...On 30 Nov the companies under command of Headquarters 7 Canadian Forestry District (B) were organized for defence, under American command, into three sub-areas Sate. Hubert, Houffalize and Spa, as a consequence of U.S. First Army intelligence that "a German attack was impending" (W.D., H.Q. 1 Cdn Forestry Gp Jan 45; Appx 10, Ferguson to Commander 1 Cdn Forestry Group 26 Jan 45). The American troops included in these defensive plans were "second line service troops" and included units of U.S. Combat Engineers.
21. On 16 Dec Field Marshal von Rundstedt launched an attack with a force of 24 divisions and broke through the American VIII Corps in the Ardennes sector on a 40 mile front. On the following evening the Canadian Forestry Corps companies received a "STAND TO" order and plans were made by Headquarters 7 Canadian Forestry District for a withdrawal should the German attack attain more serious proportions. American units did pull out of Spa during the following day. No. 16 Canadian Forestry Company thereupon followed suit as it was not equipped with A.Tk weapons or grenades and could not alone remain in defence of the town with its limited ammunition supply. It withdrew to Namur. Meanwhile, since No. 14 Company appeared to be "sitting in the centre of a Pincer move through Veilsalm and Bastogne", the Commander of 7 Canadian Forestry District (Lt.-Col. N.C. Ferguson) ordered it to pull out, taking along as much key equipment as possible.
22. On the morning of 19 Dec Lt.-Col. Ferguson moved his own Headquarters and the General Workshops to Sate. Hubert in order to operate more closely with the remaining four companies. By the time he arrived, however, Nos. 1, 9, 25 and 27 Companies were already on the move, having received orders from an American source to retire towards Givet. This move had been ordered after a false appreciation of the situation and later countermanding orders resulted in the companies moving back to their original positions during the night 19/20 Dec. Unit vehicles were kept loaded with technical stores and equipment, however, and all personnel remained on the alert, ready to move out or dig in and fight should the occasion warrant it. Heavy firing could be heard to the front and on the flanks but accurate information as to the depth of the German advance or disposition of American troops could not be obtained (W.D., 25 Coy C.F.C.: 21 Dec 44).
23. During the early morning of 20 Dec, No. 1 Canadian Forestry Company was assigned the task of aiding the American 158th Combat Engineer Battalion clear a wooded area in the vicinity of La Vacherie, suspected of containing some 40 German air borne troops. With the Americans on their left, the Canadian Foresters advanced in line through the thickets and underbrush, with two platoons up and one in reserve, but were not able to make contact with any Germans. This task finished and the American Engineer locality once more made secure, No. 1 company returned to its camp at Sate. Hubert. After a light meal the personnel turned in for the night, but not for long, as the diary entry for 21 Dec relates that:
Received another message at midnight, and were ordered to take up positions on roads around camp, and at the aerodrome. Everyone dug themselves in, and we were re-inforced (sic) by No. 25 Coy, C.F.C. Everyone just about out on their feet having little sleep or much to eat for the last few days. There seemed to be much confusion amongst the American lines of ommunication and no one seemed to be able to locate patrol or ration dumps. American armour pulled out from LaVacherie at about 0800 hours and at 0925 hours were received word they were returning to LaVacherie, which failed to materialize. At 1200 hours received a verbal message from Lieut. Rice, and our own D.R. and U.S. Forces were leaving Sate. Hubert, and advising us to do likewise. Cleared camp at 1230 hours proceeding directly to Brussels arriving at 2200 hours into billets partly used by British Survey Engineers. Everyone dead beat. (W.D., No. 1 Coy C.F.C.: 21 Dec 44).
24. Orders to withdraw were also received by the other three companies on 21 Dec. Withdrawal to Brussels was completed satisfactorily but, although they were able to take a considerable amount of their technical equipment with them the six companies had had to abandon 21 sawmills in the Ardennes (W.D., No. 25 Coy C.F.C.: 20-21 Dec 44; W.D., H.Q. 1 Cdn Forestry Gp: December 1944, Appx 12; C.M.H.Q. file 1/Forestry/1/4: Macklin to C. of S., C.M.H.Q., 4 Jan 45). The companies then were assigned other timber areas in the vicinity of Brussels, Antwerp, charleroi, Louvain and Lierre.
