Calgary brewery releases tribute label to raise funds for Field of Crosses
source: calgary.ctvnews.ca date: November 1, 2021 Ryan White CTVNewsCalgary.ca Senior Digital Journalist/Producer UpdatedNov. 1, 2021 1:40 p.m. MDT PublishedNov. 1, 2021 10:54 a.m. MDT CALGARY - The annual Field of Crosses memorial project along Memorial Drive is set...
Field of crosses – We remember
source: cantarechildrenschoir.org date: November 1, 2021 The Field of Crosses Memorial Project is an annual display of white crosses on Memorial Drive in Calgary, Alberta. The display commemorates soldiers from Southern Alberta who lost their lives in service to our...
Field of Crosses Memorial Project, supported by Global Calgary
source: GlobalNews.ca date: November 1, 2021 The mission and the commitment of the Field of Crosses Memorial organization is to assure that present and future generations always remember and never forget the thousands of men and women from Southern Alberta and across...
Calgary students place poppies at Field of Crosses
source: www.cjwe.ca date: October 29, 2021 Friday, October 29th, 2021 11:55am The students placed poppies at Field of Crosses ahead of Remembrance Day Students from the Delta West Academy in Calgary volunteered their time to pay tribute to the fallen at the Field of...
Remembrance Day 2020: Calgary Remembers from the Field of Crosses
A very different, smaller crowd gathered at the Field of Crosses Memorial Project Wednesday to mark Remembrance Day 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Su9Mohv0qc
The 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
On January 27, 1945, during the Second World War, soldiers of the Allied Soviet Red Army, the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front liberated the German NAZI Concentration Camp called Auschwitz located in the town of Oświęcim in occupied Poland.
Auschwitz, Birkenau and Monowitz were the three main combined camps and the most infamous of all NAZI Germany concentration camps. Between 1940 and 1945, about 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz and of these 1.1 million were murdered. These prisoners were mainly European Jewish people, along with non-Jewish Polish, Roma (Gypsies), Soviet prisoners of war and many other people of various nationalities. In August 1944, there were more than 135,000 prisoners across these complex camps.
Early in January 1945 it appeared that only 67,000 prisoners remained alive in Auschwitz. With the Allied Soviet Red Army advancing westward across Poland, the German SS guards evacuated almost 60,000 Auschwitz prisoners on a forced death-march westward to the towns of Loslau and Gleiwitz. Many prisoners perished in the winter conditions and the remainder were loaded onto trains and taken to concentration camps in Germany and Austria.
On January 27, 1945, the Soviets freed 7,000 starving prisoners remaining behind in Auschwitz.
Over 230 Allied Soviet soldiers died in combat while liberating these camps and the cities of Oświęcim and Brzezinka. The Soviet soldiers attempted to help the survivors and were shocked at the scale of NAZI crimes.
This date, January 27 is recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 60/7, adopted by the General Assembly on 1 November 2005, established 27 January as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution urges every member nation of the U.N. to honor the memory of the Holocaust victims.
#LightTheDarkness #HMD2025 #HolocaustMemorialDay #History #WW2 #WeRemember #NeverAgain
𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐞𝐨
Age: 26 – Pte RCA
Date of Death: 14/01/1945
Leo Smith was born on September 21, 1916, in the town of Gomel, Russia, the son of Abraham and Rose Smith. He had a brother Allan and sisters Pauline and Mary. The family arrived in Calgary, Alberta in 1924.
Leo spoke several languages: English, Jewish and Russian. Growing up in Calgary he was active in sports; boxing, baseball, rugby, and he played the violin. Leo made a home for himself in Calgary as a dry cleaner and presser. He was the husband to Columba G. Smith and father to Sylvia Susan Smith.
Leo enlisted in Calgary as a Private with the Calgary Highlanders on December 6, 1939, service number M/11468 at the age of 23.
During his service overseas in Italy from June 30, 1943, Leo was Taken On Strength (TOS) with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and later on January 10, 1945 he was TOS with the 5th Medium Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Leo died of his wounds received in action against the enemy in Italy on January 14, 1945. He is buried in the Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Italy.
Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Private Leo Smith.
www.fieldofcrosses.com/
#FieldofCrosses #Canada #CanadianArmedForces #WeRemember #History #Alberta #Veterans
What a loss. Thank you for his story.
𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐌
Age: 20 – L/Cpl NNSH
Date of Death: 31/12/1944
Robert Murray Roland was born on August 4, 1924, in Red Deer, Alberta, he was the son of Charles Edward and Blanch Catherine Roland of Red Deer. Robert was the older brother to Percy Edward and his sister Barbara Jean.
Robert attended rural intermediate schooling near Red Deer and was active in hockey and softball. His father passed away in 1933 and Robert left school at grade 9 to maintain the farm with his mother and brother.
While farming, Robert had 2 years and 2 months of reserve military training with the 2nd 78th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery and had attended two camps at Sarcee, Alberta.
Robert enlisted in the army on July 13, 1943, in Calgary, Alberta, service number M/7557. He served in Canada through to February 13, 1944, then embarked to England for further infantry training. Arriving in France on July 3, 1944, serving through Northwest Europe, Robert was Taken on Strength (TOS) with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on September 18, and later promoted to Lance Corporal November 8.
Robert was reported missing and for official purposes presumed to have been killed in action on December 31, 1944. He is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial in the Netherlands.
The Groesbeek Memorial commemorates the names of over 1,000 servicemen along with the following inscription.
The walls bear the names of the soldiers
Of the British Commonwealth and Empire
Who fell in the advance from the River Seine
Through the low countries and into Germany
But to whom the fortune of war denied
A known and honoured grave.
30TH AUGUST 1944 - 5TH MAY 1945
Each November during the Eleven days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Lance Corporal Robert M. Roland.
www.fieldofcrosses.com/
#FieldofCrosses #Canada #Veterans #CanadianArmedForces #History #Calgary #YYC
𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐁 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐀
Age: 29 – Pte PerthR
Date of Death: 22/12/1944
John Alexander Robb was born December 22, 1914, in Grass Lake, Alberta. He was the son of James and Elizabeth Robb of Calgary, Alberta. John had 4 brothers and a sister. John finished Grade Eleven in Calgary and while in high school he was part of the school cadet program for 3 years and was active in baseball, rugby and basketball. John continued his education at the Institute of Art and Technology. His father had passed away and John took on various jobs to support the family, these included, being a ranch keeper, working in an automotive accessory shop, a lumber office clerk, a shipper in a paint warehouse and owned a business for 1 ½ years as a motorcycle delivery person.
John enlisted in Calgary on September 28, 1942, with the Perth Regiment (Motor), service number M/104270. His experience working in an automotive accessory shop, involving radiator soldering, ground cables, ignition etc. and being a delivery person with his own motorcycle was considered valuable to the Perth Regiment. The Perth Regiment landed in Italy on November 8, 1943, as part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division and saw action as an infantry battalion.
During the battle to cross the Munio River, Private John A Robb died of wounds received in action on December 22, 1944. He is buried at the Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Italy.
Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Private John Alexander Robb.
#FieldofCrosses #Canada #History #Veterans #CanadianArmedForces
As Christmas approaches and we embrace the spirit of the holiday season, we extend warm wishes to everyone in our Field of Crosses family. To our incredible volunteers, participants, sponsors, donors, supporters, and the media—along with special recognition to our uniformed members and veterans—we offer our heartfelt thanks.
The memories, stories, and legacies of those who have fallen remain with us throughout the year. However, during the holiday season, we reflect even more deeply on their ultimate sacrifice and the freedoms we enjoy today because of their courage. The Field of Crosses stands as a place of reverence and tribute, reminding us of our shared history and the selflessness of Southern Albertan servicemen and women who gave their tomorrows so we could celebrate our holidays in peace.
As you celebrate this festive season with your loved ones, may it be a time of gratitude and remembrance. We are deeply grateful for your continued support of the Field of Crosses and our mission to honour our fallen heroes.
Warmest holiday wishes,
The Field of Crosses Board of Directors
As the calendar turns to 2025, we will begin our fundraising efforts to ensure this project continues in the coming year. Please consider supporting us by making a donation:
Online at www.fieldofcrosses.com/donate
By cheque payable to Field of Crosses, mailed to:
84 Edgeland Rise NW, Calgary, AB T3A 4E1
All donations are eligible for a tax receipt. Registered Charity CRA# 74426 0084 RR0001
We leave you with this touching video linked below from this year's Field of Crosses. We hope it brings inspiration and a moment of reflection this holiday season.
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Thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of your community and helping you all out with The Field of Crosses again this year and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🥳 and all the best for the year ahead too please 🙏 I will be seeing you all again next year
Please take time out your day and help this Veteran and his family have a Christmas. He has three children and He’s having trouble finding help in his area. Thanks to anyone who has donated Happy Holidays! Please share if you can’t help financially. https://gofund.me/71a6d00d