A Tribute to Samuel Moe Hurwitz from Bergen op Zoom,

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.

Canadians soldiers with a citizen liberated.

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

The Rooving Guardsman.