A new project aimed at preserving one of London's historical monuments hopes to have people raising a glass in support.
If you've been to Victoria Park anytime in the past 60 years, chances are you've come across the Holy Roller tank, which landed on D-Day in France on June 6, 1944. The tank has been in the park since 1956 enduring decades of harsh Canadian weather.
On Friday, Toboggan Brewery and the Royal Canadian Legion announced a fundraiser that will help save and restore the Holy Roller's legacy. The Holy Roller lager along with some shirts will be available for sale at Toboggan, located on 585 Richmond Street across from Victoria Park. 20 LCBO locations in London and the surrounding area will also be carrying the craft beer. $3.00 from every 24 cans sold will go towards funding the project.
"We've already raised over $75,000 of the $250,000 budget that we're going to need for the costs on this. So, we're ecstatic," said Bob Buchanan, head of fundraising for the project.
Planners hope to get the tank out of the park to begin the restoration process by the late spring.
"We're hoping, the tank, we're able to get it out of here in June of 2021," Buchanan said. "D-Day is a very important day to the 1st Hussars, for the Holy Roller, so we'd like to probably pull it out after D-Day and then have it returned for D-Day of 2022."
Once removed, the tank will be taken to a workshop to be disassembled, with parts and metal repaired or replaced as required. Randy Warden with the Royal Canadian Legion says the project is one Londoners should want to be a part of.
"The Holy Roller Tank is part of London's legacy," Warden said. "When we look at this tank we can't help but remember the contributions of so many Londoners [who served during WWII]."
The Holy Roller tank in Victoria Park. (BlackburnNews.com file photo.)