RIP Herb Danter, Royal Canadian Artillery

[mike mckinley]

i just recieved an e mail from the limber gunners association....our friend herb passed away this morning. as more information becomes available i'm sure others will fill in the blanks. herb, hero, friend, brother, may you rest in peace....

[Barry Churcher]

It is with sadness that I inform you of the death of Herb Danter. He passed away this morning at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. There are no details yet for his funeral but if at all possible, weather and such permitting, the 25 pdr will be there. Hopefully they can use it to carry the coffin. He will be missed by his lovely daughters Pam and Sandra and family. Herb was well known in Canada and Holland for his participation in the military vehicle hobby and more importantly as a veteran of the artillery in WW2. I have posted this in the Gun Park as the guns were so important to Herb. Rest in peace Herb.
:
Ubique

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Herb was a good friend, to all of us. Please pass along funeral arrangements when you know them, Mike.

In the meantime, may I present Gunner Danter in earlier times; Rest In Peace Herb, you shall never be forgotten.

Ubique, my friend.

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

Bad news about Herb's passing away, his last battle was to heavy.
He came many times back to the celebrations in Holland.
Nice talking and memorys with Herb during my last visit in Ontario.
The picture was taken in Apeldoorn, after the big parade, together
with my friends Barry Churcher & Brian Gough in 2005.
Rest in peace Herb.

Dirk

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

From: The Goucher Family
Subject: Death of Herb Danter
Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 10:22 PM

Everyone:
It is with sadness that I must inform you of the death this morning at Sunnybrook Hospital of Herb Danter, Co-Chair and Treasurer of the Limber Gunners. Herb was in many respects the heart and soul of the Limber Gunners, and his vitality and wisdom will be missed by all of us.

Herb was also a member of the Toronto Artillery Ex-Sergeants Association.

Herb was a WW II Veteran. He was part of Forward Observation Team attached to the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The FO Team used the Canadian Sexton, 25
pounder gun mounted on a Ram tank.

His daughters are finalizing funeral arrangements, and as they become available, they will be posted on the LG website:
www.limbergunners.ca

Larry G.

God bless 'em..I'm sure he and my dad will be together talking 25 pounders ..

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I am very sorry to hear about Herb passing away. I had the pleasure to meet him in November 2007 at Barry´s place, and stayed in contact through e-mail.

He was full of energy and was always very willing to share his experiences.

Rust in vrede, Herb!

- Hanno

[CWO (ret) Gilles Aubé]

The 3rd (Montreal) Field Battery of Artillery which I am the president was made possible throught the concelling of Mr. Herb Danter.
We are verry sorry to lose a friend and a great GUNNER.

[Ken Hughes]

I am so sorry to hear of Herbs passing,he took the time to email me and keep me up to date
with what he was doing with the gunners group he was involved with.

[M38CDNBill]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

...Herb was well known in Canada and Holland for his participation in the military vehicle hobby and more importantly as a veteran of the artillery in WW2...

Hello Barry,

Herb was also known by many in France and Belgium. May he rests in peace.

All the best

[Brian Gough]

The following is from the Limber Gunners website http://www.limbergunners.ca/ this am:

Rest in peace Herb.

Brian

Herb Danter, Co-Chair and Treasurer died Monday, March 9.

Funeral details are as follows:

Services for Herb will be at Pine Hills Cemetery

625 Birchmount Road, Scarborough, Friday, March 13

Visitation - 13:00

Memorial Service - 14:00

Following the memorial service the Quad, Limber and Gun will lead the funeral procession to the Veteran's Section for internment

Note: Gun crew to be in battledress, or blues and greys with beret. Wear service medals.

Reception at The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 - 45 Lawson Rd, Scarborough

"UBIQUE QUO FAS ET GLORIA DU****"
(EVERYWHERE WHITHER HONOUR AND GLORY DOTH LEAD)

[Gunner]

Herb will be greatly missed by all of his fellow Gunners.

Good Shooting, End of Mission. Stand Easy!

"Ubique, Quo Fas et Gloria Du****"

Mike

[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

[Mickytee]

While I never met Herb, I have to say that he seamed like a great man.

My name is Mike Thorne & I live in Gloucester England.
I have been researching my family history for around 10 years, and it now seams that myself and Herb are related distantly.
This is how.
Herb was the son of Walter Herbert Danter & Emma Mary Danter (Nee Cockett)
They were Married on 11th May 1910 in St Mary's Church in Charlton Kings Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire England.
Emma's Parents were Daniel Cockett & Charlotte Thorne they Married in Blackburn in Lancashire England in 1879.
Well the connection is that Charlotte Thorne is the daughter of James Thorne (b1817) & Susan Cuzner (b1819) from Frome in Somerset England. These are my Great Great Great grand parents & Herbs Great grandparents

I know that Herbs parents emigrated to Canada in 1911 with a son called Archibald, I would love to hear from anyone who knows or his relatives who may have any information they would like to share with me. I am happy to give my personal email address
Again I pass on to Herbs family and friends my sadness for your loss

[Barry Churcher]

Hi Mickytee
I have forwarded this to Herb's daughters, Pam and Sandra.
Cheers,
Barry

[MrBNaylor]

Hello,

Could some one pass this on to Herb's daughters please. I met Herb at my Grandfather's Reunion in 2008, it was an honour to meet him and his fellow gunners. I wish to share with Herbs Daughters the History of his Regiment available on my YouTube site. http://www.youtube.com/user/MrBNaylor

Sincerely,

Bryan