counterattack was broken but not before 110 Canadians were killed and 192 others wounded. Another 120 Canadians were taken prisoner. Some of the Canadians, mostly men from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, were trapped behind the German lines. As afternoon turned to evening, they began to emerge from the wheatfields, barns, and houses to surrender. Among those caught behind enemy lines was private Lorne Brown of the North Nova’s “A” company. exhausted and wounded, his left wrist was shattered and throbbing with pain, the war for this twenty-yearold form Springhill Nova Scotia was over after just thirty hours. As Brown struggled to get to his feet, a teenaged SS trooper approached him screaming at the top of his lungs. The fanatical SS soldier pointed his rifle at the wounded Brown and rushed up to the dazed Canadian. He prodded Brown with his bayonet until the wounded Canadian stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. At this moment this Hitler Youth soldier placed his boot on Brown’s neck and plunged his bayonet repeatedly into Brown’s chest. This reprehensible act violated all rules of war. It was the first act of murder committed by the 12th SS that would be repeated at least another 155 times in the hours and days to follow. Other horrific incidents transpired that evening in the area. Still some Canadians taken captive by the 12th SS were rounded up and sent to their headquarters at the Abbaye d’ Ardenne at about 7:30 in the evening of 7 June. Among them was Lt. TomWindsor, a tank commander wounded in those earlier armoured battles outside of Authie. As one of the few officers amongst the Canadian prisoners, Windsor was signaled out for interrogation; however, he would only give his name, rank, and regimental number. even after his captors punched him the face, Lt. Windsor refused to provide any details. The Germans then went amongst the prisoners and asked for volunteers. Of course, nobody responded at which point ten were randomly selected. After the bulk of the Canadian captives were moved out of the Abbaye at about eight o’clock. The ten Canadians selected by the Germans remained and were joined by an eleventh man – private Hollis McKeil of the North Novas – badly wounded in the fighting at Buron he was a stretcher case and unable to walk out with his comrades. The Canadians were then escorted over to the Chateau for further interrogation. They included: privates Ivan Crow and Charles Doucette, Corporal Joseph Macintyre, private Hollis McKeil, private James Moss all from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. As well, from the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, are Troopers James Bolt, George Gill, Thomas Henry, roger Lockhead, Harold philp, and Lieutenant Thomas Windsor
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