Lieutenant-Colonel Butch Merner
8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Hussars)

At this time of the year two things are inevitable, the after-festivities hangover and the CO’s more or less heartening message. Of the two my words are probably the more cheerful, as the hangover one can’t avoid, but this message need not be read. For those of you who have got this far it is obvious that you have nothing else to do so you might as well continue to the bitter end.

(Recce Zeitung, 1 Jan 1946, 2)

Born in Toronto in 1918, John Ford Merner was an original squadron commander in the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment and second-in-command during the Northwest Europe campaign. He served as acting commanding officer during absences of Lieutenant-Colonel B.M Alway and took over shortly before VE-Day. Before repatriation in late April 1945, Alway assured the unit his successor was “an experienced soldier who had been with the Regiment since its inception.”

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