Grey-Bruce Boomers Spring 2023

THE BUCKET LIST
by Doug Archer
A team of dedicated
volunteers worked 10,000
hours to restore the relic.
That’s when Steve and three other dedicated
individuals – fellow Veterans Gary Cambridge and
Ron Janus, as well as Perry Kitson, an expert in the
restoration of armoured vehicles – embarked on
their rescue mission.
Steve’s passion for the Holy Roller comes naturally
enough. He spent 17 years in the military before
moving to a second career in private security. As
a member of the 1st Hussars – the same regiment
that commanded the celebrated tank in battle – he
manned reconnaissance jeeps, armoured cars and
fighting tanks, first as a driver, then gunner, and
ultimately as a crew commander.
“The Holy Roller is a significant memorial to the
1st Hussars who fell in action – we couldn’t let it
end up as scrap,” Steve said. “So, in June 2019, the
four of us got together and vowed to spearhead its
preservation.”
That turned out to be no easy task. Discussions had to
be held with commanders and committees of the 1st
Hussars. Detailed condition reports on the tank had
to be prepared. Authorizations were needed from
the City of London. Proposals were written. Finally,
in December 2019, Steve and his fellow rescuers
received approval to begin the preservation project
on the Holy Roller, though they were provided with
no funding. If the project were to proceed, they
would have to raise the money themselves.
“So that’s what we did,” Steve recalled. “We
developed a website, went on Facebook, applied for
grants from the Federal Government, and reached
out to Royal Canadian Legions, Veterans and local
businesses. The response was overwhelming. The
Toboggan Brewing Co. in London even created a
Holy Roller lager, and donated proceeds from its sale
to the project.”
Their goal was to raise $250,000 and, by early-2021,
they had reached $220,000, with money still coming in.
Other types of donations also poured in. Fanshawe
College provided an oversized automotive repair
bay where work on the tank could be carried out,
6 • GREYBRUCEBOOMERS.COM