We regret to advise of the death of Sapper George Horse (Ret’d) of the Thunderchild First Nation on 22 August 2006 at his home in Thunderchild at the age of 87 years.

George was a veteran of the Second World War who joined the army in 1942 to escape residential school. He was assigned to the 18^th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers and was sent to A6 Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Camp Chilliwack BC for training. After a period of additional training in Canada, George arrived in the United Kingdom in 1943 and received training as a dispatch rider. He landed on Juno Beach on D-Day where his company was responsible for clearing the beach of obstacles for the assault forces. After the break-out, George fought with his company through the Battle of Normandy, through Belgium, and up to the Dutch border.

George was badly wounded by shellfire at Breskens in the early days of the Battle of Schedlt in October 1944. He was unconscious for hours and, among other wounds, suffered a severe concussion. After three months in hospital, George was not sent back to the front. On returning home, he never recovered fully from his war wounds and worked as he could in construction…often as a watchman. George returned to Normandy in 2002 on a Veterans Affairs pilgrimage.

Wake services will begin the evening of 23 August 2006, on the Thunderchild First Nation. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday 26 August at the school gymnasium.