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A Tribute to Samuel Moe Hurwitz from Bergen op Zoom,

Armand Kertzman and Ivo Weterings who live in Bergen op Zoom, the city which was liberated by the Canadiens. They Honour Sergeant Samuel Moses ‘Moe’ Hurwitz, DCM,MM.

The following is a letter sent to the Regiment via email from two citizens of Bergen op Zoom (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌbɛrɣə(n) ɔp ˈsoːm] ⓘ;[a] called Berrege [ˈbɛrəɣə] in the local dialect) is a city in the municipality in southwestern Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Brabant, at the provincial border with Zeeland.

‘Dear Grenadier’s,
Because of the anniversary of the 80th liberation of Bergen op Zoom we made a tribute to one of you “famous” soldier Samuel Moe Hurwitz. We hope you like the pictures and the poem and will put it on your website.
Greetings Armand Kertzman and Ivo Weterings’.

 

Armand and Ivo who’s families were liberated 80 years ago, like so many of their fellow citizens, today they are colleagues of a teachers in a primary school, in the 6th class of 9,10 years old,  Continuing to Honour their liberator’s.

On behalf of both Armand and Ivo they thank all Canadians for liberating Bergen op Zoom, the city which they liberated. Especially Moe Hurwitz their Hero.

The above image they sent us was of the best quality their internet would allow.  Ivo who writes poetry and Armand brought together the various pictures on their flag. The photo’s of locations where Moe has been, till the photo of the hospital where he died. Almost all the photo’s are original pictures of 1944 in various locations.

The Poem By Ivo Weterings

 Moe Hurwitz, 1919 – 1944 – 2024

ik zag,  boven het water waar ik wachtte
door het zich scheurend grijzend  wolkendek
het lichter blauw, wist al hoe hij mij betalen zou
Samuel Moses Hurwitz uit the Main in Montreal
‘geen hockey meer nu er miljoenen sterven’
over de St Lawrance Baai, de Oceaan
Het Kanaal, de Seine, Somme, kleiner stromen
sergeant, als jas een Sherman Tank, tot Phillipine
waarna als held gelouterd Moe de Schelde overstak
via Essenhoek naar Wouwse Pin vechtend langs de Zoom
in Duitse handen zwaargewond overheen Het Hollands Diep
waar ik, de veerman, aan de Dordtse oever stond
zijn strijd, zijn vrijheid aan anderen gegund: de munt
die hij mij gaf en waarom ik hem weer overvoer
en leidde naar waarvan en naar waarvoor
de vrije grond aan de voet van Brabants  Wal
Ivo Weterings, stadsdichter Roosendaal
oktober 2024

 

Moe Hurwitz, 1919 – 1944 – 2024
I saw, above the waters where I waited
Through the breaking grey the lighter blue
Already knew how he would pay
Samuel Moses Hurwitz from the Main in Montreal
‘No more hockey now that millions die’
Across St Lawrence Bay, the Atlantic Way
The Channel, Seine, Somme, smaller streams
Sergeant, as a coat a Sherman Tank, till Philippine
After which as hero honoured Moe crossed the River Scheldt
Through Essenhoek to Wouwse Pin fighting along the Zoom
Injured in German hands his passage of Het Hollands Diep
Where on the banks of Dordt I stood, the Ferryman
His struggle, his freedom granted to others: the coin
He gave to me and why I put him on the other side again
And lead him to where from where and to the reason why
The liberated grounds at the base of Brabants’ Wal
Ivo Weterings, stadsdichter Roosendaal
October 2024

 

The pictures from Armand Kertzman

The below pictures are the same you will find on their banner. It portraits the route of Moe, from the Belgium border to the hospital in Dordrecht where he is believed to have died.

The black and white pictures were taken in 1944. The colors is the situation in 2024. The photo’s are made on the exactly spot where Moe has been. On the banner the photo’s after the hospital are places where Moe could have been. The first pictures are pictures of Canadiens in Bergen op Zoom.

‘It was a great honor to work on this project that gave us a an image of the short life of a true hero’, Armand Kertzman.

Docks at Haven Antwerpen
The station of Philippine which Moe liberated from the Germans.
The way to Bergen op Zoom.
Hedgehog which Moe captured by crawling trough the ditches.

 

 

 

Grote Market today.
Grote Market place at the time it was captured.  With Sherman tank  Bergen op Zoom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damaged house after liberation of Bergen op Zoom.
The same house today.

Canadians soldiers with a citizen liberated.

Crossing where the tank of Moe has been found and where he was most likely been shot trough the lung.

 

The German Hospital where Moe subsumed to his injuries’.
The Regiment would like to thank both Armand and Ivo for sharing with us their tribute of Sergeant Samuel Moses ‘Moe ‘ Hurwitz, DCM, MM and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen op Zoom by members of the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (CGG).

 

Thank you as well to Sergeant Eric Washburn, our recruiting NCO, who connected everyone.

The Rooving Guardsman.

 

 

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