RIP Herb Danter, Royal Canadian Artillery

[Barry Churcher]

This has been a very tough week for many of us since hearing of my old buddy Herb’s passing. Yesterday was the toughest day of all. We attended the internment where Herb's ashes came to their final resting point. Myrna, Brian, Janet and I attended the service with many of Herb’s friends from the serving military, the reserves, the cadets, veterans, the Legion, Ferret Club, the Limber Gunners and the OMVA. This particular cemetery is an incredibly beautiful location which was unexpected considering it’s central location in the City of Scarborough. At the door to the chapel we had to pass Herb’s beloved Field Artillery Tractor, Limber and 25 pdr. The first part was the Legion Service and the remainder was the regular service complete with a bagpiper and a quartet that played some of Herb’s favourite songs. After the service we paraded behind the Tractor, Limber and 25 pdr. along a winding trail through the cemetery, past a 25 pdr and a 17 pdr monument. The grave site is along the roadway at the bottom of a sloping hillside. The lone piper playing on the hill was a nice touch along with the trumpetor that brought many to tears. The highlight was the three rounds fired by the 25 pdr. I bet that woke a few people up in the neighbourhood. We all put our poppys in a cushion beside Herb’s remains and returned to the hall for the reception. As I said, it was a tough day but also a very satisfying one in that Herb was given such a great send off by so many people whose lives he touched in so many ways. In his eulogy Paul gave Herb one final "Ubique".

[M38CDNBill]

Thanks Barry for these comments. Here in Trois-Rivieres, one of the most known veteran has passed on last februery and he was a very good friend for me. It's always tought to see these veterans die and it's now up to us to honor their memory with our HMVs.

[Brian Gough]

Pictures (45) taken by the staff of Pine Hills Cemetery at the funeral of
Herb Danter are now on line at:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan..._photos_button


Brian

[Col Tigwell]

A lovely and rewarding service for a great man.

What a shame that so many veterans miss out.

And I note that in true Canadian army tradition, a sprinkling of lovely ladies to bid him farewell.

I think I would have joined the army to serve alongside a lovely "gunner" as you guys found.

Rest in peace herb, you more than done your share.

Col

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Barry & Brian,

You must be very saddened by the loss of your friend. I wish you and his family, friends and fellow gunners consolation with the loss of a fine man. Thanks for sharing his farewell with us.

Regards,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

In remembrance of Herb Danter, pictured here with Art Bell.
In better times, Canada, November 2007.

[Michael Ockenden]

I have only just learnt of the death of Herb Danter and am so very sorry that I never met him. Herb was stationed in Eastbourne with The 23rd Field Regiment (SP) RCA from August 1943 until the run-up to D-Day in March 1944. Alas we didn’t link up until the summer of 2006, before the publication of ‘Canucks by the Sea – The Canadian Army in Eastbourne during the Second World War’, but too late for his memories to be included. However, Herb did contribute to the project, for when it seemed that our payment for an advertisement in Legion would not arrive in time, he saved the day by writing a personal cheque to cover the cost until we could reimburse him.

Herb had been back to Eastbourne several times since the end of the war, and was hoping to make a special trip to be present at the book launch in November 2006. I was looking forward to taking him to some of his old haunts, and Herb hoped to take part in the parade on Remembrance Sunday and lay a wreath at our war memorial. Unfortunately, he was already ill and couldn’t come.

He sent me some of his wartime photographs and more details of the Canadian presence in Eastbourne – these are included in a new edition which came out earlier this month. With the permission of the webmaster, details of this new edition of Canucks by the Sea will be posted on the forum shortly.

I sent him several e-mails during the autumn, but there was no reply. Fearing the worst, I searched the forum for his name and so found the sad news of his death. One of Herb’s last e-mails to me was in November 2008. He referred only briefly to his poor health and ended: “I am looking forward to getting over to Eastbourne, and of course this gives me an incentive to carry on. Cheers!”

Herb Danter was a proud soldier and a brave man. I am so sorry that he never made that last visit to what he called ‘my home from home’.

Michael Ockenden
Eastbourne Local History Society