Published in the Toronto Sun, 9 November 2025 (Updated). Previously published on militarybruce.com in October 2009 and in the Barrie Examiner, 9 August 2017. The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of British and Commonwealth militaries in times of …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/chaplain-with-a-bren-gun-rhli-regimental-chaplain-won-the-victoria-cross-at-dieppe/
Published in the Toronto Sun, 10 November 2025 (Updated). Previously published in The Naval Reserve Link, September 2008. Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSC, RCNVR has the distinction of being Canada’s last Victoria Cross winner. Gray, also known as Hammy, was born on 2 November 1917 in Trail, British Columbia to John and Wilhelmina Gray. …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/canadas-last-victoria-cross-winner-lieutenant-robert-hampton-gray-vc-dsc-rcnvr-2/
October 2025 To anyone who was aware of the Cold War struggles behind the Iron Curtain, the name Lech Wałęsa is synonymous with the fight for freedom. As the co-founder of the Solidarity trade-union (Solidarność in Polish) in the Lenin Shipyard, in the northern Polish city of Gdańsk, Wałęsa became an international figure in the …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/lech-walesa-a-hero-in-the-fight-for-freedom-behind-the-iron-curtain/
October 2025 Rebel News celebrated the 10th anniversary of their founding in Toronto, Ontario, on 16 October. Originally known as The Rebel, Rebel News was founded as an internet-based news outlet by Ezra Levant and Brian Lilley, out of the ashes of the Sun News Network, where they both worked for almost 4 years. Sun …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/rebel-news-celebrates-10-years-of-telling-the-other-side-of-the-story/
February 2025 Sometimes, it’s worth the wait. English band Tears For Fears has been having a busy couple of years recently, with a new album, The Tipping Point, a world tour, a live album, and a concert film. Not bad for two guys in their mid-sixties. Tears For Fears were one of the biggest bands …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/tipping-to-tears-tears-for-fears-are-still-ruling-the-world-after-four-decades/
August 2024 Another year has passed. Police officers see all the good and bad that society has to offer, sometimes when people are having what may be the worst day of their life. In the case of Colleen Lantz, it was beyond the worst day of her life. I won’t go into all the detail …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/the-living-must-go-on-living/
June 2024 The history of World War II includes many significant battles and stories of courage and sacrifice. One of the best known stories that took place far from the battlefields of Europe came to be known as The Great Escape. In March 1944, a mass escape of British and Commonwealth airmen took place at …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/flying-officer-alfred-b-thompson-simcoe-countys-connection-to-the-great-escape/
January 2024 It is with great sadness that the Forsyth family announces the passing of Colonel (Ret’d) James Charles Forsyth, CStJ, CD, CA, on 11 January 2024, at the age of 85. Born in Hamilton on 1 June 1938, the son of the late Maurice & Lillian (Denver) Forsyth. James was a graduate of Central Secondary …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/a-true-gentleman-and-a-life-well-lived/
November 2023 On 10 November 2023, Beth Tzedec Congregation and the Toronto Holocaust Museum held a commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, as a part of Neuberger Holocaust Education Week. This was pogrom carried out against Jews by the Nazi Party’s Sturmabteilung (SA) paramilitary and Schutzstaffel (SS) paramilitary forces, along with …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/night-of-the-broken-glass-kristallnacht-commemoration/
11 November 2023 Re: “Lest we forget: They made the ultimate sacrifice” (Toronto Sun Editorial, 11 November): I realize your list of Canadian involvement wasn’t meant to be a comprehensive list, but another to add to it is “The Great Escape.” While the 1963 movie was very entertaining, it was sadly historically incorrect. Many of …
Permanent link to this article: https://militarybruce.com/the-canadian-connection-to-the-great-escape/
