It’s been a busy, and sometimes emotional few months for Highlands veteran Nick Bryant, who has been overseeing the summer restoration of the Haliburton Legion’s M4 ‘Easy Eight’ Sherman tank.
The Second World War-era machine has been missing from its usual home beside the legion building since June, though Bryant promised it would be returning soon.
“We’re aiming to have it delivered for early October – way in advance of Remembrance Day,” Bryant said. “It’s important to us, to the legion, that it be back then.”
For the past three months, the tank has been sitting at the Haliburton Crane and Concrete property on Gelert Road. Bryant said around 30 community members had contributed approximately 750 volunteer hours to give the vehicle a much-needed facelift.
The project has been extensive. To start, the tracks and turret were removed to allow for the main body to be stripped and sandblasted, both inside and out. While that was happening, Bryant said representatives from Base Borden visited, collecting some of the tank’s workable parts that are to be displayed in the military camp’s museum.
The Sherman has been painted a deep shade of green, while stencils to re-inscribe Haliburton and the CFR title number have been ordered.
A new set of rubber tracks have been ordered and will soon be installed, Bryant said. Several volunteers, including members of the Haliburton Army Cadets, were on-site Aug. 30 assisting with the rebuild.
Jackson Trautman, 13, and Tristan Humphries, 14, were busy reinstalling the tank’s road wheels last week, under Bryant’s guidance. The pair told The Highlander they felt it was important to help as they’re preserving part of Haliburton’s history. They also thought it was cool to see the inner workings of a tank up close and in-person.
The tank arrived in Haliburton from Base Borden in 1970, Bryant said, serving as a local memorial to Highlands’ veterans in the years since. A plaque installed on its side reads, “through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond,” in reference to its use in multiple war efforts. Bryant confirmed that plaque would be reinstalled.
The M4 Sherman was constructed by Fisher Tank Company in the 1940s and used predominantly by the U.S. in the Second World War, and by Canadian troops in the Korean War. It was named after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, a celebrated American Civil War general.
According to online records, the Haliburton tank was constructed in 1945.
“The tank will be 80 years old next year… it’s an icon of the town and of the legion. I’m happy to see it in better shape,” Bryant said.
The restoration, including moving the tank and purchasing materials, is expected to cost around $24,000, though a Canadian War Memorials grant covered a good chunk – the legion and community donations too care of the rest.
Bryant said without the community’s support, including from Total Site Services, Haliburton Crane Rental, and Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association, the project never would have happened.
“The community has been outstanding. People, when they knew something was needed for this project, have been really stepping up,” Bryant said. “We’re getting down to the short strokes now. We need to install the turret again, focus on some decals, and we’ll be done.”
Workers were outside the legion last week preparing the site for the tank’s eventual return.
“Seeing the transformation, it’s been amazing. We hope people will appreciate it, stop and check it out, once it’s back,” Bryant said.
