Operation Paddle 1st Para Battalion
August 16-23, 1944 CANADIAN CAMPAIGN in ITALY – Route to Rimini
August 25-30, 1944 Deventer.
April 8 - 11, 1945 Pte. W. H. DUPHETTE, A119506, R.C.A.S.C. DOAI. From Paincourt
Cpl. Thomas Sheldon BISSETT, A50435, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Blenheim, Pte. Kenneth John FORD. A117396, Essex Scottish Regt. DOW. From Blenheim. Pte. Gordon J. GILHULLY. A50062, Algonquin Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg. Pte. Jock M. MAXWELL. A115620, Lincoln & Welland Regt. KIA. From Chatham, Lieut. William Highfield VESTER. Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
March 8th, 1045 September 1, 1939 – War begins with Germany
Between 1939 – 1945, 1,000,000 Canadian men and women from a total population of about 12 million would serve in what would become the Second Great War of the twentieth century.
The longest battle of the Second World War, the Battle of the Atlantic was fought primarily by the Navy, beginning on 3 September 1939 it would continue without interruption until 8 May 1945. During that period the Royal Canadian Navy would loose 24 warships,2,024 lives lost and 319 wounded, mostly in the North Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Besides the RCN losses the Canadian merchant marine would loose 70 ships sunk with 319 lives lost.
HMCS Fraser and St. Laurent depart Vancouver for Halifax.
August 28th, 1939 Germany invades Poland.
September 1st, 1939 Britain declares war on Germany
The beginning of the “Phony War”.
The passenger liner S.S. Athenia is torpedoed, killing 118, the first Canadian of the war,
Stewardess Hannah Baird of Quebec, was one of the 118.
The Essex Scottish (it became the Essex Scottish Highlanders in 1927) were mobilized as the 1st Bn. Essex Scottish.
September 3rd, 1939 Sgt.(P) Albert Stanley PRINCE 580195 KIA 4/09/1939 with RAF 107 Sqd. 1st Canadian fatality of WWII.
September 4th, 1939 The S.S. Athena is sunk by the German submarine U-30. 118 of the 1,000 passengers and crew were lost, including ‘several Canadians’.
September 9th, 1939 Canada declares war on Germany – the first and only time Canada has declared war.
September 10th, 1939 Major W. Home MC, Royal Canadian Regt. and Major Brook-Baxter Essex Scottish and Lt. Col. T. E. Codlin begin recruitment for war.
September 11th, 1939 Enlistments begin in Chatham.
September 12th, 1939 The first Canadian convoy of 18 merchant ships (HX-1) sails for Britain, accompanied by HMCS Fraser and St. Laurent.
September 16th, 1939 Hitler proposes peace with Britain and France in recognition of the status quo. Both countries reject to proposal.
October 6th, 1939 Advance party of Canadian officers lands in Britain.
November 13th, 1939 P/O (P) John Gosnell LEE. C979, RCAF Station Trenton, ON. DOAA. From Highgate.
November 29th, 1939 Russia invades Finland.
Suffers 126,000 killed and 300,000 wounded by March of 1940 when a peace treaty is signed with the Finns.
November 30th, 1939 Inauguration of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan to train pilots and aircrew in Canada
The ‘first flight’ of the main body of Canadian troops arrive in Scotland. The 1st Division sailed on the ships: Aquitania, Empress of Britain, Empress of Australia, Duchess of Bedford and the Monarch of Bermuda. In total 7500 Canadian troops landed.
December 17th, 1939 The ‘2nd Flight of the 1st Division arrived in England.
December 30th, 1939 1st of five Canadian Divisions depart Halifax for England.
January 1940 The 3rd Flight of the 1st Division (Artillery) arrived in Britain.
February 7th, 1940 British Commonwealth Air Training Plan opens No. 1 ITS at Eglington Hunt Club, Toronto. The “Phoney War” ends.
April 8th, 1940 Hitler invades Norway and Denmark.
Hitler invades Norway and Denmark.
April 9th, 1940 Hitler invades the Low Countries (Belgium and Holland) and France.
Battle of France begins.
May 10th, 1940 Netherlands surrenders.
The RAF begins ‘strategic bombing’ of German targets.
May 15th, 1940 Germans enter Brussels.
May 17th, 1940 German troops sweeps along the Atlantic coast and the BEF falls back on Dunkirk.
May 22nd, 1940 1st Canadian Division ordered to France to secure Dunkirk perimeter.
May 23rd, 1940 German battleship Bismarck sinks HMS Hood in North Atlantic.
HMCS Skeena, Restigouche, St. Laurient sail for England; HMCS Fraser departed from Bermuda.
May 24th, 1940 OPERATION DYNAMO
The evacuation of the BEF at Dunkirk begins the evacuation is completed on 4 June. 354,628 British and French soldiers evacuated from the French beaches leaving all of their equipment behind.
May 25th, 1940 Bismarck is sunk by RN ships.
May 26th, 1940 The evacuation of troops from Dunkirk begins.
May 27th, 1940 King Leopold capitulates to the German Army.
May 28th, 1940 “Canadian Force” for Europe formed from the 1st Division as a ‘rapid reply force’.
May 29th, 1940 Dunkirk evacuation underway.
June 4th, 1940 The last of 358,628 British soldier leaves Dunkirk.
June 5th, 1940 Canadian 1st Div. moves into Brest, France as a 2nd BEF. General McNaughton says he is “Not particularly interested in prisoners.”
June 8th, 1940 Italy enters war allied to Germany.
June 10th, 1940 Cdn. 1st Div. evacuated from Brittany.
Canadian troops had reached the outskirts of LaMans in France in the “Forlorn Hope” of stemming the German advance through France when they were recalled. Commanded by Brigadier A. A. Smith all but 6 Canadians that were MIA returned to Britain.
June 13th - 14th, 1940 Germans enter Paris.
June 14th, 1940 France surrenders to Germany.
June 17th, 1940 Churchill speaks in the House of Commons. “the battle of France is over, I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin”.
June 18th, 1940 France Surrenders.
The French leader Marshal Petain accepts the German occupation and the puppet state of “Vichy” is established.
June 21st, 1940 French Marshal Petain signs armistice with Germany, France surrenders.
June 22nd, 1940 HMCS FRASER (Destroyer) Sunk, 59 lives lost in Mid-ocean collision with with HMS CALCUTTA.
AS. Arthur Robert SAUNDERS. V41047, HMCS Fraser. LAS. From Tilbury.
June 25th, 1940 30 Evacuation of Dunkirk.
June 27th, 1940 The Essex Scottish are training at Camp Bordon.
July 1940 The first Canadian fatalities in England from enemy action occurs at Aldershot when 3 are killed, 1 officer and 28 other ranks are wounded from German bombing.
July 6th, 1940 Germany begins the “CHANNEL Battle” to disrupt shipping in the English Channel.
July 7th, 1940 Luftwaffe bombs Welsh ports and Battle of Britain Begins.
375 German fighter and bombers begin attacks.
July 8th, 1940 The first of the German air force attacks against the RAF bases in England the Battle of Britain begins.
July 10th, 1940 PO. D. A. Hewitt is the first Canadian Killed in Action in the Battle of Britain.
July 11th, 1940 Hitler signs off on “Operation Sea Lion” – The invasion of England.
July 13th, 1940 Essex Scottish leave for Halifax, NS.
July 14th, 1940 Order #16, Hitler launches OPERATION SEA LION – the invasion of England.
The Essex Scottish embark on the E53 at Halifax.
July 16th, 1940 Essex Scottish leave Halifax, escorted by HMS Revenge for the UK.
July 23rd, 1940 Essex Scottish pass Northern Ireland.
August 1st, 1940 The 2nd Canadian Division begins to arrive in Britain.
The Essex Scottish disembark at Gourock, Scotland.
August 2nd, 1940 “Adlertag” ‘Eagle Day’ the start of German air assault on England “Battle of Britian”.
Would continue as “Adlerangriff” until the 24th of August. RAF destroys 185 German aircraft and loose only 25 of their planes.
August 12th, 1940 RCAF’s No. 1 Fighter Squadron add to “Order of Battle”. It later became 401 Sqd.
August 17th, 1940 London, England first bombing by German aircraft.
August 24th, 1940 RAF bomb Berlin with 75 Wellington and Hampden twin-engine bombers.
August 25th, 1940 1st Engagement, over southern England between No.1 Fighter Sqd., RCAF squadron and the Luftwaffe. Three enemy destroyed, 4 damaged. F/O. R. L. Edwards was KIA.
The Essex Scottish’s C-Coy. Help fight fires at Puttenham.
August 26th, 1940 RAF’s “Canadian” Squadron in actin during the Battle of Britain.
August 30th, 1940 Germans OPERATION SEA LION in planning for the invasion of England, planned for 21 September. RAF Fighter Command suffered it’s greatest loss in a single day losing 39 fighters shot down and 19 pilots KIA.
August 31st, 1940 The “Blitz” begins.
German’s bomb London, England during the next four months of the ‘Blitz’, 22,000 civilians would be killed and another 20,000 in 1941. Hitler had ordered the Luftwaffe to switch their attacks from bombing RAF stations and aircraft manufacturing plants and to focus on bombing London.
September 7th, 1940 The second and troops of the 2nd Division arrive in Britain.
The German air force loses 56 aircraft and 136 men to the RAF’s 29 aircraft and 12 pilots KIA. Hitler ends his plan to invade England
September 15th, 1940 Battle of Britain Day (Post War – Celebration).
September 15th, 1940 Hitler postpones operation Sea Lion indefinitely.
September 17th, 1940 Purposed date for Operation Sea Lion by Hitler.
September 21st, 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan sign tripartite pact in Berlin.
September 27th, 1940 The Luftwaffa shifts their bombing campaign from RAF Fighter Command to bombing London.
September 30th, 1940 HMCS BRAS D’OR Sunk, 30 lives lost.
October 18th, 1940 HMCS MARGAREE H49 (Destroyer) Sunk, 142 lives lost; mid-ocean collision at 53.24 N. – 22.50W. 86 of the 142 lost were from HMCS FRASER, SUNK 25/06/40.
October 22nd, 1940 The Battle of Britain is won by the RAF.
October 31st, 1940 Luftwaffe firebombs Coventry, England.
November 14th, 1940 The Canadian “Force C” consisting of 1,973 soldiers and 2 Nurses arrive in Hong Kong.
November 16th, 1940 “Operation Abigail Rachel” – the forerunner to Bomber Commands “area bombing” of German cities and towns begins.
December 1st, 1940 The “Great Fire Raid” against London takes place.
December 29th - 30th, 1940 By this date 56,000 Canadian troops had arrive in Britain and begin training for the Defence of Great Britain.
January 1st, 1941 Operation “Exercise Fox” a training exercise in the south of England is a traffic control failure.
February 11th - 13th, 1941 Ari Marshal Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris takes command of Bomber Command.
February 24th, 1941 HMCS OTTER (Armed Yacht) Sunk, 19 lives lost.
March 26th, 1941 April would see the German Air Force begin a series of “Baedeker” raids against the ‘Cathedral Towns of England.
Two German ships scuttled of Peru when intercepted by the Canadian armed merchant Cruiser “Prince Henry”.
April 1st, 1941 No. 402 RCAF fighter squadron make first attack over enemy territory.
April 15th, 1941 No. 405 RCAF is the first Canadian Squadron to be activated for combat at Driffeld, Yorkshire, England.
April 23rd, 1941 The S. S. Nerissa was torpedoed by the German U-552, commanded by Eric Topp.
The troopship sank in four minutes, 100 miles North West of the Donegal coast of Ireland, taking 84 of the 290 aboard to their deaths. This was the only troopship to loose Canadian troops en route to the United Kingdom in WWII which would total 500,000 by the war’s end.
April 30th, 1941 The bombing of Liverpool results in Canadian troops taking part in fire fighting and civilian rescues.
May 3rd - 4th, 1941 Last night of the London Blitz, 5,520 civilians will be killed in May, 406 in June and by December only 34 would die in a month.
May 10th, 1941 The Royal Navy HMS Hood is sunk by the German battleship “Bismark” in the Atlantic.
May 24th, 1941 The German battleship “Bismark” is sunk by ships of the Royal Navy all but 115 of the ships crew of 2,222 were lost at sea.
May 27th, 1941 1,047 Bombers (78 RCAF) attack Cologne, Germany the first of the 1000 plane attacks.
May 31st, 1941 405 Sqd. does 1st operational flight against the railway yard at Schwete, Germany.
June 12th, 1941 Exercise “Waterloo” involved 100,000 troop in a practice invasion of Britain.
June 16th, 1941 German troops invade Russia, “Operation Barbarosa” With 148 Divisions (3,050,000 men).
June 22nd, 1941 L/Bdr. Samuel HOPKINS. B12146, Royal Cdn. Artillery. DONC. From Bothwell.
June 26th, 1941 The 3rd Division arrives in Britian.
July 1941 The RCAF is authorized to enlist women, followed by the Army and Navy. 17,000 RCAF(WD) would enlist during the war.
July 2nd, 1941 Sgt. (Pilot) Frederick Slade, HOUSTON. R68200, # 10 Operation training Unit, KIA. From Chatham.
July 22nd, 1941 Canadian Women’s Army Corps established. 21,264 would enlist during the war. There would also be 4,400 Nurses.
August 1941 Camp – X in Ontario, opens to train SOE (Special Operations Executive) to train special agents for secret operations.
August 1st, 1941 Sgt. (P). Raymond George SMITH. R68180, 142 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Chatham.
August 2nd, 1941 Churchill meets Roosevelt at Placentia Bay NFLD.
August 9th - 12th, 1941 P/O William Aloysius CASEY, J3270, 99 Sqd.(RAF) KIA. From Ridgetown.
August 17th, 1941 Spitsbergen, Norway invaded.
August 25th, 1941 Sgt. (P) William Fred BODKIN, R71531, 41 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
August 28th, 1941 Spitsbergen abandoned.
September 3rd, 1941 USS Greer attacks U-652 while on way to Iceland.
September 4th, 1941 Spitsbergen abandoned.
September 8th, 1941 HMCS Chambly and Moosejaw attack and sink U-501 in the Denmark Straits. The RCN first U-Boat kill.
September 10th, 1941 HMCS LEVIS (Corvette) Sunk, 18 lives lost.
September 19th, 1941 P/O (OB). Ernest Little SIMPSON. J7226, RCAF. KIA. From Ridgetown.
October 15th, 1941 U552 sinks USS Reuben James killing 115 of the crew of 160.
October 31st, 1941 Canadian troops land in Hong Kong to reinforce British troops.
November 7th, 1941 Between the months of October and November the 5th Canadian Armoured Division arrived in Britain.
November 30th, 1941 Japanese bomb American Naval base at Pearl Harbour.
HMCS WINDFLOWER (Corvette) Sunk, 23 lives lost. In collision with the Dutch freighter ‘Zyphenberg’ in heavy fog.
December 7th, 1941 BATTLE of HONG KONG.
December 8th - 25th, 1941 D Company, Winnipeg Grenadiers joins the British and Indian troops on mainland of Hong Kong and become the first Canadian Army unit in conflict with the enemy
11 Dec. they reinforce the ‘Gin Drinker Line on Chinese mainland. CSM. John Osborn is KIA, throwing himself on a Japanese grenade, he would be Canada’s 1st Victoria Cross winner in WWII.
December 8th - 10th, 1941 Mainland Hong Kong abandoned to the enemy.
The German U-Boat force begins “Paukenschlag” (Drumbeat) the attack on US merchant ships on the east coast of the United States resulting in the loss of 609 Allied ships by mid-March.
December 13th, 1941 Japanese penetrate the gap at Lye Mun engaging the Royal Rifles of Canada on island of Hong Kong.
December 18th, 1941 Wong Neil Chong and Mount Parker.
December 18th, 1941 Blue Pool Valley, Mount Butler, Wan Hill, Wong Nei Chong.
December 19th, 1941 Bridge Hill.
December 21st, 1941 Bennett’s Hill.
December 24th, 1941 Hong Kong is surrendered to the Japanese at 15:15 hrs. Christmas Day.
Of the force of 2,000 who sailed from Vancouver to Hong Kong 290 were Killed, 493 wounded
4 shot trying to escape, 50 died of diphtheria and 267 died in captivity making 611 fatalities in the defense of Hong Kong. Commonwealth losses defending Hong Kong 11,848 (including civilians). Japanese lose 675 killed and 2,o79 wounded.
December 25th, 1941 By the start of 1942 125,000 Canadian troops were in the United Kingdom.
January 21st, 1942 German U-boats begin using the four-rotor ‘Enigma’ machine to code messages sinks S.S. Tacoma Star.
The introduction of the four-rotor encryption (replacing the 3 rotor) code which had been broken by the Bletchey Park code-breakers left the Royal Navy ‘blind’ to the operations of the German U-Boats until December of 1942, almost costing the Allies WWII. During that time the Germans sank 7.1 million tons of cargo. To the U-boats this was the 2nd “Happy Time”.
February 1st, 1942 HMCS SPIKENARD (Corvette) Sunk, 57 lives lost.
L/Str. Stuart GALBRAITH, LAS (HMCS SPIKENARD) – From Blenheim.
February 10th, 1942 Sgt. William Beverly LENOVER. R83012, 407 Sqd. KIA. From Northwood.
February 12th, 1942 British begin “area bombing” of Germany.
February 14th, 1942 Singapore falls to Japanese troops.
February 15th, 1942 Singapore falls to Japanese troops.
March 28th, 1942 Koggala, Ceylon.
March 28th, 1942 Captain Hughes-Hallet R.N. – Naval Force Commander, Target Committee working with Combined Operations considers a plan to to attack the French coast, a plan to “gain experience”.
April 1942 General Crerar replaces General McNaughton as CO-1st Canadian Corps.
April 6th, 1942 The General staff and Home Forces begin plans for a large raid on the French coast Lt. General B. L. Montgomery and Lt. General H.D.G. Crerar – G.O.C. the 1st Cdn. Corps.
April 14th, 1942 Pte Charles Oliver CAINS, A50130, RCASC 1st Div. DOAI. From Ridgetown.
April 15th - 16th, 1942 General Crerar meets with Lt. Gen. Bernard Montgomery and agrees to ‘Operation Rutter’.
April 27th, 1942 Flt. Sgt. William Joseph VALKENIER. R78640, 419 Sqd. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
May 6th, 1942 German U-Boat torpedoes a transport ship in the St. Lawrence River.
May 11th, 1942 The German submarine U-553 sinks two ships in the St. Lawrence River.
May 12th, 1942 Exercise “Tigar” in Britain.
May 19th - 30th, 1942 Sgt. Roy George DUSTEN. R68328, 418 Sqd. KIA. From Dresden.
P/O(OB) Maldwyn Wyn WILLIAMS. J7204, 103 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Merlin.
May 20th, 1942 “OPERATION MILLENNIUM” – 1,047 RAF/RCAF Bombers attack Cologne, Germany. This was the 1st “1000” Plane Raid by Bomber Command.
May 30th - 31st, 1942 2nd 1000 bomber raid against Essen.
June 1st, 1942 3rd in the “Millennium” 1000 plane raids this against Breman. 49 planes were lost.
June 25th - 26th, 1942 Cpl. Daniel Ernest FRANKLIN. A21657, Essex Scottish Regt. DOAI. From Wallaceburg.
July 3rd, 1942 Flt. Sgt. John Beverly PLESSENCE. R67907, 408 Sqd. (Bombers). KIA. From Chatham.
July 22nd, 1942 Capt. Jack Tachaberry ANDERSON – Essex Scottish Regt.DOAI.
Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens) was established. (6,781 would enlist during the war.
Ldr. Norville Small, No. 10 Sqd. Eastern Air Command flying in a Lockheed Hudson aircraft sank U-754 Canada’s 1st submarine kill by aircraft.
July 31st, 1942 L/Cpl. Franklin Murray MCKISHNIE. A49834. Kent Regt. DOAI. From Chatham.
August 1st, 1942 HMCS Sackville sinks German submarine in the Atlantic.
August 3rd, 1942 F/Sgt. Harold Alexander BROWN, R67850, 419 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
P/O. Charles Stephen LENOVER. J15980, 156 Sqd. (RAF) From Chatham.
Flt. Sgt. Stanley Raymond LUPTON. R63733, 102 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
August 6th, 1942
Clerk Joseph JORDON. R67506, RCAF UWO Depot. DOAI. From Chatham.
August 15th, 1942 OPERATION JUBILEE The RAID on DIEPPE, France.
At 04:50 4,963 men from six infantry battalions of the 2nd Canadian Division, the 14th Calgary Tank Regt and 1,07 British commandos plus 50 American Rangers made five landing along a 10 mile front at the French costal town of Dieppe.
4,963 Canadians embarked for the raid on Dieppe 2110 returned (1946 casualties were taken as POW’s and 907 fatalities)
August 19th, 1942 Pte. Ralph Douglas DAVIDSON. A21692, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Tilbury.
Pte. Victor George ERREY. A3762, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
L/Cpl. Joseph Augustine FOSTER. A21704, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
L/Cpl. Alfred H. HALL. A19167, Royal Cdn. Engineers, KIA. From Ridgetown.
Sgt. Andrew LENNOX. A21576, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Coatsworth.
Pte. Edwin Thomas MILLEN. B67723, Royal Cdn. Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
Pte. Charles Leslie MORLEY. A21174, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Bothwell.
Pte. Vendel REIDL. A22905, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
Pte. James William STEERS. A22205, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
Sgt. William Gordon TAYLOR. A21888, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
Pte. Ronald Kenrick TOWLE. A22345, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Wheatley.
4,963 men embarked for the raid on Dieppe, 2,211 returned of those 589 were wounded in action of which 28 would die of wounds. 1,946 men were taken as POW of which 568 were wounded in action (71 would die of their wound in captivity, 836 were KIA on the day of the raid.
[Taken from “The Necessary War Vol. 1 – Tim Cook author]
August 19th, 1942 W/O Roy Harris BRADLEY, R83115, DOAA. From Jeanettes Creek.
August 21st, 1942 Woman’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) formerly established.
August 27th, 1942 P/O C. W. Pafford. 115 RAF Sqd. KIA.
August 29th, 1942 HMCS RACCOON (Armed Yacht) Sunk, 37 lives lost.
September 7th, 1942 Flt./Sgt. Raymond Woods HUGHES. R99971, # 22 Operational Training Unit. KIA. From Kent Bridge.
September 10th, 1942 HMCS CHARLOTTOWN (Corvette) Sunk, 9 lives lost.
Flt. Sgt. Harry Raebum WATSON. R98140, 83 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Chatham
September 11th, 1942 P/O James Alfred HACKETT. J12097, # 31 Oper. Training Unit. DOAA. From Chatham.
September 13th, 1942 HMCS OTTAWA (Destroyer) Sunk, 141 lives lost.
September 14th, 1942 P/O. Charles G. Tassie McGREGOR. J9567, 418 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
Flt. Sgt. Charles Edwin STUART. R68329, 418 Sqd. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
September 17th, 1942 The Battle of El Alamein begins. (22 Oct. – 11 Nov.)
October 22nd, 1942 104 CWAC’s arrive in the United Kingdom.
November 5th, 1942 Sgt. Douglas GORDON-KAY. R109531, # 10 Oper. Training Unit. DOAA. From Tilbury.
November 7th, 1942 Operation TOURCH begins. The Anglo-American invasion of North-West Africa begins. (8 Nov. to 16 Nov.)
November 8th, 1942 F/O (AG) Rayden Frederic WATSON. J16430/R67365, 158 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Chatham.
December 11th, 1942 The “Arcadia Conference” begins in Washington DC. (22 Dec. – 14 Jan.)
December 22nd, 1942 RCAF Group 6 becomes 1st operational Non-British unit in Bomber Command. The First RCAF base was at Linton-on-Ouse.
January 1st, 1943 Pte. Cecil Laverne TOULOUSE. A50349, Royal Cdn. Regt. DOW. From Chatham.
January 8th, 1943 General Sanson commands the 2nd Canadian Corps.
January 15th, 1943 “Operation BARBAROSA” – The German invasion of Russia begins. (22 Jan. – 5 Dec.)
January 22nd, 1943 Sgt. (P) Arthur Mac REYNOLDS. R98064. 227 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
January 31st, 1943 HMCS LOUISBERG Sunk, 42 lives lost.
February 6th, 1943 Cpl. Joseph Carlyle MINER. 18105A 431 Sqd. Coastal Command. DOAI. From Tilbury.
February 7th, 1943 HMCS WEYBURN Sunk, 9 lives lost.
February 22nd, 1943 Arthur Travers Harris (Bomber Harris) takes command of RAF/RCAF Bomber, Command.
March to July the RAF/RCAF would begin a campaign to bomb the major cities of the Ruhr River valley, such as Essen, Duisburg, Bochum and other industrial cities in the area, which included the cities of Essen, Duisburg and Bachum and others, RAF/RCAF crew referred to these targets as “Happy Valley”. Six C-K crew members would be lost between the 2nd of March and 4 July.
February 23rd, 1943 F/Sgt.(AG) Alfred James DOWN. R109725, 115 Sqd. (RAF) KIA. From Chatham.
March 2nd, 1943 Bomber “Battle of Ruhr Valley” begins. 75 Cdn. Group 6 aircraft dispatched, 1 lost.
March 5th - 6th, 1943 With 30 RCAF men in its crews, the RAF Squadron smashes Ruhr Valley dams.
March 17th, 1943 Flt. Lieut. William Maxwell STRUTHERS. J4784, 156 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Tilbury.
April 7th, 1943 F/L (P) Leslie Edwin BLIGHT, J3989, 432 Sqd. KIA. From Ridgetown.
Sgt. John BULLER, A240, 1St. Hussars, DOAI. From Ridgetown.
May 30th, 1943 No. 6 Bomber Group becomes the first non-British unit in Bomber Command. It’s first station was at Linton-on-Ouse, England.
June 1st, 1943 P/O Charles Chancellor HEBDEN. J8036, 407 Sqd. KIA. From Dresden.
June 3rd, 1943 P/O(P) John Harrison WILLIAMS. J24951, #7 Elem. Flying Training Unit, DOAA. From Tilbury.
June 15th, 1943 First of the ’slow’ convoy’s leave England for “Operation HUSKY”.
June 19th, 1943 Last of the ‘slow convoy’s’ leave England for “Operation HUSKY”.
June 24th - 25th, 1943 ‘Fast Convoy’ sails from England for “Operation Husky”.
June 28th, 1943 P/O Calder Leper CLELAND, J19406, 21 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Troy.
July 3rd, 1943 P/O Calder Leper CLELAND, J19406, 21 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Troy.
July 3rd, 1943 P/O(P) William Howard TAYLOR. J17662, 432 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
The largest tank battle of WWII begins between the German and Russian forces at Kursk.
“Slow Convoy on route to Sicily was attacked by German submarines 90 miles west of Algiers the ships “City of Venice”, “St. Essylt” and the transport ship “Davis” were sunk, 58 aboard the ships perished also 500 vehicles and 40 guns were lost.
July 4th, 1943 Piazza Armerina falls to Canadian 2nd Infantry Brigade.
July 7th, 1943 1943 CONQUEST of SICILY “Operation Husky”.
The conquest of Sicily would take 38 days during which the Canadian forces would see 562 fatalities, 1,644 wounded and 84 taken prisoner.
July 10th - August 18th, 1943 D-Day at Costa Dell’Ambra. Canadians land at Pacino Beach, Sicily.
Pte. James Milford BUTLER, A50103, RCR. DOW. – Chatham.
July 10th, 1943 Ispica.
July 11th, 1943 Sgt. Douglas Glen BEBENSEE (DFM) R68061 KIA 405 Sqd. RCAF. Bothwell, ON.
July 14th, 1943 Battle of Grammichele.
July 15th, 1943 Battle for Valguarnea.
July 15th - 20th, 1943 The Loyal Edmonton Regt. captures Piazza Armerina suffer 27 casualties (6 were fatal).
July 17th, 1943 Valguarnea falls to the 48th Highland Regt. 145 casualties with 40 dead. 240 Germans were killed or wounded and 250 were taken prisoner.
July 18th, 1943 Leonforte and Assoro captured at the cost of 56 Cdn’s 56 KIA, 105 WIA casualties. Palermo is captured by American forces. 435 Germans were taken as POW’s
July 20th - 22nd, 1943 Assoro falls to the Canadian 48th Highlanders suffering 37 casualties.
July 22nd, 1943 Palermo falls to the US Army.
July 22nd, 1943 Agira is captured. 438 Cdn. Fatalities. The Germans suffered 650 KIA / WIA and 430 taken as POW.
Marine R. S. H. SUTTON. PO/X2971, Royal Marines. DOAS. – Chatham.
July 22nd - 26th, 1943 Air attacks “Battle of Berlin” begins. 3,000 bombers begin a seven day bombing of the port city of Hamburg.
July 23rd - 24th, 1943 Agira.
July 23rd - 28th, 1943 The Battle of Agira begins while the RCR, Three Rivers Regt. (Tanks) begin attacks at Nissoria.
July 24th, 1943 Cpl. Douglas Melvin CUMMINGS A4266, Royal Can. Regt. KIA. – Duart.
Pte. Steve SLAVIK, A49734, Royal Cdn. Regt. KIA. – Chatham.
Pte. Blake Reginald SLOAN, A117816, Algonquin Regt. KIA, – Chatham Twsp.
Pte. George Nelson TOWART. A49992, Royal Cdn. Regt. KIA. – Chatham.
July 24th, 1943
Bomber command begins the Battle of Hamburg. The first “Fire Storm” attack on a German city.
July 24th - 25th, 1943 Hastings & Prince Edward Regt. capture Grammichele, Sicily. (25 Cdn. Casualties). The 48th Highlanders and the Royal Canadian Regt. attack Nissoria suffer 171 fatalities.
Pte. Armand Joseph NADEAU. A50168. RCR. KIA. – Wallaceburg.
July 25th, 1943 Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was deposed by the Italian King.
July 25th, 1943 The Italian government approach General Eisenhower to discuss a coupe to replace Mussolini’s government.
July 25th, 1943 1st Canadian Division with British 231st Infantry Brigade capture Agira. The Canadian suffer 438 the British 300 battle casualties. The Canadians kill 325 German and take 430 Germans and 260 Italians. It was the toughest Canadian battle in Sicily.
July 28th, 1943 Catenanuova.
July 30th, 1943 Centuripe.
July 31st, 1943 Canadian losses were 107 KIA and 345 WIA.
July 31st - August 6th, 1943 Agira and Regabulto.
August 1st - 5th, 1943 Pte. Cecil Laverne TOULOUSE. A50349, Royal Cdn. Regt. DOW – Chatham.
August 1st, 1943 West Nova Scotia Regt. attack Criscina (19 dead / 27 WIA)
August 2nd, 1943 Bomber Command ends Battle of Hamburg.
August 2nd - 3rd, 1943 Seaforth Highlanders & Three Rivers Tanks advance down the Salso River valley in Sicily attacking Adrano.
August 4th, 1943 Three Rivers Tanks, Seaforth Highlanders, Princess Louise Dragoon Guards capture Simeto, suffering 45 casualties all ranks.
August 5th, 1943 Flt. Sgt. Clarence Reginald SMYTH. R116935, 419 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
F/O(N) Charles Austin WRIGHT. J21828, 419 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
August 10th, 1943 F/O Nicholas John TUCHTIE. J20180, Seaforth Highlanders, DOAA. From Chatham.
August 13th, 1943 First Special Service Force (FSSF) including 5,300 Canadians land on Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands chain.
August 15th, 1943 Bomber attacks on Peenemunde rocket base begins.
August 17th, 1943 The Sicilian Campaign is Completed at 10:00 hrs.
Operation Husky resulted in 2,434 casualties (173 officers and 2,261 other ranks) of these 38 officers and 447 other ranks were killed or died of wounds including 12 Nursing Sisters, 84 troops were taken as POW’s. German losses 29,000 (22,000 KIA or WIA) the remainder were POW’s. Italian losses 147,000 KIA/WIA/POW.
The German successfully moved 39,951 troops, 94 guns, 47 tanks, 9,605 vehicles, 17,000 tons of materials and 62,000 Italian troops across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy in 15 days.
F/O M. I. FRALEIGH. J9388, 181 Sqd. (RAF). KIA. From Wallaceburg.
August 18th, 1943 WO. Guy Raymond NEEDHAM. R125903. 306 Ferry Training Unit. KIA. From Chatham.
The conquest had taken 38 days during which the Canadian forces had suffered 562 killed, 1644 wounded and 84 taken prisoner.
August 23rd, 1943 RAF/RCAF aircraft begin the air force “Battle of Berlin” with 727 bombers.
August 23rd, 1943 Crossing of the Metauro River by the 3rd Canadian Brigade in Italy.
August 25th, 1943 P/O Robert Lloyd, HENRY. J18530, 427 Sqd. DOAA. From Turnerville.
August 28th, 1943 Battle for Regalbuto. (109 Cdn. Casualties).
August 30th - 31st, 1943 Flt. Lieut. Charles Russell WHARRAM. J6941, 224 Sqd. KIA. From Wheatley.
September 2nd, 1943 Canadian Campaign in ITALY.
On 3 September, 1943 the 1st Canadian Division (part of the British 8th Army) and the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade invaded Italy across the Straits of Messina and captures Reggio
Di Calabria, landing at 04:30 hrs. British and Canadian troops ate first to set foot on Nazi-occupied Europe. Italian’s Surrender is signed.
September 3rd - December 28th, 1943 P/O (P) Jacques David MUNN. J24139. # 1 Service Flying Training School. DOAA. From Dresden.
September 3rd, 1943 Allies broadcast news of Italian surrender.
September 8th, 1943 Germans disarm Italian armed forces. They murder 12,000 officers and imprison 650,000 soldiers. Salerno and Taranto attacked.
September 9th, 1943 1st Canadian Division crossing the Marano River in Italy attacking San Fortunato.
September 14th, 1943 Germans disengage at Salerno and withdraw to winter (Gustav) line.
September 17th, 1943 HMCS St CROIX (Destroyer) Sunk, 148 lives lost.
HMCS St CROIX (Destroyer) Sunk, 148 lives lost.
Canadian troops capture Potenza. 2,000 Italian civilians were killed by Allied bombings of the town.
September 20th, 1943 8th Army captures Bari.
September 22nd, 1943 P/O (AG) Verne Allison STEWART. J27921, 428 Sqd. KIA. From Blenheim.
September 23rd, 1943 W/O (P) Brian Vincent CRIST. R93427, 93 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
Cpl. D. M. CUMMINGS. A4266, RCR. KIA. From Duart.
September 24th, 1943 P/O Robert Edward CREWE. J18902 / R128805, 402 Sqd. KIA. From Wheatley.
September 27th, 1943 8th Army reaches Foggia airfields.
September 27th - 28th, 1943 Illness in October 1943 proved to be a nagging problem for the Canadians with 2,572 reporting sick, November was only slightly better with 1,859.
Fall of Naples to US 5th Army.
October 1st, 1943 Lucera to Campobasso –Motto and Montacorvino. (7 fatalities and 7 WIA)
P/O. Albert McKenzie RUTHVEN. J23615, RCAF. DOAA. From Chatham.
October 1st, 1943 Sgt. (AG) James LUNDY. R187630, 428 Sqd. KIA. From Turnerville.
Flt. Sgt. (BA) Donald Harvey McKITTERICK. R156063, 90 Sqd. (RAF) KIA. From Tilbury.
P/O Randolph Charles SMITH. J16175, 112 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Merlin.
October 3rd, 1943 8th Army actions at Termoli.
October 3rd - 6th, 1943 San Marco.
Monte Ingotto.
October 4th, 1943 Fortore River and Monte San Marco.
Cpl. Robert A. BLACKBURN, A9312, R.C.A.S.C. KIA. From Dresden, ON.
Tpr. Beverly B. LENNOX. A58603, 4th Princess Louise Dragoons, KIA.
October 6th, 1943 Gambbatesa.
Pte. Edmund Alfred JEWISS. A59173, Carleton & York Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
Pte. Vernon W. TOOMER. B133834, Seaforth Highlanders. KIA. From Merlin.
October 7th, 1943 Sgt. Walter Henry HAMIL. R164468, 431 Sqd. KIA. From Blenheim.
October 9th, 1943 Actions at Campobasso.
October 11th, 1943 5th Army forces passage of Volturno.
October 12th, 1943 AC2. Angus Robinson WOODARD. R220557, #1 Manning Depot. DOI. From Thamesville.
October 13th, 1943 BATTLE FOR ORTONA
October 17th - December 25, 1943 Actions at Baranello.
October 17th, 1943 Pte. Albert Joseph PRISNER. A58356. Hastings & Pr. Edward Regt. From Chatham.
October 17th, 1943 The German forces begin to withdraw from the battle at Salerno, Italy.
October 17th, 1943 HMCS CHEDABECTO Sunk, 1 life lost.
October 21st, 1943 Actions at Colle d’Anchise.
October 22nd, 1943 Actions at Torella.
October 24th, 1943 1st Canadian Division from England to Italy.
October 27th, 1943 5th Army (British 10th Corps) fails to capture Mont Camino.
November 5th - 15th, 1943 The BATTLE of BERLIN for RAF/RCAF Bomber Command begins.
November 7th - 8th, 1943 8th Army crosses Sangro river but rains and flood halt operations.
November 8th - 28th, 1943 The Joint Canadian / American Invasion of Kiska Island, Alaska.
November 19th, 1943 Battle for The Sangro.
November 19th - December 3rd, 1943 Tpr. Michael, HISCHUCK. A56609. Royal Cdn. Dragoons. DOW. – Ridgetown.
November 21st, 1943 BURMA.
November 23rd, 1943 Actions at Castel di Sangro.
November 23rd, 1943 F/O Robert William Henry BUDD. J24730, DOAA. From Chatham.
November 24th, 1943 Canadians replace the British 78th “Battle Axe” Division in preparation of crossing The Moro River.
December 1st - 2nd, 1943 Battle for Monte la Difensa / Monte la Rementanea.
December 2nd, 1943 Cpl. Wilfred George CARDER, R209634, #3 RCAF Repair Depot. DONC. From Chatham.
December 3rd, 1943 Canadians breaching the Moro River Line.
December 5th - 9th, 1943 Actions at Villa Rogatti and San Leonardo.
December 6th, 1943 Mouth of the Moro River.
Captured by the Canadians.
December 6th - 9th, 1943 Battle for Cidar Cross Roads, (San Leonardo).
Attacked by Royal Can. Regt., Hastings & Prince Edward Regt. and 48th Highlanders, supported by the DAF Kittyhawk aircraft.
December 8th, 1943 RCE bridge the Moro River so tanks can cross and capture San Leonardo.
December 9th, 1943 Battle for “the Gully” begins.
December 10th, 1943 Cpl. Floyd Merritt BOWERS, A71129, RCR. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
Pte. Albert LAUWEREYS. A17318, Royal Cdn. Regt. DOW. – From Wallaceburg.
December 12th, 1943 South of Orsogna – Ortona Highway. The “West Nova” find a gap in the German line defending the “Gully” and exploit it.
December 13th, 1943 Casa Berardi. Attacked by the Royal 22nd “Van Doos” Capt. Paul Triquet wins the 1st Victoria Cross by a Canadian in Italy. The attack was supported by the last seven tanks available.
Captain Robert Alexander DONALD. RCA. KIA. From Bothwell.
December 14th, 1943 “Black Thursday” Bomber Command attacks Berlin and returning aircraft meets extreme fog over their air bases in England. 25 aircraft loss on the attack and 31 trying to land. Another 14 various aircraft also lost totaling 70 aircraft and 150 fatalities.
December 16th - 17th, 1943 The Perth Regt. and Cape Breton Highladers (CBH) attack at the Ariella River.
December 17th, 1943 The Gully is cleared of Germans.
December 18th, 1943 The Battle for Ortona begins. Attacked by Loyal Edmonton Regt. and Three Rivers Tanks.
December 20th - 28th, 1943 Pte. Donald Matthew BISHOP. A49584, RCR, KIA. From Chatham.
Pte. George Osborne EMBURY. A50336, RCR. KIA. From Blenheim.
December 20th, 1943 Seaforth Highlanders attack Ortono along with the PPCLI, while the 1st Cdn. Brigade (Hastings & Pr. Edwards, 48th Hilnanders and the Royal Cdn. Regt.) attack west of Ortona.
December 22nd, 1943 Pte. Glen Wilfred MOOR. A60127, Irish Regt. of Canada. DOAI. From Chatham.
Pte. Douglas Leonard SMITH. A105198, Hastings & Pr. Edward Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
December 23rd, 1943 Pte. Henry Joseph DUBUQUE. A116506, Royal Cdn. Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
December 24th, 1943 The town of Ortona fell to the Canadian forces on the 28th of December the total casualties of the Italian campaign had so far reached 9,934 of which 2,119 were fatalities.
The three week battle for Ortona accounted for 3,956 of the 9,934 casualties till then. The 2nd Cdn. Infantry Brigade would suffer 275 casualties just at Ortono (104 of them KIA), there were some 1,617 to sick to fight and 587 suffered ‘Battle Fatigue’. The German 3rd Parachute Regt. would have 100 KIA.
December 28th, 1943
“Point 59”.
December 29th, 1943 - January 4th, 1944 F/O Gordon Eugene BISHOP. J22393, 431 Sqd., KIA. From Muirkirk.
December 29th, 1943 Hastings & Pr. Edwards attack Villa Grande and suffer 91 casualties without any gain.
The cost of battle for the Canadians in Italy for the month of December was 164 and 2,101 other ranks becoming casualties of which 36 officers and 448 were fatalities, primarily in the infantry. (“From Pachino to Ortona 1943 – Ministry of National Defence”).
December 30/31, 1943 Actions at San Nicola / San Tommaso.
December 31st, 1943 Battle for Monte Majo
Jan. 3 to 8 Pte. J.W. CULNAN. B135730, Queen’s Own Rifles, KIA. From Thamesville
January 11th, 1944 Sgt. James Michael PRESTON. R187614, 166 Sqd. RAF (Bombers) KIA. From Chatham.
January 14th, 1944 Battle of the Riccio River, Italy begins.
January 16th, 1944 Perth Regt.
January 17th, 1944 The US. 5th Army attacks the lower Garigliano area of Italy.
January 17th, 1944 F/O (P) John Anthony VASICEK J13034, 683 Sqd. KIA. From Mull.
January 18th, 1944 Pte. Leonard Christopher DeGRAW A117289 Royal Cdn. Regt. KIA. From Chatham
January 20th, 1944 Pte. Ramie CLAEYS, A102788, Cape Breton Highlanders. KIA. From Chatham.
January 21st, 1944 Landing at Anzio
Although the Anzio landings (generally unopposed) were primarily the U.S 6 th Corps show Canadians were there as part of First Special Service Force, a combined American-Canadian ‘special force’, known to the Germans as the “Black Devils” due to their ability to fight at night. The FSSF numbered 1,250 of which 800 were Canadian,117 of these troops were lost at Anzio.
Jan 22-23 WO2, Lewis Gerald CARSON, R109991, 625 Sqd. KIA. From Blenheim.
January 29th, 1944 Pte. Clayton Stuart BURK, A50566, Essex Scottish Regt. DOAI. From Blenheim.
January 30th, 1944 Pte Clark Kane PARK. A102887, Perth Regt., KIA. From Chatham. The Perth Regt. suffered 37 casualties of which 19 were fatalities when a German mortar shell hit the troops at ‘meal parade’.
February 5th, 1944 Pre. Fredrick Thomas RUNNELS. A116561, Royal Cdn. Regt. KIA. From Ridgetown. Pte. Robert Earl SALISBURY. A59831, Perth Regt. KIA. From Dover Twsp.
February 9th, 1944 P/O Wilfrid Gordon CRAIG. J41200 / R189958 RCAF. DOAA. From Merlin.
March 21st, 1944 F/O John Alexander ILLMAN. J25554, 113 Sqd. (RAF) KIA. From Chatham.
March 22nd, 1944 End of the Battle of Berlin by allied air forces.
March 24th, 1944 P/O(AG) Andrew Francis DeDAUW 6883881 / R191883, RCAF. KIA. From Tilbury.
March 24th, 1944 “The Great Escape” from Stalag Luft III takes place.
March 24th, 1944 Air force campaign agains the German city of NUREMBURG begins with 572 Lancaster bombers, 214 Halifax bombers and 9 Mosquitoes. 111 RCAF aircrew will be killed on this single mission. Referred to as the “Dieppe for 6 Group RCAF” and strategic bombing.
Mar. 30/31 WO2 HOOKER, Earl Miltion. R187913 429 Sqd. RCAF. KIA. From Wheatley.
March 31st, 1944 Pte. James Edward HEIL. A117718, Highland Light Infantry. DOAI. From Tilbury.
April 1st, 1944 P/O(AG) Harold Keith TOLE (aka LAWRENCE). J94224, 433 Sqd. KIA. From Blenheim
April 18th, 1944 Pte. Frederick William HARDY. A103140, Perth Regt. KIA. From Chatham
April 21st, 1944 P/O Frederick Peter CAMMART, J88363, 424 Sqd. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
April 23rd, 1944 HMCS ATHABASKAN (Destroyer) Sunk, 129 lives lost
April 29th, 1944 F/O James Leigh RITCHIE J23721. 582 Sqd. RAF. KIA From Chatham.
May 4th, 1944 HMCS VALLEYFIELD (Frigate) Sunk, 125 lives lost
May 7th, 1944 The 1st Special Service Force between 1 Feb and 9 May lost 384 men in action on the Anzio beachhead 117 of which were Canadians from a combat strength of 1322 at landing
May 9th, 1944 Spr. Allan Murray SMITH. A60075, RCE. KIA. DOAI. From Chatham.
May 10th, 1944 The LIRI VALLEY CAMPAIGN
May 11-13: Crossing the Gari River secured. Part of the objectives of Operation “DIADEM” to take Cassino and break the German’s “Gustav’s Line” begins.
May 11: Cdn. Armour supports Allied attacks on the Gustav (Operation DIADEM) line and Monte Cassino.
May 13: St. Angelo in Teodice.
May 13: P/O(AG) James Howard JONES. J90284 / R197301, 426 Sqd. KIA. From Ridgetown.
May 11th, 1944 Battle for Pignataro
May 13-15 The German’s Gustav Line is breached
May 16th, 1944 1st Canadian Division break through in the Liri Valley, Italy.
May 17-18 Forme D’Aquino. Pigantaro and Pontecorvo.
May 17th, 1944 Monte Cassino is captured by the 12th Polish Lancers. Battle for Aquino begins. Ends on the 24th.
May 18th, 1944 Canadian armoured and infantry break the “Hitler Line.” Allied losses will be 42,000; 20,000 Germans will become POWs and 10,000 will be casualties. The battle for Rome begins.
May 22nd, 1944 Battle for Anzio completed
May 22nd, 1944 Melfa River Crossing
May 24-29 Breakout of the Anzio Beach head
May 25th, 1944 South of Ceprano. The Liri River is crossed.
May 27th, 1944 Frosinone
May 29th, 1944 Torrice Crossroads
May 30th, 1944 Rome is liberated by the Allies. (1st European capital liberated from the Germans). The Liri Valley campaign is completed.
The Canadians would suffer between 15 May and 4 June 789 killed, 2463 wounded and 116 POWs.
June 4th, 1944 The BATTLE OF NORMANDY – OPERATION OVERLORD
On the night of June 5/6, 1944 the invasion of Normandy D-Day began with the dropping of 20,000 paratroopers, of which the 1 st Canadian Parachute Battalion was part. At dawn on the 6th of June the main invasion force made up of the 1st United States Army would land on “Omaha” and “Utah” beach. Two Second British Army divisions, one being the Third Canadian Infantry Division supported by the 3rd Canadian Armoured Brigade wound land on “Sword” and “Gold” for the British and “Juno” beach for the Canadian landing. “Juno” beach would cover the area between Courselles and St. Aubin-sur- Mer. “Juno” beach would be further divided into two areas, “Mike” beach would cover the villages of Courseulles-sur- Mer, Bernieres-su- Mer and the western outskirts of St. Aubin-sur-Mer. “Nan” beach to the west of “Mike” the hamlet of Vaux and the village of Graye-sur- Mer a quarter mile inland.
By the end of the day 14,000 Canadians had stormed ashore at “Juno” beach, suffering 1,074 casualties of which 359 were fatal, 47 had become POWs.
Only one Victoria Cross was awarded for D-Day to CSM Stanley Hollis of the Green Howards British Army. Between D-Day and D+12 the Americans awarded 10 Congressional Medals of Honour.
Jun 6 - Aug 20 Cdn Infantry lands at Juno Beach
Captain James Morley Barclay, with RCA. From Ridgetown.
Varaville
June 6th, 1944 Authie
Sgt. Marshall William CARD. R78597, No. 127 Wing, LAS. From Bothwell.
June 7th, 1944 Putot, Bretteville-L’Orgueilleuse Le Mesnil Party
Pte. Robert William BRYDGES, A56945, Cameron Highlanders. KIA. From Chatham.
Tpr. Arnold STONEFISH. A116070, B.C. Dragoons Regt. Homicide. From Thamesville.
Jun 8-9 Rots and Putot-En-Bessin. [QOR + 1st Hussars suffered 179 casualties]
Jun 10-11 Casualties
June 15th, 1944 German V-1 raids increase
June 16th, 1944 Norrey-En-Bessin
June 17th, 1944 Attack on Trasimene Line in Italy, will end on the 30th. Santaucchio. P/O Joseph Maxwell MCPHERSON J90244 / R197342, 431 Sqd. KIA. From Blenheim.
June 20th, 1944 WO2. Robert George WALLACE R145315, 421 Sqd. KIA. From Tilbury.
June 23rd, 1944 Catheau de La Londe. Rauray. Lieut. H.E. BELLINGER. CDN63 (Can-Loan) Durham Light Inf. KIA. From Ridgetown.
June 28th, 1944 MTB 460 (Motor Torpedo Boat) Sunk
July 2nd, 1944 Operation “CHARNWOOD” Begins
July 2nd, 1944 Carpiquet Village
July 3rd, 1944 Carpiquet Airport. Pte. William J. NOLAN. A110013, Highland Light Infantry. KIA. From Wallaceburg – Arezzo battle in Italy begins, ending on the 17th
July 4th, 1944 North of Caen
July 5th, 1944 Canadians attack the German “Arezzo Line” blocking the approaches to Florence in Italy.
July 6-7, 1944 The Battle for Caen begins with the attack on Buron by the 9th Cdn. Inf. Bde. MTB 463 (Motor Torpedo Boat) Sunk. Florence, Italy is entered by the allies.
L/Cpl. William Herbert REEVE. A49525. Highland Light Inf. KIA. From Chatham.
Pte. Ronald Bruce RICHARDS. A50343, Highland Light Inf., KIA. From Wallaceburg.
Pte. William Thomas THATCHER. B52033, Highland Light Inf. KIA. From Chatham.
July 8th, 1944 Pte. Anthony David LEGUE. A37989, Highland Light Inf. DOW. From Morpeth
July 9th, 1944 Canadian capture Caen. Pte. John Edward REYNOLDS. A117537. Highland Light Inf. From Ridgetown
Caen had been captured but the battle had cost Canadian forces 330 dead and 864 wounded more than the landing on D-Day. The Normandy fighting was creating casualties at a pace exceeding that of Passchendale in the Great War.
July 10th, 1944 P/O. Robert Clark BUCKBERROUGH, J90667, 408 Sqd., KIA. From Blenheim
July 11th, 1944 Le Petit Seminaire
July 13th, 1944 P/O Lester Arthur PEERS. J85070, 624 Sqd., KIA. From Chatham
July 14th, 1944 Verson
July 15-16, 1944 The advance on Florence begins
July 17th, 1944 Operation “Atlantic” (CDN.) and Operation “Goodwood” (British) begin against Caen
July 18th, 1944 Louvigny / Faubourg de Vaucelles
July 18-19, 1944 L/Cpl. William Jack HEWER. A50170. Essex Scottish Regt. DOW. From Wallaceburg. Flt./Sgt. George Edwin HITCHCOCK. 115 Sqd. DOW. From Charring Cross. Tpr. Charles Douglas PIERCE. A59795, 12th Manitoba Dragoons, KIA. From Merlin. P/O David Gordon WILSON. J89059, 427 Sqd. KIA. From Ridgetown.
July 18th, 1944 St. Andre-sur-Orne.
July 19-23, 1944 Pte.Joseph PRIMEAU. C102093, Royal Cdn. Regt. DOW. From Chatham. P/O(WAG) Waldon Worthington WATSON. J86806, 425 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
July 19th, 1944 Operation “Atlantic”.
July 20th, 1944 Sgt. Joseph Henry IVISON. A50202, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
July 21st, 1944 Maltot
July 22-23, 1944 Etavaux / Ifs. Sig. James Robert RHODES. A55970. Cdn. Corps of Signals. DOW. From Chatham
July 23rd, 1944 Operation “Spring” (CDN / British) and Operation “Cobra” begin to break out of Normandy.
July 24th, 1944 St. Andre-Sur-Orne
Allied breakout in Bocage area of Normandy, the “the battle of the Hedge Rows”.
July 25-31, 1944 Pte. Hugie McFADDEN. A103486. Royal Cdn. Regt. DOW. From Tupperville
July 26th, 1944 Bourguebus Ridge
July 27-31, 1944 “Operation BLUECOAT”.
July 29, 1944 - August 6, 1944 Pte. John Harry DOZOIS. A50017, Highland Light Infantry, KIA. From Chatham. P/O John M. EADINGER. J92613, 431 Sqd. KIA. From Ridgetown. Cpl. Francis Earl LITTLE. A50447, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
July 29th, 1944 Canadian losses in England from enemy action is 9 officers and 107 other ranks KIA or DOW and 22 officers and 254 other ranks wounded.
July 31st, 1944 Sgt. Wilfred IVISON. A50203, Essex Scottish Regt. DOW. From Ridgetown
August 1st, 1944 German V-1 raids have killed 4,735 civilians in England
August 2nd, 1944 Fontenay-Le-Marmion, Falaise Road
August 7-9, 1944 The FALAISE GAP
August 7-24, 1944 “Operation TOTALIZE” – 1st Canadian Army) to close the “Falaise Gap”.
August 7-13, 1944 Quilly. HMCS REGINA (Corvette) Sunk, 30 lives lost
Gnr. Lawrence Orlo BROOKS, A116428, RCR. KIA. Fom Chatham.
Flt. Lieut. Beverly Wayne PRITCHARD. J7746. 407 Sqd. DOAA. From Chatham.
Gdsmn. Robert George PUTTOCK. A102937. 22nd Armoured Regt. KIA. From Ridgetown.
August 8th, 1944 Bretteville / Hill 195
August 9th, 1944 Argylls, Lincoln & Welland and Algonquin Regts. Attack Hill 195
August 9th, 1944 Caen. Capt. Raymond A. TIFFIN. 28th Armoured Regt. KIA. From Dresden
August 9-18, 1944 Quesney Woods / Hill 140
Pte. Donald Wellington CHIPPEWA, A104477, Algonquin Regt. KIA.
Pte. David Gordon, GAWNE. A61040, Algonquin Regt., KIA. From Mull.
Gnr. Zephyr Hector KING. A102045, Royal Cdn. Artillery, KIA. From Tilbury.
The battle for Florence ends.
August 10-11, 1944 Pte. Raymond NEWINGTON. A107681, Essex Scottish Regt. DOW. From Chatham. Pte. Peter VANDEVELD. A50451, Highland Light Inf. KIA. From Wallaceburg
3rd Canadian Infantry Division are bombed by “friendly forces” near Cintheaux and St.
Sylvan.
August 12th, 1944 Pierre-Sur-Dives / Clair Tizon.
August 13th, 1944 “Operation TRACTABLE”.
August 14-16, 1944 Montboint / The Laison
Operation “DRAGOON”, The invasion of Southern France begins on the 15th of August led by the US 8th Army.
August 14-17, 1944 Louvieres-En-Auge
August 14th, 1944 August Closing the “FALAISE GAP”.
August 16-19, 1944 Pierre Canivet
August 16th, 1944 Operation Paddle 1st Para Battalion
August 16-23, 1944 The battle to close the “Falaise Gap”.
August 17th, 1944 Canadians attack Trun, France
August 18th, 1944 Sr. Lambert-Sur-Dives / Chambois.
August 18-20, 1944 The town of Falaise, France is captured
August 18th, 1944 Pte. Earl R. TILSON, A102109 Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders KIA. From Tilbury.
August 18th, 1944 St. Lambert sur Dives, Falaise Pocket Closed.
August 19-22, 1944 Pte. John McKERNAN. A59800, 1st Canadian Parachute Bn. KIA. From Dresden
August 19th, 1944 Falaise Gap closed, but 30,000 Germans escape. 40 – 50,000 Germans were taken as POW’s
August 21st, 1944 HMCS ALBERNI (Corvette) Sunk, 59 lives lost.
August 21st, 1944 St. LAMBRT and RIVER DIVES CROSSING
August 21st, 1944 Canadian troops cross the Metauror River in Italy. This is part of operation “OLIVE” to break the German’s “GOTHIC” Line and will continue until March 1945. Actions at Cerrone begin.
August 25th, 1944 – Breaking the ‘Gothic Line’.
By the 2nd of September the Gothic Line would be shattered. But the cost to do so would be heavy: 219 Canadian soldiers would be dead and another 519 wounded.
August 25, 1944 - September 2, 1944 Paris is liberated
August 25th, 1944 20 September. The Battle for the GOTHIC LINE begins in Italy. This defensive position Was fixed on the Adriatic Coast north of Pesara and fronting along the Foglia River. Cdn. Attacking forces would be the PPCLI, RCR. 48th Highlanders, LER and the British 21st Tanks.
August 26th, 1944 Le Thuit-Simer
August 26th, 1944 Foret de la Londe
August 27-29, 1944 Pte. William Lester FISH. A49671, Essex Scottish Regt KIA. From Wallaceburg. Pte. Orville Albert LONG. A116352, 14th Cdn. Hussars, DOW. From Bothwell.
August 27th, 1944 Battle for Monteciccardo begins.
August 28th, 1944 L/Cpl. Marvin Theodore BURKE, A116653, Essex Scottish Regt. DOW. From Chatham.
August 28th, 1944 Borgo Santa Maria. Montecchio. F/O(WAG) Ronald Frank DELL. J38561, 514 Sqd. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
August 30th, 1944 Two Canadian brigades break the Gothic Line. By the end of August 1944 the RCAF – 6 Group bombers had recorded 3,704 sorties against 74 different enemy targets dropping 4,735 tons of bombs by night and 8,315 tons by day-light. 6 Group had also ‘planted’ 300 mines totaling 223 tons. The group had lost 24 aircraft during the month. – “Reap the Whilwind – 6 Group RCAF”.
August 30th, 1944 Foglia River and Point 204.
By the end of August 1944 19,269 Canadian servicemen had married English women since 1940 as follows.
1940 – 1222
1941 – 3011
1942 – 4160
1943 – 5879
1944 – 4997
19,269
August 31st, 1944 Monte Pelso.
September 1st, 1944 Canadian Inf. Div. captures Dieppe. L/Sgt. Robert ANDERSON, A3044, 4th Princess Louise Dragoons. DOW. From Chatham. Pte. Langford Charles LEWIS. A116845, Princess Louise Dragoons. KIA. From Bothwell. Monte Luro and Borgo Santa Maria captured. Actions at Tomba di Pessaro begins.
September 1 - 2, 1944 Brussels is occupied by British XXX Corps.
September 2nd, 1944 San Fortunato Ridge. Cpl. Douglas Harold SMITH. A3846, Lincoln & Welland Regt. DOW. From Wallaceburg.
September 2 - 22, 1944 Actions begin at Coriano.
September 3 - 15, 1944 Liberation of La Panne
September 3rd, 1944 Freeing the Port of ANTWERP.
September 5, 1944 - November 29, 1944 Boulonge.
September 6 - 22, 1944 F/O William Bruce RICHARDSON. J42830, 257 Sqd. RAF. DOAA. From Tilbury.
September 6th, 1944 Nieuport.
September 8th, 1944 Moerbrugge.
September 8 - 10, 1944 Dunkirk.
September 8 - 15, 1944 Liberation of Loon-Plage, Coppenaxfort.
September 8th, 1944 LeHarve.
September 10 - 12, 1944 1st Canadian Army & the SCHELDT ESTUARY CAMPAIGN.
September 13 - November 6, 1944 Siege of Dunkirk.
September 13th, 1944 Algonquin Regt. attacks on the Leopold Canal and Derivation de la Lys near Moerkerke, Belgium. Pte. Garland Floyd RICHARDS. A104623. Perth Regt. KIA. From Dresden.
September 13th, 1944 Moerkerke.
September 13 - 14, 1944 Marano River crossed by Canadians.
September 14 - 15, 1944 Bergues.
September 16th, 1944 Liberation of Mardick. Pte. Norman Henry BEENEY, A118080, RCR DOW. Cedar Springs, ON. OPERATION MARKET GARDEN begins.
September 17th, 1944 The CHANNEL PORTS.
September 17 – 22, 1944 Mont Lamber.
September 17th, 1944 Operation MARKET GARDEN / Evacuation of ARNHEM.
September 17 - 26, 1944 Ausa River crossed.
September 18th, 1944 Operation Market Garden begins at Nijmegen and Arnham.
September 19th, 1944 San Fortunato Ridge. Sgt. Reginald Eernest HORNE. A57242, Algonquin Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
September 19th, 1944 The Gothic Line collapses; Canadians enter Rimini.
September 21st, 1944 Wyneghem.
September 21 - 22, 1944 Capture of Boulogne with 9,517 German prisoners. From 25 August to 22 September the 1st Canadian Division in Italy had 2,511 casualties of which 629 were fatalities another 1,005 were lost to illness, the 5th Division had 1,385 casualties of which 390 were fatalities.
September 22nd, 1944 Tpr. Lawrence STONEFISH. A55048, Lord Strathcona Horse. KIA. From Thamesville.
September 23rd, 1944 North of Rimini, Adriatic Coast.
September 23 - October 1, 1944 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade (Calgary Highlanders, attacks Antwerp-Turnhout Canal.
September 24th, 1944 Battle of Calais begins.
September 25th, 1944 Canadians cross the Albert Canal near Merxem.
September 27th, 1944 Le Regiment de Maisonneuve attacks Oostbrecht.
September 28th, 1944 Stoc. A. R. BELANGER, V 82824, RCNVR., HMCS Buxton, LAS.
September 28th, 1944 Bruges.
September 29th, 1944 Canadian 3rd Division captures Calais.
September 30th, 1944 Cdn. 2nd Division begins SCHELDT Offensive.
October 1st, 1944 Canadian Campaign in ITALY
October 1, 1944 - February 25, 1945 Tpr. Alvin H. DICK. A87231, 1st Armoured Regt. DOW. From Thamesville. Pte. Chester James DOAN. A55153, Perth Regt. DOW. From Blenheim or Dresden.
October 3rd, 1944 Walcheren Causeway.
October 3 - 4, 1944 The drive to South Beveland starts by 2nd Canadian Division.
October 4th, 1944 Essex Scottish attack Putte, Holland and capture it.
October 5th, 1944 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade attacks Leopold Canal near Maldegen. Between the 6th and the 12th of October the 7th CIB would suffer 553 casualties, 111 of which were fatal.
October 6th, 1944 Battle for the Bresken Pocket.
October 6 - November 3, 1944 Pte. Frances Henry SHEFF. A110066, Essex Scottish Regt. DOW. From Wallaceburg.
October 7th, 1944 HMCS MULGRAVE (Minesweeper) Damaged, no loss of life.
October 8th, 1944 Oosthoek. Walcheren Island.
October 9th, 1944 Closing the Breskens Pocket. 9th CIB makes amphibious assault across Braakman Inlet. The Battle of the Bresken Pocket begins.
October 9th, 1944 Canadians at Hoogerheide & Savojaards Plaat, Holland. Operation Switchback.
October 9 - 10, 1944 Sgt. William Edmund NICHOLSON. A56992, Can. Scottish Regt., KIA. From Chatham.
October 10th, 1944 Battle for Sant’ Angelo in Salute begins, ending on the 15th.
October 11 - 15, 1944 Breskens Pocket
October 11 - November 3, 1944 Woensdrecht. The QOR attacks the south side of the Westerscheld River.
October 13th, 1944 Canadian ships land Greek and British troops at Piraeus, Greece. ‘Operation HURRICANE’. (RAF/RCAF/USAAF) was to “demonstrate to the German people the overwhelming superiority of the Allied Air Forces” It began with the attack on Duisberg, Germany with day and night attacks. 21 bombers and 150 crew men were lost.
October 14th, 1944 HMCS MAGOG (Frigate) Sunk, 3 lives lost. Tpr. Nelson Ward CLARK, A103597, South Saskatchewan Regt. KIA. From Chatham. Pte. Harvey Edward CULLIMORE. A117128, Essex Scottish Regt. DOW.
October 14th, 1944 Battle for Cesenda begins.
October 15th, 1944 The RHLI “Riley” attack Woensdrecht between the 16th and 20th.
October 16th, 1944 Savio River. (Italy)
October 19 - 28, 1944 The PPCLI attack at the Savio River. Sgt. Howard TURNER. A59441, Algonquin Regt. DOW. From Wallaceburg.
October 20th, 1944 The Lower Maas.
October 20 - November 7, 1944 Royal Hamilton Light Infantry attacking in Merksem and Oorderen N. of Antwerp.
October 21st, 1944 The closing of the Bresens Pocket was completed by the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry’s(‘ the Glens”) attack closed the ‘Pocket’. F/O. (P) John Norman RICHARDSON. J38151, #1 Naval Air Gunnery School. DOAA, From Tilbury.
October 22nd, 1944 Gdsmn. Donald G. HEWITT. A117107, Cdn. Grenadier Guards. KIA. From Bothwell.
October 23rd, 1944 Operation “SUITCASE” begins. Monte Spaduro captured.
October 24th, 1944 Pte. Michael Augustine O’NEIL. A117025. Argyll & Sutherland Higlanders, KIA. From Chatham.
October 24th, 1944 South Beveland.
October 24 - 31, 1944 HMCS SKEENA (Destroyer) Sunk, 15 lives lost. Calgary Highlanders capture Lidonk; 7 killed and 25 wounded.
October 25th, 1944 Rflm. George Alfred OUELLETTE. A118029. Royal Winnipeg Rifles, DOW. From Tilbury.
October 26th, 1944 4th CIB Beveland Canal action completed.
October 26-17, 1944 Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal secured Hansweert completed the Beveland bridgehead.
October 28th, 1944 South Beveland peninsula falls to Canadians.
October 31st, 1944 Operation “Infatuate I & II” The amphibious attack on Walchern Island by Canadian and #4 British Special Service Brigade.
November 1st, 1944 P/O Ernest E. COURTIS. J92724, 426 Sqd. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
November 1st, 1944 Spr. Alfred George HASSON, A20243, Royal Cdn. Engineers. DOAI. From Blenheim/Ridgetown. Pte. Charles Earl JUDSON. A116785, Lincoln & Welland Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
November 2nd, 1944 The battle of the Breskens Pocket is over but the Third Division had lost 314 dead, 2,077 Wounded, with 231 men missing in action. Operation VITALITY I the attack on South Beveland and VITALITY II the Amphibious landing on SE Beveland begin.
November 4th, 1944 F/O (P) Edwin Albert LOVE. J27205, 78 Sqd. (RAF). KIA. From Tilbury.
November 4th, 1944 The campaign to open the way to Antwerp “The Battle of the Scheldt” was concluded by the 1st Canadian Army. The campaign had cost the 1st Canadian Army over to 15,000 casualties (6,784 wounded or MIA, 3,244 fatalities, 949 battle exhaustion and 5,008 sick in hospital) . The Germans it is estimated had 4,079 killed and 16,000 wounded. Besides the 1st Canadian Army the Second and Third Canadian Infantry Divisions suffered 6,370 casualties which drew in many untrained Conscripts as reinforcement.
November 6th, 1944 P/O(P). John McArthur TAYLOR. J28008. 31 Sqd. RAF. KIA. From Chatham.
November 8th, 1944 Bresken’s campaign completed
November 11th, 1944 Battle for Nijmegen.
November 12, 1944 - February 7, 1944 HMCS SHAWINIGAN (Corvette) Sunk, 91 lives lost.
November 25th, 1944 First Allies convoy enters Antwerp, Belgium.
November 28th, 1944 Gnr. George Ernest FIVEASH. A61751, RCA. DOW. From Chatham
November 30th, 1944 Operation ‘Chuckle’, Italy.
December 3, 1944 - January 7, 1945 Ravenna captured.
December 4th, 1944 Cpl. William Keith BARLOW, A106923, KIA with RCR. From Chatham, ON. Sgt. Rudolph CLOUTIER. A3575, RCR. KIA. From Tilbury. Pte. Carman Wesley HENDERSON. A116744, Perth Regt. DOW. From Blenheim. Pte. Roy E. HYATT. A115597, Perth Regt. DOW. From Wheatley. 1st Special Service Force is disbanded.
December 5th, 1944 Canale Naviglio was crossed and would be the major action of Canadian forces in Italy. It would be captured on the 15th. Tpr. William F. CROW. A116137, Lord Strathcona Horse. KIA. From Prairie Siding. Sgt. Marcel Octave VAN HENDE. DCM. Hastings & Prince Edward Regt. DOAS Enlisted in Chatham from Alymer.
December 12th, 1944 Canal Naviglo, Fosso Vecchio (RCR). Pte. William A. DeHAW. A107685, RCR. DOW. From Chatham.
December 13th, 1944 QMS. Frank Cleveland MOWERS (MM). A3994, RCR. KIA. From Blenheim.
December 14th, 1944 Flt. Lieut.(P) WILSON. J21828, 186 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
December 15th, 1944 Battle of the BULGE begins.
December 16th, 1944 Russi. Pte. Edward Clarence HEDRICK. A50035, Perth Regt. KIA. From Blenheim.
December 16th, 1944 Tpr. George Henry STACEY. A3303, 4th Pr. Louisa Dragoons. KIA. From Chatham.
December 17th, 1944 P/O(BA) Gordon Douglas WILSON. J37726, 432 Sqd, KIA. From Chatham.
December 18th, 1944 Battle for Fosso Munio begins.
December 19th, 1944 Pte. Orval James TURNER. A115890, Royal Cdn. Regt. DOW. From Wallaceburg.
December 20th, 1944 Pte. Edward Clarence, HEDRICK. A50035, Perth Regt. KIA. From Blenheim. Perth Regt. captures Casa della Congregaitone and Fosso Munio (32 Killed 49 and wounded) Italy.
December 20th, 1944 Senio River. A total of 92,757 Canadians served in the Italian campaign, a long and brutal theatre from start to finish. Casualties came to 5,764 dead, 19,486 wounded and 1,004 captured.
December 22, 1945 - December 23, 1945 HMCS CLAYOQUOT (Minesweeper) Sunk, 51 lives lost.
December 24th, 1944 F/O. Bertram Ernest DREWERY. J87449, 429 Sqd. KIA. From Charring Cross.
December 28th, 1944 F/O Gerald Gordon FOX. J35831, 405 Sqd. KIA. From Dresden. Between the 2nd of December and the 30th 1st Canadian Corp lost 548 killed, 1796 wounded and 212 taken as POW’s. The campaigns in Sicily and Italy saw 5,764 Canadians killed.
December 29th, 1944 Kapelsche Veer.
December 31, 1944 - January 31, 1945 Operation Bodenplatte Luftwaffe attacks on RAF and USAAF airfields.
January 1st, 1945 P/O W. R. DAUPHIN. J92276, 43 Sqd.(RAF) KIA. From Ridgetown.
January 1st, 1945 Flt./Sgt. Arthur Jason EBERLE. R201129, 153 Sqd. (RAF), KIA. From Ridgetown. Battle for Granarolo begins, it will be captured on Jan. 5th. Flt./Sgt. Donald Dunk HOSKINS. R259913, 153 Sqd. (RAF) KIA. From Chatham.
January 2nd, 1945 The first “NRMA” (National Resource Mobilization Act) aka ‘Conscription’ men would leave for overseas. The number would eventually reach 12,908; 2,463 would see combat suffering 331 casualties of which 69 would be fatalities. None went to Italy.
January 2nd, 1945 Canal Naviglio / Russi.
January 4th, 1945 Granarolo, Italy. 92,757 Canadians served in the Italian Theatre 25,264 were casualties of which 5,900 were killed.
January 8th, 1945 Battle of the Bulge.
January 16 - 31, 1945 Tpr. Robert Joseph MARCHAND. A117061, British Columbia Dragoons. DOW. From Tilbury. P/O(AG) William David MARTIN. J91116, 434 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
January 16th, 1945 CFN Frances Edward RHEAUME. A54590. RCE/M.E. DOAI. From Tilbury.
January 17th, 1945 Pte. John Edmond STENNETT. A11507, Algonquin Regt. DOI. From Blenheim.
January 19th, 1945 “Operation Elephant” (Primarily involving the Lincoln & Welland with the Argyll & Sutherland Regts. along with the British Commandos. The operation cost 236 casualties.
January 26 - 31, 1945 A/S Kalmon Robert John KING. V66217, RCNVR (S. S. Dunlop Park) DOD. From Wallaceburg.
January 26th, 1945 Gnr. Edwin Arthur PRATT. A107911, RCA. DOAI. From Chatham.
January 27th, 1945 Tpr. Douglas A. MCPHERSON. A4419, Three Rivers Regt. DOD. From Chatham.
January 29th, 1945 War ends in Italy.
February 2nd, 1945 Yalta Conference takes place.
February 4th, 1945 “Operation “Veritable”. – CLEARING the RHINELAND. Moylan Wood. The Essex Scottish would take 51 killed, 99 wounded and 54 taken as POW’s in the action around Moylan Wood and Goch-Kalkier Road. Hochwald Gap. Cleve.
February 8 - March 19, 1945 Waal Flats.
February 8 - 15, 1945 Bomber Command and USAAF attack Dresden, Germany. 60,000 civilians are killed.
February 13th, 1945 MTB’s 459, 461, 462, 465, 466, (Motor Torpedo Boats) Explosion in Harbour, Ostend, Belgium.
February 14th, 1945 Moyland Woods.
February 14 - 21, 1945 Canadian force begin their withdrawal from Italy on way to combat in North Western Europe.
February 15th, 1945 Moyland Wood.
February 17th, 1945 Goch-Calcar.
February 19 - 21, 1945 Pte. Charles Isadore THURSTON. A99389, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
February 19th, 1945 Canadian and British ‘water rats’ break the Siegfried Line.
February 21st, 1945 HMCS TRENTONIAN (Corvette) Sunk, 6 lives lost.
February 22nd, 1945 The Hochwald.
February 24 - March 4, 1945 Pte. Russell William FAUBERT. A63216, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Tilbury. Pte. Ernest Joseph VERMETTE MM. A22809, Royal Regt. of Can. DOW. From Tilbury.
February 24th, 1945 Operation “BLOCKBUSTER” begins. Mooshof, Steeg & Wimmershof.
February 26 - 27, 1945 Cpl. John Leonard ANDERSON, A49511, KIA with Highland Light Infantry. Pte. Lewis Osburn LIVINGSTON. A49697. Highland Light Infantry. KIA. From Harwich Twsp. Pte. Alfred Thomas SEDGMEN. A49582, Argyll & Sutherland Regt. DOW. From Chatham.
February 26th, 1945 F/O(P) James Ben STOEHR. J39510, # 21 Advanced Flying Unit. DOAA. From Chatham.
February 27th, 1945 WO1. Glen Duncan MCVICAR. R164145, # 24 Operation Training Unit. DOAA. From Ridgetown. Pte. Arthur Henry PELTIER. A110442, Essex Scottish Regt., KIA. From Turnerville.
March 1st, 1945 Balberger Wald
March 2-4, 1945 Sgt. Joseph Pius DOWNEY. A102235, Algonquin Regt., KIA. From Ridgetown. Cpl. Alexander FOX. A108837, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg.
March 2nd, 1945 Operation “CHURCHILL” begins
March 3rd, 1945 Cpl. Douglas Amos TAYLOR. A108643, Highland Light Inf. KIA. From Chatham
March 3rd, 1945 Canadians clear the Hochwald Forest
March 4th, 1945 Cpl. Gordon Ivan CURRIE. A28521, Essex Scottish Regt., DOW. From Dresden
German troops begin to pull back over the Rhine River
March 7th, 1945 P/O John KERR, J90251, with 407 Sqd. DOAA. From Blenheim, ON. L/Cpl. Joseph Richard JENNER. A50492, Highland Light Infantry, DOW. From Merlin.
March 7th, 1945 Canadians attack to secure town of Xanten. (4th Canadians and 129th British Brigade).
March 8th, 1945 Flt. Lieut. George Ivan SHELDRICK. J12051. 418 Sqd. KIA. From Chatham.
March 9th, 1945 Rhineland Operation complete.
March 10th, 1945 P/O Robert Bruce MILLMAN. J59401, 50 Sqd. (RAF). KIA. From Thamesville.
March 14th, 1945 CROSSING the RHINE
March 15 - 30, 1945 HMCS GUYSBOURGH (Minesweeper) Sunk, 51 lives lost.
March 17th, 1945 PO. Stoc. Maurice Joseph RENAULD. V19428, HMCS Guysbourgh. LAS. From Wallaceburg.
March 18th, 1945 F/O(BA) Anthony Joseph PALANEX. J35525, 419 Sqd. (Bombers) KIA. From Chatham.
March 21st, 1945 Operation “Varsity” & Operation “Plunder “allied forces begin crossing the Rhine River.
March 24th, 1945 Emmerrich-Hoch Elten.
March 28, 1945 - April 1, 1945 HMCS TEME (Frigate) Damaged, 1 life lost.
March 29th, 1945 WO2 Edwin Mitton HOOKER. R187913, 429 Sqd. KIA. From Wheatley.
March 31st, 1945 Doetinghem. Rhine River crossing completed.
April 1st, 1945 Twente Canal – Northern Netherlands. Zutphen – Northern Netherlands.
April 3rd, 1945 Eekhoorn, Zwaarte Schaar, Rodenburg & Hoefken.
April 4th, 1945 Operation “Cannonshot” begins in Northern Netherlands – Emmer
April 5- 17, 1945 Rha.
April 5 - 6, 1945 F/O Donald Lloyd KENNEDY. J20024, 426 Sqd. KIA. From Merlin.
April 5th, 1945 Zutphen.
April 6 - 8, 1945 Cpl. Henry Albert MARCHAND. A107089. Le Regt. de la Chaudiere, KIA. From Tilbury.
The allied offensive, minus the Canadian troops begins on the Senio River in Italy.
Pte. Murray J. H. ELLIS. A61527, South Saskatchewan Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
April 9th, 1945 Deventer
April 10th, 1945 Pte. Charles Henry SMITH. A117773, Lincoln & Welland Regt. KIA. From Wallaceburg
April 10th, 1945 Liberation of Apeldoorn
April 11-17, 1945 Westervoost
April 12-13, 1934 Arnham
April 12-14, 1945 Liberation of Westerbork
April 12th, 1945 Apeldoorn and Assam, Pte. Lloyd Frederick CLARK, A606797, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham
April 13th, 1945 Groningen
April 13-16, 1945 Hoven & Zutphen and Zwolle Pte. Roslyn Earnest SANDS. A50594, Essex Scottish Regt., KIA. From Wallaceburg., Walpole Island., Pte. William Douglas TASKER. A1160665, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Merlin
April 14th, 1945 Canadians capture Arnhem
April 15th, 1945 Ijsselmeer
April 15-18, 1945 Canadians liberate Groningen
April 16th, 1945 HMCS ESQUIMALT (Minesweeper) Sunk, 44 lives lost
April 16th, 1945 Apeldoorn to Soest
April 16 - 22, 1945 Wons
April 16th, 1945 Lieut. John A. LAURIE (MC). CDN171, Royal Norfolk Regt. KIA. – Chatham
April 16th, 1945 Kusten Canal, Kornwerder, goduin, Zurich and Pingum
April 17th, 1945 German commander Von Vietinghoff authorized the withdrawal of German forces from Italy.
April 20th, 1945 Cpl. Harold Davis KEMP. A110863, Lincoln & Welland Regt. KIA. – From Chatham
April 20th, 1945 Diele, Stapelmoor, Holthusen, Ditzumer, &Verlaat
April 22-26, 1945 Battle for the Delfzji Pocket. Appingdam captured
April 23, 1945 - May 2, 1945 50,000 German troops are captured in Italy
April 25th, 1945 Bad Zwischenahn
April 25, 1945 - May 4, 1945 Weener
April 26th, 1945 Oldenburg
April 27, 1945 - May 4, 1945 Ditzum & Pogum
April 27th, 1945 Leer., Pte. Gerald TAYLOR. A117783, Perth Regt. KIA. From Chatham., Gnr. James Edward WILDER. A49610, Royal Cdn. Artillery, DOW. From Chatham
April 28 - 30, 1945 Oldenberg State Forest., Wageningen and Bad Zwischenahn., Capt. Donald William DYMOND. Algonquin Regt. KIA.,Pte. John P. MCLAGAN. A50287, Essex Scottish Regt. KIA. From Chatham.
April 30th, 1945 Hitler commits suicide in his Berlin bunker
May 1st, 1945 Berlin fall to Russian troops
May 2nd, 1945 The German forces in Italy surrender unconditionally
May 2nd, 1945 Hesel, Bagband, Ulbargen & Mitte Grossefehn
May 2-3, 1945 Osterander
May 4th, 1945 The 25th German Army surrenders to Canadian Forces in the Netherlands
May 5th, 1945 Ofen
May 5th, 1945 207,425 German troops surrender in Italy
May 6th, 1945 VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY (VE-DAY)
May 8th, 1945 Camp X closes
May 31st, 1945 RCAF “Windsor Sqd.” ceased to be an operational squadron. Formed in November of 1941 in the United Kingdom it saw action in North Africa as part of the DAF “Desert Air Force and served in Italy until the end of hostilities.
June 30th, 1945 P/O Maurice Reginald SMYTH. J95401, 50 Sqd. DOAI. From Chatham
July 10th, 1945 Americans drop atomic bomb on Hiroshima
August 6th, 1945 Americans drop second atomic bomb on Nagasaki
August 6th, 1945 VJ – Day VICTORY OVER JAPAN
August 15th, 1945 Pte. Ernest Grayton JONES. A108944, RCASC. From Thamesville
October 25th, 1945 Sgt. Albert B. Elroy EAKETT. A57804, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, DOAI. From Chatham
December 25th, 1945 USAAF bombs the Benedictine monastery of Monte Casino, Italy with 135 heavy bombers and 87 medium bombers.
February 15th, 2016 Veen
March 6-10, 2016 ADVANCE to the HITLER LINE
“Operation CHESTERFIELD”
Attack on the Hitler Line. 1st Cdn. Corps breaks the line and advances up the Liri Valley. Breaking the Hitler Line will cost the 2nd Cdn. Brigade 543 casualties of the 879 for the entire Cdn. Division.
Pte. Lorne Wayne ANKCORN. A28763, KIA with RCR.
L/Cpl. Carson James STEELE. A104685, Loyal Edmonton Regt. KIA. From Dresden.
May 23rd, 2016