The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is a Primary Reserve
infantry
regiment
of the Canadian Forces
.
in Winnipeg
, led by the St Andrew's Society, began lobbying the government to raise a Highland
regiment. Under increasing pressure from the Scottish lobbyists the government relented and the initial steps taken to form Western Canada
's first Highland regiment. On 29 September 1909, the prospective officers met and committees dealing with finances, uniforms and the band were formed. As the government grant did not cover the entire cost of uniforms and equipment, the Scottish societies and the officers undertook to raise the money themselves managing an initial amount of $25,000.00. Almost all of the original accoutrements were manufactured in Scotland
, obtained from William Anderson & Sons Ltd. On 1 February 1910, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada were officially gazette
d, headquartered in the former Dominion Lands Office at 202 Main Street. On 9 October 1910, the Regiment received its first stand of Colours, presented by Mrs D. C. Cameron, wife of the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel
.
The availability of the number "79" was fortuitous and enabled the new Canadian regiment to adopt the regimental number of a famous regiment in Scotland, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
who had been raised in 1793 as the 79th (Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Along with the regimental number the new Canadian regiment chose to also perpetuate the uniform of the Imperial Camerons. This association with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders became official on 31 January 1911, when His Majesty, King George V
authorized the alliance of the two Highland regiments. On 22 June 1911, a contingent of 61 Camerons, parading with their allied regiment, participated in the coronation of King George V.
broke out the Canadian Army did not mobilize based on its existing structure. Instead Sir Sam Hughes
, the Minister of Militia
created an entirely new table of organization with numbered battalions raised on geographical lines. This often meant that more than one militia regiment contributed men to a single new Canadian Expeditionary Force
(CEF) Battalion
. Under this mobilization plan militia regiments were to remain in Canada acting only as drafting units. Initially the Camerons were tasked with raising a company. The First Volunteer Overseas Company mobilized 7 officers and 250 other ranks under Captain John Geddes. This company mustered at Camp Valcartier
to be formed into a battalion with companies from three other Canadian highland regiments. The Camerons next mobilized the Second Volunteer Overseas Company providing the second-in-command, Major D. S. MacKay, a company (10 officers, 250 other ranks) and a signals section for what would become the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion (The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
). It would not be until December 1914 that the Regiment would be permitted to raise an entire Battalion for overseas service.
where they formed Number 4 Company of the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF. The other Companies of the 16th came from drafts from three other Militia highland regiments. The 16th Battalion was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division
and left Quebec for England
with the first contingent on 30 September 1914.
The matter of the adoption of a single tartan for the Battalion’s kilts had been a contentious issue that had remained unresolved during the 16th‘s training at Camp Valcartier. The matter was again addressed while the unit was encamped on Salisbury Plain
. The officers met on 21 December 1914 to vote on the proposal that a khaki kilt be adopted. After much heated discussion the proposal was carried with twenty-one votes for and seven against. The khaki kilts would not reach the 16th Battalion until June 1915 and were received with such despair and contempt by the Battalion that the entire issue of khaki kilts was withdrawn. The matter of a single tartan for the Battalion remained unresolved until well into 1917 when the entire Battalion was outfitted in kilts of the Mackenzie tartan.
On 12 February, HMTS Maidan set sail from Avonmouth
dock on HMTS Maidan arriving at Saint-Nazaire
two days later. From 24 February to 1 March the Battalion was attached to the 19th British Brigade for instruction in the trenches at the front. Its introduction to the front complete, the Battalion marched to Bac St. Maur on 2 February, fully trained and ready to go into battle.
On the night of 22 April 1915, the Germans launched the first poison gas
attack of the war on the Western Front
initiating the Second Battle of Ypres
. The 1st Canadian Division, which had been in France since February, was hastily pulled out of reserve and ordered to seal the line. The Canadians would become heavily engaged at Gravenstafel Ridge. The 16th Battalion received orders to counter-attack Kitchener's Wood with the 10th Battalion that night. The leading waves of the 10th Battalion covered half the distance from the start line to the Wood and then ran into a strong hedge interlaced with wire. No reconnaissance had been done prior and the 10th Battalion was forced to break through the obstacle with rifle butts, bringing down fire from alerted German machine-gunners. Both battalions charged the last 200 yd (182.9 m) to the wood, throwing the Germans out, and suffering more than 75 percent casualties. Although the Canadians cleared the woods, they were forced to retire. More attacks that night resulted in disastrous casualties, but also bought time to close the gap.
The 16th Battalion continued to serve with distinction throughout the war. As the fighting continued and the war progressed casualties mounted and the composition of the unit gradually changed as reinforcements increasingly came from the Manitoba Reserve and Depot Battalions. In 1917 the 16th Battalion was officially re-designated a Manitoba Battalion. The 16th Battalion remained in Europe as part of the Allied Army of Occupation beginning the march to the Rhine on 14 November. The Battalion, led by the Pipes and Drums playing "Blue Bonnets Over the Border", crossed the German frontier on 6 December 1918 as the lead element of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. The unit remained on occupation duties in Germany until January 1919 when it returned to Belgium to start its long road home.
On 26 April 1919 the 16th Battalion boarded the HMTS Empress of Britain at Liverpool to begin the return voyage across the Atlantic. The 16th Battalion arrived in Quebec on 4 May to find that, like most Canadian Expeditionary Force battalions, it had no true regimental home. As a Manitoba Battalion the 16th entrained for Winnipeg where it would be demobilized. On 7 May 1919, out front of Minto Armoury, the Regimental Depot of the Camerons, the 16th Battalion was officially demobilized.
On 13 May 1915, the 27th Battalion marched from Fort Osborne Barracks, near present day Osborne Village
, to the Canadian Pacific
station to entrain for overseas deployment. Met enroute by the 43rd Battalion, the 27th were piped to the railhead by the 43rd's Pipes and Drums
. Arriving in Quebec on 16 May, the Battalion embarked on HMTS Carpathia the next day to begin the voyage across the Atlantic
. Arriving at Plymouth
on 28 May, the 27th Battalion boarded trains and set off for Shorncliffe. Detraining at Shorncliffe the 27th marched the rest of the way to Dibgate Camp at Cheriton
. Summer 1915 was spent with endless drills and training in preparation for joining the fighting in France
. Finally on 17 September, the Battalion arrived at Folkestone
and embarked on the HMTS La Margueite to cross the English Channel
to France as part of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Canadian Division
. The next day, 18 September 1915, the 27th Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer
.
The 27th Battalion would go on to serve with distinction, taking part in all the major engagements of the war involving the 6th brigade. At the Battle of St Eloi from 2–7 April 1916, the 27th was particularly engaged in hard fighting and suffered heavy casualties. The Camerons did not provide any reinforcement drafts to the 27th Battalion and as a result of casualties the Cameron Company gradually lost its identity, the Regiment ceasing any ties to the 27th from about June 1916.
Acting Corporal Leo Clarke
, who lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg before the war, originally enrolled in the 27th Battalion and went overseas with the Battalion. It was not until he was overseas that he applied for, and was granted, transfer to the 2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, CEF
in order to serve with his brother, Charlie. Clarke would win the Victoria Cross serving with the 2nd Battalion for his actions at action at Pozières on 9 September 1916. Two weeks later he was killed in action in a communications trench between Pys and Courcelette and the award of the Victoria Cross was made posthumously.
and deployment overseas. Embarking on HMTS Grampian on 9 June with a complement of 39 officers and 1,020 other ranks, the 43rd arrived in England on 8 June, disembarking at Davenport and proceeding by train to Lower St Martin's Plain
, Shorncliffe. Arriving at the camp to find nothing ready for them, the Camerons set about pitching tents and setting up camp. The Battalion made camp so expertly that they continued to be tasked to prepare camp for newly arriving units.
On 22 July the 43rd supplied a reinforcement draft of 386 other ranks to the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, the first of several. This loss of manpower placed the 43rd in peril of being broken up entirely and used as reinforcements. On 28 September the 43rd moved from the tented camp into huts at East Sandling. On 23 November the Battalion was made into a Reserve Battalion and began taking casualties from the 15th and 16th Battalions on strength. Reinforced with the arrival of a number of drafts from the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Drafting Detachment back in Winnipeg the 43rd was brought back up to strength and reprieved from dissolution, ceasing to be a Reserve Battalion on 24 January 1916. The casualties on its strength were transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion and on 29 January, the 43rd entrained for Liphook
, Bramshott Camp
to join the 3rd Canadian Division
.
In World War I, the regiment produced one of the three Victoria Cross
(VC) winners for which Valour Road
in Winnipeg, Manitoba
, was named: Lieutenant Robert Shankland
.
(DCM) for his actions at Sanctuary Wood in 1916 as a Sergeant, Shankland received a battlefield commission and continued to serve with the 43rd Battalion as an officer. On the morning of 26 October, he led his platoon
of 40 men from "D" Company to the crest of the hill at the Bellevue Spur, the main trench line
defending Passchendaele
. Overrunning it and holding the position was critical to capturing the town.
Although both flanks were eventually exposed, they held the position, withstanding incessant artillery shelling, German
counterattacks and sustaining frightful casualties. In danger of being cut off and losing the vital position, Shankland turned over his command to another officer, and then returned to battalion headquarters, where he gave a first-hand report of the situation. He also offered a detailed plan on how a counterattack with reinforcements could best be achieved. He then returned to his men to lead the forthcoming attack supported by reinforcements from the 52nd and 58th Battalions. For his actions that day Robert Shankland was awarded the Victoria Cross.
was authorized and gazetted. As the Regiment was focussed on raising the 179th Battalion the raising of the 174th was put aside until 30 May, when the Battalion was organized with Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Cantlie in command. The 174th trained at Camp Hughes
through the summer of 1917 and on 20 August, Lieutenant-Colonel Cantlie handed command over to Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh F. Osler, who had returned from serving with the 43rd Battalion in France. On 22 April, the Battalion entrained at Winnipeg for overseas deployment and seven days later embarked on HMTS Olympic at Halifax
for the Atlantic crossing. The 174th arrived at Liverpool
on 7 May, where the Battalion disembarked and proceeded by train to Upper Dibgate Camp. Upon arrival the 174th was absorbed into the 14th Reserve Battalion (formerly the 179th Battalion), and the men ultimately sent as reinforcement drafts for the 16th and 43rd Battalions serving with the Canadian Corps
in France.
was authorized and gazetted under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Cantlie. The nucleus of the 179th was formed from absorbing the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Drafting Detachment on 1 February. On 30 May, Lieutenant-Colonel Cantlie, whose poor health precluded him from overseas deployment, relinquished command to Lieutenant-Colonel J. Y. Reid and the Battalion moved by train to Camp Hughes. Training at Camp Hughes throughout the summer of 1916, the 179th entrained for overseas deployment on 26 September. Arriving in Halifax, the Battalion embarked on HMTS Saxonia on 4 October, and set sail for England. The 179th battalion arrived at Liverpool on 13 October, where they disembarked and proceeded to East Sanding Camp. On 4 January 1917, the 179th was re-designated the 14th Reserve Battalion and moved to Upper Dibgate Camp.
. On 10 January the 14th Reserve Battalion absorbed the newly arrived 108th (Selkirk) Battalion. On 19 April, the 226th (Dauphin) Battalion
moved to Upper Dibgate Camp and was absorbed by the Battalion. On 7 May, the 174th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion arrived at Dibgate and was amalgamated into the 14th. The monotony of camp routine was shattered later that month. On 25 May, the Germans conducted a massive air raid on Shorncliffe inflicting 78 killed and 300 wounded, mainly civilians. The 14th Reserve Battalion suffered four wounded in the attack. On 15 October, the 14th Reserve Battalion was merged into the 11th Reserve Battalion and ceased to exist.
units took place. Some units were disbanded, others were re-rolled or amalgamated and almost all numerical designations were dropped from regimental titles (the two notable exceptions being the 48th Highlanders of Canada
and the Royal 22e Régiment
). Thus the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada became simply, the Cameron Highlanders of Canada. In order to perpetuate the regiment's accomplishments during the First World War, the regiment was reorganized as three battalions: the 1st Battalion "43rd Battalion CEF", 2nd (Reserve) Battalion (174th Battalion CEF) and 3rd (Reserve) Battalion (179th Battalion CEF). In reality the 1st Battalion was the only active militia unit. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were reserve units where non-active personnel could transfer for an interim period or upon retirement and remain subject to future recall.
The popularity of Highland Regiments was at an all time high in Canada after the First World War and a number of line infantry units chose to adopt Highland dress and customs. In 1920 The Ottawa Regiment (The Duke of Cornwall's Own) converted to a Highland Regiment adopting the title of The Ottawa Highlanders and the uniform of the Camerons. Steps were taken to form an alliance with the new Cameron Regiment in Ottawa and the alliance was formally granted in 1923. Subsequently in 1933 The Ottawa Highlanders changed their name to The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
.
On 24 October 1923, his Majesty King George V was "graciously pleased" to grant permission for the Regiment to be named the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada in recognition of the Regiment's exemplary service during the First World War. With granting of the royal designation "Queen's Own" the Regiment decided to adopt badges that more closely resembled the pattern worn by the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of the British Army
. The new cap badge depicted the figure of Saint Andrew
holding in his arms a saltire
(Saint Andrew's Cross), enclosed by a wreath of thistle
s and leaves and across the lower part of the wreath, scrolls inscribed: QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA. New collar and sporran
badges of a pattern identical to the Imperial Camerons were also chosen.
The new pattern badges were authorized by the War Office
on 31 August 1925, and the cap and collar badges received by the Regiment on 24 February 1927. The new pattern badges were held in stores pending the acquisition of the new sporran badge. With the sporran badges still yet to be acquired, the collar badges were finally issued in January 1930, and the cap badges towards the end of the year.
. Within 17 days of being ordered to mobilize, the Battalion was at full strength of 807 all ranks. This time the Camerons would not fight in their kilt
s as the Regiment had 25 earlier. A War Department
directive issued in April 1940 made battledress
the standard uniform for all units and the Highland regiments reluctantly surrendered their kilts for trousers. The Regiment was increased to two battalions, the 1st Battalion being placed on active duty for overseas service as part of the 2nd Canadian Division
and the 2nd Battalion to remain in Winnipeg to recruit and train replacements. On 16 December 1940, the 1st Battalion embarked for overseas onboard the SS Louis Pasteur, arriving at Gourock
, Scotland on Christmas Eve.
as part of Operation Jubilee
, the raid on the French port of Dieppe
. The South Saskatchewan Regiment
were to land in the first wave of the attack on Green Beach to secure the beach at Pourville, the right flank of the operation. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada would then land in the second wave and move inland along the eastern bank of the Scie River
to meet up with the tanks of the The King's Own Calgary Regiment
coming from Dieppe and capture the airfield at Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie
. The Camerons and the Calgary tanks would then clear the Hitler Battery and attack the suspected German divisional headquarters at Arques-la-Bataille
.
The attack went in on time (0450 hours) but the South Saskatchewan Regiment did not land astride the river as intended, but to the west of it. This didn't pose a problem for the force aiming to clear the village and attack the cliffs to the west, but for the other force it meant they had to move through the village, cross the exposed bridge over the river before attempting to get on the high ground to the east. The delay this imposed meant that the Germans had time to react and deploy. "A" and "D" Companies of the South Saskatchewan Regiment took all their objectives, including a large white house on the western headland that proved to be some kind of officers quarters. The other two companies found that the bridge was swept by fire from a number of German pillboxes on the high ground facing them and the attack stalled as Canadian casualties mounted.
As the Camerons were the second wave to attack on Green Beach they came into an aroused German defence. The Camerons were riding in plywood
landing craft
. About 1000 yd (914.4 m) off Green Beach, the craft formed in a single line and moved toward the beach. The German shore batteries, machine guns, and mortars opened fire. Above the angry roar of battle and the growl of racing engines came a sound that riveted the attention of U. S. Ranger
Sergeant Marcell G. Swank. On a small forward deck of the landing craft to Swank's right, Pipe Major
Alex Graham stood courageously playing A Hundred Pipers
. "He stood there," recalled Swank, "defiantly telling the world that the Camerons were coming. God what a glory." Inspired by their piper, the Camerons landed on Green Beach with courage and élan and swept forward. This is the last recorded instance of Canadian troops being piped into battle.
The Camerons hit the Green Beach an hour after the South Saskatchewan Regiment, some 30 minutes late, as the commanding officer
had not believed that the South Saskatchewan Regiment would be able to clear the beach and village in the allotted time. As they landed the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Gostling, was killed by a sniper
and the unit was taken over by the Second-in-command
, Major
A. T. "Andy" Law.
The majority of the force was mistakenly landed to the west of the river, so Law decided to alter the plan. Those that had landed to the east were told to join the South Saskatchewan Regiment, while the majority to the west advanced up the valley with Major Law. They were harassed on their journey by fire from Quatre Vents Farm and decided to seek shelter in the woods, through which, they reached the high ground above Bas d'Hautot. There they saw that the enemy already held the bridge at Petite Appeville in some strength (by a heavily reinforced anti-tank
company from the 571st Infantry Regiment). Law's group could not now realistically take the bridge, nor could they bypass it, for the road from Ouville was now swarming with enemy reinforcements. Meanwhile, the rest of the Camerons had joined up with the South Saskatchewan Regiment but despite closing in on Quatre Vents Farm and the radar station they were halted by enemy fire.
Although the Camerons made the deepest penetration of the day, the main landing at Dieppe had been unsuccessful. By 0930 hours a decision had to be made. The failure of the tanks to arrive had made it impossible for the Camerons to gain their objectives and suggested things were not going quite as planned on the main beaches. Faced with increasing German opposition and a complete lack of communication with higher headquarters, the Camerons began to fight their way back to Pourville, carrying their wounded. With Support Platoon leading, "A" Company guarding the flank and "C" Company forming the rearguard, the Battalion made it back to Beronville Wood and re-established contact with the South Saskatchewan Regiment. It was only then that they found out the landing craft would not return for re-embarkation until 1100 hours.
Major Law and Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt
(Commanding Officer of the South Saskatchewan Regiment) set up a combined headquarters in the Grand Central Hotel, and prepared their battalions to stand and fight for a full hour against a rapidly increasing enemy, who had their line of withdrawal (the beach) enfiladed with fire from innumerable guns. The Camerons fought desperately to keep their foothold on the high ground to the west, while the South Saskatchewan Regiment grimly held on to a piece of high ground to the east. Slowly the Germans collapsed the pocket smaller and smaller, until they dominated the entire beach and the slopes east of Pourville. By this time, few of the Camerons and South Saskatchewan Regiment were unwounded. At 1100 hours the landing craft began to arrive, taking grievous losses on the approach into the beach. More men were killed and wounded as they tried to board the landing craft under the enemy's withering fire. Almost miraculously five landing craft and one tank landing craft managed to rescue men from the shallows and cleared the beach with full loads. By 1130 hours the situation had become impossible and no further extractions were attempted.
Of 503 Camerons on the raid, 346 were casualties: 60 killed in action; 8 died of wounds after evacuation; 167 prisoners of war
(8 of whom died of wounds). Of the 268 returning to England, 103 were wounded. 25 Camerons were decorated for their actions at Dieppe. The Regiment received two Distinguished Service Order
s (the second highest award for bravery for officers after the Victoria Cross), two Military Cross
es, three Distinguished Conduct Medals (the second highest award for bravery for non-commissioned members after the Victoria Cross), four Military Medal
s, thirteen Mentions in Dispatches and a Croix de guerre
with bronze palms. One of the Distinguished Service Order recipients was the acting Commanding Officer, Major Law.
, Calvados
as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. On the evening of 11 July, the unit moved to the vicinity of Rots and then relieved the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada at Carpiquet
the next day. The next six days the Battalion spent digging in to avoid enemy shelling and patrolling to root out enemy snipers and remnants. On 19 July, the Battalion left Carpiquet for an assembly area across the Orne River
in preparation for the start of Operation Atlantic
the next day. On the way to the start line the Battalion suffered casualties from enemy artillery and mortar fire. The Camerons launched their attack from Fleury-sur-Orne
, supported by artillery and Typhoon squadrons. "A" Company advanced on the right with "B" Company left, "C" Company in depth and "D" Company in reserve. No tanks accompanied the attacking infantry but a squadron of tanks from The Sherbrooke Fusiliers
was allotted to the Camerons for counter-attack. The attack did not start well. The Officer Commanding Headquarters Company, Captain H. Grundy and the Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant
J. Maloney were both killed when an enemy 88 mm gun
hit the scout car
. The Battalion War Diary for June was lost with the vehicle. The loss of this command vehicle would hamper the Battalion's radio communications throughout the battle. "A" Company was held up 500 yd (457.2 m) from the start line, coming under intense machine gun
fire. Suppressing the enemy machine gunners with artillery and medium machine gun fire from The Toronto Scottish Regiment
, "A" Company was able to carry on. "B" Company encountered mild resistance and reached its objective advancing through the sniper, mortar and machine gun fire. As "A" Company had ended up somewhat to the right of their objective "C" Company was pushed through to fill the gap between "A" and "B". "C" Company met no resistance until it reached the south end of the village. "D" Company moved up to secure the rear of the Battalion position.
The enemy still held part of Hill 112 and continued to subject the Camerons to very heavy fire from west of the Orne. Heavy rain interfered with radio communications that were already affected by the loss of the scout car. With three companies forward, the Camerons held a wide frontage, so the Commanding Officer ordered "C" and "B" Companies to withdraw slightly to draw in the perimeter. "B" Company was shifting their positions when the Germans counter-attacked. The company managed to consolidate in their new position, but sustained significant casualties. As a result, the Commanding Officer moved "D" Company up to replace them, and moved "B" back as Battalion reserve. Elements of the I SS Panzer Corps
counter-attacked along the entire Battalion front, with especially heavy concentrations of infantry thrown against "A" and "D" Companies. Towards dusk a heavy counter-attack supported by eight Panzerkampfwagen V
(Panther) tanks was launched against "D" Company. Three of the Cameron anti-tank guns were knocked out, but the Camerons destroyed two of the panzers with PIAT
s (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank). "D" Company was overrun and forced to withdraw to link up with the remains of "B" Company. Overnight on 20–21 July "A" and "C" Companies beat back repeated counter-attacks. At times the opposing forces were within shouting distance of each other.
In the morning, further counter-attacks by small groups of tanks were fought off on the left flank in "C" Company's area. 10 Platoon of "B" Company was entirely cut off from the rest of the Battalion as the battle raged around the perimeter of the orchard. A company of German infantry, that had infiltrated across the river overnight, launched a series of small attacks against the Battalion Headquarters, which were beaten off with many prisoners being taken by "A" Company and the Scout Platoon. The Germans continued to counter-attack on 22 July, but their strength was reduced. Attacks by two or three tanks supported by small groups of infantry were beaten off throughout the day. At one point "A" Company was forced to withdraw, but with the assistance of heavy artillery support, counter-attacked and regained their positions. 11 Platoon was sent from "B" Company to reinforce "C" Company in driving off an enemy attack and remained under command of "C" Company, taking up defensive positions on the left flank. In between counter-attacks the Germans subjected the Cameron positions to heavy shelling with artillery
, mortar
s and Nebelwerfer
s (rockets). By 23 July the counter-attacks had dwindled to minor infiltrations that were easily handled and the Germans resorted to increased shelling. "C" Company was so reduced by this time that the remainder of 10 Platoon was sent from "B Company to reinforce it.
The Camerons suffered heavy casualties in the fighting for Saint-André-sur-Orne
: 52 wounded (including the Commanding Officer and the Officer Commanding "B" Company) and 29 killed. Company Sergeant Major
Sutherland and Private G. T. Munroe were each awarded the Military Medal for their actions at Saint-André-sur-Orne and the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel N.H. Ross, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his handling of the Battalion throughout the battle.
and Fontenay-le-Marmion
. A composite force from "B" and "D" Companies under Major Lane met fierce resistance and reinforcements were needed before the start line was secured. Still under 5 Brigade, the Camerons had elements of The Black Watch of Canada
and The Calgary Highlanders
placed under command on 25 July, to occupy Saint Martin to protect the left flank of le Régiment de Maisonneuve
attacking May-sur-Orne. The Maisonneuve attack was unsuccessful and that evening they relieved the Camerons in Saint Martin.
On 26 July, the Camerons returned under command of 6th Brigade and set about consolidating their positions in Saint-André-sur-Orne. On 31 July, the unit started rotating companies out of the line two at a time for rest and refit. "A" and "C" Companies remained in Saint-André-sur-Orne under command of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
while the remainder of the unit was withdrawn to Caen
for rest. Even in the rest area the unit was subject to enemy artillery and was required to dig in to minimize casualties.
On 1 August, Battalion Headquarters and "B" and "D" Companies were resting in the vicinity of Faub-de-Vaucelle while "A" and "C" Companies were still under command of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in Saint-André-sur-Orne. That evening "B" and "D" Companies relieved "A" and "C" Companies and provided support to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in capture of a church in the vicinity that was occupied by the Germans. On 3 August, "B" and "D" Companies assisted Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in taking a group of houses that had been identified as being occupied by the Germans by Cameron patrols the night before.
On the 2nd Canadian Division front the mine directly south of Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay
had been a constant threat, the lofty shaft towers affording the Germans excellent observation and the mine tunnels offering a means of infiltrating the whole area. On the night of 3–4 August, "A" Company with a detachment of the 11th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers
, conducted a raid on an enemy occupied mine. The company succeeded in surrounding the mine despite heavy machine gun fire but the accompanying engineers were unable to demolish the mine shaft
. In order to demolish the shaft towers, the sappers had to climb some 20 ft (6.1 m) from the ground and as soon as they did so they became targets for snipers in the bright moonlight. After a number of men had been hit, it was decided that the demolition task could not be carried out, and the raiding party withdrew. Casualties suffered on the raid were 9 missing and 21 wounded which speaks to the fierceness of the resistance. Three prisoners from the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier
Regiment of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
(one Corporal, one Lance Corporal
and one private) were taken during the raid.
On 4 August, Lieutenant-Colonel Runice took command of the battalion and that night the Camerons moved to Verrières
to relieve The Essex Scottish Regiment
. The next two days were relatively quiet with the unit patrolling and receiving only occasional shelling form the enemy. A prisoner from the 1055th Grenadier Regiment of the 89th Infantry Division was captured by patrol from "C" Company.
in preparation for an attack against Fontenay-le-Marmion that night. "D" and "C" Companies led the attack with "B" Company in close support and "A" Company in reserve. "D" Company had a difficult time securing their objective. Within ten minutes of crossing the start line, 16 Platoon was pinned down by intense machine gun fire. When 18 Platoon conducted a left flanking attack to free up 16 Platoon, they came under intense 88 mm mortar fire pining them down as well. The company crawled forward into an assault line and then launched an all-out frontal attack, fighting their way into the village against fierce opposition by elements of the German 89th Infantry Division.
By 0100 hours "D" Company had reached their objective, the first company to do so, and began preparing for counter-attacks. "C" Company had their own difficulties in the assault. 13 and 14 Platoon were temporarily cut-off from 15 Platoon and "C" Company headquarters when they advanced past a nest of enemy machine gun posts. The enemy allowed the forward platoons to pass and then poured heavy fire into "C" Company Headquarters and remaining platoon, which after sustaining several casualties, bypassed the machine gun posts by working their way around the left flank. "C" Company Headquarters and 13 Platoon reached their objective, the orchard, hoping to find the other two platoons but only encountered elements of "B Company". Linking in their defensive positions with "B" Company on the east side of the orchard, they prepared to fight off the inevitable enemy counter-attack. Almost immediately after crossing the start line, "B" Company came under fire from both sides of the road. In response "B" Company launched a determined attack on the quarry, where a concentration of enemy were dug in, with 11 Platoon forward, 10 Platoon left and 12 Platoon right. Sergeant J. Mahon was later awarded the Military Medal for his actions in the fight for the quarry. Once they had cleared the enemy from the quarry, "B" Company continued on to the outskirts of Fontenay-le-Marmion to link up with the remnants of "C" and "D" Companies occupying the buildings.
The Camerons holding Fontenay-le-Marmion were under fire from heavy sniping and direct fire from a German 88 mm gun to the northeast and the number of casualties grew. Engaged in heavy house-to-house fighting
through the night and into the morning, the Battalion, down to 150 men, fought off numerous enemy counter-attacks. Battalion Headquarters was hit by an enemy 88 mm, wounding the commanding officer. Overnight 14 men from 14 Platoon and one from 13 Platoon who had worked their way back to the start line were brought up to rejoin "C" Company and Major C. W. Ferguson, a Cameron serving as Brigade Major
of 6th Brigade was sent to take over the battalion. On the morning of 8 August the enemy counter attacked from the north with 12 Tiger Tanks and the unit was temporarily surrounded. To add to the chaos, Battalion Headquarters was hit again likely by the same 88 mm that had been shelling the unit from the start of the battle. The new Commanding Officer was wounded, forcing Major J. J. D. Gagnon, Officer Commanding "D" Company to assume command.
On the afternoon of 8 August, two companies of the South Saskatchewan Regiment with a squadron of the 1st Hussars
broke through, swept the ridge north of Fontenay and cleared the left flank, relieving the pressure on the Camerons. The Camerons captured 207 enemy prisoners that day. That night Cameron patrols confirmed that the enemy had withdrawn. On the morning of 9 August "B" Company (under Company Sergeant Major Abram Arbour) launched a successful attack on the right flank and "A" Company captured a barracks on the high feature that was the source of the heavy fire that was pinning whole Battalion down. The clearing weather allowed Royal Air Force
Typhoons
to locate and destroy the German 88 mm that had been wreaking so much havoc on Battalion Headquarters.
In the evening Major E. P. "Tommy" Thompson assumed acting command of the Battalion. In the fierce fighting for Fontenay-le-Marmion, the Camerons lost two Commanding Officers wounded (Ferguson would die from his wounds the next day), and two Company Commanders, Major E. R. Talbot of "C" Company and Major J. E. E. McManus of "B" Company and the Adjutant
, Captain G. Kidd, wounded in action. The Carrier Platoon Commander, Captain R.R. Counsell was awarded the Military Cross for keeping the companies supplied during the fighting and Company Sergeant-Major Arbour was awarded the Military Cross (a decoration usually awarded to officers) for his actions as acting Company Commander of "B" Company during the battle.
at Gouvix the next day. Patrols the night of 9 August, brought in a couple of prisoners – one from the 1056th Infantry Regiment and the other from the 189th Anti-Tank Battalion. At dawn on 12 August, "B" Company stood-to, only to discover it was completely surrounded by an enemy patrol. A brief skirmish ensued and the enemy withdrew. Later that day the new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. S. Gregory arrived to assume command.
In the early morning of 14 August, the Battalion launched an attack to clear enemy pockets west of the River Laize and seize a bridgehead
across the river at Clair Tizon. Initially resistance was light but stiffened as the Camerons approached the river. The Battalion's objective was seized by 0910 hours and that night the anti-tank platoon got their first kill – a Panzerkampfwagen V (Panther) that was knocked out at a range of about 250 yd (228.6 m). Two of the crew were killed and the remainder taken prisoner by Scout Platoon snipers who were in the area. Numerous prisoners of war were taken in the operation, many of them Poles and Russians who were happy to desert from their impressed service in the Wehrmacht
.
The next day, 15 August, the Camerons took Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière
and held it against three fierce counter-attacks by elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
. One of only two Bronze Stars
awarded to members of the Regiment during the war was won during the battle for Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière. Private J. P. DeGarmo was awarded the American
decoration for his actions.
That afternoon bombers from No. 6 (RCAF) Bomber Group
dropped bombs on enemy pockets of resistance between the Cameron lines and Falaise
. Several bombs fell short, landing on Battalion headquarters and inflicting eight casualties. More casualties were suffered when the Regimental Aid Post
was shelled by an enemy 88 mm. The Medical Officer, Captain H. Marantz and Sergeant G. A. Wilwand were both killed and the remainder of the Aid Post wounded. 10 Field Ambulance put together a composite force and sent it forward to act as the Cameron Regimental Aid Post.
The task of taking the ruins of Falaise fell to 6 Brigade. At 1500 hours on 16 August, Brigadier Young launched his attack with the South Saskatchewan Regiment on the left and the Camerons on the right, each supported by a squadron of tanks from the Sherbrooke Fusiliers. As the Battalion moved towards Falaise, they ran into a group of 25 enemy of which 2 were taken prisoner. The huge craters caused by the earlier RAF bombing impeded the advance. Moreover, parties of the enemy from the 12th SS Panzer Division were still fighting hard in the ruins. By the morning of 17 August, the South Saskatchewans had reached the railway east of the town. The Camerons had not advanced as rapidly, their tanks being hung up in craters; but they finished their task that day and then moved south across the River Traine to establish a defensive position around the village of Hérouville-Saint-Clair
. Many enemy prisoners of war were taken (a number from the 978th Grenadier Regiment) and a scout car that had run out of gas was captured as well. That night a flight of U.S. Army Air Force
P-38 Lightning
s bombed and strafed the unit killing two and wounding six.
On 18 August, contact was firmly established with Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. The relative quiet allowed hot meals, mail and new clothing to be enjoyed by all members of the unit. The pause also allowed the Commanding Officer to reorganize the Battalion in preparation for future operations. Patrols from the unit netted a number of prisoners (two from the 1056th Infantry Battalion, one from the 128th Grenadier Regiment, one from the 937th Infantry Reserve Regiment and one from the 453rd Reserve Grenadier Battalion). On 19 August, the Battalion moved to a new location near Les Moutien on Auges by the Dives River
and then on to an assembly area at le Grand Mesnil on 21 August. That night they moved again, this time to a position near Meulles. On 22 August, the Battalion pushed towards Orbec
, slowing as they met increasingly stiff opposition and heavy fire from the high ground across the Orbec River. Spending the night near Les Bois, southwest of Orbec, the Camerons launched a left flanking attack north of Orbec the next day. Seizing their objective, the Battalion fought off counter-attacks by enemy infantry supported by tanks and self-propelled gun
s. After having two tanks and a self-propelled gun knocked out, the Germans withdrew, leaving the unit in firm possession of Orbec. The Camerons were greatly assisted in the taking of the town by the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)
, who had crossed the river to the west of the town and then circled back and taken out an enemy blocking position from the rear. With the withdrawal of the enemy, two Cameron scouts were finally able to emerge from the town jail where they had been hiding with a German commander and his staff that they had captured, waiting for the Battalion to capture the town.
On 24 August, the Camerons marched to an assembly area at Le Ruquesni where they were picked up by trucks and moved to the 6 Brigade area at Ducore. That night they moved again to an area north of Saint-Pierre-de-Salerne
where they were warned to be prepared to move south into Brionne
. On 25 August, the Battalion moved into Brionne against slight resistance and received a hearty welcome by the townspeople. Previous to this the towns the Battalion had liberated had been abandoned by the inhabitants. Brionne was the first of many towns to greet the Camerons as liberators. On 26 August, the Battalion was on the move again, taking up positions for the night along the Seine
near Bourgtheroulde
. The next day the Camerons continued the advance through Bourgtheroulde, meeting determined resistance as the German rearguard fought fanatically to protect their line of retreat across the Seine. By late evening the Battalion had consolidated their position near La Chênaie, overlooking the Seine and effectively cutting off the German escape route. For the next three days the unit suffered heavy casualties from intense shelling, also inflicting heavy casualties on the retreating Germans trying to cross the river. The War Diary entry for 29 August noted, "Thousands of Germans drowned or were killed from our 4.2" mortars and arty fire plus our MMGs." By 30 August, the fight was over. The German remnants had retreated from the Seine and Rouen
area. The next day the Battalion moved across the River Seine into Rouen to be greeted once again as liberators.
where they spent the night of 7 September, before moving on to Furnes. On 9 September, the unit occupied La Panne Bains, chasing out scattered pockets of German resistance. The next day the unit continued the advance through fire from heavy machine guns, mortars, anti-aircraft guns and heavy coastal guns and spent the night occupying a portion of the German West Wall
defences.
The advance towards Bray-Dunes
continued on 11 September, against increasingly stiff opposition from elements of the 1055th Grenadier Regiment of the German 89th Infantry Division. Before first light on 13 September, the Camerons launched a concerted attack against Bray-Dunes. "A" and "C" Companies made a right flanking attack through the sand dunes by the coast while "D" Company infiltrated through the enemy lines to size the crossroads. While "D" Company achieved their objective by 0530 hours, "A" and "C" Companies failed to penetrate enemy opposition leaving "D" Company surrounded and cut-off. At 1800 hours the Battalion launched a right flanking attack through Gyrelde to relieve "D" Company. "A" and "B" Companies were stopped after passing through Gyrelde but "C" Company on the left flank fought through fierce opposition to occupy a position 300 yd (274.3 m) south of "D" Company but could not complete the link up until the following evening. By early afternoon on 15 September, the Battalion had secured Bray-Dunes. That evening the unit was moved to a rest area east of Bray Dunes where they kept up aggressive patrolling each night. Warrant Officer
F. K. Breakey won the DCM during the battle for Bray-Dunes.
where they were to stay until 23 September. Arriving in the vicinity of Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor, the Camerons advanced as the reserve battalion in the 6 Brigade advance to the Antwerp-Turnhout canal. On 27 September, the Battalion took up new positions west of Gravemwezel, trading fire back and forth across the canal with the enemy and conducting aggressive patrolling. During one of these patrols Lieutenant E. J. Reid won the Military Cross.
On 29 September, the unit moved again to cross the Anvers-Turnhout canal under the command of 5th Brigade to relieve le Régiment de Maisonneuve in the area of Oostbrecht. On 1 October, the Camerons, again under the command of 5th Brigade, launched an attack against Sternhoven. Taking the objective, the Battalion was immediately ordered to carry on to their subsequent objective, a crossroads. Before they could get out of Sternhoven the Camerons were hit by a concerted counter-attack and spent the night in desperate close combat amongst the burning buildings of the town. Successfully beating off the counter-attack, the unit handed Sternhoven over to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal and began preparations to continue the advance towards Camp de Brasschaet. Before the Cameron attack could get underway, the Germans launched another counter-attack on Sternhoven and the unit went to the aid of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, quashing the final enemy attempt to regain the town. Probing towards Camp de Brasschaet on the morning of 2 October, "B" Company, with tanks from The Fort Garry Horse
in support, met heavy resistance and was forced to retire to their former positions. On 3 October the Battalion launched an attack on Camp de Brasschaet and secured the objective taking 82 prisoners of war from the 1018th Grenadier Regiment and 14th Reserve Machine Gun Battalion. On 5 October, "C" Company, tasked to clear the road to Sternhoven, was forced to retire after taking heavy casualties. "A" Company was moved forward in their place to consolidate in the Lake area.
The Battalion remained at Camp de Brasschaet for the next few days, resting and reorganizing for their next operation. An active patrolling program netted 92 prisoners of war. On 9 October, the Battalion moved to an area northeast of Putte
to relieve the Essex Scottish with Battalion Headquarters setting up at Villa Anna. On 10 October, the Battalion secured the flank of the successful 2nd Division attack to cut off the German garrison south of the Scheldt
and the islands north of the river. Resuming vigorous patrolling, three prisoners from the 847th Grenadier Regiment were taken on 11 October. During this period a company of 150 men of the Belgian White Brigade came under command of the Camerons. On the night of 14–15 October, three German paratroopers were captured by another patrol. On the evening of 20 October, the Battalion moved to relieve The Royal Regiment of Canada
and then again the next day to relieve The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
at Woensdrecht
.
Patrols overnight on 22-23 in preparation for an attack on the 23 August brought in seven prisoners of war. Launched at 0700 hours, the attack on Woensdrecht met stiff resistance and by 1630 hours "A" Company, which had gone to the assistance of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, was forced back to its former positions. Despite the fierce opposition, the Battalion captured 40 paratroopers from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 6th Fallschirmjäger
Regiment. Continuing the attack on 24 October, the Camerons made good progress against only light opposition, the majority of the enemy having withdrawn after the sharp fighting the previous day. By 2300 hours the area was cleared of enemy and the Battalion was relieved by the Black Watch of Canada. Private C. R. J. Batty was awarded a Military Medal for his actions.
On 26 October, the unit moved into the Beveland Causeway. On 27 October the Camerons seized the town of Yerseke
and launched an assault across the Zuid-Beveland
canal. Landing two companies on the island forming the lock gates
on the west side, the attack was repulsed by mortar and heavy machine gun fire and the companies forced back across the canal. Another attempt to secure the lock bridges the next day succeeded in reaching the objective but was forced back across the canal once again. Lieutenant-Colonel Tommy Thompson was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his actions.
On 29 October, the Battalion crossed the canal to relieve two companies of the Essex Scottish at Willemdinge. That night Corporal M. J. Robertson from "A" Company brought in 21 prisoners of war (19 from 1020th Grenadier Regiment of the 70th Infantry Division and two from 170th Feld Ersatz) he and two others had taken at Kattendijke
while on a wandering patrol of their own. On 30 October, the Battalion moved to Goes
to relieve the Black Watch of Canada where they remained the next day.
On 1 November, the Battalion moved to Willebroek
for rest and refit. On 9 November,, the Camerons were on the move again, this time to the town of Mook en Middelaar
to relieve the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
of the British 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. The remainder of the month was spent opposite the Meuse River
in the vicinity of Mook, dug into the flooded, soggy ground. While trading mortar fire back and forth with the enemy "A" Company had a couple of interesting incidents. Private R. L. Shaw had a mortar bomb glance off his shoulder and land directly in his trench without detonating. Later an "A" Company observation post
was asked to observe the fall of shot from friendly mortars when they received notice to keep their heads down as a mortar bomb was coming over minus its tail fin, and would likely drop short. When asked to provide a correction for the next round, the OP replied, "Cut all the tail fins off!". The defective bomb had landed on a close-by German machine gun nest, which had been giving the company great difficulty. Patrolling by both sides, intermittent shelling, and occasional mine strikes, inflicted light casualties on the Battalion and ensured soldiers kept their edge in the miserable conditions.
December would prove to be a relatively quiet month for the Battalion. On 1 December, the Camerons handed over their sodden positions at Mook to the Royal Regiment of Canada and moved to Cuijk
to relieve the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. The Battalion stayed in the Cuijk area resting, refitting and training until 8 December, when then moved to Bisselt to relieve the Black Watch of Canada. The unit remained at Bisselt for a week, conducting an aggressive patrolling program. On 15 December, the Battalion handed over to the South Saskatchewan Regiment and moved into Groesbeek
. The Battalion front remained fairly quiet with sporadic machine gun and mortar fire interrupting the calm. On the night of 19–20 December, the Battalion provided fire support for a South Saskatchewan Regiment attack. During this action Lance Corporal M. L. Nedohin won the Military Medal.
On 23 December, the unit was relieved in place by the Essex Scottish and moved with Battalion Headquarters, "B" and "C" Companies setting up in the area of Mook, Support Company in the area of Katwijk
across the Meuse River and "A" and "D" Companies at Oss
. The Battalion shot down an enemy aircraft the night of 26 December, capturing four of the aircrew south of Nijmegen. On 27 December "A" and "D" Companies were relieved at Oss by the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. "A" Company relocated to Mook and "D" Company joined Support Company at Katwijk. The Battalion would spend the rest of the month in location resting, training and marking the holiday season.
On 8 January 1945, the Battalion received orders to relieve le Régiment de Maisonneuve the next day. Subsequent orders on the 9 January delayed the move to 10 January. In the line again, the Camerons came under sporadic mortar, small arms and sniper fire and once again initiated an aggressive patrolling program. Overnight on 17–18 January, "C" Company conducted a platoon size raid on a number of enemy held houses. On the afternoon of 18 January the Battalion was relieved by Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal and moved back into the town of Mook proper. The Camerons were back in the line on 25 January, having relieved the South Saskatchewan Regiment. On the 31 January the unit shifted to take over from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal while the South Saskatchewans moved out of reserve to occupy the positions the Camerons were vacating.
Commander, Brigadier General Ralph Holley Keefler
on 3 February, the unit was tasked with capturing a prisoner at any cost. A raid by "A" Company on the night of 5 February, failed to secure the required prisoner but a fighting patrol from "C" Company succeeded two nights later. Due largely to Company Sergeant-Major Elvin Miller's heroic efforts, for which he was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, later downgraded to a Military Medal by a higher level headquarters, the Camerons were able to bring back a prisoner, and obtain the information that was crucial to the planning of the upcoming Operation Veritable
.
On 8 February, Operation Veritable was launched with a 1,000 gun barrage. Due to the large number of casualties it had suffered since the start of the campaign, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division would sit this one out. Over the next few days, dozens of German soldiers surrendered themselves to the Battalion. 13 prisoners were taken from the 1222nd Grenadier Regiment on 9 February, and another 18 the next day. By the 11 February, the Battalion front was quiet, the enemy having either withdrawn or been captured. On 14 February, after three months in and around Mook, the unit was transported to Nijmegen where they went into billets for a few days of rest and refit.
, taking up positions in Bedburg
. On the 18 February, the Commanding Officer and Intelligence Officer conducted a reconnaissance of the ground southeast of Kalkar
approaching the Hochwald in preparation for the upcoming offensive. The next night the battalion was placed under command of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
and tasked to send "B" Company to relieve "D" Company of the Royal Regiment of Canada. That night the Anti-Tank Platoon took one prisoner from the 1st Battalion, 60th Panzergrenadier Division. In the early hours of 20 February, the unit was ordered to send another company to the Royal Regiment of Canada. After taking up new position in the Royals area, "A" Company was placed under command of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and dispatched to reinforce them against enemy counter-attack by the Panzer-Lehr-Division. By sunrise the remainder of the unit had been ordered to take over from the Royal Regiment of Canada and movement began to relieve the Royals so they could in turn relieve the Essex Scottish. By late afternoon the Battalion was relieved by the Highland Light Infantry of Canada and had reverted to 6th Brigade command. The Battalion spent 21 February preparing for the next day's offensive only to have the attack postponed that night. Preparations continued on the 22 February, with the operation still postponed. Finally in the early morning of 26 February, Operation Blockbuster
was launched.
Riding in Kangaroo
armoured personnel carrier
s, the initial advance was held up by mines and mud forced the Battalion to re-route their attack through Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal's objective. "A" Company rode onto the objective in their Kangaroos, and secured it after overcoming stiff resistance from the 156th Panzergrenadier Regiment. "B" Company reached their objective of Louisendorf with only 34 effectives, many of their Kangaroos having bogged down or gotten lost on the way. With two tanks in intimate support the greatly reduced "B" Company took the objective, capturing 26 prisoners on the way to the town and another 90 in Louisendorf itself. "C" Company landed on their objective without opposition after spending considerable time trying to find it. Within an hour of securing the objective "C" Company was forced to fight off the first of numerous counter-attacks, as a pair of enemy tanks engaged their positions. It was only "D" Company that was to reach their objective with little trouble. After hard fighting the unit had secured its objectives and taken 136 prisoners but at great loss – the dynamic and popular Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel E. P. "Tommy" Thompson was dead, killed by a sniper on the objective.
It was during this action that the Regiment received its second Victoria Cross nominee. Major David Rodgers, Officer Commanding "A" Company, was recommended to receive the VC for his actions on 26 February 1945. The citation was approved at every level until it reached 21st Army Group where Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery
downgraded the award to an immediate Distinguished Service Order.
The Germans continued counter-attacking on 27 February, but the most of the enemy attacks were broken up with well-directed mortar and artillery fire. That night the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and moved to Kirsel. 28 February, was spent reorganizing and preparing for the next offensive.
1 March, found the unit at Udermerbruck preparing to resume the attack. The next day the Battalion advanced through the Hochwald Gap. The tanks in support could not stay with the unit, unable to crest the ridge at the edge of the gap due to intense enemy 88 mm fire. Approaching the objective the unit held up short, finding friendly forces already occupying the Battalion's assigned objective. Following a 39 minute artillery barrage, the Camerons resumed the attack on 3 March meeting stiff resistance. Under intense mortar, machine gun and artillery fire the unit made slow progress. "C" Company was stopped and forced to pull back while "A" and "B" Companies managed to fight forward to the new objective on the southeastern edge of the forest, "B" Company taking 18 prisoners from the 24th Fallschirmjäger Regiment of the 8th Fallschirmjäger Division in the process. A German counter-attack from the north fell on "B" Company but was successfully repulsed with around two-dozen casualties inflicted on the enemy. During the fighting in the Hochwald two Cameron Corporals won the Military Medal for their heroism, Corporal John Bukurak of "A" Company and Corporal Daniel Connors of "B" Company.
The next day the Camerons turned north to clear the east edge of the Hochwald Forest. The unit found the enemy had withdrawn but had left the area heavily mined which made the woods clearance a slow and dangerous undertaking.
On 5 March the unit moved to Exhmachdurm where Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Kennedy assumed command from Major R. H. Lane who had been acting CO since Tommy Thompson had been killed at Kalkar Ridge. The next day the Battalion continued the advance through the Hochwald. Preceded by an artillery barrage, "A" and "B" Companies led the advance. "A" Company was stopped 200 yd (182.9 m) short of their objective, coming under an intense crossfire from German machine guns. "B" Company was similarly held up after advancing 500 yd (457.2 m). Despite the use of tanks and artillery support, the unit could not dislodge the enemy resistance and withdrew under orders from 6th Brigade. A second attack was required utilizing all of 5th Brigade augmented by the South Saskatchewan Regiment to overcome the resistance. The next two days the Camerons spent resting and refitting in preparation for resuming the advance.
On 9 March, the unit moved into Xanten
to relieve the Calgary Highlanders. The completion of the relief was delayed due to enemy action along the Calgary Highlander's front. "A" and "C" Companies effected their relief that night but "B" and "D" Companies were not able to take over the Calgary Highlander positions until the next morning. Patrols from Scout Platoon netted 28 prisoners overnight mostly from the 6th Fallschirmjäger Battalion. On the afternoon of 10 March the unit moved again, this time to relieve le Régiment de Maisonneuve at Birten. 11 March, was spent resting and reorganizing and the next day the unit was pulled out of the line to a Division rest area at Rindern. The next five days were spent training and performing much needed maintenance on the unit's vehicles and equipment.
On 18 March, the unit executed Operation Loot aimed at clearing an enemy salient
in the Rindern area. All companies crossed their start lines at 0700 hours and finding the area almost completely vacated, completed clearing their respective objectives by noon. "C" and "D" Companies were tasked with clearing the remainder of the salient and final success was reported at 1800 hours. Nine evacuees were gathered up in the operation and sent back for screening. 19 March, found the unit moving into the Reichswald Forest where it would spend the next eight days refitting and training for crossing the Rhine.
. The Battalion set up east of Praest, in the vicinity of Schriek, overnight and began establishing its presence through aggressive patrolling. "A" Company patrols brought in 8 prisoners and "B" Company patrols netted 64 prisoners overnight. That night "D" Company was tasked to probe forward to the town of Netterden
. Finding the town held by a company of German paratroopers, Major D. D. Sweeting, Officer Commanding "D" Company, decided to launch a dawn attack to clear the town. Upon receiving Sweeting's update, the CO tasked "C" Company under Captain F. R. Sutton to move around to the northeast of the town to cut off the enemy when "D" Company attacked.
"D" Company's attack went in as planned at 0400 hours on 30 March. Finding their line of retreat cut off the German paratroopers decided to stand and fight. After seven hours of bitter street fighting a truce was called to evacuate the wounded on both sides. Making use of the truce, Sweeting issued the German commander an ultimatum, surrender within the next half an hour or be totally destroyed. Realizing his position hopeless, the German commander surrendered. Of the original company from the 17th Fallschirmjäger Regiment of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Division garrisoning Netterden, only 2 officers and 22 soldiers survived to go into captivity as prisoners of war. During their two days in the area the Battalion captured a total of 2 enemy officers and 128 other ranks at a cost of 4 Camerons killed and 10 wounded. For his successful company attack on Netterden Major Sweeting received the Distinguished Service Order.
Consolidating in Netterden, the unit continued the attack towards Veldhunten on 31 March. Supported by an intense artillery barrage "A" Company under Captain J. Free captured their objective without incurring a single casualty, taking 30 prisoners in the process. "B" and "D" Companies were less fortunate. Having pushed past "A" Company for phase 2 of the attack, both "B" and "D" Companies were met by withering machine gun fire 600 yd (548.6 m) past their start lines. The condition of the ground made it impossible to employ tanks, so the Carrier Platoon was tasked to assist "D" Company. Engaged by a German self-propelled gun while attempting to move up, Carrier Platoon was unable to reach the forward companies. With no way forward, both companies were withdrawn, "D" Company with considerable difficulty, to reorganize for a renewed attack the next day. For his actions during the battle Corporal Abbot Fraser was awarded the Bronze Lion
, a Dutch
decoration.
While this was happening "C" Company was fulfilling a task of its own, securing a road junction to provide a maintenance route for 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Encountering stiff enemy resistance, "C" Company managed to secure their objective by executing a hasty flanking attack. For his actions during the attack, Sergeant Robert Pearcey was awarded the Military Medal.
The Battalion renewed their attack on 1 April, to find that the bulk of the enemy had withdrawn leaving only scattered pockets of resistance to be overcome. By noon all companies had consolidated on their objectives. The unit spent the night in Ziek and moved to Keienburg the next day to relieve the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. On 3 April, "C" Company and the Carrier Platoon captured Steenderen
without opposition, taking three prisoners of war from the 951st Grenadier Regiment of the 361st Volksgrenadier
Division southwest of the town. That night the Battalion moved to relieve the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry at Almen
. The 4 April was a relatively quiet day. A lone German self-propelled gun that was being a nuisance was located and knocked out and patrols probed forward to determine the location of the enemy's forward defensive line. The majority of the unit spent the day resting and preparing to continue the advance. The next night the Battalion moved across the canal and on 6 April, Oolden was seized without opposition with a number of prisoners from the 1409th Fortress Battalion taken.
Moving to a concentration in the vicinity of Bathmensche Veen, "A" and "B" Companies forced a quick crossing of the Schipbeek canal with "C" Company following close behind. Surprise was achieved and no opposition was experienced until the companies were consolidating on the far side when the Germans started to shell the company positions and the crossing points heavily. Two Company Commanders were put out of action by the enemy mortar fire. Major H. P. Falloon, Officer Commanding "B" Company was seriously wounded and Major W. S. Watt, Officer Commanding "C" Company was knocked unconscious. That night "D" Company crossed the canal and moved past "A" Company to clear the woods while the remainder of the battalion, still under intermittent shellfire, extended and consolidated their positions in the vicinity of De Lurkens. On 7 April, "B" Company cleared the woods east of its positions taking thirty-six prisoners. The next day "A" and "C" Companies successfully extended the left flank of the Battalion against slight opposition from the Germans.
On 9 April, the Battalion moved to a concentration area to be picked up by troop carrying vehicles for a move to Spoorweg Bosch to relieve the Essex Scottish on 10 April. That night the Camerons were on the move again moving to Gramsbergen
. On 11 April the unit continued on to Balkbrug
and then swung north through Kirkenbosch to Hoogeveen
finally stopping at Terhost for the night. The next day "D" Company and two sections from Carrier Platoon made a bridgehead across the canal and the Battalion continued north to take up positions around Hijken. 13 April was spent at Hijken resting and maintaining equipment with "C" Company and Carrier Platoon patrolling to the north and west to mop up enemy stragglers.
On 14 April, the Battalion launched an attack on Haren
. "A" and "B" Companies were tasked with clearing the northern half of the town and "C" and "D" Companies the southern half. Scout Platoon under Lieutenant R. A. King cleared out the factory in the town, capturing 60 enemy prisoners. By 2300 hours all companies reported their areas completely cleared. "A" and "B" Companies consolidated in Haren while "C" and "D" Companies passed through them to establish positions on the outskirts of Groningen.
The next day Battalion Headquarters moved up to Groningen followed by "A" Company, which took over a position from the Essex Scottish dominating the bridge over the Ems Canal. The remainder of the day was spent mopping up enemy stragglers throughout the Battalion's area. The Camerons captured a total of one hundred and forty German prisoners on 15 April. The following day the unit passed through Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal to clear the northeast sector of the town up to the Van Starkenborgh Canal. "B" Company arrived at the canal to find the bridge over it held by the Germans who had raised the centre span making it impassable. Aided by two Dutch civilians Lieutenant W. C. McNeill crossed a narrow catwalk, which was being swept with automatic weapons fire, to the bridge mechanism and lowered the bridge. "B" Company quickly attacked across the bridge and the German resistance collapsed. Establishing a bridgehead on the east bank of the canal, "B" Company rounded up twenty-six prisoners in the process. McNeill and one of the Dutch civilians were wounded in lowering the bridge but their heroic actions had enabled the Company's success.
That evening the Battalion was ordered to occupy the town of Ten Boer
. Through a series of company infiltrations the unit occupied the objective overnight and by 0720 hours of 17 April, all elements were firmly ensconced in the town. The remainder of the 17 and 18 April, were spent resting, reorganizing and preparing to resume the advance. On the night of 18 April "C" Company set up outposts at Ten Post and along the road to Stedum
. On 19 April the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Kennedy, showing signs of combat fatigue
accumulated from his exemplary service in the Italian Campaign
, was relieved of command and granted 48 hours leave of absence. Ultimately he would never return to the Camerons. Major R. H. Lane took over the Battalion as Temporary Commanding Officer. That afternoon "A' Company, supported by a section of flamethrower
s, was sent to probe enemy positions in the towns of Stedum, Loppersum
and Wirten. Encountering the enemy on the outskirts of Loppersum, "A" Company broke contact after a brief engagement returning with the information that between 100 and 200 Germans were holding Loppersum. A planned move the next day was postponed and on 21 April, the unit moved back into Germany to occupy billets in Wilderhausen.
The Battalion resumed the advance on 22 April, as the depth battalion of the brigade. Taking over the lead from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal that evening, the unit encountered stiffening resistance as they closed on Kirchhatten. "A" Company overcame a roadblock with the assistance of Wasp flamethrower carriers and the request was sent back to bring up tank support to assist gaining lodgement in the town. On 23 April "B" Company started off the attack on Kirchhatten, clearing the woods on the left of the axis of advance south of the town and taking 24 prisoners. Company Sergeant-Major Earl Ovens, who had already been Mentioned in Dispatches for his actions at Dieppe as a private, was awarded the Military Medal for his part in "B" Company's attack.
"C' Company then passed through "B" to carry the attack into Kirchhatten. The Battalion Tactical Headquarters, "C" and "D" Companies were counter-attacked with one of the "D" Company Platoon being forced back by the onslaught. The Unit launched an immediate counter-counter attack supported by artillery and tanks, regaining their positions and driving the enemy back into the woods.
After a relatively quiet night with patrols sent out to pinpoint the enemy, the attack resumed the next day. "D" Company led off with "B' Company following. Running into resistance, "D" Company requested "A" Company move up on the left to provide support. Bolstered by a section of Wasps, a troop of tanks and a section of assault pioneers, "A" Company moved to assist. That night the enemy launched a small counter attack against "B" Company. Easily repulsed, the Germans launched a second, much larger attack, which "B" Company only managed to fight off by calling artillery down on their own positions. The unit conducted a busy patrol program overnight. On the morning of 25 April "D" Company succeeded in securing their objectives and "A" Company was ordered to send a contact patrol to link up with "D". Kirchhatten was finally secured and Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Rutherford, returned to the Regiment from his position as Brigade Major of 6th Brigade to take command of the Battalion.
On 26 April, the unit was still under intermittent shellfire particularly in the "A" and "D" Company areas, and spent the day reorganizing and preparing for the next phase of 6 Brigade's advance. Five prisoners of war from the 358th Marine Battalion were taken by "B" Company. A patrol that night returned with one prisoner who provided information that two companies from the Panzer-Lehr-Division with a combined strength of about 100 was opposing the Battalion. Throughout the 27 April, the unit continued to exchange mortar and artillery fire with the enemy and "A" Company fought a brief skirmish with a small party of Germans, taking one prisoner. That evening all companies reported increased enemy vehicle traffic along the front. The artillery duel continued on 28 April, but other enemy activity dropped off significantly. With the exception of the detonation of several road cratering charges, no other enemy activity was observed. 29 April, was even quieter and "B" Company pushed forward along the road to the northwest of the town to establish new positions at the road junction.
The advance resumed the morning of 30 April, with "C" Company moving through "B" Company's positions to lead off. "D" and "B" Company advanced along their axis with "A" following behind "B" as the Battalion reserve. All companies made good progress and a dozen prisoners were gathered up as the Camerons moved forward. The advance continued unopposed until early evening when "C" Company ran into a well defended road block and crater. The Battalion deployed to cover the main crossroads and dug in for the night. Patrols were sent out that night to recce the road block and potential routes.
On the morning of 1 May, the advance resumed. The road block was destroyed with an anti-tank gun and "A" Company passed through "C" Company with "B" and "D" Companies continuing the advance along their own axis. "A" Company encountered resistance from a small group of determined defenders but overcame the enemy with tank and artillery support, taking 11 prisoners from the 1st Battalion of the 22nd Grenadier Regiment of the 490th Infantry Division and the 16th Reinforcement Battalion. By early afternoon the companies were consolidating their positions in the vicinity of Hatter Wuss. A probe by Scout Platoon was strongly repulsed and "B" Company, occupying the houses vacated by the scouts beat off two small counter-attacks, dispersing the enemy with mortar and artillery fire. The day's advance netted the battalion a total of twenty nine enemy prisoners.
Patrols forward of the Battalion position the morning of 2 May, met no enemy and the Commanding Officer continued the push forward. Consolidating in Twee Ibake, the Battalion received orders to move to a concentration area at Bummerstede in preparation for moving to enlarge a bridgehead the South Saskatchewan Regiment had established over the Küsten canal. The Battalion crossed the Küsten canal on 3 May and moved through the South Saskatchewan Regiment and Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal to establish positions in Oldenburg
. Later that afternoon the Battalion advanced further north and established new positions for the night. The next day was spent regrouping and at 2000 hours that night the BBC
announced that all German forces in northwest Europe would surrender the next morning. A phone call from 6th Brigade Headquarters at 0150 hours confirmed the surrender. Hostilities were over.
The victory was celebrated with church parades on 6 May, and a victory parade in Oldenburg on the 9th. Garrison duty kept the Battalion in Germany and Holland until the end of September when they returned to England. Docking at Dover on 30 September, the Battalion moved by train to a camp at Farnborough. The Camerons left the U.K. from Southampton onboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth
on 13 November. Arriving in Halifax, the unit carried on to Montreal where they boarded the train for the final leg of their journey home to Winnipeg. The Camerons arrived home on 22 November, in the midst of a winter blizzard to be met by a welcoming party of officials, jubilant citizens and tearful relatives. Upon the demobilization of the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, the Reserve Army component, the 2nd Battalion, was officially re-designated the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada effective 1 April 1946.
had been sewn well before the close of the Second World War. Militant communism
threatened the fleeting peace that was achieved through the defeat of the Axis powers
. Operating under the belief that the next war would be nuclear
and would likely be finished before a large-scale mobilization of reserves could be affected, the decision was reached that the Regular Army would need to be more robust and would become Canada's main line of defence rather than the Militia. By 1946 the Militia was restored to basically its pre-1939 condition.
In 1950 the Red River
climbed to its highest level since 1861, resulting in major flooding in Winnipeg from April to June. Heavy autumn rains and a long winter with heavy snowfall followed by a cold spring, which prevented normal thawing, all contributed to the catastrophe. More rainfall in early May exacerbated flooding. In total 600 sq mi (1,554 km²) of Manitoba between the US border and Winnipeg became a vast inland sea. The flood climaxed on the night of 5 May, known as "Black Friday", when driving rain, sleet and snow swelled the Red River to the point where it tore apart eight dikes and destroyed four of Winnipeg's eleven bridges. Throughout much of the city homes and buildings were engulfed by the floodwaters. The Regiment was mobilized in aid of the Civil Power on 8 May. Organized into five work parties, the Camerons were piped to the dykes and worked around the clock in shifts for 17 days until the danger of flood diminished. When the flood was over, 107,000 people had been evacuated from the area. The cost of the flood was estimated at over one billion dollars.
In June 1950 the Cold War turned hot with Communist North Korea
's invasion of South Korea
. Although the Canadian Government
chose not to mobilize the Militia to fight overseas, numerous Second World War veterans and serving reservists, including many Camerons, chose to volunteer for the new battalions that were being raised to go to Korea.
In 1960, the Regiment celebrated its 50th Birthday. Part of the celebrations, the performing of a retreat ceremony on the Manitoba Legislative grounds
, was broadcast on national television. The decade would provide little else to celebrate. The 1960s saw a serious erosion of Militia capabilities and morale. Undermanned and issued with aging or obsolete equipment, the reserves were not seen as playing any useful role in a major overseas conflict, particularly with the strategic assessment of the day seeing any future war quickly becoming nuclear and being of short duration. Lacking a war-fighting role, the focus of the Militia concentrated more on domestic operations, particularly territorial defence and survival operations after a nuclear conflict.
During the 1970s the role of the Army Reserve shifted again. Unification of the Forces and years of budgetary reductions had resulted in Forces wide personnel shortages. The focus for the Reserves shifted to providing individual soldiers to augment Regular Force
units overseas. Camerons increasingly began to deploy as augmentees to Regular Force units on United Nations
Peacekeeping
duties in places such as Egypt
, the Golan Heights and Cyprus
and to participate on flyovers to Germany
to serve with Canadian units operating with NATO in North-West Europe
.
In the spring of 1979, the Red River jumped its banks again, rising to the flood levels of 1950. While Winnipeg was protected by the massive floodway
built after the 1950 flood, the farming communities to the south were largely unprotected. Within an hour of the call for assistance, the Camerons had assembled and dispatched troops to augment 2 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
(PPCLI) operating inside the ring dyke around Morris, Manitoba
.
In the 1980s the role of the Militia was once more re-defined. The 1987 Defence White paper
espoused the belief that any conflict would only turn nuclear after a series of conventional battles, which would give the belligerents adequate time to mobilize and commit their reserves to battle. This thinking eventually gave rise to the Total Force concept in which the Reserve and Regular components were to be more fully integrated. The 1980s ended with the Regiment marking its 79th birthday in 1989. Celebrations were held at Minto Armoury with the itinerary including a military skills demonstration, a performance by the Pipes and Drums, and an all-ranks Regimental Dinner.
Rotation 1 in 1992 (Croatia
) the Camerons began to provide a steady stream of augmentees to Regular Force units deploying on Operations.
1994 and 1995 were the years for big parades. First, the Regiment participated in the Freedom of the City parade marking the 50th anniversary of the D Day invasion. Next, the Regiment celebrated its 85th Birthday in 1995, with a parade at the Manitoba Legislature. Finally, the Camerons participated in the Freedom of the City
parade marking the 50th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
(VE Day).
Fully focused on training for war once again, the late 1990s found the Regiment increasingly involved in domestic operations. In 1997, the Regiment was at ground zero for the "Flood of the Century". This time the scope of the flood was so enormous, not even the floodway could protect Winnipeg as it had in 1979. The Camerons provided volunteers for the 38 Canadian Brigade Group
(38 CBG) Composite Company and spent the spring sandbagging and building dykes throughout Southern Manitoba. When the possibility of the Y2K bug
threatened to paralyze the nation at the end of 1999, the Regiment was tasked to provide Provincial Task Force Manitoba (PTFMB) Company 2 for Operation Abacus
. The company headquarters was stood up several days before the end of December and was prepared to initiate a mobilization on order.
The new millennium carried on in much the same fashion as the last decade of the previous. When the Reserves were tasked with raising a formed Rifle Company
to augment 1 PPCLI on Operation Palladium Rotation 11 to Bosnia
in 2002, the Camerons provided the Company second-in-command, Company Administration Officer, and eight other augmentees. In August 2003, disaster struck again. With forest fires
raging out of control in many areas of British Columbia
, the Regiment was called to provide augmentees to fight fires (Operation PEREGRINE
). Once again, the Camerons responded to the call.
.
The Regiment parades at Minto Armoury, 969 St. Matthews Avenue in Winnipeg on Tuesday nights from the last week of August to the second week of June. During the summer unit members attend military courses throughout Canada.
Motto: Ullamh (Gaelic: Ready)
Canadian Forces Primary Reserve
The Primary Reserve is a reserve force of the Canadian Forces. It is the largest of the four sub-components of the CF reserves; those being the Primary Reserve, the Supplementary Reserve, the Canadian Rangers, and the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service .The reserve force is...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
.
Formation
As early as 1905 the local Scottish communityScottish national identity
Scottish national identity is a term referring to the sense of national identity and common culture of Scottish people and is shared by a considerable majority of the people of Scotland....
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, led by the St Andrew's Society, began lobbying the government to raise a Highland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
regiment. Under increasing pressure from the Scottish lobbyists the government relented and the initial steps taken to form Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
's first Highland regiment. On 29 September 1909, the prospective officers met and committees dealing with finances, uniforms and the band were formed. As the government grant did not cover the entire cost of uniforms and equipment, the Scottish societies and the officers undertook to raise the money themselves managing an initial amount of $25,000.00. Almost all of the original accoutrements were manufactured in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, obtained from William Anderson & Sons Ltd. On 1 February 1910, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada were officially gazette
Gazette
A gazette is a public journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper.In English- and French-speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name Gazette since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers bear the name The Gazette.Gazette is a loanword from the...
d, headquartered in the former Dominion Lands Office at 202 Main Street. On 9 October 1910, the Regiment received its first stand of Colours, presented by Mrs D. C. Cameron, wife of the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel (Canada)
In the Canadian Forces, the rank of lieutenant-colonel is an Army or Air Force rank equal to a commander of the Navy. A lieutenant-colonel is the second-highest rank of senior officer...
.
The availability of the number "79" was fortuitous and enabled the new Canadian regiment to adopt the regimental number of a famous regiment in Scotland, the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders...
who had been raised in 1793 as the 79th (Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Along with the regimental number the new Canadian regiment chose to also perpetuate the uniform of the Imperial Camerons. This association with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders became official on 31 January 1911, when His Majesty, King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
authorized the alliance of the two Highland regiments. On 22 June 1911, a contingent of 61 Camerons, parading with their allied regiment, participated in the coronation of King George V.
First World War
When the First World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out the Canadian Army did not mobilize based on its existing structure. Instead Sir Sam Hughes
Sam Hughes
For other people of the same name see Sam Hughes Sir Samuel Hughes, KCB, PC was the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during World War I...
, the Minister of Militia
Minister of Militia and Defence (Canada)
The Minister of Militia and Defence was the federal government minister in charge of the volunteer army units in Canada prior to the creation of the Canadian Militia, before the creation of the Canadian Army....
created an entirely new table of organization with numbered battalions raised on geographical lines. This often meant that more than one militia regiment contributed men to a single new Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
(CEF) Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
. Under this mobilization plan militia regiments were to remain in Canada acting only as drafting units. Initially the Camerons were tasked with raising a company. The First Volunteer Overseas Company mobilized 7 officers and 250 other ranks under Captain John Geddes. This company mustered at Camp Valcartier
CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, approximately north of Quebec City...
to be formed into a battalion with companies from three other Canadian highland regiments. The Camerons next mobilized the Second Volunteer Overseas Company providing the second-in-command, Major D. S. MacKay, a company (10 officers, 250 other ranks) and a signals section for what would become the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion (The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles are a Primary Reserve one-battalion infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. Nicknamed the "Little Black Devils", they are based at Minto Armouries in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
). It would not be until December 1914 that the Regiment would be permitted to raise an entire Battalion for overseas service.
16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF
The First Volunteer Overseas Company mustered at Camp Valcartier, QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
where they formed Number 4 Company of the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, CEF. The other Companies of the 16th came from drafts from three other Militia highland regiments. The 16th Battalion was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Division
Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,...
and left Quebec for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with the first contingent on 30 September 1914.
The matter of the adoption of a single tartan for the Battalion’s kilts had been a contentious issue that had remained unresolved during the 16th‘s training at Camp Valcartier. The matter was again addressed while the unit was encamped on Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
. The officers met on 21 December 1914 to vote on the proposal that a khaki kilt be adopted. After much heated discussion the proposal was carried with twenty-one votes for and seven against. The khaki kilts would not reach the 16th Battalion until June 1915 and were received with such despair and contempt by the Battalion that the entire issue of khaki kilts was withdrawn. The matter of a single tartan for the Battalion remained unresolved until well into 1917 when the entire Battalion was outfitted in kilts of the Mackenzie tartan.
On 12 February, HMTS Maidan set sail from Avonmouth
Avonmouth
Avonmouth is a port and suburb of Bristol, England, located on the Severn Estuary, at the mouth of the River Avon.The council ward of Avonmouth also includes Shirehampton and the western end of Lawrence Weston.- Geography :...
dock on HMTS Maidan arriving at Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire , is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.The town has a major harbour, on the right bank of the Loire River estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean. The town is at the south of the second-largest swamp in France, called "la Brière"...
two days later. From 24 February to 1 March the Battalion was attached to the 19th British Brigade for instruction in the trenches at the front. Its introduction to the front complete, the Battalion marched to Bac St. Maur on 2 February, fully trained and ready to go into battle.
On the night of 22 April 1915, the Germans launched the first poison gas
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
attack of the war on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
initiating the Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
. The 1st Canadian Division, which had been in France since February, was hastily pulled out of reserve and ordered to seal the line. The Canadians would become heavily engaged at Gravenstafel Ridge. The 16th Battalion received orders to counter-attack Kitchener's Wood with the 10th Battalion that night. The leading waves of the 10th Battalion covered half the distance from the start line to the Wood and then ran into a strong hedge interlaced with wire. No reconnaissance had been done prior and the 10th Battalion was forced to break through the obstacle with rifle butts, bringing down fire from alerted German machine-gunners. Both battalions charged the last 200 yd (182.9 m) to the wood, throwing the Germans out, and suffering more than 75 percent casualties. Although the Canadians cleared the woods, they were forced to retire. More attacks that night resulted in disastrous casualties, but also bought time to close the gap.
The 16th Battalion continued to serve with distinction throughout the war. As the fighting continued and the war progressed casualties mounted and the composition of the unit gradually changed as reinforcements increasingly came from the Manitoba Reserve and Depot Battalions. In 1917 the 16th Battalion was officially re-designated a Manitoba Battalion. The 16th Battalion remained in Europe as part of the Allied Army of Occupation beginning the march to the Rhine on 14 November. The Battalion, led by the Pipes and Drums playing "Blue Bonnets Over the Border", crossed the German frontier on 6 December 1918 as the lead element of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade. The unit remained on occupation duties in Germany until January 1919 when it returned to Belgium to start its long road home.
On 26 April 1919 the 16th Battalion boarded the HMTS Empress of Britain at Liverpool to begin the return voyage across the Atlantic. The 16th Battalion arrived in Quebec on 4 May to find that, like most Canadian Expeditionary Force battalions, it had no true regimental home. As a Manitoba Battalion the 16th entrained for Winnipeg where it would be demobilized. On 7 May 1919, out front of Minto Armoury, the Regimental Depot of the Camerons, the 16th Battalion was officially demobilized.
27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, CEF
On 23 October 1914, the Camerons mobilized a Second Volunteer Overseas Company under command of Major D. S. MacKay. MacKay, designated to become second-in-command, led the Cameron contingent consisting of a company (10 officers, 250 other ranks) and a signals section to join the newly forming 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion.On 13 May 1915, the 27th Battalion marched from Fort Osborne Barracks, near present day Osborne Village
Osborne Village
Osborne Village is a neighbourhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It derives its name from Osborne Street , which runs through the centre of the village area.-History:...
, to the Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
station to entrain for overseas deployment. Met enroute by the 43rd Battalion, the 27th were piped to the railhead by the 43rd's Pipes and Drums
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
. Arriving in Quebec on 16 May, the Battalion embarked on HMTS Carpathia the next day to begin the voyage across the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Arriving at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
on 28 May, the 27th Battalion boarded trains and set off for Shorncliffe. Detraining at Shorncliffe the 27th marched the rest of the way to Dibgate Camp at Cheriton
Cheriton, Kent
Cheriton is a northern suburb of Folkestone in Kent that is the location of the English terminal of the Channel Tunnel. It is the location of the major army barracks of Shorncliffe Camp.- History :...
. Summer 1915 was spent with endless drills and training in preparation for joining the fighting in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Finally on 17 September, the Battalion arrived at Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
and embarked on the HMTS La Margueite to cross the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
to France as part of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:...
. The next day, 18 September 1915, the 27th Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
.
The 27th Battalion would go on to serve with distinction, taking part in all the major engagements of the war involving the 6th brigade. At the Battle of St Eloi from 2–7 April 1916, the 27th was particularly engaged in hard fighting and suffered heavy casualties. The Camerons did not provide any reinforcement drafts to the 27th Battalion and as a result of casualties the Cameron Company gradually lost its identity, the Regiment ceasing any ties to the 27th from about June 1916.
Acting Corporal Leo Clarke
Leo Clarke
Leo Clarke, VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
, who lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg before the war, originally enrolled in the 27th Battalion and went overseas with the Battalion. It was not until he was overseas that he applied for, and was granted, transfer to the 2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, CEF
2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, CEF
The 2nd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was created in response to the First World War. The battalion comprised local militia in many regions of Ontario . Men came from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie to join in Canada’s military endeavor...
in order to serve with his brother, Charlie. Clarke would win the Victoria Cross serving with the 2nd Battalion for his actions at action at Pozières on 9 September 1916. Two weeks later he was killed in action in a communications trench between Pys and Courcelette and the award of the Victoria Cross was made posthumously.
43rd (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF
On 18 December 1914, the Camerons received authority to raise a complete battalion for overseas service and the Volunteer Overseas Battalion was gazetted and mobilization commenced under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert M. Thomson. The Battalion began training at Minto Armoury in Winnipeg and was soon re-designated the 43rd (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. On 29 May 1915 the Battalion entrained for MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and deployment overseas. Embarking on HMTS Grampian on 9 June with a complement of 39 officers and 1,020 other ranks, the 43rd arrived in England on 8 June, disembarking at Davenport and proceeding by train to Lower St Martin's Plain
St Martin's Plain
The area known as St Martin's Plain is located to the west of Cheriton, part of Folkestone, Kent, England. It is used by the British Army from Shorncliffe Camp for training; during wartime, and especially during World War I and World War II temporary camps were built here. A German prisoner-of-war...
, Shorncliffe. Arriving at the camp to find nothing ready for them, the Camerons set about pitching tents and setting up camp. The Battalion made camp so expertly that they continued to be tasked to prepare camp for newly arriving units.
On 22 July the 43rd supplied a reinforcement draft of 386 other ranks to the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion, the first of several. This loss of manpower placed the 43rd in peril of being broken up entirely and used as reinforcements. On 28 September the 43rd moved from the tented camp into huts at East Sandling. On 23 November the Battalion was made into a Reserve Battalion and began taking casualties from the 15th and 16th Battalions on strength. Reinforced with the arrival of a number of drafts from the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Drafting Detachment back in Winnipeg the 43rd was brought back up to strength and reprieved from dissolution, ceasing to be a Reserve Battalion on 24 January 1916. The casualties on its strength were transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion and on 29 January, the 43rd entrained for Liphook
Liphook
Liphook is a large village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 4.1 miles west of Haslemere, on the A3 road, and lies on the Hampshire/West Sussex border.Liphook has its own railway station, on the Portsmouth Direct Line....
, Bramshott Camp
Bramshott Camp
Bramshott Military Camp, often simplified to Camp Bramshott, was a temporary army camp set up on Bramshott Common, Hampshire, England during both the First and Second World Wars....
to join the 3rd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day...
.
In World War I, the regiment produced one of the three Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(VC) winners for which Valour Road
Valour Road
Valour Road is a street in the West End of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was originally called Pine Street. In 1925, it was renamed as Valour Road in recognition of the courage of three young men who all lived on the 700 block of the street and all served in the First World War...
in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, was named: Lieutenant Robert Shankland
Robert Shankland
Robert Shankland VC, DCM was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
.
Shankland's Victoria Cross
Awarded the Distinguished Conduct MedalDistinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(DCM) for his actions at Sanctuary Wood in 1916 as a Sergeant, Shankland received a battlefield commission and continued to serve with the 43rd Battalion as an officer. On the morning of 26 October, he led his platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
of 40 men from "D" Company to the crest of the hill at the Bellevue Spur, the main trench line
Trench warfare
Trench warfare is a form of occupied fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery...
defending Passchendaele
Passendale
Passendale or Passchendaele is a rural Belgian village in the Zonnebeke municipality of West Flanders province...
. Overrunning it and holding the position was critical to capturing the town.
Although both flanks were eventually exposed, they held the position, withstanding incessant artillery shelling, German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
counterattacks and sustaining frightful casualties. In danger of being cut off and losing the vital position, Shankland turned over his command to another officer, and then returned to battalion headquarters, where he gave a first-hand report of the situation. He also offered a detailed plan on how a counterattack with reinforcements could best be achieved. He then returned to his men to lead the forthcoming attack supported by reinforcements from the 52nd and 58th Battalions. For his actions that day Robert Shankland was awarded the Victoria Cross.
174th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF
On 12 January 1916, the 174th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF174th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF
The 174th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. One of a number of Highlander battalions in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, it was based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in Manitoba, northern...
was authorized and gazetted. As the Regiment was focussed on raising the 179th Battalion the raising of the 174th was put aside until 30 May, when the Battalion was organized with Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Cantlie in command. The 174th trained at Camp Hughes
Camp Hughes
Camp Hughes was a Canadian military training camp, located in the Rural Municipality of North Cypress west of the town of Carberry in Manitoba, Canada...
through the summer of 1917 and on 20 August, Lieutenant-Colonel Cantlie handed command over to Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh F. Osler, who had returned from serving with the 43rd Battalion in France. On 22 April, the Battalion entrained at Winnipeg for overseas deployment and seven days later embarked on HMTS Olympic at Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
for the Atlantic crossing. The 174th arrived at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 7 May, where the Battalion disembarked and proceeded by train to Upper Dibgate Camp. Upon arrival the 174th was absorbed into the 14th Reserve Battalion (formerly the 179th Battalion), and the men ultimately sent as reinforcement drafts for the 16th and 43rd Battalions serving with the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
in France.
179th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF
On 12 January 1916, the 179th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF179th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, CEF
The 179th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in that city. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 17th Reserve...
was authorized and gazetted under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Cantlie. The nucleus of the 179th was formed from absorbing the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada Drafting Detachment on 1 February. On 30 May, Lieutenant-Colonel Cantlie, whose poor health precluded him from overseas deployment, relinquished command to Lieutenant-Colonel J. Y. Reid and the Battalion moved by train to Camp Hughes. Training at Camp Hughes throughout the summer of 1916, the 179th entrained for overseas deployment on 26 September. Arriving in Halifax, the Battalion embarked on HMTS Saxonia on 4 October, and set sail for England. The 179th battalion arrived at Liverpool on 13 October, where they disembarked and proceeded to East Sanding Camp. On 4 January 1917, the 179th was re-designated the 14th Reserve Battalion and moved to Upper Dibgate Camp.
14th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Reserve Battalion, CEF
On 4 January 1917 the 14th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Reserve Battalion was formed by the re-designation of the 179th Battalion. The new battalion, tasked to reinforce 16th and 43rd Battalions in France, moved from East Sanding Camp where the 179th had been since October 1916 to Upper Dibgate Camp. Upon arrival at Dibgate, Lieutenant-Colonel I. R. Snider (formerly of the 27th Battalion) assumed command from Lieutenant-Colonel Reid with Reid remaining on as second-in-commandSecond-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
. On 10 January the 14th Reserve Battalion absorbed the newly arrived 108th (Selkirk) Battalion. On 19 April, the 226th (Dauphin) Battalion
226th Battalion, CEF
The 226th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Dauphin, Manitoba, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in northern Manitoba. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 14th Reserve Battalion on...
moved to Upper Dibgate Camp and was absorbed by the Battalion. On 7 May, the 174th (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion arrived at Dibgate and was amalgamated into the 14th. The monotony of camp routine was shattered later that month. On 25 May, the Germans conducted a massive air raid on Shorncliffe inflicting 78 killed and 300 wounded, mainly civilians. The 14th Reserve Battalion suffered four wounded in the attack. On 15 October, the 14th Reserve Battalion was merged into the 11th Reserve Battalion and ceased to exist.
Between the wars
In 1920 a major reorganization of Canadian MilitiaCanadian Militia
The Canadian Militia was the traditional title for the land forces of Canada from before Confederation in 1867 to 1940 when it was renamed the Canadian Army.The Militia consisted of:* Permanent Active Militia* Non-Permanent Active Militia...
units took place. Some units were disbanded, others were re-rolled or amalgamated and almost all numerical designations were dropped from regimental titles (the two notable exceptions being the 48th Highlanders of Canada
48th Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
and the Royal 22e Régiment
Royal 22e Régiment
The Royal 22nd Regiment is an infantry regiment and the most famous francophone organization of the Canadian Forces. The regiment comprises three Regular Force battalions, two Primary Reserve battalions, and a band, making it the largest regiment in the Canadian Army...
). Thus the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada became simply, the Cameron Highlanders of Canada. In order to perpetuate the regiment's accomplishments during the First World War, the regiment was reorganized as three battalions: the 1st Battalion "43rd Battalion CEF", 2nd (Reserve) Battalion (174th Battalion CEF) and 3rd (Reserve) Battalion (179th Battalion CEF). In reality the 1st Battalion was the only active militia unit. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were reserve units where non-active personnel could transfer for an interim period or upon retirement and remain subject to future recall.
The popularity of Highland Regiments was at an all time high in Canada after the First World War and a number of line infantry units chose to adopt Highland dress and customs. In 1920 The Ottawa Regiment (The Duke of Cornwall's Own) converted to a Highland Regiment adopting the title of The Ottawa Highlanders and the uniform of the Camerons. Steps were taken to form an alliance with the new Cameron Regiment in Ottawa and the alliance was formally granted in 1923. Subsequently in 1933 The Ottawa Highlanders changed their name to The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.-History:The 1st Volunteer Militia Rifle Company of Ottawa was formed on April 3, 1856. At that time, the bulk of Canada's militia existed as small, independent companies scattered throughout the provinces...
.
On 24 October 1923, his Majesty King George V was "graciously pleased" to grant permission for the Regiment to be named the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada in recognition of the Regiment's exemplary service during the First World War. With granting of the royal designation "Queen's Own" the Regiment decided to adopt badges that more closely resembled the pattern worn by the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The new cap badge depicted the figure of Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew , called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" , like other Greek names, appears to have been common among the Jews from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him...
holding in his arms a saltire
Saltire
A saltire, or Saint Andrew's Cross, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter ex . Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred on such a cross....
(Saint Andrew's Cross), enclosed by a wreath of thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
s and leaves and across the lower part of the wreath, scrolls inscribed: QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA. New collar and sporran
Sporran
The Sporran is a traditional part of male Scottish Highland dress. It is a pouch that performs the same function as pockets on the pocketless Scottish kilt....
badges of a pattern identical to the Imperial Camerons were also chosen.
The new pattern badges were authorized by the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
on 31 August 1925, and the cap and collar badges received by the Regiment on 24 February 1927. The new pattern badges were held in stores pending the acquisition of the new sporran badge. With the sporran badges still yet to be acquired, the collar badges were finally issued in January 1930, and the cap badges towards the end of the year.
Second World War
On 1 September 1939, the Camerons were officially notified of the impending warWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Within 17 days of being ordered to mobilize, the Battalion was at full strength of 807 all ranks. This time the Camerons would not fight in their kilt
Kilt
The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
s as the Regiment had 25 earlier. A War Department
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
directive issued in April 1940 made battledress
Battledress
Battledress, or fatigues in the general sense, is the type of uniform used as combat uniforms, as opposed to 'display' dress or formal uniform worn at parades and functions. It may be either monochrome or in a camouflage pattern...
the standard uniform for all units and the Highland regiments reluctantly surrendered their kilts for trousers. The Regiment was increased to two battalions, the 1st Battalion being placed on active duty for overseas service as part of the 2nd Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
and the 2nd Battalion to remain in Winnipeg to recruit and train replacements. On 16 December 1940, the 1st Battalion embarked for overseas onboard the SS Louis Pasteur, arriving at Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
, Scotland on Christmas Eve.
Dieppe
On 19 August 1942, the Camerons landed in occupied EuropeGerman–occupied Europe
German–occupied Europe or Nazi Empire refers to the countries of Europe which were occupied by the military forces of Nazi Germany at various times between 1938 and 1945....
as part of Operation Jubilee
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
, the raid on the French port of Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
. The South Saskatchewan Regiment
The South Saskatchewan Regiment
The South Saskatchewan Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces formed in 1936 by the amalgamation of The Weyburn Regiment and The Saskatchewan Border Regiment. It was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1968...
were to land in the first wave of the attack on Green Beach to secure the beach at Pourville, the right flank of the operation. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada would then land in the second wave and move inland along the eastern bank of the Scie River
Scie River
The river Scie is one of the rivers that flow from the plateau of the southern Pays de Caux in the Seine-Maritime département of Haute-Normandie into the English Channel...
to meet up with the tanks of the The King's Own Calgary Regiment
The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)
The King's Own Calgary Regiment , or KOCR, is an armoured unit of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve based at the Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta....
coming from Dieppe and capture the airfield at Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie
Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie
Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming village situated by the banks of the river Scie in the Pays de Caux, at the junction of the D54 and the N 27 roads, some south of...
. The Camerons and the Calgary tanks would then clear the Hitler Battery and attack the suspected German divisional headquarters at Arques-la-Bataille
Arques-la-Bataille
Arques-la-Bataille is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:Arques is situated near the confluence of the rivers Eaulne, Varenne and Béthune, with the forest of Arques to the north-east...
.
The attack went in on time (0450 hours) but the South Saskatchewan Regiment did not land astride the river as intended, but to the west of it. This didn't pose a problem for the force aiming to clear the village and attack the cliffs to the west, but for the other force it meant they had to move through the village, cross the exposed bridge over the river before attempting to get on the high ground to the east. The delay this imposed meant that the Germans had time to react and deploy. "A" and "D" Companies of the South Saskatchewan Regiment took all their objectives, including a large white house on the western headland that proved to be some kind of officers quarters. The other two companies found that the bridge was swept by fire from a number of German pillboxes on the high ground facing them and the attack stalled as Canadian casualties mounted.
As the Camerons were the second wave to attack on Green Beach they came into an aroused German defence. The Camerons were riding in plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
. About 1000 yd (914.4 m) off Green Beach, the craft formed in a single line and moved toward the beach. The German shore batteries, machine guns, and mortars opened fire. Above the angry roar of battle and the growl of racing engines came a sound that riveted the attention of U. S. Ranger
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
Sergeant Marcell G. Swank. On a small forward deck of the landing craft to Swank's right, Pipe Major
Pipe Major
The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...
Alex Graham stood courageously playing A Hundred Pipers
A Hundred Pipers
- Lyrics :These lyrics are in Scots.- Lyrics :These lyrics are in Scots.- Lyrics :These lyrics are in Scots.:Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',:Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',:We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw...
. "He stood there," recalled Swank, "defiantly telling the world that the Camerons were coming. God what a glory." Inspired by their piper, the Camerons landed on Green Beach with courage and élan and swept forward. This is the last recorded instance of Canadian troops being piped into battle.
The Camerons hit the Green Beach an hour after the South Saskatchewan Regiment, some 30 minutes late, as the commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
had not believed that the South Saskatchewan Regiment would be able to clear the beach and village in the allotted time. As they landed the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Gostling, was killed by a sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
and the unit was taken over by the Second-in-command
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
, Major
Major (Canada)
Major is a rank of the Canadian Forces. The rank insignia of a major is two half-inch stripes with a quarter-inch stripe between. Majors fill the positions of Company/Squadron/Battery Commanders, or Deputy Commanders of a Battalion/Regiment; in the Air Force they are typically squadron...
A. T. "Andy" Law.
The majority of the force was mistakenly landed to the west of the river, so Law decided to alter the plan. Those that had landed to the east were told to join the South Saskatchewan Regiment, while the majority to the west advanced up the valley with Major Law. They were harassed on their journey by fire from Quatre Vents Farm and decided to seek shelter in the woods, through which, they reached the high ground above Bas d'Hautot. There they saw that the enemy already held the bridge at Petite Appeville in some strength (by a heavily reinforced anti-tank
Anti-tank warfare
Anti-tank warfare was created by the need to seek technology and tactics to destroy tanks and their supporting infantry during the First World War...
company from the 571st Infantry Regiment). Law's group could not now realistically take the bridge, nor could they bypass it, for the road from Ouville was now swarming with enemy reinforcements. Meanwhile, the rest of the Camerons had joined up with the South Saskatchewan Regiment but despite closing in on Quatre Vents Farm and the radar station they were halted by enemy fire.
Although the Camerons made the deepest penetration of the day, the main landing at Dieppe had been unsuccessful. By 0930 hours a decision had to be made. The failure of the tanks to arrive had made it impossible for the Camerons to gain their objectives and suggested things were not going quite as planned on the main beaches. Faced with increasing German opposition and a complete lack of communication with higher headquarters, the Camerons began to fight their way back to Pourville, carrying their wounded. With Support Platoon leading, "A" Company guarding the flank and "C" Company forming the rearguard, the Battalion made it back to Beronville Wood and re-established contact with the South Saskatchewan Regiment. It was only then that they found out the landing craft would not return for re-embarkation until 1100 hours.
Major Law and Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt
Charles Merritt
Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt VC, ED was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross and Member of Parliament.-Early life:...
(Commanding Officer of the South Saskatchewan Regiment) set up a combined headquarters in the Grand Central Hotel, and prepared their battalions to stand and fight for a full hour against a rapidly increasing enemy, who had their line of withdrawal (the beach) enfiladed with fire from innumerable guns. The Camerons fought desperately to keep their foothold on the high ground to the west, while the South Saskatchewan Regiment grimly held on to a piece of high ground to the east. Slowly the Germans collapsed the pocket smaller and smaller, until they dominated the entire beach and the slopes east of Pourville. By this time, few of the Camerons and South Saskatchewan Regiment were unwounded. At 1100 hours the landing craft began to arrive, taking grievous losses on the approach into the beach. More men were killed and wounded as they tried to board the landing craft under the enemy's withering fire. Almost miraculously five landing craft and one tank landing craft managed to rescue men from the shallows and cleared the beach with full loads. By 1130 hours the situation had become impossible and no further extractions were attempted.
Of 503 Camerons on the raid, 346 were casualties: 60 killed in action; 8 died of wounds after evacuation; 167 prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(8 of whom died of wounds). Of the 268 returning to England, 103 were wounded. 25 Camerons were decorated for their actions at Dieppe. The Regiment received two Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
s (the second highest award for bravery for officers after the Victoria Cross), two Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
es, three Distinguished Conduct Medals (the second highest award for bravery for non-commissioned members after the Victoria Cross), four Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
s, thirteen Mentions in Dispatches and a Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with bronze palms. One of the Distinguished Service Order recipients was the acting Commanding Officer, Major Law.
Operation Atlantic - Saint-André-sur-Orne
On 7 July 1944, the Battalion was back in France, landing at Graye-sur-MerGraye-sur-Mer
-References:*...
, Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
As part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division mobilization started on 1 September 1939, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. However, further expansion was hindered by a temporary halt in recruitment and uncertainty about overseas deployment...
, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. On the evening of 11 July, the unit moved to the vicinity of Rots and then relieved the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada at Carpiquet
Carpiquet
Carpiquet is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France. Caen – Carpiquet Airport is located in Carpiquet.-Geography:Carpiquet is on the western side of the Caen metropolitan area...
the next day. The next six days the Battalion spent digging in to avoid enemy shelling and patrolling to root out enemy snipers and remnants. On 19 July, the Battalion left Carpiquet for an assembly area across the Orne River
Orne River
The Orne is a river in Normandy, within northwestern France. It discharges into the English Channel at the port of Ouistreham. Its source is in Aunou-sur-Orne, east of Sées...
in preparation for the start of Operation Atlantic
Operation Atlantic
Operation Atlantic was a Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War, from July 18–21, 1944. This Canadian offensive was launched in conjunction with a British-led offensive, Operation Goodwood...
the next day. On the way to the start line the Battalion suffered casualties from enemy artillery and mortar fire. The Camerons launched their attack from Fleury-sur-Orne
Fleury-sur-Orne
-External links:** *...
, supported by artillery and Typhoon squadrons. "A" Company advanced on the right with "B" Company left, "C" Company in depth and "D" Company in reserve. No tanks accompanied the attacking infantry but a squadron of tanks from The Sherbrooke Fusiliers
Sherbrooke Hussars
The Sherbrooke Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces.-Sherbrooke Regiment:The Sherbrooke Regiment was initially formed in 1866 as the Sherbrooke Battalion of Infantry, becoming the 53rd Battalion in 1867. The regiment provided volunteers for the 12th Battalion,...
was allotted to the Camerons for counter-attack. The attack did not start well. The Officer Commanding Headquarters Company, Captain H. Grundy and the Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
J. Maloney were both killed when an enemy 88 mm gun
88 mm gun
The 88 mm gun was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognizable German weapons of the war...
hit the scout car
Scout car
A scout car is a of military armored reconnaissance vehicle, capable of off-road mobility and often carrying mounted weapons such as machine guns for offensive capabilities and crew protection...
. The Battalion War Diary for June was lost with the vehicle. The loss of this command vehicle would hamper the Battalion's radio communications throughout the battle. "A" Company was held up 500 yd (457.2 m) from the start line, coming under intense machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
fire. Suppressing the enemy machine gunners with artillery and medium machine gun fire from The Toronto Scottish Regiment
The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own)
The Toronto Scottish Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. It is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group.-History:...
, "A" Company was able to carry on. "B" Company encountered mild resistance and reached its objective advancing through the sniper, mortar and machine gun fire. As "A" Company had ended up somewhat to the right of their objective "C" Company was pushed through to fill the gap between "A" and "B". "C" Company met no resistance until it reached the south end of the village. "D" Company moved up to secure the rear of the Battalion position.
The enemy still held part of Hill 112 and continued to subject the Camerons to very heavy fire from west of the Orne. Heavy rain interfered with radio communications that were already affected by the loss of the scout car. With three companies forward, the Camerons held a wide frontage, so the Commanding Officer ordered "C" and "B" Companies to withdraw slightly to draw in the perimeter. "B" Company was shifting their positions when the Germans counter-attacked. The company managed to consolidate in their new position, but sustained significant casualties. As a result, the Commanding Officer moved "D" Company up to replace them, and moved "B" back as Battalion reserve. Elements of the I SS Panzer Corps
I SS Panzer Corps
The I SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler or I SS Panzer Corps was a German Waffen-SS panzer corps which saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War II.-Formation and training:...
counter-attacked along the entire Battalion front, with especially heavy concentrations of infantry thrown against "A" and "D" Companies. Towards dusk a heavy counter-attack supported by eight Panzerkampfwagen V
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
(Panther) tanks was launched against "D" Company. Three of the Cameron anti-tank guns were knocked out, but the Camerons destroyed two of the panzers with PIAT
PIAT
The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank was a British hand-held anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943.The PIAT was based on the spigot...
s (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank). "D" Company was overrun and forced to withdraw to link up with the remains of "B" Company. Overnight on 20–21 July "A" and "C" Companies beat back repeated counter-attacks. At times the opposing forces were within shouting distance of each other.
In the morning, further counter-attacks by small groups of tanks were fought off on the left flank in "C" Company's area. 10 Platoon of "B" Company was entirely cut off from the rest of the Battalion as the battle raged around the perimeter of the orchard. A company of German infantry, that had infiltrated across the river overnight, launched a series of small attacks against the Battalion Headquarters, which were beaten off with many prisoners being taken by "A" Company and the Scout Platoon. The Germans continued to counter-attack on 22 July, but their strength was reduced. Attacks by two or three tanks supported by small groups of infantry were beaten off throughout the day. At one point "A" Company was forced to withdraw, but with the assistance of heavy artillery support, counter-attacked and regained their positions. 11 Platoon was sent from "B" Company to reinforce "C" Company in driving off an enemy attack and remained under command of "C" Company, taking up defensive positions on the left flank. In between counter-attacks the Germans subjected the Cameron positions to heavy shelling with artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
, mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
s and Nebelwerfer
Nebelwerfer
The Nebelwerfer was a World War II German series of weapons originally designed to deliver chemical weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's so-called Chemical Troops ...
s (rockets). By 23 July the counter-attacks had dwindled to minor infiltrations that were easily handled and the Germans resorted to increased shelling. "C" Company was so reduced by this time that the remainder of 10 Platoon was sent from "B Company to reinforce it.
The Camerons suffered heavy casualties in the fighting for Saint-André-sur-Orne
Saint-André-sur-Orne
Saint-André-sur-Orne is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-World War II:The village was the site of an expulsion of many schoolchildren from the Maison du Clos by the Nazi army during World War II, in which case the marching children were...
: 52 wounded (including the Commanding Officer and the Officer Commanding "B" Company) and 29 killed. Company Sergeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
Sutherland and Private G. T. Munroe were each awarded the Military Medal for their actions at Saint-André-sur-Orne and the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel N.H. Ross, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his handling of the Battalion throughout the battle.
Operation Spring – the breakout begins
On 24 July, the Battalion was placed under command of 5 Brigade to secure the start line for the brigade's attack on May-sur-OrneMay-sur-Orne
-External links:*...
and Fontenay-le-Marmion
Fontenay-le-Marmion
-References:*...
. A composite force from "B" and "D" Companies under Major Lane met fierce resistance and reinforcements were needed before the start line was secured. Still under 5 Brigade, the Camerons had elements of The Black Watch of Canada
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. The regiment is located on rue de Bleury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bruno Plourde...
and The Calgary Highlanders
The Calgary Highlanders
The Calgary Highlanders is a Canadian Forces Land Force Primary Reserve infantry regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada...
placed under command on 25 July, to occupy Saint Martin to protect the left flank of le Régiment de Maisonneuve
Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
Le Régiment de Maisonneuve is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.The regiment is Canada's twenty-sixth most senior reserve infantry regiment, and comprises one battalion serving as part of the Land Force Reserve.-History:...
attacking May-sur-Orne. The Maisonneuve attack was unsuccessful and that evening they relieved the Camerons in Saint Martin.
On 26 July, the Camerons returned under command of 6th Brigade and set about consolidating their positions in Saint-André-sur-Orne. On 31 July, the unit started rotating companies out of the line two at a time for rest and refit. "A" and "C" Companies remained in Saint-André-sur-Orne under command of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal is one of the oldest surviving units of the historical regiments of the Canadian army. It celebrated its regimental centenary in 1969. The unit was created on November 5, 1869...
while the remainder of the unit was withdrawn to Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
for rest. Even in the rest area the unit was subject to enemy artillery and was required to dig in to minimize casualties.
On 1 August, Battalion Headquarters and "B" and "D" Companies were resting in the vicinity of Faub-de-Vaucelle while "A" and "C" Companies were still under command of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in Saint-André-sur-Orne. That evening "B" and "D" Companies relieved "A" and "C" Companies and provided support to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in capture of a church in the vicinity that was occupied by the Germans. On 3 August, "B" and "D" Companies assisted Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in taking a group of houses that had been identified as being occupied by the Germans by Cameron patrols the night before.
On the 2nd Canadian Division front the mine directly south of Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay
Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay
Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
had been a constant threat, the lofty shaft towers affording the Germans excellent observation and the mine tunnels offering a means of infiltrating the whole area. On the night of 3–4 August, "A" Company with a detachment of the 11th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers
Canadian Military Engineers
The Canadian Military Engineers is the military engineer branch of the Canadian Forces.-Mission:The mission of the Canadian Military Engineers is to contribute to the survival, mobility, and combat effectiveness of the Canadian Forces...
, conducted a raid on an enemy occupied mine. The company succeeded in surrounding the mine despite heavy machine gun fire but the accompanying engineers were unable to demolish the mine shaft
Shaft mining
Shaft mining or shaft sinking refers to the method of excavating a vertical or near-vertical tunnel from the top down, where there is initially no access to the bottom....
. In order to demolish the shaft towers, the sappers had to climb some 20 ft (6.1 m) from the ground and as soon as they did so they became targets for snipers in the bright moonlight. After a number of men had been hit, it was decided that the demolition task could not be carried out, and the raiding party withdrew. Casualties suffered on the raid were 9 missing and 21 wounded which speaks to the fierceness of the resistance. Three prisoners from the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
Regiment of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler
The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard. Initially the size of a regiment, the LSSAH eventually grew into a divisional-sized unit...
(one Corporal, one Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
and one private) were taken during the raid.
On 4 August, Lieutenant-Colonel Runice took command of the battalion and that night the Camerons moved to Verrières
Battle of Verrières Ridge
The Battle of Verrières Ridge was a series of engagements fought as part of the Battle of Normandy, in western France, during the Second World War. The main combatants were two Canadian infantry divisions—with additional support from the Canadian 2nd Armoured Brigade—against elements of three...
to relieve The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.Founded in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including: 1887 - 21st Battalion, Essex Fusiliers; 1900 - 21st Regiment, Essex Fusiliers; 1920 - The Essex Fusiliers, acquiring...
. The next two days were relatively quiet with the unit patrolling and receiving only occasional shelling form the enemy. A prisoner from the 1055th Grenadier Regiment of the 89th Infantry Division was captured by patrol from "C" Company.
Operation Totalize - Fontenay-le-Marmion and the Falaise Road
The battalions of the 6th Brigade had been tasked to attack the villages forming the front line. On the afternoon of 7 August, the Camerons moved to a forming up position near IfsIfs, Calvados
Ifs is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Twin towns:Ifs is twinned with: Ilfracombe, Devon, England Niederwerrn, Germany-External links:**...
in preparation for an attack against Fontenay-le-Marmion that night. "D" and "C" Companies led the attack with "B" Company in close support and "A" Company in reserve. "D" Company had a difficult time securing their objective. Within ten minutes of crossing the start line, 16 Platoon was pinned down by intense machine gun fire. When 18 Platoon conducted a left flanking attack to free up 16 Platoon, they came under intense 88 mm mortar fire pining them down as well. The company crawled forward into an assault line and then launched an all-out frontal attack, fighting their way into the village against fierce opposition by elements of the German 89th Infantry Division.
By 0100 hours "D" Company had reached their objective, the first company to do so, and began preparing for counter-attacks. "C" Company had their own difficulties in the assault. 13 and 14 Platoon were temporarily cut-off from 15 Platoon and "C" Company headquarters when they advanced past a nest of enemy machine gun posts. The enemy allowed the forward platoons to pass and then poured heavy fire into "C" Company Headquarters and remaining platoon, which after sustaining several casualties, bypassed the machine gun posts by working their way around the left flank. "C" Company Headquarters and 13 Platoon reached their objective, the orchard, hoping to find the other two platoons but only encountered elements of "B Company". Linking in their defensive positions with "B" Company on the east side of the orchard, they prepared to fight off the inevitable enemy counter-attack. Almost immediately after crossing the start line, "B" Company came under fire from both sides of the road. In response "B" Company launched a determined attack on the quarry, where a concentration of enemy were dug in, with 11 Platoon forward, 10 Platoon left and 12 Platoon right. Sergeant J. Mahon was later awarded the Military Medal for his actions in the fight for the quarry. Once they had cleared the enemy from the quarry, "B" Company continued on to the outskirts of Fontenay-le-Marmion to link up with the remnants of "C" and "D" Companies occupying the buildings.
The Camerons holding Fontenay-le-Marmion were under fire from heavy sniping and direct fire from a German 88 mm gun to the northeast and the number of casualties grew. Engaged in heavy house-to-house fighting
Urban warfare
Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
through the night and into the morning, the Battalion, down to 150 men, fought off numerous enemy counter-attacks. Battalion Headquarters was hit by an enemy 88 mm, wounding the commanding officer. Overnight 14 men from 14 Platoon and one from 13 Platoon who had worked their way back to the start line were brought up to rejoin "C" Company and Major C. W. Ferguson, a Cameron serving as Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of 6th Brigade was sent to take over the battalion. On the morning of 8 August the enemy counter attacked from the north with 12 Tiger Tanks and the unit was temporarily surrounded. To add to the chaos, Battalion Headquarters was hit again likely by the same 88 mm that had been shelling the unit from the start of the battle. The new Commanding Officer was wounded, forcing Major J. J. D. Gagnon, Officer Commanding "D" Company to assume command.
On the afternoon of 8 August, two companies of the South Saskatchewan Regiment with a squadron of the 1st Hussars
1st Hussars
The 1st Hussars is an armoured Primary Reserve regiment of the Canadian Forces, currently based in London, Ontario and Sarnia, Ontario.-Foundation and organisation:...
broke through, swept the ridge north of Fontenay and cleared the left flank, relieving the pressure on the Camerons. The Camerons captured 207 enemy prisoners that day. That night Cameron patrols confirmed that the enemy had withdrawn. On the morning of 9 August "B" Company (under Company Sergeant Major Abram Arbour) launched a successful attack on the right flank and "A" Company captured a barracks on the high feature that was the source of the heavy fire that was pinning whole Battalion down. The clearing weather allowed Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Typhoons
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
to locate and destroy the German 88 mm that had been wreaking so much havoc on Battalion Headquarters.
In the evening Major E. P. "Tommy" Thompson assumed acting command of the Battalion. In the fierce fighting for Fontenay-le-Marmion, the Camerons lost two Commanding Officers wounded (Ferguson would die from his wounds the next day), and two Company Commanders, Major E. R. Talbot of "C" Company and Major J. E. E. McManus of "B" Company and the Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
, Captain G. Kidd, wounded in action. The Carrier Platoon Commander, Captain R.R. Counsell was awarded the Military Cross for keeping the companies supplied during the fighting and Company Sergeant-Major Arbour was awarded the Military Cross (a decoration usually awarded to officers) for his actions as acting Company Commander of "B" Company during the battle.
Operation Tractable - Clair Tizon and Falaise
The remainder of 9 and 10 August, were spent resting and reorganizing prior to relieving The North Nova Scotia HighlandersThe North Nova Scotia Highlanders
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army.Founded in 1936 as The North Nova Scotia Highlanders by the amalgamation of the Cumberland Highlanders, The Colchester and Hants Rifles, and 'C' Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, it acquired its present title in...
at Gouvix the next day. Patrols the night of 9 August, brought in a couple of prisoners – one from the 1056th Infantry Regiment and the other from the 189th Anti-Tank Battalion. At dawn on 12 August, "B" Company stood-to, only to discover it was completely surrounded by an enemy patrol. A brief skirmish ensued and the enemy withdrew. Later that day the new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. S. Gregory arrived to assume command.
In the early morning of 14 August, the Battalion launched an attack to clear enemy pockets west of the River Laize and seize a bridgehead
Bridgehead
A bridgehead is a High Middle Ages military term, which antedating the invention of cannons was in the original meaning expressly a referent term to the military fortification that protects the end of a bridge...
across the river at Clair Tizon. Initially resistance was light but stiffened as the Camerons approached the river. The Battalion's objective was seized by 0910 hours and that night the anti-tank platoon got their first kill – a Panzerkampfwagen V (Panther) that was knocked out at a range of about 250 yd (228.6 m). Two of the crew were killed and the remainder taken prisoner by Scout Platoon snipers who were in the area. Numerous prisoners of war were taken in the operation, many of them Poles and Russians who were happy to desert from their impressed service in the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
.
The next day, 15 August, the Camerons took Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière
Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière
Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
and held it against three fierce counter-attacks by elements of the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern...
. One of only two Bronze Stars
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
awarded to members of the Regiment during the war was won during the battle for Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière. Private J. P. DeGarmo was awarded the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
decoration for his actions.
That afternoon bombers from No. 6 (RCAF) Bomber Group
No. 6 Group RCAF
No. 6 Group RCAF was an organization of Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadrons which operated from airfields in Yorkshire, England during the Second World War. Although 6 Group was RCAF, it was controlled by the Royal Air Force as part of Bomber Command. No. 6 Group had been previously active...
dropped bombs on enemy pockets of resistance between the Cameron lines and Falaise
Falaise, Calvados
Falaise is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-History:The town was the birthplace of William I the Conqueror, first of the Norman Kings of England. The Château de Falaise , which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of...
. Several bombs fell short, landing on Battalion headquarters and inflicting eight casualties. More casualties were suffered when the Regimental Aid Post
Regimental Aid Post
A Regimental Aid Post is the equivalent to the American Battalion Aid Station. In the British Army, Canadian Forces and other Commonwealth militaries, the RAP is a front line military medical establishment incorporated into an infantry battalion or armoured regiment and designed for the immediate...
was shelled by an enemy 88 mm. The Medical Officer, Captain H. Marantz and Sergeant G. A. Wilwand were both killed and the remainder of the Aid Post wounded. 10 Field Ambulance put together a composite force and sent it forward to act as the Cameron Regimental Aid Post.
The task of taking the ruins of Falaise fell to 6 Brigade. At 1500 hours on 16 August, Brigadier Young launched his attack with the South Saskatchewan Regiment on the left and the Camerons on the right, each supported by a squadron of tanks from the Sherbrooke Fusiliers. As the Battalion moved towards Falaise, they ran into a group of 25 enemy of which 2 were taken prisoner. The huge craters caused by the earlier RAF bombing impeded the advance. Moreover, parties of the enemy from the 12th SS Panzer Division were still fighting hard in the ruins. By the morning of 17 August, the South Saskatchewans had reached the railway east of the town. The Camerons had not advanced as rapidly, their tanks being hung up in craters; but they finished their task that day and then moved south across the River Traine to establish a defensive position around the village of Hérouville-Saint-Clair
Hérouville-Saint-Clair
Hérouville-Saint-Clair is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is a suburb of the city of Caen, and lies adjacent to it in a northeasterly direction, along the west side of the Canal de Caen à la Mer...
. Many enemy prisoners of war were taken (a number from the 978th Grenadier Regiment) and a scout car that had run out of gas was captured as well. That night a flight of U.S. Army Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s bombed and strafed the unit killing two and wounding six.
On 18 August, contact was firmly established with Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. The relative quiet allowed hot meals, mail and new clothing to be enjoyed by all members of the unit. The pause also allowed the Commanding Officer to reorganize the Battalion in preparation for future operations. Patrols from the unit netted a number of prisoners (two from the 1056th Infantry Battalion, one from the 128th Grenadier Regiment, one from the 937th Infantry Reserve Regiment and one from the 453rd Reserve Grenadier Battalion). On 19 August, the Battalion moved to a new location near Les Moutien on Auges by the Dives River
Dives River
The Dives is a 105 km long river in the Pays d'Auge, Normandie, France. It flows into the English Channel in Cabourg.The source of the Dives is near Exmes, in the Orne department...
and then on to an assembly area at le Grand Mesnil on 21 August. That night they moved again, this time to a position near Meulles. On 22 August, the Battalion pushed towards Orbec
Orbec
Orbec is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
, slowing as they met increasingly stiff opposition and heavy fire from the high ground across the Orbec River. Spending the night near Les Bois, southwest of Orbec, the Camerons launched a left flanking attack north of Orbec the next day. Seizing their objective, the Battalion fought off counter-attacks by enemy infantry supported by tanks and self-propelled gun
Self-propelled gun
A self-propelled gun is form of self-propelled artillery, and in modern use is usually used to refer to artillery pieces such as howitzers....
s. After having two tanks and a self-propelled gun knocked out, the Germans withdrew, leaving the unit in firm possession of Orbec. The Camerons were greatly assisted in the taking of the town by the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)
8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)
The 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment , commonly abbreviated to 8 Recce, VIII Recce or 8 Canadian Recce, was the reconnaissance arm of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division during World War II.- Formation and structure :8 Recce was formed at Guillemont Barracks, near Aldershot in...
, who had crossed the river to the west of the town and then circled back and taken out an enemy blocking position from the rear. With the withdrawal of the enemy, two Cameron scouts were finally able to emerge from the town jail where they had been hiding with a German commander and his staff that they had captured, waiting for the Battalion to capture the town.
On 24 August, the Camerons marched to an assembly area at Le Ruquesni where they were picked up by trucks and moved to the 6 Brigade area at Ducore. That night they moved again to an area north of Saint-Pierre-de-Salerne
Saint-Pierre-de-Salerne
Saint-Pierre-de-Salerne is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:- External Links :...
where they were warned to be prepared to move south into Brionne
Brionne
Brionne is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The keep, built in the 11th century was one of the rare Norman squareshaped defensive keeps, reminding of British architecture. It was destroyed in the 18th century.The church Saint-Martin has a...
. On 25 August, the Battalion moved into Brionne against slight resistance and received a hearty welcome by the townspeople. Previous to this the towns the Battalion had liberated had been abandoned by the inhabitants. Brionne was the first of many towns to greet the Camerons as liberators. On 26 August, the Battalion was on the move again, taking up positions for the night along the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
near Bourgtheroulde
Bourgtheroulde-Infreville
Bourgtheroulde-Infreville is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-External links:*...
. The next day the Camerons continued the advance through Bourgtheroulde, meeting determined resistance as the German rearguard fought fanatically to protect their line of retreat across the Seine. By late evening the Battalion had consolidated their position near La Chênaie, overlooking the Seine and effectively cutting off the German escape route. For the next three days the unit suffered heavy casualties from intense shelling, also inflicting heavy casualties on the retreating Germans trying to cross the river. The War Diary entry for 29 August noted, "Thousands of Germans drowned or were killed from our 4.2" mortars and arty fire plus our MMGs." By 30 August, the fight was over. The German remnants had retreated from the Seine and Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
area. The next day the Battalion moved across the River Seine into Rouen to be greeted once again as liberators.
Clearing the Channel Ports
September 1944 found the unit in the west suburbs of Rouen. From there they moved to occupy barracks formerly used by German Engineers south of Dieppe. For the next four days the unit participated in parades and commemorative ceremonies to mark the 2nd Division's previous visit to Dieppe in August 1942. Aside from the ceremonial duties it was an opportunity to rest and reconsolidate. On 6 September, the Battalion loaded on trucks and moved to AutinguesAutingues
Autingues is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:A village located 10 miles southeast of Calais, at the junction of the D225 with the D227 road.-Population:-Places of interest:...
where they spent the night of 7 September, before moving on to Furnes. On 9 September, the unit occupied La Panne Bains, chasing out scattered pockets of German resistance. The next day the unit continued the advance through fire from heavy machine guns, mortars, anti-aircraft guns and heavy coastal guns and spent the night occupying a portion of the German West Wall
Siegfried Line
The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916–1917 in northern France during World War I...
defences.
The advance towards Bray-Dunes
Bray-Dunes
-References:* -External links:* * *...
continued on 11 September, against increasingly stiff opposition from elements of the 1055th Grenadier Regiment of the German 89th Infantry Division. Before first light on 13 September, the Camerons launched a concerted attack against Bray-Dunes. "A" and "C" Companies made a right flanking attack through the sand dunes by the coast while "D" Company infiltrated through the enemy lines to size the crossroads. While "D" Company achieved their objective by 0530 hours, "A" and "C" Companies failed to penetrate enemy opposition leaving "D" Company surrounded and cut-off. At 1800 hours the Battalion launched a right flanking attack through Gyrelde to relieve "D" Company. "A" and "B" Companies were stopped after passing through Gyrelde but "C" Company on the left flank fought through fierce opposition to occupy a position 300 yd (274.3 m) south of "D" Company but could not complete the link up until the following evening. By early afternoon on 15 September, the Battalion had secured Bray-Dunes. That evening the unit was moved to a rest area east of Bray Dunes where they kept up aggressive patrolling each night. Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
F. K. Breakey won the DCM during the battle for Bray-Dunes.
The Low Countries
On 19 September, the Battalion moved to DuffelDuffel
Duffel is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp.The municipality comprises only the town of Duffel proper. On January 1, 2006 Duffel had a total population of 16,019...
where they were to stay until 23 September. Arriving in the vicinity of Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor, the Camerons advanced as the reserve battalion in the 6 Brigade advance to the Antwerp-Turnhout canal. On 27 September, the Battalion took up new positions west of Gravemwezel, trading fire back and forth across the canal with the enemy and conducting aggressive patrolling. During one of these patrols Lieutenant E. J. Reid won the Military Cross.
On 29 September, the unit moved again to cross the Anvers-Turnhout canal under the command of 5th Brigade to relieve le Régiment de Maisonneuve in the area of Oostbrecht. On 1 October, the Camerons, again under the command of 5th Brigade, launched an attack against Sternhoven. Taking the objective, the Battalion was immediately ordered to carry on to their subsequent objective, a crossroads. Before they could get out of Sternhoven the Camerons were hit by a concerted counter-attack and spent the night in desperate close combat amongst the burning buildings of the town. Successfully beating off the counter-attack, the unit handed Sternhoven over to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal and began preparations to continue the advance towards Camp de Brasschaet. Before the Cameron attack could get underway, the Germans launched another counter-attack on Sternhoven and the unit went to the aid of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, quashing the final enemy attempt to regain the town. Probing towards Camp de Brasschaet on the morning of 2 October, "B" Company, with tanks from The Fort Garry Horse
The Fort Garry Horse
The Fort Garry Horse is a Canadian Army Reserve Armoured Regiment based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is currently part of Land Force Western Area's 38 Canadian Brigade Group.- History :...
in support, met heavy resistance and was forced to retire to their former positions. On 3 October the Battalion launched an attack on Camp de Brasschaet and secured the objective taking 82 prisoners of war from the 1018th Grenadier Regiment and 14th Reserve Machine Gun Battalion. On 5 October, "C" Company, tasked to clear the road to Sternhoven, was forced to retire after taking heavy casualties. "A" Company was moved forward in their place to consolidate in the Lake area.
The Battalion remained at Camp de Brasschaet for the next few days, resting and reorganizing for their next operation. An active patrolling program netted 92 prisoners of war. On 9 October, the Battalion moved to an area northeast of Putte
Putte
Putte is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Putte, Beerzel, Grasheide and Peulis. The town of Putte is around east of Mechelen. On January 1, 2006 Putte had a total population of 15,690...
to relieve the Essex Scottish with Battalion Headquarters setting up at Villa Anna. On 10 October, the Battalion secured the flank of the successful 2nd Division attack to cut off the German garrison south of the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
and the islands north of the river. Resuming vigorous patrolling, three prisoners from the 847th Grenadier Regiment were taken on 11 October. During this period a company of 150 men of the Belgian White Brigade came under command of the Camerons. On the night of 14–15 October, three German paratroopers were captured by another patrol. On the evening of 20 October, the Battalion moved to relieve The Royal Regiment of Canada
The Royal Regiment of Canada
The Royal Regiment of Canada is the largest army regiment in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve. It is an infantry unit based in Toronto, Ontario, part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
and then again the next day to relieve The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry is a Primary Reserve unit of the Canadian Forces based at John W. Foote VC Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario....
at Woensdrecht
Woensdrecht
Woensdrecht is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.Woensdrecht is mainly known for Woensdrecht Air Base. In 1983 it was decided that the US would station 48 nuclear armed cruise missiles here, unless the USSR would reduce the number of SS-20 missiles to 378. Since the number was...
.
Patrols overnight on 22-23 in preparation for an attack on the 23 August brought in seven prisoners of war. Launched at 0700 hours, the attack on Woensdrecht met stiff resistance and by 1630 hours "A" Company, which had gone to the assistance of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, was forced back to its former positions. Despite the fierce opposition, the Battalion captured 40 paratroopers from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 6th Fallschirmjäger
Fallschirmjäger
are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
Regiment. Continuing the attack on 24 October, the Camerons made good progress against only light opposition, the majority of the enemy having withdrawn after the sharp fighting the previous day. By 2300 hours the area was cleared of enemy and the Battalion was relieved by the Black Watch of Canada. Private C. R. J. Batty was awarded a Military Medal for his actions.
On 26 October, the unit moved into the Beveland Causeway. On 27 October the Camerons seized the town of Yerseke
Yerseke
Yerseke is a village situated on the southern shore of the Oosterschelde estuary in the Dutch province of Zeeland. A separate municipality until 1970, it today forms part of the municipality of Reimerswaal. As of 2010 Yerseke had a recorded population of 6,570 inhabitants divided over 2590...
and launched an assault across the Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Beveland on the west and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal on the east.It consists of four...
canal. Landing two companies on the island forming the lock gates
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
on the west side, the attack was repulsed by mortar and heavy machine gun fire and the companies forced back across the canal. Another attempt to secure the lock bridges the next day succeeded in reaching the objective but was forced back across the canal once again. Lieutenant-Colonel Tommy Thompson was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his actions.
On 29 October, the Battalion crossed the canal to relieve two companies of the Essex Scottish at Willemdinge. That night Corporal M. J. Robertson from "A" Company brought in 21 prisoners of war (19 from 1020th Grenadier Regiment of the 70th Infantry Division and two from 170th Feld Ersatz) he and two others had taken at Kattendijke
Kattendijke
Kattendijke is a village in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is located in the municipality of Goes on the Oosterschelde about 5 km northeast of the city of Goes....
while on a wandering patrol of their own. On 30 October, the Battalion moved to Goes
Goes
Goes is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands in Zuid-Beveland, in the province Zeeland. The city of Goes has approximately 27,000 residents.-History of Goes:...
to relieve the Black Watch of Canada where they remained the next day.
On 1 November, the Battalion moved to Willebroek
Willebroek
Willebroek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Blaasveld, Heindonk, Tisselt, Klein Willebroek and Willebroek proper. On January 1, 2006 Willebroek had a total population of 23,044...
for rest and refit. On 9 November,, the Camerons were on the move again, this time to the town of Mook en Middelaar
Mook en Middelaar
Mook en Middelaar is a municipality in the mid-eastern part of the Netherlands, at the northern tip of the province of Limburg. The municipality is located about 100 km...
to relieve the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
of the British 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. The remainder of the month was spent opposite the Meuse River
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
in the vicinity of Mook, dug into the flooded, soggy ground. While trading mortar fire back and forth with the enemy "A" Company had a couple of interesting incidents. Private R. L. Shaw had a mortar bomb glance off his shoulder and land directly in his trench without detonating. Later an "A" Company observation post
Observation post
An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
was asked to observe the fall of shot from friendly mortars when they received notice to keep their heads down as a mortar bomb was coming over minus its tail fin, and would likely drop short. When asked to provide a correction for the next round, the OP replied, "Cut all the tail fins off!". The defective bomb had landed on a close-by German machine gun nest, which had been giving the company great difficulty. Patrolling by both sides, intermittent shelling, and occasional mine strikes, inflicted light casualties on the Battalion and ensured soldiers kept their edge in the miserable conditions.
December would prove to be a relatively quiet month for the Battalion. On 1 December, the Camerons handed over their sodden positions at Mook to the Royal Regiment of Canada and moved to Cuijk
Cuijk
Cuijk is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands of pre-historic origin. Its existence is recorded on the Roman roadmap Tabula Peutingeriana under the name of Ceuclum. Cuijk is twinned with Maldon in Essex, UK. It is a big commuter town with very good public transport services to...
to relieve the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. The Battalion stayed in the Cuijk area resting, refitting and training until 8 December, when then moved to Bisselt to relieve the Black Watch of Canada. The unit remained at Bisselt for a week, conducting an aggressive patrolling program. On 15 December, the Battalion handed over to the South Saskatchewan Regiment and moved into Groesbeek
Groesbeek
Groesbeek is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.-Description:Groesbeek is named after a small stream called the Groesbeek, which in its original form doesn't exist anymore...
. The Battalion front remained fairly quiet with sporadic machine gun and mortar fire interrupting the calm. On the night of 19–20 December, the Battalion provided fire support for a South Saskatchewan Regiment attack. During this action Lance Corporal M. L. Nedohin won the Military Medal.
On 23 December, the unit was relieved in place by the Essex Scottish and moved with Battalion Headquarters, "B" and "C" Companies setting up in the area of Mook, Support Company in the area of Katwijk
Katwijk
Katwijk is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. It has a population of 61,292.-Location:...
across the Meuse River and "A" and "D" Companies at Oss
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
. The Battalion shot down an enemy aircraft the night of 26 December, capturing four of the aircrew south of Nijmegen. On 27 December "A" and "D" Companies were relieved at Oss by the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. "A" Company relocated to Mook and "D" Company joined Support Company at Katwijk. The Battalion would spend the rest of the month in location resting, training and marking the holiday season.
On 8 January 1945, the Battalion received orders to relieve le Régiment de Maisonneuve the next day. Subsequent orders on the 9 January delayed the move to 10 January. In the line again, the Camerons came under sporadic mortar, small arms and sniper fire and once again initiated an aggressive patrolling program. Overnight on 17–18 January, "C" Company conducted a platoon size raid on a number of enemy held houses. On the afternoon of 18 January the Battalion was relieved by Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal and moved back into the town of Mook proper. The Camerons were back in the line on 25 January, having relieved the South Saskatchewan Regiment. On the 31 January the unit shifted to take over from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal while the South Saskatchewans moved out of reserve to occupy the positions the Camerons were vacating.
Operation Veritable
Visited by the BrigadeBrigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
Commander, Brigadier General Ralph Holley Keefler
Ralph Holley Keefler
Ralph Holley Keefler, was a Canadian soldier and businessman. He was commander of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during World War II and was chairman and president of Northern Electric ....
on 3 February, the unit was tasked with capturing a prisoner at any cost. A raid by "A" Company on the night of 5 February, failed to secure the required prisoner but a fighting patrol from "C" Company succeeded two nights later. Due largely to Company Sergeant-Major Elvin Miller's heroic efforts, for which he was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, later downgraded to a Military Medal by a higher level headquarters, the Camerons were able to bring back a prisoner, and obtain the information that was crucial to the planning of the upcoming Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable was a Second World War pincer movement conducted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group to clear and occupy the land between the Rhine and Maas rivers. It took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945. It was a part of General Dwight Eisenhower's "broad front"...
.
On 8 February, Operation Veritable was launched with a 1,000 gun barrage. Due to the large number of casualties it had suffered since the start of the campaign, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division would sit this one out. Over the next few days, dozens of German soldiers surrendered themselves to the Battalion. 13 prisoners were taken from the 1222nd Grenadier Regiment on 9 February, and another 18 the next day. By the 11 February, the Battalion front was quiet, the enemy having either withdrawn or been captured. On 14 February, after three months in and around Mook, the unit was transported to Nijmegen where they went into billets for a few days of rest and refit.
Operation Blockbuster - into Germany
On 17 February the battalion moved across the border into Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, taking up positions in Bedburg
Bedburg
Bedburg is a town in the Rhein-Erft-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia of Germany with 25,000 residents. The town is documented as existing as early as 893.-External links:*...
. On the 18 February, the Commanding Officer and Intelligence Officer conducted a reconnaissance of the ground southeast of Kalkar
Kalkar
Kalkar is a municipality in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near the Rhine, approx. 10 km south-east of Cleves. The most famous building of Kalkar is its church St...
approaching the Hochwald in preparation for the upcoming offensive. The next night the battalion was placed under command of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
4th Canadian Infantry Brigade
The 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade was a brigade of the Canadian Army during the Second World War.-History:It was mobilized on 1 September 1939 part of 2nd Canadian Infantry Division , even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers...
and tasked to send "B" Company to relieve "D" Company of the Royal Regiment of Canada. That night the Anti-Tank Platoon took one prisoner from the 1st Battalion, 60th Panzergrenadier Division. In the early hours of 20 February, the unit was ordered to send another company to the Royal Regiment of Canada. After taking up new position in the Royals area, "A" Company was placed under command of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and dispatched to reinforce them against enemy counter-attack by the Panzer-Lehr-Division. By sunrise the remainder of the unit had been ordered to take over from the Royal Regiment of Canada and movement began to relieve the Royals so they could in turn relieve the Essex Scottish. By late afternoon the Battalion was relieved by the Highland Light Infantry of Canada and had reverted to 6th Brigade command. The Battalion spent 21 February preparing for the next day's offensive only to have the attack postponed that night. Preparations continued on the 22 February, with the operation still postponed. Finally in the early morning of 26 February, Operation Blockbuster
Operation Blockbuster
Operation Blockbuster was the completion of the larger Operation Veritable by the Canadian 1st Army, reinforced by the British XXX Corps. It took place in late February and early March, 1945...
was launched.
Riding in Kangaroo
Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier)
A Kangaroo was a World War II Commonwealth or British armoured personnel carrier , created by conversion of a tank chassis. Created as an expedient measure by the Canadian Army, the Kangaroos were so successful that they were soon being used by British forces as well...
armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
s, the initial advance was held up by mines and mud forced the Battalion to re-route their attack through Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal's objective. "A" Company rode onto the objective in their Kangaroos, and secured it after overcoming stiff resistance from the 156th Panzergrenadier Regiment. "B" Company reached their objective of Louisendorf with only 34 effectives, many of their Kangaroos having bogged down or gotten lost on the way. With two tanks in intimate support the greatly reduced "B" Company took the objective, capturing 26 prisoners on the way to the town and another 90 in Louisendorf itself. "C" Company landed on their objective without opposition after spending considerable time trying to find it. Within an hour of securing the objective "C" Company was forced to fight off the first of numerous counter-attacks, as a pair of enemy tanks engaged their positions. It was only "D" Company that was to reach their objective with little trouble. After hard fighting the unit had secured its objectives and taken 136 prisoners but at great loss – the dynamic and popular Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel E. P. "Tommy" Thompson was dead, killed by a sniper on the objective.
It was during this action that the Regiment received its second Victoria Cross nominee. Major David Rodgers, Officer Commanding "A" Company, was recommended to receive the VC for his actions on 26 February 1945. The citation was approved at every level until it reached 21st Army Group where Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
downgraded the award to an immediate Distinguished Service Order.
The Germans continued counter-attacking on 27 February, but the most of the enemy attacks were broken up with well-directed mortar and artillery fire. That night the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and moved to Kirsel. 28 February, was spent reorganizing and preparing for the next offensive.
1 March, found the unit at Udermerbruck preparing to resume the attack. The next day the Battalion advanced through the Hochwald Gap. The tanks in support could not stay with the unit, unable to crest the ridge at the edge of the gap due to intense enemy 88 mm fire. Approaching the objective the unit held up short, finding friendly forces already occupying the Battalion's assigned objective. Following a 39 minute artillery barrage, the Camerons resumed the attack on 3 March meeting stiff resistance. Under intense mortar, machine gun and artillery fire the unit made slow progress. "C" Company was stopped and forced to pull back while "A" and "B" Companies managed to fight forward to the new objective on the southeastern edge of the forest, "B" Company taking 18 prisoners from the 24th Fallschirmjäger Regiment of the 8th Fallschirmjäger Division in the process. A German counter-attack from the north fell on "B" Company but was successfully repulsed with around two-dozen casualties inflicted on the enemy. During the fighting in the Hochwald two Cameron Corporals won the Military Medal for their heroism, Corporal John Bukurak of "A" Company and Corporal Daniel Connors of "B" Company.
The next day the Camerons turned north to clear the east edge of the Hochwald Forest. The unit found the enemy had withdrawn but had left the area heavily mined which made the woods clearance a slow and dangerous undertaking.
On 5 March the unit moved to Exhmachdurm where Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Kennedy assumed command from Major R. H. Lane who had been acting CO since Tommy Thompson had been killed at Kalkar Ridge. The next day the Battalion continued the advance through the Hochwald. Preceded by an artillery barrage, "A" and "B" Companies led the advance. "A" Company was stopped 200 yd (182.9 m) short of their objective, coming under an intense crossfire from German machine guns. "B" Company was similarly held up after advancing 500 yd (457.2 m). Despite the use of tanks and artillery support, the unit could not dislodge the enemy resistance and withdrew under orders from 6th Brigade. A second attack was required utilizing all of 5th Brigade augmented by the South Saskatchewan Regiment to overcome the resistance. The next two days the Camerons spent resting and refitting in preparation for resuming the advance.
On 9 March, the unit moved into Xanten
Xanten
Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...
to relieve the Calgary Highlanders. The completion of the relief was delayed due to enemy action along the Calgary Highlander's front. "A" and "C" Companies effected their relief that night but "B" and "D" Companies were not able to take over the Calgary Highlander positions until the next morning. Patrols from Scout Platoon netted 28 prisoners overnight mostly from the 6th Fallschirmjäger Battalion. On the afternoon of 10 March the unit moved again, this time to relieve le Régiment de Maisonneuve at Birten. 11 March, was spent resting and reorganizing and the next day the unit was pulled out of the line to a Division rest area at Rindern. The next five days were spent training and performing much needed maintenance on the unit's vehicles and equipment.
On 18 March, the unit executed Operation Loot aimed at clearing an enemy salient
Salients, re-entrants and pockets
A salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...
in the Rindern area. All companies crossed their start lines at 0700 hours and finding the area almost completely vacated, completed clearing their respective objectives by noon. "C" and "D" Companies were tasked with clearing the remainder of the salient and final success was reported at 1800 hours. Nine evacuees were gathered up in the operation and sent back for screening. 19 March, found the unit moving into the Reichswald Forest where it would spend the next eight days refitting and training for crossing the Rhine.
The drive to the North Sea
On 28 March, with the Camerons in the lead, the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade moved to "Blackfriars Bridge" and crossed the Rhine to begin the drive to the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. The Battalion set up east of Praest, in the vicinity of Schriek, overnight and began establishing its presence through aggressive patrolling. "A" Company patrols brought in 8 prisoners and "B" Company patrols netted 64 prisoners overnight. That night "D" Company was tasked to probe forward to the town of Netterden
Netterden
Netterden is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Oude IJsselstreek, about 5 km northeast of Emmerich.Netterden was a separate municipality until 1821, when it was merged with Bergh.-References:...
. Finding the town held by a company of German paratroopers, Major D. D. Sweeting, Officer Commanding "D" Company, decided to launch a dawn attack to clear the town. Upon receiving Sweeting's update, the CO tasked "C" Company under Captain F. R. Sutton to move around to the northeast of the town to cut off the enemy when "D" Company attacked.
"D" Company's attack went in as planned at 0400 hours on 30 March. Finding their line of retreat cut off the German paratroopers decided to stand and fight. After seven hours of bitter street fighting a truce was called to evacuate the wounded on both sides. Making use of the truce, Sweeting issued the German commander an ultimatum, surrender within the next half an hour or be totally destroyed. Realizing his position hopeless, the German commander surrendered. Of the original company from the 17th Fallschirmjäger Regiment of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Division garrisoning Netterden, only 2 officers and 22 soldiers survived to go into captivity as prisoners of war. During their two days in the area the Battalion captured a total of 2 enemy officers and 128 other ranks at a cost of 4 Camerons killed and 10 wounded. For his successful company attack on Netterden Major Sweeting received the Distinguished Service Order.
Consolidating in Netterden, the unit continued the attack towards Veldhunten on 31 March. Supported by an intense artillery barrage "A" Company under Captain J. Free captured their objective without incurring a single casualty, taking 30 prisoners in the process. "B" and "D" Companies were less fortunate. Having pushed past "A" Company for phase 2 of the attack, both "B" and "D" Companies were met by withering machine gun fire 600 yd (548.6 m) past their start lines. The condition of the ground made it impossible to employ tanks, so the Carrier Platoon was tasked to assist "D" Company. Engaged by a German self-propelled gun while attempting to move up, Carrier Platoon was unable to reach the forward companies. With no way forward, both companies were withdrawn, "D" Company with considerable difficulty, to reorganize for a renewed attack the next day. For his actions during the battle Corporal Abbot Fraser was awarded the Bronze Lion
Bronze Lion
The Bronze Lion is a high Royal Dutch award, intended for servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring The Netherlands; in some special cases it can however be awarded to Dutch or foreign civilians. It was first created in 1944 and has since been issued 1210 times...
, a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
decoration.
While this was happening "C" Company was fulfilling a task of its own, securing a road junction to provide a maintenance route for 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Encountering stiff enemy resistance, "C" Company managed to secure their objective by executing a hasty flanking attack. For his actions during the attack, Sergeant Robert Pearcey was awarded the Military Medal.
The Battalion renewed their attack on 1 April, to find that the bulk of the enemy had withdrawn leaving only scattered pockets of resistance to be overcome. By noon all companies had consolidated on their objectives. The unit spent the night in Ziek and moved to Keienburg the next day to relieve the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. On 3 April, "C" Company and the Carrier Platoon captured Steenderen
Steenderen
Steenderen is a former municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.- Population centres :*Baak*Bronkhorst*Olburgen*Rha*Steenderen*Toldijk- External links :**...
without opposition, taking three prisoners of war from the 951st Grenadier Regiment of the 361st Volksgrenadier
Volksgrenadier
Volksgrenadier was the name given to a type of German Army division formed in the Autumn of 1944 after the double loss of Army Group Center to the Soviets in Operation Bagration and the Fifth Panzer Army to the Allies in Normandy. The name itself was intended to build morale, appealing at once to...
Division southwest of the town. That night the Battalion moved to relieve the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry at Almen
Almen
Almen is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality Lochem, about 7 km east of the city of Zutphen.Almen has about 1200 inhabitants....
. The 4 April was a relatively quiet day. A lone German self-propelled gun that was being a nuisance was located and knocked out and patrols probed forward to determine the location of the enemy's forward defensive line. The majority of the unit spent the day resting and preparing to continue the advance. The next night the Battalion moved across the canal and on 6 April, Oolden was seized without opposition with a number of prisoners from the 1409th Fortress Battalion taken.
Moving to a concentration in the vicinity of Bathmensche Veen, "A" and "B" Companies forced a quick crossing of the Schipbeek canal with "C" Company following close behind. Surprise was achieved and no opposition was experienced until the companies were consolidating on the far side when the Germans started to shell the company positions and the crossing points heavily. Two Company Commanders were put out of action by the enemy mortar fire. Major H. P. Falloon, Officer Commanding "B" Company was seriously wounded and Major W. S. Watt, Officer Commanding "C" Company was knocked unconscious. That night "D" Company crossed the canal and moved past "A" Company to clear the woods while the remainder of the battalion, still under intermittent shellfire, extended and consolidated their positions in the vicinity of De Lurkens. On 7 April, "B" Company cleared the woods east of its positions taking thirty-six prisoners. The next day "A" and "C" Companies successfully extended the left flank of the Battalion against slight opposition from the Germans.
On 9 April, the Battalion moved to a concentration area to be picked up by troop carrying vehicles for a move to Spoorweg Bosch to relieve the Essex Scottish on 10 April. That night the Camerons were on the move again moving to Gramsbergen
Gramsbergen
Gramsbergen is a small Dutch town on the Vechte, located in the municipality of Hardenberg and the province of Overijssel. The town is located on corridors of different transportation modes: The N34 , the Zwolle - Emmen railway and the Almelo - de Haandrik canal.-History:Gramsbergen and its hamlets...
. On 11 April the unit continued on to Balkbrug
Balkbrug
Balkbrug is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality Hardenberg, about 5 km west of Dedemsvaart.Balkbrug has about 4000 inhabitants....
and then swung north through Kirkenbosch to Hoogeveen
Hoogeveen
Hoogeveen is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.- Population centres :Elim, Fluitenberg, Hoogeveen and Noordscheschut, which still have the canals which used to be throughout the town...
finally stopping at Terhost for the night. The next day "D" Company and two sections from Carrier Platoon made a bridgehead across the canal and the Battalion continued north to take up positions around Hijken. 13 April was spent at Hijken resting and maintaining equipment with "C" Company and Carrier Platoon patrolling to the north and west to mop up enemy stragglers.
On 14 April, the Battalion launched an attack on Haren
Haren (Groningen)
Haren is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands located in the direct urban area of the City of Groningen.- Population centres :*Essen*Glimmen*Haren*Noordlaren*Onnen-External links:*...
. "A" and "B" Companies were tasked with clearing the northern half of the town and "C" and "D" Companies the southern half. Scout Platoon under Lieutenant R. A. King cleared out the factory in the town, capturing 60 enemy prisoners. By 2300 hours all companies reported their areas completely cleared. "A" and "B" Companies consolidated in Haren while "C" and "D" Companies passed through them to establish positions on the outskirts of Groningen.
The next day Battalion Headquarters moved up to Groningen followed by "A" Company, which took over a position from the Essex Scottish dominating the bridge over the Ems Canal. The remainder of the day was spent mopping up enemy stragglers throughout the Battalion's area. The Camerons captured a total of one hundred and forty German prisoners on 15 April. The following day the unit passed through Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal to clear the northeast sector of the town up to the Van Starkenborgh Canal. "B" Company arrived at the canal to find the bridge over it held by the Germans who had raised the centre span making it impassable. Aided by two Dutch civilians Lieutenant W. C. McNeill crossed a narrow catwalk, which was being swept with automatic weapons fire, to the bridge mechanism and lowered the bridge. "B" Company quickly attacked across the bridge and the German resistance collapsed. Establishing a bridgehead on the east bank of the canal, "B" Company rounded up twenty-six prisoners in the process. McNeill and one of the Dutch civilians were wounded in lowering the bridge but their heroic actions had enabled the Company's success.
That evening the Battalion was ordered to occupy the town of Ten Boer
Ten Boer
- Population centres :Garmerwolde, Lellens, Sint Annen, Ten Post, Thesinge, Winneweer, Wittewierum and Woltersum.-External links:*...
. Through a series of company infiltrations the unit occupied the objective overnight and by 0720 hours of 17 April, all elements were firmly ensconced in the town. The remainder of the 17 and 18 April, were spent resting, reorganizing and preparing to resume the advance. On the night of 18 April "C" Company set up outposts at Ten Post and along the road to Stedum
Stedum
Stedum is# a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is located in the municipality of Loppersum, about 15 km northeast of the city of Groningen.#: Stedum was a separate municipality until 1990, when it was merged with Loppersum....
. On 19 April the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Kennedy, showing signs of combat fatigue
Combat stress reaction
Combat stress reaction , in the past commonly known as shell shock or battle fatigue, is a range of behaviours resulting from the stress of battle which decrease the combatant's fighting efficiency. The most common symptoms are fatigue, slower reaction times, indecision, disconnection from one's...
accumulated from his exemplary service in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
, was relieved of command and granted 48 hours leave of absence. Ultimately he would never return to the Camerons. Major R. H. Lane took over the Battalion as Temporary Commanding Officer. That afternoon "A' Company, supported by a section of flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
s, was sent to probe enemy positions in the towns of Stedum, Loppersum
Loppersum
Loppersum is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands in the province of Groningen.- Population centres :Eekwerd, Eekwerderdraai, Eenum, Fraamklap, Garrelsweer, Garsthuizen, Hoeksmeer, Honderd, Huizinge, Kolhol, Leermens, Loppersum, Lutjerijp, Lutjewijtwerd, Merum, Middelstum,...
and Wirten. Encountering the enemy on the outskirts of Loppersum, "A" Company broke contact after a brief engagement returning with the information that between 100 and 200 Germans were holding Loppersum. A planned move the next day was postponed and on 21 April, the unit moved back into Germany to occupy billets in Wilderhausen.
The Battalion resumed the advance on 22 April, as the depth battalion of the brigade. Taking over the lead from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal that evening, the unit encountered stiffening resistance as they closed on Kirchhatten. "A" Company overcame a roadblock with the assistance of Wasp flamethrower carriers and the request was sent back to bring up tank support to assist gaining lodgement in the town. On 23 April "B" Company started off the attack on Kirchhatten, clearing the woods on the left of the axis of advance south of the town and taking 24 prisoners. Company Sergeant-Major Earl Ovens, who had already been Mentioned in Dispatches for his actions at Dieppe as a private, was awarded the Military Medal for his part in "B" Company's attack.
"C' Company then passed through "B" to carry the attack into Kirchhatten. The Battalion Tactical Headquarters, "C" and "D" Companies were counter-attacked with one of the "D" Company Platoon being forced back by the onslaught. The Unit launched an immediate counter-counter attack supported by artillery and tanks, regaining their positions and driving the enemy back into the woods.
After a relatively quiet night with patrols sent out to pinpoint the enemy, the attack resumed the next day. "D" Company led off with "B' Company following. Running into resistance, "D" Company requested "A" Company move up on the left to provide support. Bolstered by a section of Wasps, a troop of tanks and a section of assault pioneers, "A" Company moved to assist. That night the enemy launched a small counter attack against "B" Company. Easily repulsed, the Germans launched a second, much larger attack, which "B" Company only managed to fight off by calling artillery down on their own positions. The unit conducted a busy patrol program overnight. On the morning of 25 April "D" Company succeeded in securing their objectives and "A" Company was ordered to send a contact patrol to link up with "D". Kirchhatten was finally secured and Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Rutherford, returned to the Regiment from his position as Brigade Major of 6th Brigade to take command of the Battalion.
On 26 April, the unit was still under intermittent shellfire particularly in the "A" and "D" Company areas, and spent the day reorganizing and preparing for the next phase of 6 Brigade's advance. Five prisoners of war from the 358th Marine Battalion were taken by "B" Company. A patrol that night returned with one prisoner who provided information that two companies from the Panzer-Lehr-Division with a combined strength of about 100 was opposing the Battalion. Throughout the 27 April, the unit continued to exchange mortar and artillery fire with the enemy and "A" Company fought a brief skirmish with a small party of Germans, taking one prisoner. That evening all companies reported increased enemy vehicle traffic along the front. The artillery duel continued on 28 April, but other enemy activity dropped off significantly. With the exception of the detonation of several road cratering charges, no other enemy activity was observed. 29 April, was even quieter and "B" Company pushed forward along the road to the northwest of the town to establish new positions at the road junction.
The advance resumed the morning of 30 April, with "C" Company moving through "B" Company's positions to lead off. "D" and "B" Company advanced along their axis with "A" following behind "B" as the Battalion reserve. All companies made good progress and a dozen prisoners were gathered up as the Camerons moved forward. The advance continued unopposed until early evening when "C" Company ran into a well defended road block and crater. The Battalion deployed to cover the main crossroads and dug in for the night. Patrols were sent out that night to recce the road block and potential routes.
On the morning of 1 May, the advance resumed. The road block was destroyed with an anti-tank gun and "A" Company passed through "C" Company with "B" and "D" Companies continuing the advance along their own axis. "A" Company encountered resistance from a small group of determined defenders but overcame the enemy with tank and artillery support, taking 11 prisoners from the 1st Battalion of the 22nd Grenadier Regiment of the 490th Infantry Division and the 16th Reinforcement Battalion. By early afternoon the companies were consolidating their positions in the vicinity of Hatter Wuss. A probe by Scout Platoon was strongly repulsed and "B" Company, occupying the houses vacated by the scouts beat off two small counter-attacks, dispersing the enemy with mortar and artillery fire. The day's advance netted the battalion a total of twenty nine enemy prisoners.
Patrols forward of the Battalion position the morning of 2 May, met no enemy and the Commanding Officer continued the push forward. Consolidating in Twee Ibake, the Battalion received orders to move to a concentration area at Bummerstede in preparation for moving to enlarge a bridgehead the South Saskatchewan Regiment had established over the Küsten canal. The Battalion crossed the Küsten canal on 3 May and moved through the South Saskatchewan Regiment and Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal to establish positions in Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
. Later that afternoon the Battalion advanced further north and established new positions for the night. The next day was spent regrouping and at 2000 hours that night the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
announced that all German forces in northwest Europe would surrender the next morning. A phone call from 6th Brigade Headquarters at 0150 hours confirmed the surrender. Hostilities were over.
The victory was celebrated with church parades on 6 May, and a victory parade in Oldenburg on the 9th. Garrison duty kept the Battalion in Germany and Holland until the end of September when they returned to England. Docking at Dover on 30 September, the Battalion moved by train to a camp at Farnborough. The Camerons left the U.K. from Southampton onboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. Plying with her running mate Queen Mary as a luxury liner between Southampton, UK and New York City, USA via Cherbourg, France, she was also contracted for over twenty years to carry the Royal Mail as the second half of the two...
on 13 November. Arriving in Halifax, the unit carried on to Montreal where they boarded the train for the final leg of their journey home to Winnipeg. The Camerons arrived home on 22 November, in the midst of a winter blizzard to be met by a welcoming party of officials, jubilant citizens and tearful relatives. Upon the demobilization of the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, the Reserve Army component, the 2nd Battalion, was officially re-designated the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada effective 1 April 1946.
The Cold War Period
The seeds of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
had been sewn well before the close of the Second World War. Militant communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
threatened the fleeting peace that was achieved through the defeat of the Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. Operating under the belief that the next war would be nuclear
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
and would likely be finished before a large-scale mobilization of reserves could be affected, the decision was reached that the Regular Army would need to be more robust and would become Canada's main line of defence rather than the Militia. By 1946 the Militia was restored to basically its pre-1939 condition.
In 1950 the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
climbed to its highest level since 1861, resulting in major flooding in Winnipeg from April to June. Heavy autumn rains and a long winter with heavy snowfall followed by a cold spring, which prevented normal thawing, all contributed to the catastrophe. More rainfall in early May exacerbated flooding. In total 600 sq mi (1,554 km²) of Manitoba between the US border and Winnipeg became a vast inland sea. The flood climaxed on the night of 5 May, known as "Black Friday", when driving rain, sleet and snow swelled the Red River to the point where it tore apart eight dikes and destroyed four of Winnipeg's eleven bridges. Throughout much of the city homes and buildings were engulfed by the floodwaters. The Regiment was mobilized in aid of the Civil Power on 8 May. Organized into five work parties, the Camerons were piped to the dykes and worked around the clock in shifts for 17 days until the danger of flood diminished. When the flood was over, 107,000 people had been evacuated from the area. The cost of the flood was estimated at over one billion dollars.
In June 1950 the Cold War turned hot with Communist North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
's invasion of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Although the Canadian Government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
chose not to mobilize the Militia to fight overseas, numerous Second World War veterans and serving reservists, including many Camerons, chose to volunteer for the new battalions that were being raised to go to Korea.
In 1960, the Regiment celebrated its 50th Birthday. Part of the celebrations, the performing of a retreat ceremony on the Manitoba Legislative grounds
Manitoba Legislative Building
The Manitoba Legislative Building is the meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, in central Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was originally named the Manitoba Parliament Building, not Legislative. The neoclassical building was completed in 1920 and stands seventy-seven meters tall...
, was broadcast on national television. The decade would provide little else to celebrate. The 1960s saw a serious erosion of Militia capabilities and morale. Undermanned and issued with aging or obsolete equipment, the reserves were not seen as playing any useful role in a major overseas conflict, particularly with the strategic assessment of the day seeing any future war quickly becoming nuclear and being of short duration. Lacking a war-fighting role, the focus of the Militia concentrated more on domestic operations, particularly territorial defence and survival operations after a nuclear conflict.
During the 1970s the role of the Army Reserve shifted again. Unification of the Forces and years of budgetary reductions had resulted in Forces wide personnel shortages. The focus for the Reserves shifted to providing individual soldiers to augment Regular Force
Regular Force
In the Canadian Forces, a Regular Force unit or person is part of the full-time military, as opposed to being part of the Primary Reserve.Regular Force personnel are employed full-time, and have usually signed long-term contracts committing them to regular service...
units overseas. Camerons increasingly began to deploy as augmentees to Regular Force units on United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
duties in places such as Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, the Golan Heights and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and to participate on flyovers to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to serve with Canadian units operating with NATO in North-West Europe
North-West Europe
North-West Europe is a term that refers to a northern area of Western Europe, although the exact area or countries it comprises varies.-Geographic definition:...
.
In the spring of 1979, the Red River jumped its banks again, rising to the flood levels of 1950. While Winnipeg was protected by the massive floodway
Red River Floodway
The Red River Floodway is an artificial flood control waterway in Western Canada, first used in 1969. It is a long channel which, during flood periods, takes part of the Red River's flow around the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba to the east and discharges it back into the Red River below the dam at...
built after the 1950 flood, the farming communities to the south were largely unprotected. Within an hour of the call for assistance, the Camerons had assembled and dispatched troops to augment 2 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
(PPCLI) operating inside the ring dyke around Morris, Manitoba
Morris, Manitoba
Morris is a small town of about 1700 people in the Pembina Valley region of Manitoba, Canada, located about 50 km south of Winnipeg and 50 km north of Emerson. Morris is host to the annual Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition. Highway 75 which turns in to Interstate 29 is the major highway...
.
In the 1980s the role of the Militia was once more re-defined. The 1987 Defence White paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
espoused the belief that any conflict would only turn nuclear after a series of conventional battles, which would give the belligerents adequate time to mobilize and commit their reserves to battle. This thinking eventually gave rise to the Total Force concept in which the Reserve and Regular components were to be more fully integrated. The 1980s ended with the Regiment marking its 79th birthday in 1989. Celebrations were held at Minto Armoury with the itinerary including a military skills demonstration, a performance by the Pipes and Drums, and an all-ranks Regimental Dinner.
Post Cold War
The 1990s proved to be a very busy decade for the Regiment, both operationally and ceremonially. Falling out of Total Force was an increasing role for Reserve augmentation on overseas operations. Starting with Operation HarmonyOperation Harmony
Operation HARMONY was the name given to the Canadian participation in the United Nations Protection Force in Croatia and Bosnia in 1992....
Rotation 1 in 1992 (Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
) the Camerons began to provide a steady stream of augmentees to Regular Force units deploying on Operations.
1994 and 1995 were the years for big parades. First, the Regiment participated in the Freedom of the City parade marking the 50th anniversary of the D Day invasion. Next, the Regiment celebrated its 85th Birthday in 1995, with a parade at the Manitoba Legislature. Finally, the Camerons participated in the Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
parade marking the 50th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
(VE Day).
Fully focused on training for war once again, the late 1990s found the Regiment increasingly involved in domestic operations. In 1997, the Regiment was at ground zero for the "Flood of the Century". This time the scope of the flood was so enormous, not even the floodway could protect Winnipeg as it had in 1979. The Camerons provided volunteers for the 38 Canadian Brigade Group
38 Canadian Brigade Group
38 Canadian Brigade Group is composed of all Canadian Forces' Primary Reserve Army units in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Western Ontario East to Thunder Bay. 38 CBG is part of Land Force Western Area. Geographically, 38 CBG is Canada's largest brigade group.-Brigade Units:-External links:* official...
(38 CBG) Composite Company and spent the spring sandbagging and building dykes throughout Southern Manitoba. When the possibility of the Y2K bug
Year 2000 problem
The Year 2000 problem was a problem for both digital and non-digital documentation and data storage situations which resulted from the practice of abbreviating a four-digit year to two digits.In computer programs, the practice of representing the year with two...
threatened to paralyze the nation at the end of 1999, the Regiment was tasked to provide Provincial Task Force Manitoba (PTFMB) Company 2 for Operation Abacus
Operation Abacus
In 2000, Operation Abacus was the Canadian military operation that had troops standing by to restore vital services if the year 2000 caused disruption to computer systems....
. The company headquarters was stood up several days before the end of December and was prepared to initiate a mobilization on order.
The new millennium carried on in much the same fashion as the last decade of the previous. When the Reserves were tasked with raising a formed Rifle Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
to augment 1 PPCLI on Operation Palladium Rotation 11 to Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
in 2002, the Camerons provided the Company second-in-command, Company Administration Officer, and eight other augmentees. In August 2003, disaster struck again. With forest fires
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
raging out of control in many areas of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, the Regiment was called to provide augmentees to fight fires (Operation PEREGRINE
Operation PEREGRINE
Operation PEREGRINE was a domestic Canadian military operation that took place between August 3 and September 16, 2003.In early August 2003, British Columbia was overwhelmed by over 800 separate forest fires. Provincial fire services were stretched to the breaking point, and tens of thousands of...
). Once again, the Camerons responded to the call.
Today
Today the Camerons fulfill both military and ceremonial functions at home and abroad. As an infantry regiment, the unit's main focus is provide trained infantry soldiers to meet the operational requirements of the Canadian Forces. Whether it is augmenting Regular Force units on overseas operations or fighting floods and forest fires at home, the Camerons provide a ready source of trained soldiers. To date the Regiment has deployed 14 members to the mission in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
The Regiment parades at Minto Armoury, 969 St. Matthews Avenue in Winnipeg on Tuesday nights from the last week of August to the second week of June. During the summer unit members attend military courses throughout Canada.
Motto: Ullamh (Gaelic: Ready)
Authorized marches
- Regimental March Past: The Piobaireachd of Donald Dhu
- Regimental March: The March of the Cameron Men
- A Company March: Blue Bonnets Over the Border
- B Company March: A Hundred PipersA Hundred Pipers- Lyrics :These lyrics are in Scots.- Lyrics :These lyrics are in Scots.- Lyrics :These lyrics are in Scots.:Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',:Wi' a hundred pipers, an' a', an' a',:We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw...
- C Company March: Glendaurel Highlanders
- D Company March: Bonnie DundeeBonnie DundeeBonnie Dundee is a poem and a song about John Graham, 7th Laird of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee who was known by this nickname. The song has been used as a regimental march by several Scottish regiments in the British Army and was adapted by Confederate troops in the American Civil...
- HQ & Support Company March: The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre
- Administration Company March: Queen Elizabeth
Alliances
- The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of ScotlandSee also
- The Canadian Crown and the Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Crown and the Canadian ForcesThe place of the Canadian Crown in relation to the Canadian Armed Forces is both constitutional and ceremonial, the sovereign of Canada being the supreme commander of the forces, while he or she and the rest of the Canadian Royal Family hold honorary positions in various branches and regiments,...
- The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Museum