Vic, along with George Hansom, were granted leave on Dec 16. The Regiment had just pulled into Ypres and were hoping to spend several (relatively) leisurely weeks training on the new Comet tanks (the Germans had other ideas and started the 'Battle of the Bulge' this day).
Vic and George decided that Antwerp was the place to be and off they went. Quite naturally, before hitting the town's nightspots, they decided to take in a film during the afternoon. They chose 'The Plainsman', starring Gary Cooper, at the Rex Cinema.
Halfway into the film a V2 rocket hit the cinema, killing 567 people, the majority of which were allied troops - including both Vic and George.