The Sussex Military Camp, frequently shortened to Camp Sussex, was a training facility for the Permanent Active Militia and Non-Permanent Active Militia, later known as the
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
. It was located on the southeastern edge of the town of
Sussex, New Brunswick
Sussex is a town in Kings County, New Brunswick, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Sussex is located in south central New Brunswick, between the province's three largest cities, Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton.
Sussex straddles the ...
.
Camp Sussex was established in May 1885 when New Brunswick
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
units assembled in a large tented camp at the site south of the
Intercolonial Railway
The Intercolonial Railway of Canada , also referred to as the Intercolonial Railway (ICR), was a historic Canadian railway that operated from 1872 to 1918, when it became part of Canadian National Railways. As the railway was also completely ow ...
mainline to prepare for service in the
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion (french: Rébellion du Nord-Ouest), also known as the North-West Resistance, was a resistance by the Métis people under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by First Nations Cree and Assiniboine of the District of S ...
. Few permanent buildings were constructed, although a large area of forest and farm land was cleared on the flat floodplain in the
Kennebecasis River
The Kennebecasis River ( ) is a tributary of the Saint John River in southern New Brunswick, Canada. The name Kennebecasis is thought to be derived from the Mi'kmaq "''Kenepekachiachk''", meaning "little long bay place." It runs for approximately ...
valley.
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, Camp Sussex hosted the First Training Battalion of the
New Brunswick Regiment, later renamed the 1st Depot Battalion in 1918.
The start of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
saw the
3rd Canadian Infantry Division authorized in 1940 under the command of Major-General E.W. Sansom. The army decided to concentrate the 3 CID in the Maritimes and one of the areas selected was Camp Sussex. The camp was enlarged to handle a
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.
Br ...
with units arriving that fall for training. After the 3 CID units departed for overseas deployment, they were replaced by units from the
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the World War I, First World War. During the World War II, Second World War the division was reactivated ...
. Following deployment of the 4 CID, the 17th Infantry Brigade of the
7th Canadian Infantry Division
The 7th Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry Division (military), division of the Canadian Army, mobilized in the spring of 1942 and assigned for home defence within Atlantic Command (Canadian Army), Atlantic Command, during World War II.
...
began to use the training facilities; the 7 CID being the general reserve for
Atlantic Command. In April 1943 the 17th Infantry Brigade consisted of the
Victoria Rifles of Canada
(For hearth and home)
, colors =
, colors_label =
, march = "Huntsmen's Chorus" and '' Lutzow's Wild Hunt''
, mascot =
, equipment = ...
,
The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada
The Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. The regiment was formed in 1936, when The Haldimand Rifles was Amalgamated with The Duff ...
and
Les Voltigeurs de Québec. The A-34 Special Officer's Training Centre was established at Camp Sussex from 1944-1945 to train officers for the
CANLOAN The CANLOAN program (or the Canada Loan program) was a scheme created in 1944 to loan officers from the Canadian Army to serve in British Army units. The program's initial aims were to help supplement the undermanned British Army officer corps and p ...
program
Following World War II, the Canadian Army used Camp Sussex as a minor facility for training reserve units in New Brunswick until the construction of
Camp Gagetown. The 8th Hussars (Princes Louise's) (Militia) continued to use facilities on the site until the early 70s when Camp Sussex was closed. Until at least 1969, in addition to the Tank Hangar, the Officer's and Sgt's Messes, two H-hut barracks, an H-hut kitchen, a Drill Hall, and a parade square were all in use by the 8 CH. The Regiment also trained on 5 M4A2E8 Sherman tanks until they were removed in the late 60s. The land was purchased from the
Department of National Defence by the town of Sussex however few landmarks remain. Part of the town purchase is now repurposed
as Princess Louise Park / Sussex Skate Park.
Modern-day Leonard Drive runs through the middle of the training camp and the modern Brigadier Milton Gregg VC Armoury has been constructed on a tiny portion of the former camp to house B Squadron
, a local armoured reserve unit. A nearby rifle range on Fowler Avenue (and Creek Lane) that dates to the days of Camp Sussex remains DND property (fenced off) but is not used for training. The most visible remnant of Camp Sussex is a former
tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engin ...
hangar, now used by the New Brunswick Agricultural Museum and Sussex Armouries.
The governments of Canada and the United Kingdom and the CANLOAN Army Officers Association erected a memorial on 3 June 1961 in
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
dedicated to the memory of the 128 CANLOAN fatalities within the 673 that served in the British Army during the Second World War.
[{{Cite web , url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=3153# , title=CANLOAN Memorial , access-date=2014-05-16 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120933/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=3153# , archive-date=2014-05-17 , url-status=dead ]
References
Camp Sussex - NB Military Heritage Project
Army installations of Canada
Buildings and structures in Kings County, New Brunswick
Canadian Forces bases in New Brunswick