
The Little Coat: The Bob and Sue Elliott Story
by Alan J. BuickCanadian soldier Bob Elliott was 19 when his tank crew was firing at the enemy in the Netherlands in the winter of 1944. Sussie Cretier was only 10 when she met Bob and his crewmates. Brave little Sussie had once spoken out against the commanding German officer to save her father’s life. Now nothing could stop her from getting close to these men who guarded her town and became her heroes. To the Canadian soldiers, Sussie became a glowing example of the innocence of youth and a beacon of hope for the future. On Christmas Day, the battle-weary Canadians honoured their little adopted soldier with a special Army-style coat made from a Canadian army blanket. The coat’s buttons came from the soldiers’ tunics. Sussie held on to that coat for decades, claiming it as the most special gift she had ever received and one she would never forget. Saskatchewan author Alan J. Buick’s interest in the coat convinced Bob and Sue to donate this historic piece of clothing to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa in 2006 as a permanent reminder of the Second World War and its long-term impact on the people of Canada and Europe.
Contributors
Alan J. Buick, author
Alan Buick is a carpenter, musician and songwriter who came to Canada from his New Zealand birthplace. He lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, with his wife Carol and their family.
Awards
- Honourable Mention, 2010 Hollywood Book Festival, for books that deserve greater recognition from the film, television, game and multimedia communities.
Rights Holder

Rights Holder: DriverWorks Ink
email: ddriver@sasktel.net
website: www.driverworks.ca
rights available: Foreign Language, Territory Rights, Translation Rights
Additional Information
number of pages: 176
publication date: 11/02/2009
Original language of pub: English
Materials Available: finished book