History of the South Sask. Reg't
Sep 1939 to Nov 1945
Weyburn |
1 Sep 39
|
Lt-Col J.E. Wright received a phone call from Brigadier Russell, District Commanding Officer M.D. 12 Regina, ordering him to mobilize the South Saskatchewan Reg't. Lt-Co. Wright phoned all Officers to meet in the Legion Hall Weyburn at 1500 hrs 1 Sep 39. |
2 Sep 39
|
The International Harvester Building was taken over as barracks and Battalion Headquarters. The Legion Hall was to be used as Officers Mess and recruiting commenced immediately. |
Many hours were spend on the Parade Square south west of the barrack, RSM Strumm's voice could be heard over a large area of Weyburn. | ||
27 May 40 | The Battalion was ordered to proceed to Camp Shilo Man. to join the rest of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade. At that time Shilo was a sea of tents. | |
Shilo | 17 Oct 40 | The Bn. left Shilo for Toronto on the first leg of the journey overseas. The Barracks proved to be the Horse Palace at Cdn. National Exhibition Grounds. |
Toronto | 16 Dec 40 | At 0800 Hrs the Bn. set sail on the "Pennland" for the final trip to England.The voyage was rough and many a man was sea sick. (Later the Pennland was sunk off the Italian Coast) |
Gourick Scotland | 25 Dec 40 | The Bn. landed and moved by train for the Southern part of England. |
Cove Hants England | 26 Dec 40 | The Bn. was stationed in Morval Barracks. While here many a mile was covered by foot and many hours spent on the Parade Square. |
Seaford Sussex | 2 July 41 | The Bn. moved to this coastal town and done Coastal Guard. |
Hartley Camp | 13 Aug 41 | This camp was better known as "Hog-Hollow" as it consisted of rain and mud. |
Seaford | Oct 41 | The Battle Stations were again taken over by the S.S.R. |
Lewes | 5 Dec 41 | The Bn. moved here in defensive positions to counter possible invasion on the South coast. It was in this area while digging new slit trenches, that three skeltons were uncovered which were supposedley buried during the Battle of Lewes in 1264. Before the English authorities could retrieve and preserve the ancient relics, parts of the teeth and skeleton had been distributed as souvenirs. |
Cowes, Isle of Weight | 18 May 42 | Rugged assault training started immediately which consisted of forced speed marches, Cliff and wall climbing, unarmed combat, breeching wire obstacles, street fighting, night compass work, and countless hours of practising landings from A.L.C.s. The two landing ships alotted to SSR were the "Princess Beatrix" and the "Prince Albert". |
Toat Hill | 1 Aug 41 | This was near Pullborough. Most men went on a well earned leave. |
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18 Aug 42 | Bn. boarded two ships, the "Princess Beatrix" & the "Invicta". |
Dieppe | 19 Aug 42 |
Bn. was included in the "Dieppe Raid" where casualties were high. A total of 19 Offrs and 321 ORs were casualties. Killed: 3 Offrs, 81 ORs Wounded: 7 Offrs, 160 ORs POWs: 9 Offrs, 80 ORs. 24 Wounded among the POWs. |
Aug 42 to Jul 44 | Many exercises held including "Flag" which was the presentation of the Colours to the Bn. by His Majesty the King. | |
Courseulles France | 7&8 Jul 44 | Marchin personnel landed 7 Jul. Bn. landed 8 Jul. |
Ryes | 9 Jul 44 | Concentration area. |
Rots | 11 Jul 44 | Assemby Area. |
Mercelet | 12 Jul 44 | Third line defence. Lt-Col Clift took over Command 4 Cdn Inf Brigade. Major G.R. Mathews A/CO, S.S.R. |
CAEN | 10 July 44 | Assembley Area |
Ifs | 20 July 44 | Bn's Fidt battle. Casualties 8 Offrs and 56 ORs killed including Major G.R. Mathews, A/CO. 5 Offrs and 121 ORs wounded, 4 missing and 27 POW. |
Lavillenures | 21 July 44 | Re-organized. Major N.A. Adams A/CO. |
Ifs | 23 July 44 | Defensive Posn. Moaning Minnies. Major WS Edmondson A/CO. Lt Col Clift returned 2 Offrs 19 ORs killed. 6 Offrs & 77 ORs wounded. |
Verriers | 4 Aug 44 | Defensive posn (Hell's Corner) 3 Offrs and 11 ORs killed, 2 Offrs & 25 ORs wounded. |
Rocquancourt | 7 Aug 44 | SSR attacked at 2330 hours. Consolidated 8 Aug. Put in attack to relieve Cam. of C. and took over 400 prisoners. Found many bodies of personnel missing on 23 Jul 44. 1 Offr, 14 ORs killed, 3 Offrs, 39 ORs wounded. |
Urville | 12 Aug 44 | Took over defensive posn from S&DGs |
LeMesral | 13 Aug 44 | Took up posn 5 Bde consolidated. 3 ORs wounded. |
Clair Tiyon | 14 Aug 44 | Attacked and took German Hospital. Counter attacked. 1 Off & 25 ORs killed. 3 Offrs & 27 ORs wounded. 2 Offrs & 1 OR missing. |
Ussy | 15 Aug 44 | Went through and cleared. |
Villers Canivent | 15 Aug 44 | Taken by S.S.R. 4 Bde & Tks went through in evening. |
Falaise | 16 Aug 44 | SSR attacked and cleared. Tks in support. Cam of C on right flank. 16 ORs killed. 5 Offrs & 21 ORs wounded. |
Causey | 19 Aug 44 | Took over SDGs. 4 ORs wounded. |
Orbec | 23 Aug 44 | Taken by SSR. Lt Col F. A. Clift promoted to Brig in Comd 6 Bde. Major FB Courtney took over Comd SSR. FFI Caves. 2 ORs killed 1 Offr & 22 ORs wounded. |
Brione | 24 Aug 44 | Taken by SSR. Bombed by Jerry during night. Blew in windows of Chateau where BHQ was located. Dropped AP bomb which exploded at 0630 hrs 25 Aug 44. Made hole 60 ft wide & 20 ft deep. 1 Offr & 1 OR killed. 2 ORs wounded. |
Foret De La Londe | 27 Aug 44 | Attacked through forest. C.Coy Pl. cut off Lt. Schubert tak POW, Major Courtney & Capt Hadley killed by mine. Brig F.A. Clift wounded. Coy Strengths very low. Major E.W. Thomas C/O. 8 Offrs Incl. Major Courtney & Capt. Hadley and 35 ORs Killed. 10 Offrs & 135 ORs wounded. 1 Offr & 4 ORs taken PW & 1 Off & 5 ORs escaped from their German Captors. |
Rouen | 31 Aug 44 | Moved in behind Recce. First good break for SSR. Coys all travelled on F Ech vehicles. No German. |
Dieppe | 1 Sep 44 | SSR returned after 2 years 13 days. Memorial Parade. March Past. Major G.B. Buchanan C/O. |
Wailley Beaumont | 5 Sep 44 | Assembly Area |
Louches | 6 Sep 44 | Arrived after travelling a day & a night. Rained hard. Vehicles lost in ditch. Went up winding hill. Rested. |
Hondshoote | 8 Sep 44 | F & A Ech seperated. F going to Neuport. |
BELGIUM Neuport |
8 Sep 44 | Taken night 8/9 Sep 44 by SSR with help of Belgium White Brigade. Good Welcome. 5 ORs killed. 2 Offs and 17 ORs wounded. |
Neuport Bains Fort | 13 Sep 44 | Fort surrendered officially at 0830 hours. Total PW taken 8 Offrs 270 ORs. |
Bray Dunes Plage | 13 Sep 44 | Helped C of C. Hard fighting. Lots of mines. Lt-Col BR Ritchie took over as C/O. 3 Offrs & 17 ORs killed. 60 ORs wounded. |
Contich | 19 Sep 44 | Rest area. The best. Gals??? 19-22 Sep44 new C/O Lt-Col V. Stott |
Job Int Goor | 23 Sep 44 | Cross canal from Lochtenberg, Canal crossing and withdrawal. Major HP Williams killed. |
24 Sep 44 | Moved to Assembly area south of canal south of Brecht. Major J.M. Stewart killed by Snipers during move 29 Sep 44. 5 Offrs incl. Major Williams & Stewart & 12 ORs killed. 1 Offr & 36 ORs wounded. 1 OR missing. 5 PRs POW. | |
Lochtenberg | 2 Oct 44 | Taken by SSR. 1 OR killed. 3 Offrs & 16 ORs wounded. |
Brasschaet | 3 Oct 44 | Taken by SSR at 1800 hrs. Town put up posters. 3 ORs killed & 4 wounded. |
Breacht |
4 Oct 44 | Took over Def. posn from RHC (Black Watch) 1 Offr & 1 OR killed. 10 ORs wounded. |
HOLLAND Groot Meer |
9 Oct 44 | Came under comd 4 Bde. Took up position on right flank 10 Oct 44. A Coy surrounded & relieved. Maj. KA Williams taken prisoner but escaped. 8 ORs killed. 1 Offr & 44 ORs wounded. |
Hoogerhyde | 14 Oct 44 | Defensive Position. 17 ORs killed. 3 Offrs & 34 ORs wounded. 9 ORs PW. |
23 Oct 44 | Attacked north from Hoogerhyde. Jerries moved out night 23/24 OCt 44. 24 Oct moved back to Hoogerhyde. Rested. 1 Offr & 4 ORs killed. 1 Offr & 25 ORs wounded, 1 OR missing. | |
Zuid Beveland | 25 Oct 44 | Bn. moved to peninsula. |
26 Oct 44 | Bn. releived Essex Scotish. Brig C. Gouvrea & Bde I.O. wounded when jeep hit a mine. Lt-Col Thompson A/Bde Comd. 5 ORs killed and 1 Offr & 7 ORs wounded. | |
Zuid Beverland Canal | 27 Oct 44 | Bn. reached canal during morning. During night 27/28 Oct Bn crossed canal and estevalished first bridgehead. |
Schore | 28 Oct 44 | Taken by SSR during early morning. F Ech. vehicles moved over canal and 4 Bde went through. 27/28 Oct 44. 4 ORs killed and 13 ORs wounded. |
Oostdijk | 28 Oct 44 | |
Biezelinge | 29 Oct 44 | Bn HQ & Fl crossed canal. |
Gravenpolder | 29 Oct 44 | Relieved 5 Bde who pushed on |
Nisse | 30 Oct 44 | Rested. A Ech. moved up to Bn. Received word peninsula clear. 1 OR wounded. |
BELGIUM Willebrok |
1 Nov 44 | Rested. Left 8 Nov 44 |
Antwerp | 8 Nov 44 | Passed through. |
Turnhout | 8 Nov 44 | Passed through. |
HOLLAND Tilburg |
9 Nov 44 | Passed through. |
Shertogenbosch | 9 Nov 44 | Passed through. |
Mook | 9 Nov 44 | Reichwald. 6 Bde releived 214 Br. Inf Bde. Interchanged with Fus M.R. and Cam of C on front line duty. Front line approx 1400 yards from Germany. 7 ORs killed. 33 ORs wounded. 2 ORs missing & 4 ORs PW. |
1 Dec 44 | Announced that CSM Smith JA and Cpl Mitchell WJA had been awarded Military Medal. Cpl Mitchell was awarded the Military Medal posthumously. | |
Malden | 1 Dec 44 | 6 Bde moved to Div. reserve. SSR in Malden. |
Groesbeek | 8 Dec 44 | Defensive position. Relieved Calgary Highrs. D Coy put in an attack on German positions. 1 Offr & 10 ORs killed, 3 Offrs & 27 ORs wounded. |
Cuijk | 23 Dec 44 | 6 Bde on Div. Reserve. Bns 5th Xmas overseas. |
Driehuizen | 29 Dec 44 | SSR in Corps reserve. Held Bn dance. Spent New Years Eve here. Bns casualties since landing in Europe. 101 Offrs & 1554 ORs. Total 1655 in all ranks. |
Nijmegan | 6 Jan 45 | Consolidation area. |
Mook | 11 Jan 45 | Relieved Calgary Highrs in front of Reichwald Forest. Lots of rain and mud. 11 ORs killed. 1 Offr & 27 ORs wounded. 2 ORs missing. |
8 Feb 45 | Assault on Siegried line launched by 30 Br. Corps. | |
Nijmegan | 14 Feb 45 | Consolidation area. |
GERMANY Bedburg |
17 Feb 45 | Bn. crossed German border at 1355 hrs. |
Honnigserg | 18 Feb 45 | Assembly area. |
Calcar Heights | 26 Feb 45 | The PIMPLE taken by SSR with use of Kangaroos. 1 Offr & 7 ORs killed, 17 ORs wounded. |
Kiresel | 27 Feb 45 | Rest area. Lt-Col Stott became A/Comd. 6 Cdn Inf Bde. Maj G.B. Buchanan A/Com SSR |
The Gap-Hockwald | 1 Mar 45 | Relieved Lincoln & Welland Reg't. Moaning Minnies. Allied Rocket Projectors. 5 ORs wounded. |
Hockwald Forest | 3 Mar 45 | 6 Bde had task of clearing forest, SSR took first bite. 1 Offr & 11 ORs killed. 1 Offr & 31 ORs wounded. |
Near Xanten | 5 Mar 45 | Took up defensive posn 1 mile from Xanten. 2 ORs killed & 4 ORs wounded. |
8 Mar 45 | Battle for Xanten started. SSR came under Comd. of 5 Bde. 5 ORs wounded. | |
9 Mar 45 | Maj. Buchanan wounded. Maj. F. Lee took over Comd. of Bn. 1 Offr & 5 ORs killed. 3 Offrs & 11 ORs wounded. | |
10 Mar 45 | SSR relieved Calgary Highrs. Lt-Col. Stott returned to Bn. | |
Kellen | 13 Mar 45 | Bn. rest area. Some shells, Cleared civilians from Rhine. |
Reichwald | 19 Mar 45 | Rest area. Brig JV Allard DSO & Bar took over Comd 6 Cdn Inf. Bde. Lt-Col V. Stott awarded DSO. CSM Allan awarded DCM. Rhine crossed by 21 Army Grp on 24 Mar 45. Announced Lt-Col FA Clift recieved DSO, 1 OR wounded (Schumine) |
Rhine River | 28 Mar 45 | Bn crossed over "Black Friars" bridge at 2140 hrs. |
Bienen | 29 Mar 45 | Arrived at 0010 hrs. Conc. area. |
HOLLAND Megchelen |
29 Mar 45 | Assembly area. |
Gendreingen | 31 Mar 45 | Short battles. 2 ORs killed, 1 Offr & 22 ORs wounded. |
Terborg | 2 Apr 45 | Short battles. |
Schipbeek Canal | 7 Apr 45 | Crossed at 0320 hrs. 1 Offr & 8 ORs killed, 2 Offrs & 25 ORs wounded, 7 to 11 Apr 45. |
Oranje Canal | 12 Apr 45 | Crossed at 0730 hrs, Jewish Concentration Camp. 1 Offr & 4 ORs wounded. |
Groningen | 15 Apr 45 | SSR cleared SW corner. Liquor - Civilians. 1 OR wounded. |
Zuidwolde | 17 Apr 45 | Rest area. Bn dance. |
GERMANY Wildeshausen |
21 Apr 45 | Conc. area |
Sandhatten | 23 Apr 45 | SSR too and consolidated. A Echelon ammunition dump hit by shell. Blew up. 11 Offrs & 25 ORs wounded. 2 Offrs & 2 ORs killed. |
Oldenburg Forest | 2 May 45 | Cleared by 6 Bde. 1 Offr & 1 OR wounded. (Lt. VP Maxwell & Sgt JH Forsythe) |
Oldenburg | 3 May 45 | Burgomaster surrendered city. Largest German city taken by First Cdn. Army. |
CEASE FIRE |
Casualties to date:
41 | Offrs | 322 | ORs | Killed |
63 | Offrs | 983 | ORs | Wounded |
2 | Offrs | 12 | ORs | Missing |
1 | Offrs | 49 | ORs | POW |
107 | Offrs | 1366 | ORs | Total Battle Casualties |
19 | Offrs | 622 | ORs | Other Casualties |
126 | Offrs | 1988 | ORs | Total Casualties |
GERMANS FACING 21 ARMY GROUP SURRENDERED UNCONDITIONALLY AT 0200 hrs 5 MAY 1945
5 May 45 | Lt-Col C.C.I. Merritt VC visited unit. | |
Ofen | 6 May 45 | Personnel requirements made up. Offrs & Sgts. mess set up. |
German airport | 11 May 45 | Checked ammn dumps & displaced personnel. |
Aurich | 17 May 45 | Ammn dumps. Displaced personnel, Guards on Ems Jade Canal |
28 May 45 | Gen. HGD Creerer, CB, DSO, GOC 1st Cdn Army visited Bn HQ. | |
30 May 45 | Lt-Gen. GG Simonds, CB, CBE, DSO, Inspected 6 Cdn Bde. | |
May 45 | Bn. done occupational duties. No Fraternizing. Shortly before moving from here a group went to Dieppe to help celebrate 19 Aug. A big welcome was on hand. | |
Jul 45 | Bn. moved to Ammersford Holland on its first leg of the journey to Canada. | |
1 Oct 45 | Bn. arrived at Dover England and moved to #2 Repatriation Dept. at Sheffield Park. From here men scattered all over England to say good-bye to old friends and relatives. |
14 Nov 45 | Copy of last Part II Orders issued reads "SSR reduced to NIL strength pending disbandment 14 Nov 45" Signed by Capt. E.H. Marriott. Adj. 1st st Bn. South Sask. Reg't. | |
14 Nov 45 | SSR boarded the "Queen Elizabeth" and set sail from Southampton at 0700hrs 15 Nov 45 for Canada. | |
19 Nov 45 | Landed in Halifax Canada at 1300 hrs. | |
20 Nov 45 | Bn. boarded special train on its last leg of the journey for Weyburn, Sask. | |
24 Nov 45 | Arrived in Weyburn, Sask. at 1030 hrs where a very large crowd welcomed all aboard. |
Lieut | Dalziel | J.A. | |
L-12389 | Pte | Eskdale | W.J. |
L-12499 | Pte | Johnson | O.A. |
L-12291 | CQMS | Mercier | J.B. |
L-12489 | CSM | MacPhail | L.A. |
L-12294 | Sgt | Piasetski | J.C. |
L-12005 | Sgt | Symons | C.C. |
L-12502 | CSM | Ward | C. |
L-12550 | CSM | Allan | D.A. |
L-12654 | Sgt | Fisher | S.E. |
L-12452 | CSM | Linton | D. |
L-13028 | Sgt | Mundy | A.E. |
H-6117 | CQMS | Pateman | M.M. |
L-12804 | CSM | Smallwood | F.R. |
L-17115 | Sgt | Symons | G.A. |
L-12666 | Sgt | Wetch | J. |
TOTAL CASUALTIES OCCURED IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY
DIEPPE
|
1944-45
|
TOTAL
|
Offrs
|
ORs
|
Offrs
|
ORs
|
Offrs
|
ORs
|
Total
|
Killed |
3
|
81
|
41
|
342
|
44
|
423
|
467
|
Wounded |
6
|
151
|
63
|
983
|
69
|
1134
|
1203
|
Missing |
2
|
12
|
2
|
12
|
14
|
||
Prisoners of War |
9
|
79
|
1
|
49
|
10
|
128
|
138
|
Sick |
16
|
460
|
16
|
460
|
476
|
||
Exhausted |
70
|
70
|
70
|
||||
Injured |
3
|
92
|
3
|
92
|
95
|
||
Escaped Prisoners of War |
2
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
||
Killed in Training |
2
|
6
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
TOTAL |
18
|
311
|
130
|
2019
|
148
|
2330
|
2478
|