of Holland tour for DND- 60 serving members stationed in Geilenkirchen, Germany. They are very pleased with the itinerary we have prepared. http://www.canadianbattlefieldtours.ca/liberation-of-holland/

Been a very good 10 days. 3 WF tours and Italy tour starting in 2 days. Always makes it worthwhile when you get feedback like this. Many thanks to guides Ken Lees, Richard Porter, Jon Haslock and Danila Bracaglia.Superb job.. Hi Gary - In a word, it was spectacular! Ken was not only knowledgeable, but extremely personable and a great person to knock around with for the day. He helped lead us to the field where George T. Scroggie, our relative, was injured in battle and what his role would have been, as well as helping to fill in social historical details (a particular interest of mine!). It was all pretty incredible, and the bits and pieces of the story we have already sent back to Canada have excited everyone there; ditto for our day with Jon. Jon also created a very special day for us, also helping to fill in the blanks of George T. Scroggie' movements - up to driving us down a narrow dirt road to get to as precise a point as possible to learn about George's company's involvement at the Somme. It was also a terrific tour and we learned so much. This was a very special trip and we thank you, Ken and Jon for helping to make it happen. I would highly recommend your tours. We were able to zero in on elements of the WW1 history in ways I'm sure a large tour bus tour could never do. Thank you so much. We're very glad to have found your outfit. Best, Stacey Johnson, Richard Joy, Elizabeth Joy Toronto, Ontario www.canadianbattlefieldtours.ca

We celebrate today the 72nd anniversary of the Liberation of Holland. Pick your dates and join us for a memorable and humbling tour. Please click the link below and read the history of the difficult and costly liberation. Our Liberation of Holland Tour is a one-of-a-kind tour. Most LOH tours are ceremonial in nature and focus on the most famously mentioned names like Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Appeldoorn, Zutphen and Wageningen. Of course, we visit these sites too, but so much more. We think it is important for Canadians to know how a majority of those 1394 Canadian heroes resting in Holten, lost their lives. We will take you to the battlefield sites where these Canadian heroes lost their lives. This will bring so much more meaning to your visit to this beautiful cemetery. The liberation of Holland came at a terrible cost. 5,700 Canadian soldiers were killed liberating Holland. More than in Normandy. Where were they killed? What battles?. We follow in the footsteps of 2nd CDN Corps, most notably 2, 3rd and 4th Division, following their crossing of the Rhine River in March 1945, through Holland until the cessation of hostilities. In addition, we visit a few places where 1st CDN Corps fought, notably Arnhem and Apeldoorn. Although our main tour ends in Deventer, we are happy to offer alternative, custom tours for those whose interest may be in any of the following- • Extend our main tour to include Westerbork and Groningen, • Follow 4th Div’s movements through Doetinchem, Lochem, Almelo, Meppen, Sogel, Friesoythe & Oldenburg, • Follow 1st CDN Corps (recently arrived from Italy) through Arnhem, Apeldoorn, Deelen, Otterloo, Barneveld, Voorthuizen, Nijkerk, Putten, Ermelo & Harderwijk Our signature tour, where the Liberation of Holland really begins, starts in Rees, Germany and ends in Deventer, Holland and covers the time frame between March 24 and April 10, 1945. You will visit infamous V1 Launching sites that the Germans wreaked havoc and death on London and Antwerp. You will learn, from our local Dutch guides, about the heroic efforts made by the local Dutch resistance against the NSB, in the Laren area, where they saved many Jews and rescued many downed airmen.(This area was a major flight path and many planes, German and British, came down here). The Liberation of Holland came at a great cost, in lives lost.There were many battles fought during this span, most notably Speldrop, Bienen, Millingen, Emmerich, Hoch Elten, Doetinchem, Wehl, Warnsveld, Rha, Zutphen, Twente Canal, Leesten, Lochem, Laren, Holten, Schipbeek Canal & Deventer. http://www.canadianbattlefieldtours.ca/liberation-of-holland/

Boy, did this SOB ever have me snookered. Impeccable pedigree, truly a 'bad ass' defence minister. The only bright spot in Trudy's cabinet. What he's done is the worst example of Stolen Valour that I have seen. And to watch his pathetic, timid canned answers in QP, is revolting. Time to 'Soldier Up' 'Cowboy Up' or just 'Man Up' and get the hell out!

This might chase me to a Jack Daniels on the rocks. Scary stuff; just hope it's 'fake news'