Special Order of the Day
by
BRIGADIER J.N. TETLEY, Commander 25 Tank Brigade


24 May 44

1. The following messages have been received and replies sent:

From Commander 1 Cdn Corps
To Commander 25 Army Tank Brigade.
rptd Commander 1 Cdn Inf Div

Canadians owe a debt of gratitude to the 25 Tank Bde which has fought so magnificently with us today. The courage and determination of all ranks has been beyond praise.

From Commander 25 Tank Brigade
To Commander 1 Cdn Corps.
rptd Commander 1 Cdn Inf Div

All ranks 25 Tank Brigade thank you for your most generous message. This day has been a great one for all of us and we shall never ask for better comrades than 1 Cdn Inf Div

From 1 Cdn Inf Div
To 25 Tank Bde
Message from Comd 1 Cdn Corps to Comd 1 Cdn Div.

CANADA will be proud for ever of a battle which its 1 Cdn Div has today won. Through the courage and determination of all ranks of the Div and their British Comrades of the 25 Tank Bde, HITLER LINE has been broken in the face of bitter opposition and the enemy has been dealt a blow from which he will NOT soon recover. The final victory is nearer. Let us press on and complete our task.

From G.O.C.1 Cdn Inf Div.
To 25 Tank Bde.

Well done. We have won a resounding victory. This victory is the fruits of your magnificent courage, endurance and the will to win. Now we have the bastards on the run we must keep cracking. Good luck. I am the proudest man in the world

From 25 Tank Bde
To G.O.C. 1 Cdn Inf Div

All ranks 25 Tk Bde thank you for your kind message. We ask for nothing better than to fight with 1 Cdn Inf Div under your command and will help to make Kesselring run faster and farther yet.

2. The Bde Commander wishes these messages and the following to be read to all ranks.

By the great courage and determination which you have shown today and by the magnificent manner in which you faced the most difficult task you have ever met, you have made a great page in history. Many experienced soldiers might have thought your task impossible in such country and with such skilled and determined defence. I thank you all for the great job you have done.

3. General G.C.Vokes, DSO, Commanding 1 Cdn Inf Div, has intimated that he would be pleased if all ranks of 25 Tk Bde would wear a Maple Leaf emblem in token of the part played by the Bde assisting 1 Cdn Inf Div to breach the ADOLF HITLER LINE.

Commander, 25 Tank Brigade, has accepted the offer with thanks.

Further instructions will be issued at a later date.

(Sgd) J.N.Tetley Brigadier
Commander, 25 Tank Brigade

For ease of reading, reproduced from the original.

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The North Irish Horse (the senior unit of 25th Tank Brigade) was entitled to wear the Maple Leaf. Although not a personal honour, the small silver Maple Leaf, that was worn on the right arm below the NIH shoulder flash, was a source of great pride to all those who fought in the battle on 23rd May, 1944. Although not worn on it, the size of the Maple Leaf can be judged in relationship to the Italian Star ribbon.

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