Students at Rideau Park School in Calgary received a living history lesson when 102-year-old Second World War veteran George Morasch shared his unforgettable wartime experiences. The Calgary Highlanders veteran captivated his young audience with vivid accounts of his service during the global conflict.
Perilous Atlantic Crossing
Morasch described one of his most memorable wartime experiences - the treacherous Atlantic crossing in early 1943. He traveled aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth alongside thousands of Allied troops as part of the buildup to D-Day the following year.
"It was a trip I will never forget," said Morasch, wearing his decorated blazer and checkered Highlanders cap. The massive passenger liner employed evasive maneuvers to avoid German U-boats. "The ship had to zig-zag every seven minutes so the enemy couldn't get a bead on us."
The veteran revealed how German forces falsely claimed to have sunk a Queen Elizabeth carrying troops. The ship's captain maintained radio silence to deceive the enemy about their actual fate. In November 1942, German U-boat 704 fired four torpedoes at the vessel, with one detonating prematurely without causing damage, leading the submariners to believe they'd successfully sunk the ship.
Dangerous Arrival in Britain
The threat from U-boats continued throughout their journey. Morasch explained that the original plan to land at Southampton, England, had to be abandoned due to the high concentration of enemy submarines determined to sink the massive vessel.
"The ship made its way up to Scotland and we had to unload onto smaller boats, all our equipment was tied around us," Morasch told the rapt audience of students, teachers, and parents gathered in the school's gymnasium.
The Horror of Normandy
For Morasch and his fellow Highlanders, the worst combat awaited them after they arrived in Normandy in July 1944. At Hill 67 near Caen, the division's troops faced devastating machine-gun, tank, and artillery fire. During this intense fighting, Morasch suffered internal injuries that required his repatriation to England for recovery.
These memories still evoke raw emotions for the veteran, who often wonders how he survived when so many others did not. Despite the trauma, serving with his comrades remains a point of profound pride for Morasch, who is among the few remaining Canadian survivors of the Second World War eight decades later.
"I was proud to be with the boys in the hell of bombing and strafing and everything else," he said following the school service. The event, held on November 7, 2025, featured Morasch attending with assistance from Corporal Drew Elderkin, creating a powerful connection between generations at the memorial ceremony.
