Samuel Moses “Moe” Hurwitz
Explore our virtual exhibit
By Date
- May 1940 - April 1945: Occupation & Resistance
- 1944: Anthony Law becomes Commander of 29th Flotilla
- May 19 - 20 1944: Philip Pochailo is shot down
- June 6, 1944: Earl Olmsted lands on Juno Beach
- August 4, 1944: Moe Hurwitz awarded Military Medal (MM)
- September 1944: Race to Antwerp
- September 12, 1944: Moe Hurwitz earned Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- October - November 1944: The Battle of the Scheldt
- January 1945: Charles Byce earns his Military Medal (MM)
- February - March 1945: The Rhineland Campaign
- March 2, 1945: Charles Byce earns his Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- April 1945: Philip Pochailo reconnects with Canadian troops
- April 14, 1945: Léo Major liberates Zwolle
- April 15, 1945: Don White assists in the Liberation of Leeuwarden
- April, 1945: Mona Parsons reconnects with Canadian troops
- April - May 1945: The Liberation of the Netherlands
- April 1945 - Present: Remembrance
- May 5, 1945 - May 31, 1946: The aftermath of liberation
Samuel Moses “Moe” was born in 1919 near Montréal, Québec and grew up playing hockey. In 1941, Moe felt an obligation to help his “brothers” overseas and joined the Canadian army.
Moe quickly became legendary for his heroism after landing in France with the Canadian Grenadier Guards at the height of the Battle of Normandy in July 1944. On August 4, Moe was awarded the Military Medal (MM) during the Battle of Falaise Road when he jumped from the security of his tank and single-handedly flushed out a heavily fortified German position with sten-gun in hand.
Six weeks later, on September 12, Moe earned his Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) at Philippine in the Netherlands when he knocked out two German machine guns and an 88mm anti-tank gun as well as captured 23 enemy prisoners. He carried out this act of bravery alone and only armed with a pistol.
Tragically, Moe was killed near Bergen-op-Zoom while shielding advancing Canadian vehicles from an oncoming enemy attack. He was 25.
Moe is the most highly decorated non-commissioned officer of the Canadian Grenadier Guards and one of the most highly decorated Jewish soldiers of the Second World War. He is buried at Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands. Major Ivan Phelan, a Commander in the Canadian Grenadier Guards, wrote an epitaph for Moe for the regimental newspaper which read: “[…] this regiment lost one of its greatest men. A man whose character, leadership and personality were such that he will never be forgotten.”
To view Moe Hurwitz’s Story Map, click here.
