RCD's M8 Greyhound

[maple_leaf_eh]

The privately owned Stag in the RCD parade (oh yeah, there was some other bunch cluttering up the parade route too), was featured in a newspaper story in the Ottawa Citizen (p. F6 Fri 6 Jun 08). No discussion of the ownership, except that Star Motors in Ottawa was donating storage and maintenance space, and some skilled labour. An RCD soldier (Tpr Bradley Osmond) was going to drive in in the parade.

In brief, a Staghound was shipped from "the regiment" in February to Ottawa, where it had been outdoors since 1969. Mr. Jeff Mierins of Star Motors stepped up to donate the company's services and Mr. Nick Tilger's technical leadership to restore the vehicle in time for the parade. His generousity is underplayed in the article, but obviously he felt an obligation to our troops. When stripping down the vehicle they found .30cal casings and a Dutch 1943 coin, strongly suggesting this vehicle had been returned to Canada after serving with the Dutch. The Trooper speculated this might have been used in the liberation of Leeuwarden. A veteran of this period was to have ridden in the turret for the parade last weekend.

I think I need to go visit Star Motors to ask what else can be added to the story.