3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 1940-1945
The formation of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was authorized during the Second World War on 17 May 1940. There was then a considerable delay until the brigade and divisional headquarters were formed on 5 September, and the first divisional commander was appointed on 26 October.
While the division's components were forming, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa was detached and transferred to Iceland as part of Z Force. The battalion spent the winter of 1940–41 there, then moved to the United Kingdom. The division's 8th and 9th Canadian Infantry Brigades began embarking as early as 1 July 1941 and arrived in the United Kingdom at the end of that month. The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade embarked in August and arrived at the beginning of September.
After its arrival, the division spent three uneventful years in garrison and training duties prior to the assault landing on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, as part of the British Second Army, later joining the newly formed First Canadian Army.
Battle honours include Caen, Falaise, clearing the Channel ports, the Breskens pocket, and the final offensives of 1945. During the Battle of the Scheldt, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had the nickname of "Water Rats" bestowed upon them by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, commanding 21st Army Group, in recognition of the poor conditions of terrain through which they fought, first in the Normandy landings, and then in the flooded Breskens Pocket.
Commanding Officers
Major General Ernest William Sansom: 1940–1941
Major General Charles Basil Price: 1941–1942
Major General Rod Keller: 1942–1944
Major General Daniel Spry: 1944–1945
Major General Ralph Holley Keefler: 1945
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3208267)
General Keller, General Officer Commanding 3 Division, inspecting 3 Division Signals Stag Hound armoured car, 14 April 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225374)
Lt. R.D. McQuillan, Major General R.H. Keefler, Brigadier J.A. Roberts, Captain R. Pootmans and German Adjutant of the barracks visiting a German barracks, 2-5 May 1945.
3rd Canadian Infantry Division Order of Battle
7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
1st Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment
1st Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
7th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
1st Battalion, Le Régiment de la Chaudière
1st Battalion, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
8th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
9th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
1st Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
1st Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
9th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Divisional Troops
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars)
1st Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
3rd Canadian Divisional Signals, RCCS
No. 3 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
No. 4 Canadian Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps
No. 14, No. 22, No. 23 Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
Divisional Royal Canadian Artillery
12th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
13th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
14th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA
4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
Divisional Royal Canadian Engineers
6th Field Company, RCE
16th Field Company, RCE
18th Field Company, RCE
3rd Canadian Field Park Company, RCE
3rd Canadian Divisional Bridge Platoon, RCE
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(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3241762)
H.M. King George VI with LCol D.J. Mingay, LCol E.A. Cote and General H.D.G. Crerar, inspecting officers at 3rd Canadian Infantry Division Headquarters.
(L-R):Maj.Lovering, Capt.Black,-,Capt.Sinkewicz, Lt.Asquith, Maj.Wickwire Headquarters, 25 April 1944.
3rd Canadian Infantry Division
The division spent three uneventful years in garrison and training duties prior to the assault landing on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, as part of the British Second Army, later joining the newly formed First Canadian Army.
Battle honours include Caen, Falaise, clearing the Channel ports, the Breskens pocket, and the final offensives of 1945. During the Battle of the Scheldt, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had the nickname of "Water Rats" bestowed upon them by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, commanding 21st Army Group, in recognition of the poor conditions of terrain through which they fought, first in the Normandy landings, and then in the flooded Breskens Pocket.
Juno Beach was 5 miles (8.0 km) wide and stretched on either side of Courseulles-sur-Mer. It lay between Sword and Gold beaches which were the responsibility of British Army forces.
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade under command, landed in two brigade groups, the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Each brigade had three infantry battalions and an armoured regiment in support, two artillery field regiments, combat engineer companies and specialist units of the British 79th Armoured Division. The 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars) tanks supported the 7th Brigade landing on the left and The 10th Armoured Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse) tanks supported the landing on the right. The division had been assigned extra artillery and anti-tank units[a] doubling its artillery component.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205038)
Personnel of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade checking rifles aboard an LCI(L) of the 2nd Canadian (262nd RN) Flotilla, 6 June 1944. The 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade was kept in reserve and landed later that day and advanced through the lead brigades. The 27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment) provided tank support.
Juno Beach was five miles wide and stretched on either side ofCourseulles-sur-Mer. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was theassault division, along with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade undercommand to provide armoured support for the infantry assault brigades. The 7thCanadian Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Harry Wickwire Foster, hadbeen selected to take part in the initial assault.
The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade consisted of the 1st Battalion,Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel J.M. Meldram; the 1stBattalion, Regina Rifle Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel F.M. Matheson; the 1stBattalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel F.N. Cabeldu;and 7th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
They would land on the left-hand side of the beach, supported by the 6thArmoured Regiment (1st Hussars). During the assault, the ReginaRifles would land at Courseulles which had the code name Nan Green beach, andthe Royal Winnipeg Rifles would land on the western edge of Courseulles, whichhad the code names Mike Red beach and Mike Green beach.
The 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade consisted of the 1st Battalion,The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada; the 1st Battalion, LeRégiment de la Chaudière; the 1st Battalion, The North Shore(New Brunswick) Regiment; and the 8th Infantry Brigade GroundDefence Platoon (Lorne Scots).
They would land on the right-hand side of the beach, supported by the 10thCanadian Armoured Regiment (Fort Garry Horse). The 8thBrigade went ashore in the area Courseulles-sur-Mer, Bernières-sur-Mer and StAubin-sur-Mer, its task was to clear the beach and establish a beachheadperimeter before moving inland. Clearance of Courseulles was quickly done,thanks to detailed planning. Although the 8th Brigade reached is objectives byD-Day evening, "mopping-up" of by-passed German strongpoints tookanother ten days.
In the first hour of theassault on Juno Beach, the Canadian forces suffered approximately 50% casualtyrates. Once the Canadians cleared the seawall (about an hour after leaving thelanding craft transports) they started to advance quickly inland and had a mucheasier time subduing the German defences than the Americans at Omaha had. Bynoon, the entire 3rd Canadian Division was ashore and leadingelements had pushed several kilometres inland to seize bridges over the SeullesRiver. By 6 pm they had captured the town of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Bythe end of D-Day, the elements of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisionhad penetrated farther into France than any other Allied force, thoughcounter-attacks by two German armoured divisions would stop any furthermovement for several weeks.
The 9th Brigade landed later inthe morning. The 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade consisted ofthe 1st Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada; the 1stBattalion, The Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders; the 1st Battalion,The North Nova Scotia Highlanders; and the 9th Infantry Brigade Ground DefencePlatoon (Lorne Scots). The 9th Brigade was supported by 27th ArmouredRegiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers).
At 10:50 a.m. Divisional Headquarters ordered the9th Brigade to land. The preferred plan was to land the 9th Brigade at St. Aubinand Bernières and alternatively Courseulles. Then the 9th Brigade would passthrough the lead brigade and head to the divisional objective, the high groundaround Carpiquet airport. Based on the information General Rod Keller hadreceived, he made the decision to land the 9th Brigade at St. Aubin andBernières. He did not know at the time the Navy had closed Nan red beach at St.Aubin because of the enemy gun still in action there. The entire brigade wasforced to land at Bernières and the resulting traffic jam on the one roadleading to Beny-sur-Mer caused a critical delay for the 9th Brigade's advance.
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, commanded byLt.-Col. C. Petch, landed at 11:40 a.m. The narrow beach was already packedwith troops from the 8th Brigade. The narrow streets were jammedwith impatient troops, bicycles, vehicles, and tanks. At 12:05 BrigadeHeadquarters reported, "Beaches crowded, standing off waiting toland"; but fifteen minutes later it signaled that the brigade commanderhad landed, and the units were moving to their assembly area near Beny.
The severe congestion around Bernières slowedthe movement and the battalions halted on the outskirts of the village. TheNorth Nova Scotia Highlanders who were in the lead, did not move on towardsBeny until 4:05 p.m. They were accompanied by the 27th Armoured Regiment (TheSherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), commanded by Lt.-Col. M. B. K. Gordon, and werefollowed by the other battalions of the brigade, The Stormont, Dundas andGlengarry Highlanders (Lt.-Col. G. H. Christiansen) and The Highland Light Infantryof Canada (Lt.-Col. F. M. Griffiths).
At 6:20 p.m. the North Nova Scotias and theSherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment tanks, acting as the brigade's advanced guard,moved off from the assembly area at Beny to pass through the Queen's Own andthe Chaudière and carry the advance southward. Three companies of theHighlanders rode on the Sherbrookes' tanks. Machine-gun fire held up theadvance along the way and in the vicinity of Colomby-sur-Thaon 'A' Company metopposition which caused further delay. The North Nova Scotia's reachedVillons-les-Buissons by 2000 hours and ran into more German resistance. It wasnow evident that the advanced guard units could not reach their objective inthe Carpiquet area before dark. They received the order to halt and begindigging in. The infantry and tanks accordingly formed a fortress in the areaAnisy-Villons-les-Buissons. The brigade's other battalions were still in theassembly area at Beny.
They were less than 4 miles from Carpiquetairfield, the final divisional objective. But with the rest of the brigadestrung out on the road from Beny, and the fear of a counter-attack from eitherthe 12th SS Panzer or 21st Panzer Division, it wasdecided to secure their positions and the bridgehead.
Nearly 150,000 Allied troops landed orparachuted into the area on D-Day, including 14,000 Canadians at Juno Beach. Intotal, more than 10,000 Allied soldiers, sailors and aviators were killed, wounded,or captured on D-Day. 1,096 of these casualties were Canadians, including 381killed in action.
On 8 June,SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 under command of SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer WilhelmMohnke arrived on the battlefield. Their orders were to drive over theCanadians and force a deep wedge between them and the British division to thewest. The attack was launched at 03:30 but had little initial success. Thevarious companies in the attacking 12th SS Panzer Division failed toco-ordinate their moves towards the Canadians, and, despite heavy casualtiesduring repeated attempts by the infantry, Canadian artillery and supportingheavy machine guns of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa took a heavy toll oneach attacking company of SS troops. The Regina Rifle Regiment held its groundand the I Battalion fell back.
On the Canadian right, the II Battalion attacked the Royal Winnipeg Riflesdefending the village of Putot-en-Bessin. The battalion managed to break intothe village and surround several companies, effectively pushing the Winnipegsout of the village, inflicting 256 casualties – of which 175 were takenprisoner. A counter-attack launched at 20:30 by the Canadian Scottish Regiment,however, regained Putot-en-Bessin, and the II Battalion withdrew and dug insouth of the village. Following the battle, SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 12deployed to the west of Mohnke's regiment and, by the evening of 8 June thedivision, while having failed in its assignment to drive the Canadians into thesea, had effectively halted the units of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, inthe Allied advance on Caen.
It took a summer of hard fighting to pushthrough Normandy. While the Americans attacked the port city of Cherbourg, theBritish and Canadians tried to capture the city of Caen. By 9 July 1944, boththe Carpiquet airport and much of Caen had been captured. The Canadians thenfought battles at Vaucelles, Bourguébus Ridge and Verrières Ridge.
Spending much of the next four weeks in static positions, the divisionparticipated in the battles to capture Caen in early July, known as OperationCharnwood, followed by Operation Totalize and Operation Tractable and thebattles around Verrières Ridge, during the rest of the month. The brigade then took part in the pursuit across France and cleared the Channel ports, mostnotably Boulogne, Calais, and Cape Gris Nez.
By early August, the Allies had launched a huge pincer movement to encircle the German army in Normandy.Eventually, they forced the Germans into a “pocket” near the town of Falaise.On 21 August 1944, the Allies captured about 40–50,000 German soldiers.
More than two million Allied soldiers landed in France during the Normandy campaign. The Allies had 209,000 casualties (killed,wounded, captured). About 18,700 of these casualties were Canadians, includingover 5,000 killed. More than 300,000 Germans were either killed, wounded, orcaptured in the Normandy campaign. Between 13,000 and 20,000 French civiliansdied. The Normandy campaign was a military success for the Allies. But theyfaced a hard winter of fighting before they finally defeated the German army inthe west. (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
Canadian air, land and sea forces suffered approximately 950 casualties on D-Day, the majority being soldiers of the 3rd Canadian Division. By noon, the entire division was ashore and leading elements had pushed several kilometres inland to seize bridges over the Seulles. By 6:00 pm, they had captured the town of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. A 1st Hussars armoured troop reached its objective along with men of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada before nightfall, when both units moved 15 km inland and crossed the Caen-Bayeux highway. However, this troop was forced to pull back because they had passed the supporting infantry. By the end of D-Day, the division had penetrated farther into France than any other Allied force, though counter-attacks by elements of two German armoured divisions prevented further major gains for four weeks.
None of the assault divisions, including 3rd Canadian Division, had managed to secure their D-Day objectives, which lay inland, although the Canadians came closer than any other Allied formation. Indeed, The Queen's Own Rifles of the 8th Brigade were the only Allied battalion to capture their D-Day objective.[8]
By the end of the next day, the Canadian forces had linked up with the British forces that had landed at Sword Beach. By 1 October 1944, the Division had also liberated Calais.
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division served extensively in the Battle of Normandy as a component firstly of I British Corps and later under the command of II Canadian Corps. On D-Day+1, units of the division became the first among the Allies to secure their D-Day objectives. The villages of Authie and Carpiquet both saw heavy fighting between the Canadians and German defenders of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Over the course of five days, the 12th SS launched a series of counter-attacks in an attempt to crush the Canadian bridgehead and throw them back into the sea. The attacks cost the 12th a third of their armoured strength and they were forced to retire in the face of stubborn resistance, Allied naval gunfire and aerial superiority. On 4 July 1944, the 3rd Canadian Division, along with the British 3rd and 59th Infantry Divisions and supported by elements of the 79th Armoured Division launched Operation Windsor, capturing the Carpiquet Airfield and the surrounding areas from the 12th SS after several hours of confused and hard fighting. On 8 July, the 3rd Canadian Division participated in Operation Charnwood, the British Second Army's final advance on the northern parts of Caen. Once again the Canadians excelled and captured all their objectives after suffering, once again, heavy casualties.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3226737)
Officers examining German Panzerkampfwagen Panther tank from 3./12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend", which was knocked out by Canadians at Norrey-en-Bessin, Normandy, 8 July 1944.
On 18 July, Operation Atlantic was launched, the Canadian advance that would coincide with Operation Goodwood, happening further east by British forces in the area south of Caen. The 2nd and 3rd Canadian divisions, supported by integral armour support, advanced towards Caen, one of the objectives being the village of Colombelles and the surrounding hills. This village and the surrounding area was defended by the battle-proven 21st Panzer Division. After several hours of confused fighting on the 18th and the 19th, the Germans were forced back from the outskirts of the town and pushed back over the river Orne. The 3rd Canadian Division continued the advance on the 20th and the lead units came under heavy machine-gun and small arms fire from a chateau close to Colombelles. The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, with support from the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, pushed forward once again despite heavy casualties and captured the heavily fortified village of Gibberville. The rest of the 3rd Division captured Colombelles through the course of the day. The Canadians were then faced with the formidable German defensive positions on the Verrières Ridge, where the SS troops had created excellent field fortifications, deployed hundreds of field artillery pieces, including Nebelwerfers, and dug numerous trenches and foxholes for defence. The 2nd Canadian division's 4th and 6th brigades assaulted the ridge, but suffered heavy losses and were forced to fall back. The attack went in during heavy rain, which turned the ground to mud and bogged down the Canadian armoured support and kept the Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber support from the Royal Air Force from showing up. After the failed attack, troops from both the 2nd and 12th SS Panzer Division counter-attacked; it was only with support from the 3rd Canadian Division's 8th Brigade that they managed to beat the Germans back.
Meanwhile, the British 3rd Infantry Division faced considerable resistance and advanced only with great cost of life. Tiger tanks from the schwere Panzerabteilung 503 ("503rd Heavy Armour Battalion") caused ferocious losses among the British armour support. The 7th Armoured Division, 11th Armoured Division and Guards Armoured Division faced opposition from the 1st and 12th SS Panzer divisions and suffered heavy losses.
The offensive continued for two more days before the Allied offensive ground to a halt in face of stiffening German resistance. The German Panzer divisions in the area had been bled completely dry, losing a staggering number of tanks and men, which could not be easily replaced. Two days later, on 25 July, the United States First Army launched Operation Cobra, since there were no German panzer divisions to stop them as nearly all of the available panzer units had been sent to stop the British/Canadian advance. The 3rd Canadian Division and the other units involved in the offensive were allowed to catch their breath and they dug in, expecting a German counter-attack which never came.
On 5 September, 3rd Canadian overran the Fortress of Mimoyecques, revealing the infrastructure for the unknown V-3 cannon destroyed by the Tallboy bombs in July. Between 17–22 September 1944, 3rd Canadian were intimately involved in the liberation of Boulogne-sur-Mer, during which a French civilian guided the Canadians to a "secret passage" leading into the walled old town and by-passing the German defenders.
In 1945, the 3rd Canadian Division, Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) was created, based on the organization of the 3rd Infantry Division. The component units of the new division were named after the units of the existing 3rd Infantry Division. The formation was formed on the organizational structure of a standard infantry division and supplied units as part of Canada's commitment to postwar European reconstruction. The occupation force served in Germany until relieved by the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division of the British Army on 15 May 1946. Authorization for units to disband came under General Order 162/46 and 201/46, and headquarters was disbanded by General Order 283/46, effective 20 June 1946.
3rd Canadian Infantry Division Order of Battle, Photos from the Library and Archives Canada Collection
7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The regiment landed in England in September 1940. As part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, the Rifles were in the first wave of landings on D Day, 6 June 1944. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles fought throughout the Normandy campaign, fighting in famous battles such as Caen and the Falaise Gap. After helping liberate several of the Channel Ports, the regiment fought to clear the Scheldt Estuary to allow the re-opening of the Antwerp harbour. After helping to liberate the Netherlands, the regiment ended the war preparing to assault the northern German town of Aurich. Three battalions of the regiment served during the Second World War. The 1st Battalion served in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion was a reserve unit that remained on part-time duty in Winnipeg, and a 3rd Battalion served in the Canadian Army Occupation Force. The 1st Battalion were among the first Allied troops to land on the Normandy beaches on D-Day. They served throughout the Northwest Europe campaign, including the Battle of the Scheldt, the Rhineland, and the final battles across the Rhine, before returning to Canada in 1945. The 3rd Battalion was raised in 1945 and remained in Germany until 1946.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191681)
Infantrymen of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles in Landing Craft Assault (LCAs) en route to land at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524573)
H/Captain J.L. Steele, Chaplain of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, talking with his driver, Rifleman J.L. Simard, France, 16 July 1944
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3227215)
Infantrymen of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles searching German prisoners, Aubigny, France, ca.16-17 August 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3513060)
Ram Kangaroo armoured troop carrier transporting personnel of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 16 February 1945.
1st Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment
The Regina Rifle Regiment
The Regina Rifle Regiment, CASF, was mobilized for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated the 1st Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment, CASF, on 7 November 1940 and embarked for Britain on 24 August 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The 1st Battalion was disbanded on 15 January 1946.
On 1 June 1945, a third Active Force component of the regiment, the 4th Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment, CIC, CAOF, was mobilized for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. The 4th Battalion was disbanded on 4 April 1946. The 2nd (Reserve) Battalion did not mobilize. During the Second World War members of the regiment received 14 Military Medals with one bar to that award, seven Distinguished Service Orders, seven Military Cross awards, a British Empire Medal, an Africa Star, three French Croix de Guerre, and a Netherlands Bronze Lion. Many more were Mentioned in Dispatches. The regiment suffered 458 fatal casualties by 7 May 1945.
Its first taste of combat came in Normandy, landing on Juno Beach on D-Day, during which it was the first Canadian regiment to successfully secure a beachhead. It later faced the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, which was almost completely annihilated by the British and Canadian forces. The regiment later entered Caen.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405774)
PIAT anti-tank gunners of The Regina Rifle Regiment who knocked out a German PzKpfW V Panther tank thirty yards from Battalion Headquarters, Bretteville-l'Orgeuilleuse, France, 8 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3394461)
Infantrymen of The Regina Rifle Regiment manning a Bren gun position inside a captured German barracks, Vaucelles, France, 23 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225990)
Infantrymen of The Regina Rifle Regiment inside a damaged building, Caen, France, 10 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205216)
Infantrymen of The Regina Rifle Regiment and a dispatch rider firing into a damaged building, Caen, France, 10 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225986)
Allied vehicles entering Caen, 10 July1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3409521)
Infantrymen of the Regina Rifle Regiment, Zyfflich, Germany, 9 February 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3256086)
A three-inch (7.62 cm) mortar crew of Support Company, The Regina Rifle Regiment, Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, France, ca. 9 June 1944.
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(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582821)
Three soldiers of the Regina Rifles Regiment who landed in France on June 6, 1944, in Ghent, Belgium, November 8, 1944
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4558334)
Lieutenant R.R. Smith briefing his Regina Rifles NCOs with a sketch of their objective, Courseulles-Sur-Mer, 4 June 1944.
1st Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
(Stuart Phillips Photo)
1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment
The Canadian Scottish were unusual in 1939 in having two battalions on the strength of the Canadian Militia. The 1st Battalion was mobilized for overseas service in 1940 and trained in Debert, Nova Scotia, until August 1941, from where it moved to the United Kingdom as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. On 6 June 1944 C Company was in the first wave ashore in Normandy on Juno Beach, the rest of the battalion following in the second wave. The battalion proceeded to advance a total of six miles inland – farther than any other assault brigade of the British Second Army that day. The regiment went on to earn 17 battle honours, including one for the liberation of Wagenborgen, a Dutch village; this last honour was not awarded until the 1990s.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225491)
Captain Albert Johnson and Captain Gordon, both of the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, taking part in a house-clearing training exercise, England, 22 April 1944.
Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191554)
H/Captain Robert Seaborn, Chaplain of the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, giving absolution to a soldier of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division near Caen, France, 15 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198877)
Major C. Wightman (left) of the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, talking with Captain J.C.G. Young, a medical officer, France, 15 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199981)
Lieutenant-Colonel D.G. Crofton, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The Canadian Scottish Regiment, examining the wreckage of a German 155mm. gun, Breskens, Netherlands, 28 October 1944.
7th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205407)
Sherman flail tank, 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4 July 1944.
1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
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(Fredericton Region Museum Collection, Author Photo)
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
After a build-up and training period, the unit embarked for Britain on 19 July 1941. The regiment mobilized the 3rd Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, CASF for active service on May 12, 1942. It served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Canadian Infantry Division. The battalion was disbanded on 15 August 1943.
For the Invasion of Normandy, the regiment landed in Normandy, France, as part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. The first major combat operations were on D-day 6 June 1944. The Queen's Own Rifles landed on "Nan" sector of Juno Beach and with the support of tanks of the Fort Garry Horse captured the strategic seaside resort town of Bernières-sur-Mer. The battalion fought its way to its D-Day objective – the village of Anisy 13.5 km (8.4 mi) inland, the only Regiment to reach its assigned objective that day. The QOR had the highest casualties amongst the Canadian regiments, with 143 killed, wounded or captured. As well as losses in the initial landing, the reserve companies' landing craft struck mines as they approached the beach.
In the battle for Caen, the QOR – as part of the 8th Infantry Brigade – participated in Operation Windsor to capture the airfield at Carpiquet which was defended by a detachment from the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The Germans inflicted heavy casualties and Panzer-grenadiers attempted to recapture the village.
During the war, 463 riflemen were killed in action and almost 900 were wounded as they fought through Normandy, Northern France, and into Belgium and the Netherlands, where they liberated the crucial Channel ports. Sixty more members of the regiment were killed while serving with other units in Hong Kong, Italy and northwest Europe. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 30 November 1945.
On 1 June 1945, a third Active Force battalion, designated the 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, CIC, CAOF, was mobilized for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. The battalion was disbanded on 14 May 1946.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3525813)
Corporal W. Lennox, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, examining a German MG 42 at a front-line machine gun post, Bretteville-Orgueilleuse, France, 20 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205139)
Lieutenant Stan Biggs briefing Universal Carrier flamethrower crews of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, Vaucelles, France, 29 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3525803)
Officers of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada discussing tactics, Carpiquet, France, 8 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225655)
Queen's Own Rifles demonstrate flame throwers in action against dugouts among the trees in Normandy, 29 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205245)
Queen's Own Rifles moving up to extreme front action; attack on German airport and the village of Carpiquet, 4 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3262647)
Infantrymen of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, who wear full British snow camouflage kit, go on patrol near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 22 January 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225415)
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery saluting the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada during their marchpast after his inspection. He is flanked by Major-General Chris Vokes, GOC 3 CID, CAOF, and Brigadier T.G. Gibson, Commander, Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF), 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 25 November 1945.
1st Battalion, Le Régiment de la Chaudière
Le Régiment de la Chaudière
The battalion was sent to England in August 1941. The unit was assigned to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division as a standard rifle battalion and was designated as a reserve battalion during the D-Day landings in June 1944. Le Régiment de la Chaudière came ashore on the second wave at Bernières-sur-Mer after The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, surprising the locals who hadn't expected to find francophone troops in the liberating forces. It was the only French-Canadian regiment to participate in Operation Overlord, and one of the few French-speaking units to come ashore that day alongside the bilingual The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment and the Free-French Commando Kieffer.
The regiment participated in the Battle for Caen, suffering several casualties in the fight at Carpiquet airfield on 4 July 1944. With the rest of the division, the regiment fought in the Battle of the Scheldt, notably in actions in the Breskens Pocket between 6 October and 3 November 1944. The unit wintered in the Nijmegen Salient and was again active in the Rhineland fighting in February 1945, and finished the war on German soil in May. A 2nd Battalion served in the Reserve Army. A 3rd Battalion was raised for the Canadian Army Occupation Force.
3rd Division's operation to clear the Breskens Pocket was an amphibious assault by 9th Infantry Brigade from the area of Terneuzen, westward along the south shore of the Scheidt, west across the Braakman Inlet, and landing in the rear of the main German defences.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405729)
Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière in a Landing Craft Assault (LCA) alongside HMCS Prince David off Bernières-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194343)
Lieutenant Jack Beveridge, who was wounded by an exploding mine, being brought aboard HMCS Prince David off Bernières-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405729)
Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière moving through Bernières-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5180127)
Personnel of le Régiment de la Chaudière, Normandy, France, 8 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205409)
Regimental Sergeant-Major Antonio Lamontagne and Captain Pierre LaBrecque, both of Le Régiment de la Chaudière, sitting outside a church destroyed by shellfire, Carpiquet, France, 6 July 1944
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225508)
Sergeant N.E. Theriault and Lance-Corporal E.G. Chassie examining a damaged German anti-aircraft gun on the airfield at Carpiquet, France, 12 July 1944. Three infantry companies most involved in the fighting at Carpiquet were the NS(NB)R, the Chaudieres , and the Winnipeg Rifles. With the two French names, they were likely with the Chaudieres. The NS(NB)R left Carpiquet on 9 July. (Bruce Morten)
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3520748)
Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière riding on an M-10 A1 tank destroyer vehicle of the 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) during the attack on Elbeuf, France, 26 August 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203114)
Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière talking with French civilians, Bernières-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3223932)
Infantry of the Chaudière Regiment marching German prisoners (including two civilians) back along dyke, 10 February 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3526093)
Lance-Corporal George Gagnon, Le Régiment de la Chaudière, aboard a Landing Ship Tank fusing hand grenades to be used on D-Day. Southampton, England, 4 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3942419)
Parade in Amsterdam for Queen Wilhelmina's return by Canadian Troops and Dutch organizations. Le Régiment de la Chaudière march past, 28 June 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205458)
Infantrymen of Le Régiment de la Chaudière using a rubber raft to cross the Ijssel River, Zutphen, Netherlands, 7 April 1945
1st Battalion, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
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(New Brunswick Military History Museum Collection, Author Photo)
The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
The regiment mobilized The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was re-designated as the 1st Battalion, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, CASF on 7 November 1940. It embarked for Great Britain on 18 July 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed on JUNO Beach in Normandy, France, as part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 15 January 1946.
During the Second World War, the regiment was first stationed in Woodstock, New Brunswick and then Sussex, New Brunswick. When it shipped overseas, it was initially stationed in Liverpool, after that it moved to Scotland near the castle of the Duke of Argyll.
On 6 June 1944, the regiment participated in the landing on Juno Beach, landing on Nan Red sector and losing nearly 50 men. On 10 June, it liberated the town of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Calvados. Newsreel footage of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment landing under fire taken by the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit became one of the most-used film depictions of the Allied D-Day landing.
On 4 July 1944, the men of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment participated in Operation Windsor, the attack on the Carpiquet airfield. It lost nearly 130 men, and it was later known by the regiment's chaplain as the "graveyard of the regiment". The regiment later fought in Caen and all through France, continuously advancing with the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. It fought in places like Ranville, Bourguebus Ridge, Falaise, Quesnay Wood, the Laison and Chambois.
It helped clear the coast of France in late August and early September 1944, then it advanced into the Netherlands, taking part in the Battle of the Scheldt. It fought in Breskens Pocket in flooded fields and harsh conditions. After the Scheldt, it moved onto the rest of the Netherlands, fighting near the Bergsche Maas River at Kapelsche Veer.
In February 1945, it moved into Germany via amphibious landing. It fought in the Rhineland, the Hochwald, but then it doubled-back to the Netherlands and conquered the Twente Canal, and liberated Zutphen where it met its most brutal urban fighting since Caen. It then moved back into Germany in April, and it ended the war on German soil.
On 1 June 1945, a second Active Force component of the regiment was mobilized for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany, as the 3rd Battalion, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, CIC, CAOF. The battalion disbanded on 13 April 1946.
The 28th (Newcastle) Field Battery, RCA, in conjunction with the 89th Field Battery, RCA, mobilized the '28th/89th Field Battery, RCA, CASF for active service on 1 September 1939. This unit reorganized as two separate batteries on 1 January 1941, designated as the 28th (Newcastle) Field Battery, RCA, CASF and the 89th Field Battery, RCA, CASF. It embarked for Great Britain on 25 August 1940. On 8 July 1944, it landed in France as a sub-unit of the 5th Field Regiment, RCA, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, where it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battery disbanded on 21 September 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3192301)
Pte Leopold Marcoux with German prisoner of war taken during battle for Carpiquet Airport.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205215)
First prisoner of war caught on the Carpiquet front brought back by Capt. M.A. Cardinal, 4 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3724325)
The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, 8-9 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225211)
Members of the North Shore Regiment, 3 Canadian Infantry Division, marching up to amphibious tanks (alligators) in preparation for the amphibious operations on the Western Front, 8 February 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3239986)
Members of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment boarding an Alligator amphibious vehicle during Operation VERITABLE near Nijmegen, Netherlands, 8 February 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3230680)
Captain W.A. Teed (foreground) of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, Embarkation Staff Officer of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, talking with Captain C.J. Aendry, commanding officer of an Alligator amphibious vehicle, near Terneuzen, Netherlands, 13 October 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3229763)
Nos. 803, 805, 806, 810 and 845 Royal Pioneer Smoke Companies and 112 Royal Pioneer Company (Smoke) supported large-scale smoke screening operations of First Canadian Army operations in North West Europe. No. 806 Smoke Company is shown here using an "Esso" smoke generator in operation along a dyke west of Terneuzen, Netherlands, 13 October 1944. Smoke screens were employed to conceal against aerial attack and artillery shelling in the Normandy beachhead, principally on the eastern flank. This screening was carried out by British Royal Pioneer companies, specifically by No. 806 Company and No.112 Company. These two companies were later involved in almost all thetactical screens in the Canadian sector and they brought with them many innovative ideas on how to produce effective screens in adverse conditions.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205130)
Comrades carry wounded member of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment down a dyke after being evacuated by an Alligator amphibious vehicle at the Scheldt pocket embarkation point, west of Terneuzen in the Netherlands, 13 October 1944.
8th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
9th Canadian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
(Stuart Phillips Photo)
The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
On 8 July 1944, Soldiers of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada (HLI of C), 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division assaulted the German positions within the town of Buron, supported by tanks of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers and Royal Artillery. The HLI of C faced stiff opposition from members of the 25th Panzer Grenadiers of the 12th SS Panzer Div. The Battalion suffered 262 casualties, including 62 killed while liberating the town. It continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The battalion was disbanded on 1 May 1946.
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(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3396100)
Bren gunners of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada in a slit trench, France, 20 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199147)
Daily weapon inspection in the front lines carried out by RSM E.G. Rhodes of the HLI, July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3227614)
Private W. Smith of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada training to operate a Lifebuoy flamethrower, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 14 December 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198835)
Platoon commander Lieutenant J.H. Chrystler (centre) issuing patrol instructions to Sergeant F.C. Edminston and Private L.J.L. Coté, all of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, France, 20 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205036)
Personnel of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada boarding LCI(L)s 252, 276 and 277 of the 1st and 2nd Canadian (260th and 262nd RN) Flotillas during Exercise 'Fabius III', 1 May 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205647)
Troops of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada (Kitchener, Galt) going aboard a Canadian L.C.I.(L.) at dawn, 7 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524486)
Infantrymen of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada aboard LCI 306 of the 2nd Canadian (262nd RN) Flotilla on D-Day. The photographer standing in bows of landing craft is Lieutenant Gilbert A. Milne, 65 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205609)
Infantrymen of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada passing Sherman tanks en route to cross the Orne River near Caen, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3397598)
Infantrymen of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada attaching drag ropes to a six-pounder anti-tank gun, Thaon, France, 6 August 1944
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3599865)
Privates H.A. Fraser, G.R. Wood and W.F. Sager, all of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, eating lunch on a makeshift table, on which can be seen a German Waffen SS helmet, Thaon, France, 6 August 1944.
1st Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
(Stuart Phillips Photo)
The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (Fencibles)
The regiment mobilized The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF for active service on 24 May 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CASF on 7 November 1940. The unit embarked for Great Britain on 19 July 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it landed in Normandy, France, as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 January 1946. The regiment mobilized the 3rd Battalion, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, CIC, CAOF on 1 June 1945 for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. This battalion was disbanded on 24 May 1946.
The SD&G Highlanders landed in Normandy on D Day and was the first regiment to enter Caen, reaching the centre of the city at 1300 hours, 9 July 1944.
Fifty-five days later, 112 SD&G Highlanders had been killed in action and 312 more wounded in the Falaise Gap. The Regiment fought across France via Rouen, Eu, Le Hamel and Boulogne, moved into the Netherlands and took part in the amphibious landing across the Savojaardsplaat, and advanced to Knokke by way of Breskens. It moved next to Nijmegen to relieve the airborne troops, and helped guard the bridge while the Rhine crossing was prepared. The Regiment then fought through the Hochwald and north to cross the Ems-River and take the city of Leer. At dawn on 3 May 1945, German marine-units launched an attack on two forward companies of the SD&G Highlanders, occupying the village of Rorichum, near Oldersum, that was the final action during the war, VE Day found the SD&G Highlanders near Emden. It was said of the Regiment that it "never failed to take an objective; never lost a yard of ground; never lost a man taken prisoner in offensive action."
Altogether 3,342 officers and men served overseas with the SD&G Highlanders, of whom 278 were killed and 781 wounded; 74 decorations and 25 battle honours were awarded. A total of 3,418 officers and men served in the 2nd Battalion (Reserve); of them, 1,882 went on active service and 27 were killed. A third battalion raised in July 1945 served in the occupation of Germany and was disbanded in May 1946.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225495)
Lieutenant J. McKinnell (third from right) briefing infantrymen of The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders during a training exercise, England, 14 April 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3204914)
Infantrymen of The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders loading supplies aboard LCI(L) 252 of the 2nd Canadian (262nd RN) Flotilla during Exercise FABIUS III, Southampton, England, ca. 1 May 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225642)
Infantrymen of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders crossing the Orne River on a Bailey bridge built by the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) en route to Caen, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225644)
Infantrymen of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders crossing the Orne River on a Bailey bridge built by the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) en route to Caen, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225643)
Infantrymen of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders with a truck-mounted 40-mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun, crossing the Orne River on a Bailey bridge built by the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) en route to Caen, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3396194)
Infantryman of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders armed with a German MP40 sub-machine gun, searching through the rubble for isolated pockets of resistance after the capture of Caen, France, 10 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524780)
Personnel of the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders of Canada advancing through Bathmen, Netherlands, 9 April 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524679)
Civilians waiting to be moved back from the front; members of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3 Infantry Division are in evidence. Rhine River, Germany, 25 March 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3396132)
Infantrymen of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders searching railway cars, Vaucelles, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3521663)
Infantrymen of The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders eating lunch outside the railroad station, Caen, France, 20 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194299)
Crowd welcoming the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders of Canada, on board a Ram Kangaroo, Leeuwarden, Netherlands, 16 April 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5180103)
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders of Canada preparing for the Rhine crossing, 24 March 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3237904)
Infantrymen of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders aboard a Buffalo amphibious vehicle near Mehr, Germany, 11 February 1945.
1st Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
(Stuart Phillips Photo)
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, CASF were mobilized for active service on 24 May 1940. The regiment embarked for England on 18 July 1941. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the Highlanders landed in Normandy, France, as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 January 1946. On 1 June 1945, the regiment mobilized the '3rd Battalion, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, CIC, CAOF' for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany. The battalion was disbanded on 1 May 1946.
Shortly after the D-Day landings in Normandy, German soldiers under the command of Waffen SS Major General Kurt Meyer, murdered captured soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders regiment. After the war he was tried and convicted in Canada. Sentenced to death on 28 December 1945, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment on 14 January 1946. After serving nearly nine years in prison, Meyer was released on 7 September 1954.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191503)
The Highland Light Infantry of Canada and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders aboard LCI(L) en route to France, 6June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205046)
Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) 135 of the 2nd Canadian (262nd RN) Flotilla carrying personnel of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the Highland Light Infantry of Canada en route to France on D-Day, 6 June 1944. On approaching the beach most troops closed up as far aft as possible to raise the bow to get as close aground as possible and avoid beach obstacles before lowering ramps . .a stern anchor was dropped to assist later winching off the beach. This photo of LCI 135 photo was taken sometime between 9 and 11 am when the flotilla was circling off the beaches awaiting orders to go in. The troops are "standing to" since "beaching stations" was given at 0905. At 1114, orders were given to land at Nan White. At 1129, LCI 135 touched down on Juno beach.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3614538)
French Front Line - North Nova Scotia Regiment, 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade - Furthermost Canadian outpost - 'Arty' O Pip sighting for a shoot, 1,000 yds from the enemy, 22 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203205)
Major C.F. Kennedy and Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Petch of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, France, 22 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3192177)
Infantrymen of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders advancing along the Orne River towards Vaucelles, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205693)
Private H.L. Fraser (Vernon, PEI), North Nova Scotia Highlanders, receives the Military Medal from Field Marshal B. Montgomery, 5 Nov 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3209513)
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders advancing towards Zutphen. Dorterhoek, Netherlands, 8 April 1945.
9th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3527116)
Troops of 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade relaxing in cave used by Germans for sleeping and captured by Canadians, 2 July 1944.
Divisional Troops
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars)
(York Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton Region Museum, Author Photo)
Accession No. 2011.7.9.
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars)
On May 24, 1940 the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars were mobilised becoming successively the 3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment. In February 1941 the 3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment became the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (later in 1944 to be nicknamed The Water Rats) and it embarked for the United Kingdom on 23 August 1941.
The 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) landed in England on September 7, 1941. In 1941 the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars were called upon to furnish the Headquarters Squadron of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division and were designated 15th Armoured Regiment (6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars). In October 1943 the 5th Canadian Armoured Division landed in Italy going into action in mid-January 1944. The 15th Armoured Regiment (6th Duke of Connaught’s Royal Canadian Hussars) later moved to France in February 1945.
On June 6, 1944 the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) participated in D-Day when members of B Squadron tasked as Beach Exit Parties and Brigade Contact Detachments landed on Juno Beach in Normandy. By July 17, 1944 the entire regiment was functioning as a Unit and continued to do so until the German surrender in 1945. The 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) campaigned through Europe winning eleven Battle Honours.
In 1945 a reconnaissance regiment was required for the occupation troops remaining in Europe. This unit was designated as the Second 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) and consisted of volunteers from several other units. The original 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) returned to Montreal. The Second 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars) remained on occupation duty in Germany until relieved and sent home beginning in May 1946.
(DND Photo via Reitze Bierma)
Daimler armoured car, 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars), the reconnaissance regiment of the Third Canadian Division.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191645)
Dutch civilians on a WASP of 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, celebrating the liberation of Zwolle, Netherlands, 14 April 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3378681)
Personnel of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars in their Humber Mk. IV armoured car in Normandy, France, 18-20 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405642)
Personnel of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars with the unit's Humber IIIA armoured cars, Vaucelles, France, 18 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3623194)
German soldiers marching back to Germany, under the watchful eyes of the crew of the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars), CAC, CASF, in a Daimler armoured car, 28 May 1945. Detachments of the regiment landed in Normandy as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on 6 June 1944, followed by the remainder of the regiment in the course of June and July 1944. The unit fought in North West until the end of the war. The regiment was disbanded on 15 January 1946. 2nd 7th Reconnaissance Regiment, CAC, CAOF' was mobilized for service with the Canadian Army Occupation Force on 1 June 1945. his regiment was disbanded on 24 May 1946.
1st Battalion, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
In July 1940, the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa's active service battalion left for garrison duty in Iceland, which ended in April 1941 when they sailed to England. On 6 June 1944, the Camerons were the only Ottawa unit to land on D-Day at Juno Beach. The 1st Battalion consisted of three machine gun companies and one mortar company. Following the landing on D-Day, the battalion fought in almost every battle in the northwestern Europe campaign. However, the battalion's soldiers were often attached as platoons and companies in support of other units, so the battalion never fought as an entire entity. During this time, the 2nd Battalion recruited and trained soldiers in Canada for overseas duty. The 3rd Battalion was formed in July 1945 as a part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Germany.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3238874)
Soldiers of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), cleaning Vickers machine guns during a training exercise, England, 14 April 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3238875)
Soldiers of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa laying down fire with a Vickers machine gun during a training exercise, England, 14 April 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199873)
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) machine gunners in action firing through hedge in Normandy, 4 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199857)
Personnel of the Machine Gun Platoon, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.), with a Universal Carrier, on the Rhine River west of Rees, Germany, 26 March 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3206448)
Members of the Regimental Aid Party of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) treating a wounded soldier near Caen, France, 15 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3405375)
Lieutenant-Colonel P.C. Klaehn (centre), Commanding Officer of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), holding a map session with officers of the regiment near Caen, France, 15 July 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3524179)
A Universal Carrier of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.) passing through Holten, Netherlands, 9 April 1945.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224314)
Canada and the USA have worked together in the past to deal with war crimes issues after the battle. Here we have a soldier of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa guarding internees at Esterwegen internment camp. U.S. Army Major A. Levine, Commanding Officer of the War Crimes Investigation Team on the Borkum Island case questions a German prisoner about the fate of seven missing American fliers, 30 October 1945.
3rd Canadian Divisional Signals, RCCS
No. 3 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
No. 4 Canadian Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps
No. 14, No. 22, No. 23 Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
Divisional Royal Canadian Artillery
12th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
13th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
14th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225215)
RCA Gunners with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division firing a 5.5-inch medium gun, 8 February 1945.
3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA
4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RCA
Divisional Royal Canadian Engineers
6th Field Company, RCE
16th Field Company, RCE
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3525804)
Lieutenant E.M. Peto (left), 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE), with Company Sergeant-Major Charlie Martin and Rifleman N.E. Lindenas, both of "A" Company, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, planning where to lay a minefield, Bretteville-Orgueilleuse, France, 20 June 1944.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3262646)
Personnel of the 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE), arming a Universal Carrier which has been modified to carry fifteen projector, Infantry, anti-tank (PIAT) weapons fired by a single trigger, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 14 December 1944.
18th Field Company, RCE
3rd Canadian Field Park Company, RCE
3rd Canadian Divisional Bridge Platoon, RCE
