Herbie and Friends. Barry D. Rowland

Clearly the favourite character of Canada’s overseas troops during World War II, «Herbie» had a penchant for getting into some of the most bizarre predicaments imaginable. With feet that generally led to trouble and a nose like a disillusioned banana, Herbie provided Canadian soldiers with a daily ration of laughter at a time when humour was often at a premium. No figure before or since boosted so effectively the spirit of Canadians overseas. As J.D. MacFarlane, Editor of The Maple Leaf, stated so aptly: «War can be funny as hell. Things happen to soldiers that shoudn’t happen to a human – crazy situations that add touches of humour to an otherwise grim business … Herbie helped to win the war with laughs.»