Edward M Strougler

On July 26, 1940, Edward left his job at the General Supply of Canada as a clerk to enlist as a trooper in the Canadian army. Many of the propaganda posters at the time made the war sound exciting and fulfilling. Propaganda played a huge role in the war, and Edward could have thought enlisting made him a hero to his country. Edward enlisted in the seventeenth duke of York’s royal Canadian hussars, a light cavalry regiment. This unit of the Canadian army became the last Canadian cavalry to become mechanized and pay off their horses. Edward served for four years, until his death in 1944 on the western side. During his time in the Canadian army, Edward earned the star defense medal. The star defense medal was awarded for operational service during the second world war. A recipient of the medal in the army, navy or merchant marine had to serve 180 afloat or on land to receive the star defense medal.

Edward was sent to Northern Europe on the 25th of November 1944. This was right after the Battle of Scheldt which lasted from October 2, 1944 – Nov 8, 1944. He was deployed there until his death. It was the 21st of January, 1945. Edward was 28. At the time, he was in Holland, (now known as the Netherlands), near Nijmegen. Edward had died in action. Otherwise, the details of how he was killed is unknown. He was buried on the 22nd of January, 1945, in the Nijmegen Canadian Military Cemetery, grave 15, row B, plot 1. At the time, he had no proper grave, just a wooden cross for identification. Now, Edward is still in the same cemetery, which is now known as the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, with a proper gravestone to commemorate his deep sacrifices for his country and many more.