Ships and Units

[Edward Campbell]

I recall, exactly, where I was on 4 May 82: visiting with then Col (later MGen) John Leech in his home in Brussels (I was at HQ AFCENT, he was doing something boring in Brussels); we were having a drink before heading off for a black tie dinner with mutual friends when we heard the news on the radio, "HMS Sheffield sunk by enemy (Argentine) Exocet missiles in the South Atlantic."

Twenty men died and a further 24 were injured in the sinking of the HMS Sheffield, the first British warship to be lost in 37 years.

It was the first of four Royal Navy ships sunk during the Falklands War. The others were the frigates Ardent and Antelope and the destroyer Coventry.

The Royal Fleet Auxillary vessel Sir Galahad and the British Merchant Navy ship Atlantic Conveyor were also lost.

Source: BBC "On This Day"

(In later years, back in NDHQ, I would have occasion to examine and report upon the C3 arrangements which contributed to Sheffield's loss.)

 

[Edward Campbell]

3rd Canadian Infrantry Division and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DV7mK0iT3P8#!

Major General R.F.L. Keller addressing Canadian troops in Normandy, August 2nd, 1944.

3 Division
    Divisonal HQ

    Divisional 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 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

    Division Troops
        7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars)
        The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
        3rd Canadian Divisional Signals, R.C. Sigs
        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

    7 Brigade
        The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
        The Regina Rifle Regiment
        1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment
        7 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

       

        The Royal Winnipeg Rifles heading towards Juno aboard LCAs

    8 Brigade
        The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
        Le Régiment de la Chaudière
        The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
        8 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

       

        The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada dug in at the end of D-Day near Carpiquet

    9 Brigade
        The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
        The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
        The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
        9 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

2 Armoured Brigade
        6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars)
        10th Armoured Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse)
        27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment)
        "C" Squadron, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)

 

[63 Delta]

E.R. Campbell, would you mind shedding some light on some of the more obscure units in 3CID if you know what they were?

Specifically what Cameron Highlanders job was as a Machine Gun unit (a BN full of MG Dets?), what a field park company is, what the Lorne Scots did as Defence and Employment platoon and as Ground Defence Platoons.

Thanks!

 

[Edward Campbell]

Other, real experts, will chime in, I hope, but:

    MG battalions had companies and platoons of heavy machine guns (units had their own medium machine guns) to provide support where needed. By the 1960s we had a HMG Pl in each battalion, but, still,
    in a general support role;

    A Field Park is a supply unit - in the Divisional Engineers I'm assuming it provided specialized engineer stores to the field companies. Since only the engineers could use those stores it made sense to have the
    Fiend Park in the engineer formation; and

    Defence and Employment and Ground Defence are pretty self explanatory. A HQ (Div or Bde) is a high value target; it cannot defend itself so units are tasked to do so. Those same units also do general duties
    around the HQ.

 

[Old Sweat]

Other, real experts, will chime in, I hope, but:

    MG battalions had companies and platoons of heavy machine guns (units had their own medium machine guns) to provide support where needed. By the 1960s we had a HMG Pl in each battalion, but, still,
    in a general support role;

 

Not quite. Infantry battalions did not have a machine gun platoon at the time. The divisional machine gun battalion had three companies each of three platoons of Vickers medium machine guns and a mortar company of three platoons of 4.2in smooth bore mortars. (Not the 4.2in rifled mortars some of us may remember from the 1960 infantry mortar platoons.)

 

[Canadian.Trucker]

Excellent info, thanks for posting it!

On a somewhat related note, bitter pill for my beloved G&SF as during WWII the Foresters were split and separated into below Company sized elements and therefore no Battle Honours were ever received.  Doesn't detract though from the fine work all personnel did.

 

[Mootaz-khelifi]

good topic me i hate NAZI they where criminals 1st class they kill every one
thank god we have being saved from them

 

[McG]

what a field park company is[?]

As mentioned, a Field Park Company was home to div Engr resources.  But, it was more than that.  It was also home to Engr Plant (hy eqpt as we call it today) and water purification.  The Fd Pk Coy wa also used to reinforce the Fd Coys as needed.  By that regard, the Fd Pk Coy would be comparable to a Sp Sqn in any modern CER.

 

[Tank Troll]

Excellent info, thanks for posting it!

On a somewhat related note, bitter pill for my beloved G&SF as during WWII the Foresters were split and separated into below Company sized elements and therefore no Battle Honours were ever received.  Doesn't detract though from the fine work all personnel did.

The same happened with the Halifax Rifles. The 4th Canadian infantry division was made up of GGFG,  CGG, Hal Rif, and G&SF. The were rolled over in to Tank Regiments and became 4th Can Armour Div. Then in 43 it was decided that there was a need for more Tankers than Tank Regiments and the Hal Rif was disbanded and Spread out across the RCAC. Most notable, the CO became CO of 1st Hussars for the D-Day landings and the 2ic became the CO of the LdSH (RC) in Italy, Sgt EC "Ned" Wheeler  received the MM  for his actions at Kusten Canal crossing while serving with the CGG.

 

[Old Sweat]

The original organization of an armoured division had two armoured brigades. The change to one each armoured and infantry brigade created a surplus of armoured regiments and at about the same time the 3rd Army Tank Brigade was disbanded. Roughly we went from seven to four armoured/tank brigades and we found ourselves with nine surplus armoured regiments. As a result a number of fine units were disbanded and/or given other roles.

The above is over simplified, but the RCAC history discusses the matter in enough detail to put it into perspective.

 

[Edward Campbell]

HMCS Fraser, Cdr (later RAdm) Wallace Bourchier Creery, sunk following a collision with the HMS Calcutta off the mouth of the Gironde River, near Bordeaux, France on June 25, 1940 while evacuating refugees who were trapped by the German Army. The collision was so violent that FRASER was split into three pieces and sunk within seconds; 47 of the ship's company lost their lives.

FRASER in the spring of 1940, just days before she was lost

 

[Edward Campbell]

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont Hamel on 1 July 1916.  For all intents and purposes the Newfoundland Regiment had been wiped out, the Regiment having taken 80% casualties.

 

[sunrayRnfldR]

E.R. Thank you for recognizing the sacrifices made by members of the Newfoundland Regiment on July 1, 1916 at Beaumont Hamel during the Battle of the Somme. The title "Royal" was bestowed upon the Regiment in recognition of its service and sacrifices.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Landings in Sicily

On 10 July 1943 elements of 1st Canadian Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade landed in Sicily – marking the return of the Western Allies to Europe.

Canadians landing at Pachino

The following Canadian units were awarded the Battle Honour "Landing in Sicily" for participation in these actions:

    1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
          12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Three Rivers Regiment)

    1st Canadian Division
          4th Reconnaissance Regiment (4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards)
          The Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG)
   
    1st Canadian Brigade
        The Royal Canadian Regiment
        The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
        48th Highlanders of Canada

    2nd Canadian Brigade
          Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
          The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
          The Loyal Edmonton Regiment

    3rd Canadian Brigade
          Royal 22e Regiment
          The Carleton and York Regiment
          The West Nova Scotia Regiment

Of course many other units, or elements of them - the division artillery, engineers, signals, medical and services - landed, too, but they wear their battle honours differently.

Source: Canadian Soldiers

From the RCN: on 9-10 July 1943, the 55th and 61st LCA flotillas were involved in landing operations. From 9 July to 5 August 1943, 24 landing craft of the 80th and 81st LCM flotillas transported 9,000 vehicles, 40,000 men, and 40,000 tons of supplies.

From the RCAF: three medium-bomber squadrons from the recently formed No.6 RCAF Group of Bomber Command were tasked to Tunisia for the campaign as No. 331 RCAF Wing. These included Nos. 420 (Snowy Owl), 424 (Tiger) and 425 (Alouette) RCAF squadrons. This wing, in making its contribution in the air, lost 63 Canadian airmen from the beginning of its operations in late June to 17 August 1943. - See more at: http://blogs.unb.ca/greggcentre/2013/05/15/canadian-eagles-over-husky-the-rcaf-and-the-sicilian-campaign/#sthash.0blPHjVG.dpuf

 

[Old Sweat]

The first Military Cross awarded to a Canadian in Sicily went to Captain "Duff" Mitchell of 1 RCHA who had been attached to a Royal Navy Combined Operations Bombardment Unit and was acting as a naval gunfire support forward observer. Duff converted B Battery to an airborne role in 1949. Major Mitchell was the lead author of the RCHA history.

MITCHELL, George Duncan, Captain (Acting Major) - Military Cross - RCA - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 26 February 1944 and CARO/4226 dated 15 March 1944. Home in Westmount, Quebec. Press Release of 24 February 1944 said it was for "gallant conduct at the initial landing in Sicily, July 10th, 1943", and added the following citation: Major Mitchell was in charge of a forward observation party. During the operation, he never ceased his efforts to maintain communication with his bombarding ship and support the Army ashore by every means. On several occasions he led his party many miles ahead of our leading fire. He overcame all obstacles, once capturing a roadblock containing two anti-tank guns and twenty men.

 

[Old Sweat]

The following piece from the Kingston Whig-Standard by Colonel Charles Simonds, ret, is reproduced under the Fair Dealing provision of the Copyright Act.

A toast to the 'D-Day Dodgers'

On July 10, 1943 the 1st Canadian Division landed in Sicily, part of the largest amphibious invasion that has ever been undertaken. In 35 days they, together with our British and American allies, cleared the largest island in the Mediterranean of enemy forces.

This was just the start of the Italian Campaign and, on Sept. 3, the Canadian Division participated in the invasion of the Italian mainland. That, perhaps, was the easiest part of the campaign as that same day the Italians unconditionally surrendered and the landings were unopposed. But from that point on they faced only the battle-hardened German troops on terrain that greatly favoured the defence.

Canadian military history invariably focuses on D-Day and the magnificent contribution of our forces to the liberation of France, Belgium and especially the Netherlands. No glory is accorded to our contribution in freeing the Italian people from the tyranny of Mussolini and his German cohorts.

Indeed, while our troops in Italy were slogging their way through the Hitler Line and up the Liri Valley and through the Gothic and Rimini lines into the Lombard Plain against strong German opposition, they were dubbed the “D-Day Dodgers,” presumably basking in sunny Italy, wining and wenching while the real soldiers in North-West Europe saved the world for democracy! What an insult!

My father, then-Maj.-Gen. Guy Simonds, commanded the 1st Canadian Division during the campaign in Sicily and early Italy. On Nov. 1, as the Canadian troops closed on Ortona, he was transferred to command the 5th Canadian Armoured Division as part of the 1st Canadian Corps being formed in Italy. On Nov. 2, 1943 he wrote the following:

“When admiration is expressed for the German rearguard actions in Sicily and Italy, I agree the Germans fought well, but there is no country in the world better suited to delaying action. Having seen it first hand, my own reaction is not what wonders the German rearguards achieved, but what wonders were achieved by our own soldiery against strong opposition in some of the most incredibly difficult physical conditions.

“When the Germans rushed through North-West Europe against an army undermined by moral collapse, and through terrain recognised throughout military history as that best suited to large-scale offensive operations, it was hailed by the American and British press as one of the greatest military achievements of all time. And this with a comparative superiority in weapons and equipment never possessed by our own armies. The French Armies and Air Forces and B.E.F. were ludicrously ill-equipped to face German forces with the best modern equipment in almost unlimited quantities. Though our equipment is now first class, we can never gain a corresponding comparative advantage for the Germans have been very quick to keep pace with development as the war has gone on. Yet when we land on a hostile coast and chase them out of the most difficult country in which large-scale operations have never been attempted, our supporters call it a 'phoney war.' It is not generous to troops who have cheerfully faced the most frightful difficulties and have never hesitated in risking their lives to close with and beat our enemies. And for those who think that military results are unimportant unless there is a 'big butcher bill' on or own side, then I will tell them military successes are not measured in terms of the size of the casualty list.

“Forgive the outburst. I am writing this in the most beautiful spot, on a balcony 1,500 feet above the sea and the warm sun streaming in. Very beautiful scenery. Many of these places you approach by very steep, winding roads climbing up to hamlets or villages built on rocky pinnacles. I feel that these roads are symbolic of the search for peace because obviously these otherwise inaccessible places were chosen for building to try and avoid the strife and destruction of the Middle Ages.”

Almost 6,000 Canadians died in Sicily and Italy, more than in any other theatre in the Second World War, and another 20,000 were wounded. Their sacrifice tends to be ignored in Juno Beach and liberation celebrations. Certainly the accomplishments of our forces in North-West Europe are well deserving of the accolades accorded them, but those who fought in the Italian Campaign deserve equal recognition.

On July 10 I will raise a glass to all our troops who served in the Italian Campaign, to both those who died and those who survived. I hope you will join me. They’ve earned a salute!

Charles Simonds, Inverary

 

[Edward Campbell]

Not, thankfully Thoughts and Prayers as such, but an interview, on Sicilian TV, with Sherry Atkinson who, as a Lt in The RCR, was wounded in Sicily.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Today marks the last full day of combat for 25 Canadian Infantry Brigade in Korea. The armistice was signed on 27 Jul 53, 60 years ago.

Top row: 25 CIB shoulder flash; Gen Ridgeway talks to Brig Rockingham, Comd 25CIB, Tanks of the LdSH(RC),
Middle Row: Artillery, Signals, Infantry (PPCLI), a jury rigged heater made from an ammo box and shell casings
Bottom Row: Brig Rockingham's helicopter and an iconic Korean picture

25th CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE

ARMOURED

Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
(2nd Armoured Regiment)

"C" Squadron
4 May 51 – 8 June 52

"B" Squadron
2 June 52 – 24 May 53

"A" Squadron
20 May 53 – 24 May 54

The Royal Canadian Dragoons
(1st Armoured Regiment)

"D" Squadron
24 May 54 – 14 Nov 54

ARTILLERY

2nd Field Regiment, RCHA
(Redesignated: 2nd Regiment, RCHA - 18 Jun 51)
5 May 51 - 6 May 52

1st Regiment, RCHA
3 May 52 - 22 Apr 53

81st Field Regiment, RCA
(Redesignated: 4th Regiment, RCHA - 16 Oct 53)
16 Apr 53 - 9 May 54

3rd Regiment, RCHA
9 May 54 - 27 Nov 54

ENGINEERS

57th Canadian Independent Field Squadron
4 May 51 - 3 May 52

23rd Field Squadron
3 May 52 - 28 Mar 53

59th Independent Field Squadron
(Redesignated: 4th Field Squadron - 16 Oct 53
23 Mar 53 - 26 Mar 54

3rd Field Squadron):
26 Mar 54 - 27 Nov 54

SIGNALS

25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron
(Redesignated: 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Signal Troop - 13 Dec 51)
3 May 51 - 27 Nov 54

INFANTRY

The Royal Canadian Regiment

2nd Battalion
5 May 51 - 25 April 52

1st Battalion
20 Apr 52 - 25 Mar 53

3rd Battalion
23 Mar 53 - 27 Mar 54

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

2nd Battalion
18 Dec 50 - 4 Nov 51

1st Battalion
29 Oct 51 - 4 Nov 52

3rd Battalion
29 Oct 52 - 29 Oct 53

Royal 22e Regiment

2nd Battalion
4 May 51 - 24 Apr 52

1st Battalion
20 Apr 52 - 21 Apr 53

3rd Battalion
16 Apr 53 - 15 Apr 54

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Of Canada

2nd Battalion
29 Oct 53 - 3 Nov 54

The Queen's Own Rifles Of Canada

2nd Battalion
26 Mar 54 - 6 Apr 55

The Canadian Guards

4th Battalion
15 Apr 54 - 26 Nov 54

TRANSPORT COMPANIES RCASC

No. 54 Canadian Transport Company
4 May 51 - 11 Apr 52

No. 38 Canadian Mobile Ambulance  Company
4 May 51 -  1 Nov 53

No. 23 Transport Company
10 Apr 52 - 27 Mar 53

No. 56 Transport Company
22 Mar 53 - 15 Apr 54

No.  3 Transport Company
26 Mar 54 - 27 Nov 54

MAJOR MEDICAL UNITS

No. 25 Canadian Field Ambulance
4 May 51 - 27 Apr 52

No. 37 Field Ambulance
10 Apr 52 - 30 Apr 53

No. 38 Field Ambulance
(Redesignated: No. 4 Field Ambulance - 16 Dec 53)
1 May 53 - 15 Apr 54

No. 3 Field Ambulance
26 Mar 54 - 7 May 56

No. 25 Canadian Field Dressing Station
20 Jul 51 - 9 Nov 54

Canadian Medical Detachment, Korea
1 Apr 56 - 10 Jul 57

DENTAL

No. 20 Canadian Field Dental Detachment
(Redesignated: No. 25 Canadian Field Dental Unit - 5 Jan 52)
7 Sep 51-.27 Nov 54

MAJOR ORDNANCE UNITS

No. 25 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ordnance Company
4 May 51 - 2 Jan 52

Canadian Army Ordnance Elements, First (Commonwealth) Division
26 Sep 51 - 20 Jan 55

RCEME WORKSHOPS

No. 25 Canadian Support Workshop
(disembarked 5 May 51)
(reduced to "nil strength" - 2 Jan 52)

No. 191 Canadian Infantry Workshop
4 May 51 - 16 Apr 53

No. 23 Infantry Workshop
(Redesignated: No. 40 Infantry Workshop - 16 Dec 53)
15 Apr 53 - 15 Apr 54

No. 42 Infantry Workshop
26 Mar 54 - 1 Feb 55

PROVOST

No. 25 Canadian Provost Detachment
4 May 51 - 25 Dec 54

No. 25 Canadian Field Punishment Camp
(Redesignated: No. 25 Field Detention Barracks - 20 Sep 51)
5 May 51 - 16 Nov 54

INTELLIGENCE

No. 1 Canadian Field Security Section
4 May 51 - 31 Dec 51

POSTAL

Canadian Postal Corps
18 Nov 50 - 15 Sept 55

MISCELLANEOUS

No. 25 Canadian Public Relations Unit
4 May 51 - 14 Jan 55

Edit: format

 

[The Bread Guy]

Not, thankfully Thoughts and Prayers as such, but an interview, on Sicilian TV, with Sherry Atkinson who, as a Lt in The RCR, was wounded in Sicily.

Very good catch - thanks for sharing.

Here's another interview (YouTube) with Mr. A.

 

[Edward Campbell]

25 CIB fought in Korea as part of 1st Commonwealth Division.

Here is its flash:

And, in line with ongoing discussions on pips and crowns, note the "old" crown on the major's epaulette and the "new" crown on the div patch.