New Heritage Minute celebrates the lifelong love of Lt Wilf Gildersleeve and his wife Marguerite who met in liberated Amsterdam

Historica Canada’s newest Heritage Minute, ‘Liberation of the Netherlands’ was released today, and recounts the first meeting of Seaforth Lt Wilfred ‘Wilf’ Francis James Gildersleeve, M.C. and Marguerite Blaisse in the initial aftermath of Amsterdam’s freedom from German occupation. This is a top-notch production with Mark Zuehlke and Terry Copp both serving as historical advisors.

Lt. Gildersleeve joined the Seaforths as the Signals Officer (from the Royal Canadian Signals Corps) on 22 October, 1943. Lt. Gildersleeve had become so attached to the battalion that he had wrangled a transfer from the Signals Corps to the Seaforths as a platoon officer. He famously played the organ during the notable Christmas celebrations at Ortona in 1943. He later remustered to the infantry and served with the Seaforths until 6 June, 1945. He was wounded in Italy on 24 October, 1944 in fighting on the Savio for which he would be awarded the Military Cross.

Here’s the Heritage Minute video, please share widely! Cabar feidh.