War Horse, and another Soldier of the Horse

To millions of children the world over, it's two more sleeps until Christmas. Not by coincidence, it is two more sleeps until Steven Spielberg's blockbuster, "War Horse", erupts onto the big screen.
But it was sheer coincidence that I received a telephone call today from Stan Tetley of Jasper, Alberta. Stan's father was a trooper in Lord Strathcona's Horse under Brigadier-general J E B Seely's command at Moreuil and Rifle Woods, in March and April, 1918. Stan recounted to me a memorable visit by himself, his son Ed and Ed's family to Moreuil, France, in August this year. They, too, were royally entertained by Jean-Paul Brunel, the human dynamo who toured them tirelessly to battle sites and family graves, culminating in a stirring ceremony at the Bois du Moreuil.
See earlier blogs entries for more detail on the redoubtable Jean-Paul.