Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 81 continued ... up.” He was evacuated to a hospital near Naples, Italy. It was there that the doctors discovered his 4 broken vertebrae. Sergeant Spidle was placed in a body cast for 5 weeks which was followed by more treatment and rehabilitation. While in hospital he was awarded the Purple Heart (the decoration awarded to wounded American servicemen). Aubrey had to return his Purple Heart once the authorities discovered he was Canadian. Aubrey returned to the FSSF in early November in France. The FSSF was a unique military unit that never failed to achieve its objective; nonetheless, it was disbanded 5 December 1944 in a field near VilleneuveLoubet, France. The decision to disband the unit was based upon the perceived lack of a requirement for shock troops in exploiting the final stages of the war in Europe, as well as the costs of maintaining such specialized units. The original FSSF Canadians were posted to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion while the FSSF Canadian re-enforcements were returned to their former units. Aubrey returned to the CBH. The Cape Breton Highlanders fought their last battle of the war in the Delfzijl Pocket from 23 April to 02 May 1945. The CBH made their final attack on the town of Uitwierde on 1 May. At that time Aubrey was the team leader of a Bren gun crew within a rifle section. One of the soldiers in that rifle section was his cousin Ford Spidle of Parkdale. He would later recount a mad dash across an open field under enemy observation. During the run, Aubrey saw his cousin get hit by bullet and collapse; Aubrey could not stop to check on Ford as the success of the attack depended upon him getting his Bren gun crew into action. (Private Ford Spidle is buried in the Holten Canadian War Cemetery). Aubrey returned home to Mahone Bay after the war. He married Rosalie Veinotte and they had 2 sons and 2 daughters; as well as 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Aubrey was a life member of Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 49, Mahone Bay, where he served as branch secretary for several years. Prior to his retirement he worked as Assistant Manager of the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission in Mahone Bay. On 9 March 2007, Aubrey was awarded the Bronze Star from the United States Government for “meritorious achievement while serving in the First Special Service Force.” Aubrey died at home on 26 September 2010. The United States Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress) to the FSSF on 12 July 2013. Individual bronze replicas of the medal were presented to surviving forcemen on 3 February 2015. Replicas were also made available to the families of forcemen who had died prior to 3 February 2015. Aubrey’s family graciously loaned the medal to Branch 49 where it is proudly displayed in his memory. Aubrey in Legion uniform with the Bronze Star Commendation and medal
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