Herbert Danter

Hello Fellow MLU-ers,

It's my great delight and pleasure to be able to start this thread on one of our own esteemed MLU-ers, Herb Danter, who was a WW2 Vet and has delighted me by giving me his Blessings to do this.

To you Herb, thank you for this, and for being the kind of person, coming from your generation, who breaks some of that silence for the rest of us hungry-for-knowledge and stories younger generations

I also thank you, from the heart and soul, for your service and all that has meant to you and your personal life, from your Volunteering to go overseas and face the dragons who you helped to slay in the end, and losing many buddies along the way , to your homecoming and life afterwards ... you preserved our freedoms, now we preserve your history and work hard to try and preserve that history, and those freedoms you all risked and sacrificed for. I can only say to you

Please everyone, bear with me while I try to adjust sizes etc of some files for uploading and get them in here. Herb has extremely generously sent me many photos and files, so I'll be busy adding to this thread for a while. Keep watching it because i think this will take me a while

I'll begin with a photograph of Herb when he first joined up, with the Toronto Scottish. Photo 1940.

A Biography as provided to me by Herb, to go with that 1940 photograph above. I tried to upload the original file he sent me but it's too large. I wasn't able to resize it, so have typed out the biography in here. What is missing is the image of the biography written on special paper and has a drawing on those pages. I will continue to try and get those images in here, but for now ... here is Herb's biography:

Herb Danter, Royal Canadian Artillery

Herb Danter joined the 2nd Battalion, Toronto Scottish Regiment (MG) in July 1940, and remained with them until re-enlisting in July 1942 in the newly recruited 117th Field Battery RCA hoping to get a higher medical category which was required for Overseas service. His new Battery was sent to Camp Petawawa for basic training, the second time for Herb.

In October of 1942, Herb was transferred to the 23rd Field Regiment RCA (sometimes known as “Landers Lilies” after a certain CO’s keenness on whitening all cap and rank badges) in Sussex, New Brunswick. The 23rd went overseas as part of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division in July, 1943 and was stationed in Eastbourne in the South of England.

Herb was subsequently attached to the Royal Artillery (for discipline and rations) and was sent to the Royal School of Artillery where he was “fine-tuned” in Gunnery and specialty training as an OP Ack and a GPO Ack. After graduating from the RA School in the “Gospel According To Larkhill”, he returned to his Regiment and practiced his skills from Normandy until the War’s end in Germany.

As part of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, the 23rd Fd Regt (SP) arrived in Normandy in July, 1944 and relieved a Field Regt of the RA of the 7th (UK) Armoured Division (The Desert Rats) at Caen. At the breakout of the British and Canadians at Caen in early August 1944 the intent was to advance to Falaise to the south and there meet the Americans and thus set a trap for the German Army in France.

For the next 10 months, Herb Danter was either at the OP or out on recce ahead of the fast moving guns as the 23rd Field Regiment (SP) gave a close artillery support for the infantry and the armoured units of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division as
they fought through the rest of France into Belgium, Holland and finally into Germany. The 23rd Field Regiment (SP) ended the war not far from Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 4 May 1945. For a short time after that, Herb was given the job in the orderly room near Amersfoort, Holland processing returning homeward bound troops until his turn came for repatriation.

After his discharge from the Canadian Army in 1946, herb became involved in furniture manufacturing and sales in Toronto until he retired. Herb is a widower and has two daughters and a granddaughter.

He is presently enjoying being the co-Chairman % Secretary of the Limber Gunners Association which is affiliated with the 7th Toronto Regiment RCA stationed in Moss Park Armoury, Toronto.

More to come as I am able to adjust some great photos and such for uploading ... patience with me please and thank you.



Karmen

Herb in 1944, and in 2004.

Says Herb, "On the left is a Chap whose had his baptism of Fire and on the right I don't know when the hell to give up."

In another time, another place, a child doesn't know he will be the soldier of tomorrow, or that he will be that older man looking back in time at a life that so many younger generations look up to him for in awe and gratitude for what he did, and for the stories and wisdoms shared that their own loved ones were too silent to share ... like a good parent, the Young Boy, then Grown Soldier, then Grown Man, his history is handed down to the young, by one that was once so young, he never knew war or how it changed everyone and everything ... or how a war take so much and so many lives, and can also save so much, and so many, but now, far down the road of life, he knows it all, and tells his stories to The Young. For all of this ... we salute you and your like, Herb. We thank you.

I'm the shortest, I used to call this pic "before and after the chopping block". My Dad used to cut our hair ( he would have made a good army barber).
My brother Perc has had his hair cut (mowed) and I'm next, I don't know why I was grinning, probably out of fright.
Herb

September 1944 Belgium

When I was back at the guns, I had to help prepare barrages etc. So I'm doing an ammo check here prior to helping our infantry cross the Leopold Canal in Belgium in September 1944
Herb

Quick note to you all ... I'd hoped to be able to upload more to this thread today, but it's been a long day for me, and I may not be able to get to this until tomorrow again. I have to figure out how to adjust/adapt some files to be able to upload them and that takes a little time to fiddle with. Patience please and thank you, there definately will be more coming soon.



Karmen

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

A better copy of the above....

Thank you Geoff! Most of the files arew too large to upload here, and I don't know how to adjust some the photos odd sizes or convert some of the files and have to learn as I go. I've been playing with entering different numbers etc. I'll figure it out

Karmen

[peter simundson]

Herb.
You're not fooling anyone looking at the 25 pdr. rd. and casing. I know you are just deciding which one to put in your kitbag.
You're still an old fart but I forgive you for not joining my Regiment. We could've used a guy like you.
Merry Christmas.
Peter Simundson

[Herb Danter (RIP)]

Many Thanks Peter:
Brian Budden made me an honorary QOR when I went to Normandy in 2004 with their Association.( 60th Anniversary of D Day) I had one of the best trips in my life. ( I'm still taking tums ). and I met a lot of nice Chaps (my kind of Comrades)
and a Merry Christmas to you Peter and all the best for the New Year
Herb

Please bear with me Herb, and others, while I work at figuring out how to get these images uploaded properly!!! Thanks!

Okay ... I need a little help from my friends here, oh please, oh please!

I'm trying to enlarge the 4 images (4 pages of Memoirs) so that the words are big enough to be seen and read by MLUers, and haven't been succeeding. I'm using Paintshop Pro (you know which one Geoff????????) and entering different values (am guessing them as I don't know how to do this stuff) I've tried both "resample" and "resize" ... can anyone (Geoff?) help me, please and thank you???

Karmen

Meanwhile, I'll post some other things until I get the Memoirs images sorted out.

Photo: Crossing the Atlantic ...

Sailing up the Clyde on our arrival in the U.K. Close to 17000 troops on board and we crossed the Atlantic without any escort.

Herb.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Simple guide... for pics use resample and save as jpgs with 15 compression. if there's any text in them, save as gifs with no transparency. Straight text, post it in the forum.

Now I gotta go to bed before I drop. Goodnight all, harangue Karmen until 0600 EDT. She'll either help you or tell you to piss off. Either option's good by me...

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Simple guide... for pics use resample and save as jpgs with 15 compression. if there's any text in them, save as gifs with no transparency. Straight text, post it in the forum.

Thanks Geoff.

I haven't a clue what you mean about "15 compression" though ... or saving as gifs "with no transparency". I'll go back into Photoshop and see if those things are mentioned/are options.

Sorry I'm such a slow learner here. I'm either very dense or it's the teachers fault???

Karmen

[Phil Waterman]

On the third deck second over from the life boat looks like my uncle.

I'll carry on and post whatever else I am able to and will post the "Memoirs" files as soon as I am able to.

Here we are returning home on the troopship through a fierce storm. We were not allowed on deck for two days and we landed in Halifax two days behind schedule. Sea sick YUK!.
January 1946

Herb.

September 1944

Our first leave - Brussels Belgium - Spetember 1944 -( I think.)
I can't remember much of this one.

Herb.

Oh dear ... I must cover me wee bittie eyes for this one

Our first shower since leaving our billets in England.The tall guys got the clean fresh water , the smaller ones got their used soapy water

Herb.

Wonderful photos Herb, and thank you so much for letting us see them! ... Carman

At Sogel, Germany, 1945.

Our recce party back for a rest, the fellow standing on the right is a BSM and he wasn't in our party. The fellow kneeling at the right was our Officer who was killed two days later.

Herb.

I have one more really good one to post, which needs fiddling with first, besides the Memoirs. Standby ...

Carman aka Karmen

It's been a very unexpected, amazing and full day for me, and for Geoff at his place, who I sent the files to for help in adjusting them for posting, so the files won't be added until tomorrow some time. The day was disrupted, hence .....

I'm just letting you folks know in case some of you keep checking back here to see them and then finding them not here yet. Tomorrow, I promise ...

I'm looking forward to this as well because I haven't yet got to read those Memoirs!

Hello People,

Just adding this link about George Blackburn's passing, as he and Herb were good friends and there are some comments by Herb, and photos of he and George Blackburn, if you haven't spotted this thread as yet.

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...&threadid=7383

Karmen

[Barry Churcher]

Herb, I am sorry I didn't post this earlier. Have a Happy Belated Birthday.
Brian and I owe you a pint.
Barry

[Herb Danter (RIP)]

Many Thanks Gunner C. Having a birthday so soon after Christmas is kinda inconvenient. I tell people that I was born with callouses on my hands ----- "Holding Back until After Christmas" --- I'll look forward to that libation.
Gunner D

Originally posted by Herb Danter
Many Thanks Gunner C. Having a birthday so soon after Christmas is kinda inconvenient. I tell people that I was born with callouses on my hands ----- "Holding Back until After Christmas" ---Gunner D

Happy Birthday Herb!

I'm so embarrassed if you told me before that your birthday was at this time and now I read about it in this thread and I send you belated (I'm sure) Birthday Wishes!

All the Best to you Herb ... "A man and his Gun are not easily parted" May you escort it to many more years events, as you do so well!

Carman

[Herb Danter (RIP)]

Many Thanks Carman, I appreciate your message.and may I wish you a New Year of 2007 filled with all the good things in Life as you so richly deserve.

Ubique with the warmest regards
Herb

Originally posted by Herb Danter
Many Thanks Carman, I appreciate your message.and may I wish you a New Year of 2007 filled with all the good things in Life as you so richly deserve.

Ubique with the warmest regards
Herb

Ah I thank you so much, Herb. 2007 is a cumin' in ... may we all enjoy the best of the 'good stuff" that we all deserve. That's my New Years Wish to you and everyone else.

Carman

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
Hello Fellow MLU-ers,

It's my great delight and pleasure to be able to start this thread on one of our own esteemed MLU-ers, Herb Danter, who was a WW2 Vet and has delighted me by giving me his Blessings to do this.

I'll begin with a photograph of Herb when he first joined up, with the Toronto Scottish. Photo 1940.

Hi Carman,

What a woderful picture of Herb Danter, and must say what a very good looking young man to, thats those Canadians for you

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
Okay ... I need a little help from my friends here, oh please, oh please!

I'm trying to enlarge the 4 images (4 pages of Memoirs) so that the words are big enough to be seen and read by MLUers, and haven't been succeeding. I'm using Paintshop Pro (you know which one Geoff????????) and entering different values (am guessing them as I don't know how to do this stuff) I've tried both "resample" and "resize" ... can anyone (Geoff?) help me, please and thank you???

Karmen

Hi Carman,

Those photos are excellent! I am now cotemplating if my Dad was on board that ship? well one never knows eh?