Sarnia's Calamity Tank - Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 62
Sarnia’s “Calamity” tank has served as a tribute to the fighting soldiers of the First Hussars. The tank was donated to the City of Sarnia by the First Hussars and Sarnia Legion in 1970. The tank is model type M4A2 HVSS Sherman medium tank with a 76-mm gun, serial number 65042, built by Fisher, with Reg. No. 30123021. Sherman tanks were manned by a five-man crew that included the commander, gunner, loader/wireless operator, driver, and co-driver/machine-gunner.
The tank was christened “Calamity” to honour First Hussars member Brandon (Brandy) Conron, who drove a tank named “Calamity” as the Canadians stormed ashore on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Sarnia’s Sherman “Calamity” tank’s dedication plaque is inscribed: To the Memory of Our Fallen Comrades. Dedicated by the 1st Hussars and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62. 8 November, 1970. ‘Lest We Forget’.
In 1994, a second plaque was unveiled on the Sherman tank. This second plaque is inscribed: 1944-1994 This plaque is placed here to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy on D-Day, 6th June 1944. It is dedicated to the soldiers of the First Hussars; to those who took part in the assault, to those who fought in the European Campaign, and to those who gave their lives to liberate France, Belgium, and Holland. “Hodie Non Cras”.
Inscription
1944 1994
THIS PLAQUE IS PLACED HERE TO COMMEMORATE
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALLIED INVASION
OF NORMANDY ON D DAY, 6TH JUNE 1944.
IT IS DEDICATED TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE
FIRST HUSSARS, TO THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THE
ASSAULT, TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE EUROPEAN
CAMPAIGN, AND TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO
LIBERATE FRANCE, BELGIUM, AND HOLLAND.
“HODIE NON CRAS”
SARNIA'S CALAMITY TANK
Le char d’assaut « Calamity » de Sarnia rend hommage aux combattants des First Hussars. Le Firs Hussars et la Légion de Sarnia ont fait don du char à la Ville de Sarnia en 1970. Il s’agit d’un Sherman de taille moyenne de type M4A2 HVSS doté d’un canon de 76 mm, numéro de série 65042, construit par Fisher, et son numéro d’homologation est le 30123021. Les chars Sherman transportaient des équipages composés de cinq hommes dont le commandant, l’artilleur, le chargeur/radio-mitrailleur, le conducteur, et le co‑conducteur/mitrailleur.
Le char fut nommé « Calamity » en l’honneur du membre des First Hussars, Brandon (Brandy) Conron, qui conduisait un char nommé « Calamity » lorsque les Canadiens ont débarqué sur les plages de Normandie le jour J, le 6 juin 1944.
On peut lire l’inscription suivante sur la plaque commémorative du char Sherman « Calamity » de Sarnia : To the Memory of Our Fallen Comrades. Dedicated by the 1st Hussars and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62. 8 November, 1970. ‘Lest We Forget’. (À la mémoire de nos compagnons d’armes tombés au combat. De la part des 1st Hussars et de la filiale 6 de la Légion royale canadienne. 8 novembre 1970. Nous nous souviendrons d’eux.)
En 1994, on a inauguré une deuxième plaque sur le char Sherman portant l’inscription suivante : 1944-1994 This plaque is placed here to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy on D-Day, 6th June 1944. It is dedicated to the soldiers of the 1st Hussars; to those who took part in the assault, to those who fought in the European Campaign, and to those who gave their lives to liberate France, Belgium, and Holland. “Hodie Non Cras”. (1944‑1994 Cette plaque souligne le 50e anniversaire de l’invasion de la Normandie par les Alliés le jour J du 6 juin 1944. Elle rend hommage aux soldats des 1st Hussars; à ceux qui ont pris part à l’assaut, à ceux qui ont combattu lors des campagnes menées en Europe et à ceux qui ont donné leur vie pour libérer la France, la Belgique et les Pays‑Bas. « Aujourd’hui et non demain. »)
Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.