Bøger af Harold a Skaarup

It has been said that the taking of a fortress depends primarily on the makingof a good plan to take it, and the proper implementation and application of theresources to make the plan work. Long before a fortress has been besieged andconquered, it has to have been out-thought before it can be outfought. A siege can be described as an assault on an opposing force attempting to defend itself from behind a position of some strength. Whenever the pendulum of technology swings against the "status quo," the defenders of a fortification have usually been compelled to surrender.This book contains examples of sieges, both successful and unsuccessful, demonstrating that no matter how securely a fortress or defensive position isconstructed and defended, eventually a good plan and a determined besieger can overcome it. One way or another, time, willpower and determined effort will be brought together in sufficient quantity and quality to bring a siege or a defense to a successful conclusion. It will be argued through the examples presented in this book that ultimately, "no fortress is impregnable."

Corporal Harold J. Skaarup of Carleton County, New Brunswick was a Sherman tank commander in "A" Squadron of the 5th Armoured Regiment, 8th Princess Louise's New Brunswick Hussars during the Second World War. On the morning of the 31st of August 1944, he and his tank crew were fighting the Germans in Italy near a hill known as Point 136. His Squadron had already lost twelve of 19 tanks, ten to German 88mm anti-tank shells and 2 to breakdowns. That morning, Harold's tank was hit by a shell fired from a German 88mm anti-tank gun, and Harold was badly injured. Although he and his tank crew bailed out of the burning Sherman, mortar rounds began to land on them. Harold was hit again, this time taking shell fragments in his chest. He was evacuated to a field hospital in the rear area, but died later from his wounds on the 6th of September 1944. He was 24 years old. Today he lies buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Montecchio, Italy. He never got home to tell his story. This record is a partial chronicle of his service, by his nephew. We never met, but I do carry his name.

Elijah Estabrooks kept a Journal between 1758 and 1760 covering his military service during the French and Indian War, a period that saw Canada ceded to Britain. This book expands on the details of the people and events he mentions in his Journal. He lies buried near Jemseg, New Brunswick, and he was one of the earliest settlers on the Saint John River. This book is a tribute from one of his many descendants.