Canadian soldiers advance during Operation Spring, July 25, [PHOTO: KEN BELL, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA131378]

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Canadian soldiers advance during Operation Spring, July 25, [PHOTO: KEN BELL, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA131378]"

Transcription

1 Legion Magazine March 2012 Chaos In The Dark: Army, Part 99 March 22, 2012 by Terry Copp Canadian soldiers advance during Operation Spring, July 25, [PHOTO: KEN BELL, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA131378] General Bernard Montgomery s armoured blitzkrieg, Operation Goodwood, and its Canadian component, Operation Atlantic, ended in rain and confusion on July 20, The next day, Montgomery and his army commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey, met to consider their options. News of the failed assassination attempt against Hitler was discussed as was the postponement of Operation Cobra, the major American offensive originally scheduled for July 20. The two British generals agreed they could not wait for the Americans; they would launch their attack south of Caen as soon as possible. Montgomery explained his plans in a letter to the Supreme Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. His aim was to try and bring about a major enemy withdrawal from in front of Brad (United States Army General Omar Bradley) by a series of left-right blows east and west of the Orne (River), to keep the enemy guessing, followed by a heavy blow towards Falaise. The first blow was code-named Operation Spring and was assigned to Lt.-Gen. Guy Simonds and 2nd Canadian Corps which, in July, was operating under Second British Army. Simonds discussed the details of the operation fully with Dempsey and obtained his approval, but Operation Spring was Simonds plan. He designed it as a three-phase battle involving the two Canadian infantry divisions and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, plus the 7th and Guards Armoured divisions. Second Tactical Air Force was to devote its full resources and artillery support was to be provided by the 2nd Canadian and 3rd and 8th British Army Groups Royal Artillery, in addition to concentrations from British and Canadian field regiments. In the first phase, 3rd Canadian Div. was to capture Tilly-la- Campagne while 2nd Div. seized May-sur-Orne and Verrières village. Phase II required 2nd Div. to 1 P a g e

2 capture Fontenay-le-Marmion and Rocquancourt while 7th Armd. Div. attacked Cramesnil and 3rd Div. struck Garcelles-Secqueville. These moves were to set the stage for the Guards Armoured Div. to seize the high ground around Cintheaux and the river crossings at Bretteville-sur-Laize. Allied intelligence on enemy defences was limited by poor weather which prevented photoreconnaissance. Prisoners of war from the 272nd and 1 SS Panzer Div. brought news of the attempted assassination of Hitler and the order of battle information, but nothing was learned about the strength or location of the battle groups of 9th SS and 2nd Panzer divisions. Intelligence officers failed to appreciate that both divisions had committed battalions to the defence of St. Andre, St. Martin, and the east-west road Simonds proposed to use as a start line. Simonds believed a repetition of the July 19 daylight attack had little chance of success so he decided to undertake Phase I in full darkness, hoping to be past the first line of enemy resistance before daybreak. Since the enemy overlooked the area from the west side of the Orne as well as Verrières Ridge, the troops would have to wait until close to midnight before moving to their forming-up places. This meant that H-hour was delayed to 3:30 a.m., leaving less than three hours of darkness to complete Phase I if Phase II was to begin at dawn. The Anglo-Canadian forces had very limited experience with night attacks. Second Div. had begun to study the problem in A divisional night-fighting course offered instruction in orientation and controlling troops, but everyone who has been on a night exercise in strange country knows how difficult it is to maintain direction even when no one is shooting at you. The British Army s operational research group had devised a number of navigational aids for night fighting, but their focus was on vehicles, not marching troops. Artificial moonlight, created by bouncing searchlights off clouds, was the only practical means available in Operation Spring was supposed to involve four divisions, but most of the troops were assigned to the later phases. The night attack involved just three infantry battalions, each committing between 350 and 400 men. This meant that the enemy dug in with carefully prepared, interlocking fields of fire seriously outnumbered the attackers. The corps commander, however, counted on darkness and artillery to overcome these odds. The orders from Simonds left the divisional commanders with little latitude. H-hour had been determined and the air strikes and medium artillery program of harassing fire on known German positions were set. Major-General Charles Foulkes had to determine how best to carry out 2nd Division s attack while two of his nine battalions were out of action recovering from their mauling in Operation Atlantic and while two others were dug in close to the enemy. Foulkes faced a difficult situation. In theory, troops held a line from St. André-sur-Orne along the road which ran on the lower slope of Verrières Ridge through Beauvoir farm to the village of Hubert Folie. In practice, this was far from the case, particularly on the right flank where the Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada did not control most of St. André, never mind the adjacent village of St. Martin-de-Fontenay or the mining complex south of St. Martin. The Camerons faced continuous mortar fire, frequent enemy counterattacks and the constant infiltration of small groups of enemy soldiers. As late as the morning of 2 P a g e

3 July 24, a patrol of approximately 25 Germans appeared in a quarry to the left-rear of battalion headquarters. Fortunately, a section of Toronto Scottish medium machine guns was deployed in the area and the patrol was destroyed. Silhouettes of Canadian infantry during the July 25, 1944, night attack. [PHOTO: MICHAEL M. DEAN, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA131384] A similar problem plagued 4th Bde. in its bid to capture Verrières village in Phase I and Rocquancourt in Phrase II. The Fusiliers Mont Royal (FMR) clung to its position at Beauvoir Farm, but Troteval Farm and the east-west road which was to serve as the start line were contested under direct fire from 1SS Panzer Div. The FMRs were able to clear the area by midnight, but in full darkness the Germans returned to their positions overlooking the road. Lt.-Col. John Rockingham, who had been rushed to France to command the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) after Lt.-Col. Denis Whitaker was wounded, used his reserve company to push the enemy back, delaying the main attack. 3 P a g e

4 The North Nova Scotia Highlanders were able to form up in Bourguebus village which had been cleared by British troops during Operation Goodwood. The centre line for the North Novas advance, the road to Tilly-la-Campagne, sloped upward across open fields of wheat and sugar beets. Darkness was the only cover and this advantage was lost when searchlights came on, silhouetting the North Novas who immediately came under fire. Operation Spring stuttered to a start and quickly collapsed into confusion and chaos on both flanks. The North Novas fought through to Tilly, reported they were on the objective and began to dig in. At first light the enemy counterattacked. Lt.-Col. C. Petch borrowed a Fort Garry tank squadron in reserve for Phase II to help his battalion, but a hidden 88-mm gun and five German tanks that appeared from haystacks knocked out eleven Fort Garry Shermans. The situation on the right was equally desperate. The Calgary Highlanders man effort force, Major John Campbell s A Company and Major Cyril Nixon s B Company, were lined up east of the St. André-sur- Orne/May-sur-Orne road. A Company on the left discovered the area was not clear and had to fight to get on the start line. Major Campbell had to choose quickly between detaching men to deal with this opposition or pressing on to May-sur-Orne with the supporting barrage. He chose to keep his men moving, leaving enemy behind in slit trenches and dugouts who later on were to fire on us to our cost. Campbell s men advanced towards the eastern edge of May-sur-Orne and then informed battalion headquarters they had reached their objective. The artillery continued to pound the village with some shells falling short on the men waiting on the sloping field. According to Lieut. R.L. Morgan-Dean, the company stayed there only about fifteen minutes. He told the historical officer who interviewed him four days after the battle that light was breaking and our artillery remained on the objective. There was no area between the position we had reached and our final consolidation position where we might have set up a proper defensive area. Hence we came back and took up position to the right [east] of St. Martin. Campbell, who had lost his wireless link, was unable to report to battalion headquarters. Foulkes and Simonds and Brigadier W.J. Megill all believed A Company was on its objective. B Company met machine-gun fire the moment the start line was crossed. Fire from a German outpost at the sunken Verrières road dispersed the company and the commanding officer, Major Nixon, was killed. Two of the platoons were forced to ground after meeting enfilade fire from eight machine guns in St. Martin. The third platoon, commanded by Lieut. John Moffat, was on the left flank and continued south, arriving at a waterhole on the eastern edge of May-sur-Orne. The village was still being shelled by Allied artillery which came in so low men had to take shelter from it in dead ground. When the barrage stopped, Moffat set off to recce the crossroads at May-sur-Orne. As first light came we saw three Tiger tanks and two SP (self-propelled) guns. Just along the south side of the road to Fontenay. Moffat decided that the objective was held by too strong a force for 20 men and one PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank gun) to contest. They proceeded slowly and carefully back towards St. André and met men from A Company who told us the rest of our company was in the area just east of the factory. C Company waited out the darkness, reaching the quarry north of May-sur-Orne at 7 a.m. They too 4 P a g e

5 reported reaching the objective. Megill, commanding 5th Bde., believed the Calgaries had reached their objective and were presumably consolidating on it. Divisional and corps message logs show Foulkes and Simonds had the same information. The Calgary attack on May-sur-Orne yielded roughly 100 prisoners and inflicted other casualties, but its objective remained in enemy hands. The forming-up area for the Black Watch, never mind their intended start line, was still dominated by German mortar and machine-gun fire. This was the result of divisional headquarters failure to recognize that St. Martin and its factory area were well-organized, strongly held positions. Today, military training manuals emphasize what is called C3 : command, control, and communications as the key to successful operations. Apart from the jargon, the concept appears obvious to veterans of 5th Bde. The difficulty is that command and control are not possible without communication and in 1944 infantry companies frequently lost touch with their battalion headquarters and each other. Quite apart from casualties suffered by platoon and company signals sections, the back-packed No. 18 communications set was subject to interference and frequent failure. The RHLI attack on Verrières resulted in a very different outcome. Despite a 30-minute delay, the battalion advanced three companies up to obtain the widest possible frontage. The objective, Verrières village, was just below the crest of a ridge less than 1,000 yards away across level ground. The village marked the boundary between 1st SS Panzer Div. and 272nd Div. and was held by elements of a Panzer Grenadier battalion with tanks and assault guns in reserve. If the RHLI could take the village, the enemy would have to come at them over the ridge, exposed to anti-tank guns and observed artillery fire. The battalion s right flank company was pinned by the intense fire and only one platoon made it to the first objective, the hedgerow 300 yards north of the village. Despite the darkness, confusion and losses that left the platoon with just nine men, the Canadians were able to clear their section of the hedgerow, merge with the reserve platoon, and send two groups each commanded by a corporal forward into the village. B Company in the centre had a far easier time. With both flanks protected, the men reached the hedgerow, overwhelmed the defenders and began to clear the houses east of the crossroads. On the left, close to the Caen-Falaise highway, enemy tanks poured fire on D Company, killing the commanding officer, Maj. G. Stinson, and his non-commissioned officers. At dawn the attached troops from 2nd Anti- Tank Regiment, which had come forward to positions near Troteval Farm, engaged the German armour silhouetted on the high ground east of Verrières. The enemy tanks were well within the killing range of 17-pounders and four Panzers were destroyed. Rockingham was everywhere, inspiring his men. He brought his reserve company and carrier platoon up to the hedgerow to provide all-around defence and a mobile reserve. By 7:50 a.m., he was confident the battalion was firm, and reported this to headquarters. 5 P a g e

6 By early morning on July 25, both divisional commanders and the corps commander had been informed that all three battalions had reached their Phase I objectives. Orders to begin Phase II were issued at 7:30 a.m., and we ll examine the consequences of that in the next issue. 6 P a g e

Canadian infantry in Normandy, July 18, [PHOTO: HAROLD G. AIKMAN, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA162447]

Canadian infantry in Normandy, July 18, [PHOTO: HAROLD G. AIKMAN, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA162447] Legion Magazine December 2011 Flawed From The Start: Army, Part 97 December 5, 2011 by Terry Copp Canadian infantry in Normandy, July 18, 1944. [PHOTO: HAROLD G. AIKMAN, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA PA162447]

More information

Breakthrough To Falaise: Mistakes On The Road To Success: Army, Part 105

Breakthrough To Falaise: Mistakes On The Road To Success: Army, Part 105 Legion Magazine March 2013 Breakthrough To Falaise: Mistakes On The Road To Success: Army, Part 105 March 31, 2013 by Terry Copp A Universal Carrier advances near Cintheaux, France, August 1944. [PHOTO:

More information

by The White Knight Gameclub in Belgium

by The White Knight Gameclub in Belgium The Scenario: by The White Knight Gameclub in Belgium Counterattack of the 1 st SS Panzer Division on Hubert Folie 21 July 1944. The persistent low clouds of that day in Normandy enable the German troops

More information

Canadian Forces in Northwest Europe 8 May 1945

Canadian Forces in Northwest Europe 8 May 1945 Canadian Forces in Northwest Europe 8 May 1945 1st Canadian Army: 1st Armored Brigade: 1st Armored Brigade 11th Armored (The Ontario) Regiment 12th Armored (Three Rivers) Regiment 14th Armored (The Calgary)

More information

The Second Battle of Ypres

The Second Battle of Ypres Ypres and the Somme Trenches - Follow Up On the Western Front it was typically between 100 and 300 yards (90 and 275 m), though only 30 yards (27 m) on Vimy Ridge. For four years there was a deadlock along

More information

The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery

The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Dedication of a 25 Pounder JUNO Beach, Normandy 6 th June, 2010 3 rd Canadian Division Landing on D-Day - Commander Royal Artillery is Brig PAS Todd Brigadier PAS

More information

St. Mihiel Offensive: An Overview

St. Mihiel Offensive: An Overview St. Mihiel Offensive: An Overview Threatening the eastern flank of Verdun, the St. Mihiel salient existed since Germany occupied the territory in late 1914. The French tried to eliminate the salient in

More information

Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. Birth of a Nation

Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. Birth of a Nation Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele Birth of a Nation First... http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/trenchwarfare.shtml The Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9-12th 1917 Many historians and writers consider

More information

Deepening of new lines and communication trenches in hand. One man wounded by sniper.

Deepening of new lines and communication trenches in hand. One man wounded by sniper. War Diary 7th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment Private Albert Amos Hill 25th January 1917 The war diary for the days leading up to the 25th January reports the preparation work prior to an assault

More information

Direct Fire Amid the Wreckage of Pozieres July 1916 Major Darryl Kelly OAM

Direct Fire Amid the Wreckage of Pozieres July 1916 Major Darryl Kelly OAM LT Samuel Thurnhill Direct Fire Amid the Wreckage of Pozieres 22-23 July 1916 Major Darryl Kelly OAM Outline.. Background Command Selection Mission Execution Filling in the Gaps Analysis / Lessons Background

More information

In May 1945 it was the Russians who hoisted their flag over the ruins of the Reichstag building in Berlin.

In May 1945 it was the Russians who hoisted their flag over the ruins of the Reichstag building in Berlin. The Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market Garden) In May 1945 it was the Russians who hoisted their flag over the ruins of the Reichstag building in Berlin. In this way World War Two, in Europe, was signaled

More information

Counter-Attack at Villers-Bretonneux

Counter-Attack at Villers-Bretonneux Counter-Attack at Villers-Bretonneux 13 th Australian Infantry Brigade vs 5 th German Guards Division Villers-Bretonneux, France Night of 24 th & 25 th April, 1918 The Battle The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux

More information

Battlefront:WWII Scenario Jupiter-Les Duanes Scenario Overview By Ken Natt Operation Jupiter

Battlefront:WWII Scenario Jupiter-Les Duanes Scenario Overview By Ken Natt Operation Jupiter Battlefront:WWII Scenario Jupiter-Les Duanes Scenario Overview By Ken Natt "He who controls Hill 112 controls Normandy" Operation Jupiter Hill 112 was a prominent terrain feature that dominated much of

More information

The battle of Bir Bagahr A Western Desert WWII scenario by Bart Vetters for the Schild en Vriend Gentlemen s wargames society

The battle of Bir Bagahr A Western Desert WWII scenario by Bart Vetters for the Schild en Vriend Gentlemen s wargames society The battle of Bir Bagahr A Western Desert WWII scenario by Bart Vetters for the Schild en Vriend Gentlemen s wargames society Introduction This scenario is one representing a staple military operation:

More information

42nd DIVISION-SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS - ON THE OURCQ RIVER

42nd DIVISION-SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS - ON THE OURCQ RIVER 42nd DIVISION-SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS - ON THE OURCQ RIVER 26th Division U.S. - Summary of operations (July 25, 1918) To the right of the 26th Division, the French 39th Division advanced to the eastern edge

More information

Of all the climactic moments during the Second World CANADIAN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN NORMANDY REVISITED. Introduction. by Gregory Liedtke

Of all the climactic moments during the Second World CANADIAN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN NORMANDY REVISITED. Introduction. by Gregory Liedtke CWM 19710261-5376 In this evocative painting by George Pepper entitled Tanks Moving Up for the Breakthrough, the night advance conducted during the first phase of Operation Totalize is depicted. CANADIAN

More information

Allied 15th Army Group Invasion of Sicily 10 July 1943

Allied 15th Army Group Invasion of Sicily 10 July 1943 1 Allied 15th Army Group Invasion of Sicily 10 July 1943 15th Army Group: General sir Harlod Alexander British 8th Army: General Sir B.L.Montgomery XIII Corps: Lt. General Sir M. Dempsey 5th Infantry Division:

More information

Organization German XXIV Panzer Corps (16th & 17th Panzer Divisions) 22 April 1944

Organization German XXIV Panzer Corps (16th & 17th Panzer Divisions) 22 April 1944 Organization German XXIV Panzer Corps (16th & 17th Panzer Divisions) 22 April 1944 Corps Headquarters: Panzer Corps Staff (organization of 1 March 1942) 424th (mot) Mapping Detachment 424th (mot) Military

More information

KEREN 1941, EAST AFRICA

KEREN 1941, EAST AFRICA KEREN 1941, EAST AFRICA AAR of World at War 25 Keren, 1941: East Africa Orders to Sudan Based Forces January 30, 1941 From: Commander in Chief, Middle East Command, General Archibald Wavell To: Commander

More information

Beyond Breaking 4 th August 1982

Beyond Breaking 4 th August 1982 Beyond Breaking 4 th August 1982 Last updated 22 nd January 2013 The scenario set in the Northern Germany during 1982. It is designed for use with the "Modern Spearhead" miniatures rule system. The table

More information

Copies of the diaries for the period during which Pte Cowdell was killed are below. They give an almost hour by hour account.

Copies of the diaries for the period during which Pte Cowdell was killed are below. They give an almost hour by hour account. War Diary 8th Battalion South Staffs April 1917 8th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment The 8th (Service) Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment was raised at Lichfield in September 1914 as

More information

3/8/2011. Most of the world wasn t surprised when the war broke out, but some countries were better prepared than others.

3/8/2011. Most of the world wasn t surprised when the war broke out, but some countries were better prepared than others. Most of the world wasn t surprised when the war broke out, but some countries were better prepared than others. Pre-war Canada had a regular army of only 3000 men; we did, however, have 60,000 militia

More information

Preparing for War. 300,000 women fought Worked for the Women s Army Corps (WAC) Drivers Clerks Mechanics Army and Navy Nurse Corps

Preparing for War. 300,000 women fought Worked for the Women s Army Corps (WAC) Drivers Clerks Mechanics Army and Navy Nurse Corps Preparing for War Selective Service Act All men between the ages of 18 and 38 had to register for military services. 300,000 Mexican Americans fought 1 million African Americans fought 300,000 women fought

More information

Exploring the Battle of the Somme A toolkit for students and teachers

Exploring the Battle of the Somme A toolkit for students and teachers Exploring the Battle of the Somme A toolkit for students and teachers (c) Image courtesy Bodleian Library This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license. Attribution:

More information

Colonel Kiyono Ichiki The Battle of the Tenaru

Colonel Kiyono Ichiki The Battle of the Tenaru Colonel Kiyono Ichiki The Battle of the Tenaru Micro Melee Scenario: The Battle of Tenaru Page 1 Historical Background "On 13 August 1942, the Japanese High Command ordered Lieutenant General Haruyoshi

More information

US 5th Army 14 August 1944

US 5th Army 14 August 1944 US 5th Army 14 August 1944 5th Army Troops: HQ, 5th Army: British Increment, 5th Army 85th Cipher Section 106th Special Wireless Telegraph Section (less det) "Q" Air Liaison Section (Photo Recon Unit)

More information

Organization of Russian Armored Corps, Brigades, Regiments, Break Through Regiments and independent Battalions, Summer 1944

Organization of Russian Armored Corps, Brigades, Regiments, Break Through Regiments and independent Battalions, Summer 1944 Organization of Russian Armored Corps, Brigades, Regiments, Break Through Regiments and independent Battalions, Summer 1944 Armored Corps: Corps Headquarters Armored Command Company (3 T-34/85 Tanks) 1

More information

World War One Definition of War/Countries Involved Background Information WWI 4 Causes of World War I (p. 275) Declaring War (p.

World War One Definition of War/Countries Involved Background Information WWI 4 Causes of World War I (p. 275) Declaring War (p. World War One 1914-1918 Definition of War/Countries Involved Background Information WWI 4 Causes of World War I (p. 275) Declaring War (p. 276) Canada & Newfoundland Join In (p 277) Regiments and Battles

More information

Operation Supercharge II New Zealand 24 Battalion's Attack at Tebaga Gap Tunisia, March 26, 1943 A Battlefront WWII Scenario by Bill Slavin

Operation Supercharge II New Zealand 24 Battalion's Attack at Tebaga Gap Tunisia, March 26, 1943 A Battlefront WWII Scenario by Bill Slavin Operation Supercharge II New Zealand 24 Battalion's Attack at Tebaga Gap Tunisia, March 26, 1943 A Battlefront WWII Scenario by Bill Slavin Scenario The 8th Army's pursuit of the Axis forces into southern

More information

Arracourt, 1944 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario

Arracourt, 1944 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario Arracourt, 1944 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario After a breakneck advance across France, George Patton s 3 rd Army pushed into Lorraine. As the Americans outran their supplies and resistance stiffened,

More information

Red Devils and Panzers, 1944 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario

Red Devils and Panzers, 1944 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario Red Devils and Panzers, 1944 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario The crucial left flank of the Allied D-Day landings was manned by the British 6 th Airborne Division, tasked with taking the critical Pegasus

More information

17 Battalion Sherwood Forester. War Diary Extracts March (with thanks to Sherwood Foresters museum)

17 Battalion Sherwood Forester. War Diary Extracts March (with thanks to Sherwood Foresters museum) Owing to this and the capture of all documents at Battalion Headquarters, no accurate or detailed account of the action is possible. During the evening a few men who were not in the trenches were collected

More information

Blade Force Scenario

Blade Force Scenario Background Blade Force Scenario The ships carrying Blade Force left the River Clyde on 2nd November 1942 along with the follow up troops of 78 th Battleaxe Division. The two leading brigades of 78 th Division

More information

21st Army Group. Contents. Normandy

21st Army Group. Contents. Normandy 21st Army Group 21st Army Group Active July, 1943 to August, 1945 United Kingdom Country Canada Poland Supreme Headquarters Allied Part of Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) Commanders Notable Bernard Montgomery

More information

The Hasty Pees in Sicily

The Hasty Pees in Sicily Canadian Military History Volume 12 Issue 3 Article 6 4-26-2012 The Hasty Pees in Sicily A.R. Campbell Recommended Citation Campbell, A.R. (2003) "The Hasty Pees in Sicily," Canadian Military History:

More information

Bitish Home Forces 1 July 1943

Bitish Home Forces 1 July 1943 Bitish Home Forces 1 July 1943 GHQ Home Forces: General Sir B.C.Paget 48th (Reserve) Division:Major General H.J.Hayman-Joyce 143rd Infantry Brigade 8th Suffolk 11th Green Howards 144th Infantry Brigade

More information

2 nd Division: 5 th & 6 th Canadian Field Artillery Brigades. 3 rd Division: 9 th & 10 th Bde. 4 th Division: 3 rd & 4 th

2 nd Division: 5 th & 6 th Canadian Field Artillery Brigades. 3 rd Division: 9 th & 10 th Bde. 4 th Division: 3 rd & 4 th 2 nd Division: 5 th & 6 th Canadian Field Artillery Brigades 3 rd Division: 9 th & 10 th Bde 4 th Division: 3 rd & 4 th 1 st Division first CO: Sept 1914 2 nd Division first CO: May 1915 3 rd Division

More information

Verdun 9/27/2017. Hell on Earth. February December 1916

Verdun 9/27/2017. Hell on Earth. February December 1916 Verdun Hell on Earth February December 1916 1 The Battle of Verdun in Perspective 21 February 1916 = 1 Million Artillery Shells Fired February December 1916 = 37 Million Artillery Shells Fired 6 miles

More information

This documents the days before the 2 nd Battle of Frezenberg during WW1.

This documents the days before the 2 nd Battle of Frezenberg during WW1. This documents the days before the 2 nd Battle of Frezenberg during WW1. George Harry Hyde joined up to the 1 st Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment almost immediately after the call was made. After

More information

First Day In Hell - Kursk 5 July 1943

First Day In Hell - Kursk 5 July 1943 First Day In Hell - Kursk 5 July 1943 In early July 1943, Hitler launched his Operation Zitadelle to pinch off the Kursk salient in 1944. This salient had been created in the fluid situation of early 1943

More information

Climax at Nijmegen Bridge 2012

Climax at Nijmegen Bridge 2012 After Action Report "Nijmegen, Holland, 20 September 1944: Operation Market Garden was to be characterized by intense fighting for the control of a number of vital bridges. Each was a vital link in the

More information

Bathtub D-Day 6 th June, A Flames of War Grand Battle Scenario

Bathtub D-Day 6 th June, A Flames of War Grand Battle Scenario Bathtub D-Day 6 th June, 1944 A Flames of War Grand Battle Scenario Operation Overlord, the Anglo-American invasion of Hitler s Fortress Europe, was a pivotal event in the Second World War. This scenario

More information

2/9th War Diary, October th October 1917.

2/9th War Diary, October th October 1917. George Herbert Barratt Remembered with Honour Tyne Cot Memorial In Memory of Lieutenant 9th Bn., Manchester Regiment who died on 09 October 1917 Age 23 Son of Herbert and Annie Barratt, of 41, Larch Street,

More information

THE INFANTRY PLATOON IN THE ATTACK

THE INFANTRY PLATOON IN THE ATTACK In the years before the World War II most of Finland s higher officer cadre had been trained in the military academies of Imperial Russia, Germany and Sweden. However, they soon started to see Finlands

More information

The forces to deploy will include: 19 Light Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (209) Elements of 845 Naval Air Squadron

The forces to deploy will include: 19 Light Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (209) Elements of 845 Naval Air Squadron The UK Government has announced that the next roulement of UK forces in Afghanistan will take place in April 2009. The force package will see the current lead formation, 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines,

More information

The First World War. 1. Nationalism in Europe, a policy under which nations built up their armed forces, was a major cause of World War I.

The First World War. 1. Nationalism in Europe, a policy under which nations built up their armed forces, was a major cause of World War I. Date CHAPTER 19 Form B CHAPTER TEST The First World War Part 1: Main Ideas If the statement is true, write true on the line. If it is false, change the underlined word or words to make it true. (4 points

More information

D-Day. The invasion of Normandy was the largest land and sea attack ever launched with over troops, over 7000 ships and aircraft.

D-Day. The invasion of Normandy was the largest land and sea attack ever launched with over troops, over 7000 ships and aircraft. Facts 6th June 1944 was. Allied forces landed in Normandy (France). It began the liberation of Western Europe from the German occupation. The British commander in charge of the attack was called General

More information

HSC Modern History Conflict in Europe Notes

HSC Modern History Conflict in Europe Notes HSC Modern History Year 2016 Mark 90.00 Pages 76 Published Dec 28, 2016 HSC Modern History Conflict in Europe Notes By Patrick (98.05 ATAR) Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Your notes author, Patrick.

More information

Battle for Hill La Roumiere Hotton, Belgium. How Major John Sewanee Baskin, Jr. Spent Christmas 1944

Battle for Hill La Roumiere Hotton, Belgium. How Major John Sewanee Baskin, Jr. Spent Christmas 1944 Battle for Hill La Roumiere Hotton, Belgium How Major John Sewanee Baskin, Jr. Spent Christmas 1944 Jack s Life Job 30 Years Old Military since 1931 (USN) 1939 Feb: Clemson Grad 1 Sep: 2d Lt Army 11 Dec:

More information

PRIVATE ARTHUR CAIRNS st Kings Own Scottish Borderers

PRIVATE ARTHUR CAIRNS st Kings Own Scottish Borderers PRIVATE ARTHUR CAIRNS 29852 1 st Kings Own Scottish Borderers Arthur Cairns was born in Scone on 17 September 1897. His father, James, and mother, Agnes, had married in Scone in August 1892. At the time

More information

Northern Command. Regular Troops in the Command. 5 th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1) 4 th Bn. Royal Tank Corps (2) Royal Artillery

Northern Command. Regular Troops in the Command. 5 th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1) 4 th Bn. Royal Tank Corps (2) Royal Artillery Regular Troops in the Command 5 th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards (1) 4 th Bn. Royal Tank Corps (2) Royal Artillery Northern Command XIX Field Brigade, Royal Artillery (3) (H.Q., 29 th (Howitzer), 39 th &

More information

3/29/2011. The battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the greatest battles in Canada s history.

3/29/2011. The battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the greatest battles in Canada s history. 7 miles long High hill combined with elaborate trenches. New style of warfare for Canadians. The battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the greatest battles in Canada s history. For the first time in the Great

More information

US I Corps Aisne-Marne Operation 18 July - 6 August 1918

US I Corps Aisne-Marne Operation 18 July - 6 August 1918 US I Corps Aisne-Marne Operation 18 July - 6 August 1918 3rd Division: 5th Infantry Brigade 4th Infantry Regiment (3490/2499) 7th Infantry Regiment (2843/2587) 8th Machine Gun Battalion (742/614) 5th Infantry

More information

Lt. Larry Story 5-3, First Special Service Force

Lt. Larry Story 5-3, First Special Service Force Lt. Larry Story 5-3, First Special Service Force By Roy Akins Laurence Arthur (Larry) Story was born 26 June 1922 in Holden, Alberta. He joined the 19 th Alberta Dragoons on 23 July 1940, less than a month

More information

The War in Europe and North Africa Ch 24-1

The War in Europe and North Africa Ch 24-1 The War in Europe and North Africa Ch 24-1 The Main Idea After entering World War II, the United States focused first on the war in Europe. Content Statement Summarize how atomic weapons have changed the

More information

The Bear Marches West Alternate Tables of Organization & Equipment for Optional Wargame Scenarios. Glenn Dean

The Bear Marches West Alternate Tables of Organization & Equipment for Optional Wargame Scenarios. Glenn Dean The Bear Marches West Alternate Tables of Organization & Equipment for Optional Wargame Scenarios Glenn Dean The 1980s were a turbulent time for the US Army with the introduction of major changes in equipment

More information

Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield Cpt.instr. Ovidiu SIMULEAC

Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield Cpt.instr. Ovidiu SIMULEAC Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield Cpt.instr. Ovidiu SIMULEAC Intelligence Preparation of Battlefield or IPB as it is more commonly known is a Command and staff tool that allows systematic, continuous

More information

The furthest extent of Hitler s empire in 1942

The furthest extent of Hitler s empire in 1942 The D-Day Invasion How did the D-Day invasion fit into the Allied plans for the war in Europe? How did the Allies successfully liberate the country of France? The furthest extent of Hitler s empire in

More information

The War in Europe 5.2

The War in Europe 5.2 The War in Europe 5.2 On September 1, 1939, Hitler unleashed a massive air & land attack on Poland. Britain & France immediately declared war on Germany. Canada asserting its independence declares war

More information

Canada and Newfoundland entered into the war as they were colonies of Britain. Other colonies who joined were Australia and New Zealand.

Canada and Newfoundland entered into the war as they were colonies of Britain. Other colonies who joined were Australia and New Zealand. War Begins for Newfoundland World War 1 started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo on June 28 th, 1914 by a group of Serbian Nationalist.

More information

Israeli Defence Force: The Mechanised Rifle Company

Israeli Defence Force: The Mechanised Rifle Company Israeli Defence Force: The Mechanised Rifle Company Infantry squads are armed with FN FAL assault rifles, some of which are the heavy barrelled (HB) version allowing use as a quasi-squad support weapon.

More information

University of Victoria Special Collections. Roy, Reginald H., SC104

University of Victoria Special Collections. Roy, Reginald H., SC104 University of Victoria Special Collections Roy, Reginald H., 1922- SC104 Title Reginald Herbert Roy fonds Dates 1850-2009 Extent 10.5 m of textual records 377 sound tape reels 1 audio cassette Biographical

More information

Private Arnold Howard Broadley ( ).

Private Arnold Howard Broadley ( ). Private Arnold Howard Broadley (1899-1918). 1/7 th Battalion Duke of Wellington s West Riding Regiment. 'Come you home a hero, or come not home at all, The lads you leave will mind you... And you will

More information

After Action Report A Micro Melee Scenario

After Action Report A Micro Melee Scenario This AAR covers a game played on 22 March 2014 of the Micro Melee Boot Camp Final Exercise scenario entitled Into the Fray at Briey. Ben and Roger played the American forces, Stan the Germans, and Steve

More information

'C' FORCE PERSONNEL SUMMARY

'C' FORCE PERSONNEL SUMMARY 'C' FORCE PERSONNEL SUMMARY Battle of Hong Kong and Japanese Prisoners of War, 1941 to 1945 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Regiment 1st Bn The Winnipeg Grenadiers Regt No H20820 Rank Private Last Name MACPHERSON

More information

War Diary extracts

War Diary extracts War Diary extracts 1917-1918 AWM - Arthur William Mansley, my grandfather This is a summary, recording the main points in the Battalion War Diaries the main omissions are mentions of officers joining or

More information

MECHANIZED INFANTRY PLATOON AND SQUAD (BRADLEY)

MECHANIZED INFANTRY PLATOON AND SQUAD (BRADLEY) (FM 7-7J) MECHANIZED INFANTRY PLATOON AND SQUAD (BRADLEY) AUGUST 2002 HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. *FM 3-21.71(FM

More information

Scenario 3b: First Clashes: 47 Brigade September 1987 (The Recovery)

Scenario 3b: First Clashes: 47 Brigade September 1987 (The Recovery) Scenario 3b: First Clashes: 47 Brigade 13-14 September 1987 (The Recovery) After the abortive daylight assault of Combat Group Bravo on forward positions of FAPLA s 47 Brigade in the old UNITA logistic

More information

World War I. Part 3 Over There

World War I. Part 3 Over There World War I Part 3 Over There After war was declared, the War Department asked the Senate for $3 billion in arms and other supplies. It took some time to also recruit and train the troops. More than 2

More information

Video Log Roger A Howard W.W.II U.S. Army Born: 02/07/1923. Interview Date: 5/27/2012 Interviewed By: Eileen Hurst. Part I

Video Log Roger A Howard W.W.II U.S. Army Born: 02/07/1923. Interview Date: 5/27/2012 Interviewed By: Eileen Hurst. Part I Video Log Roger A Howard W.W.II U.S. Army Born: 02/07/1923 Interview Date: 5/27/2012 Interviewed By: Eileen Hurst Part I 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:49 Served in the Army during World War Two; enlisted

More information

WORLD WAR II. Chapter 8

WORLD WAR II. Chapter 8 WORLD WAR II Chapter 8 Enlistments When war broke out, the Commission of Government decided to recruit men for the British Army This way, they did not have to spend money sending soldiers overseas and

More information

Malta Command (1) 10 April 2018 [MALTA COMMAND (1943)] Headquarters, Malta Command. 1 st (Malta) Infantry Brigade (2)

Malta Command (1) 10 April 2018 [MALTA COMMAND (1943)] Headquarters, Malta Command. 1 st (Malta) Infantry Brigade (2) Headquarters, Malta Command 1 st (Malta) Infantry Brigade (2) Malta Command (1) Headquarters, 1 st Malta Infantry Brigade & Signal Section 2 nd Bn. The Devonshire Regiment 1 st Bn. The Hampshire Regiment

More information

DIEPPE - BASIC FACTS. Canadians in Battle - Dieppe

DIEPPE - BASIC FACTS. Canadians in Battle - Dieppe DIEPPE - BASIC FACTS To defeat the Axis powers, the Allies knew they had to fight in Western Europe. Even though they were inexperienced, the Second Canadian Division was selected to attack the French

More information

CHAPTER 2 THE ARMORED CAVALRY

CHAPTER 2 THE ARMORED CAVALRY CHAPTER 2 THE ARMORED CAVALRY Section I. ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT 2-1. Organization The armored cavalry regiment (ACR) is used by the corps commander as a reconnaissance and security force; it is strong

More information

Emancipation Proclamation

Emancipation Proclamation Ironclads The first Ironclad was the Merrimack it was a Union ship that had been abandoned in a Virginia Navy yard. The Confederates covered it in iron and renamed it the CSS Virginia. It was very successful

More information

The Korean War Veteran

The Korean War Veteran The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal - October 2, 2011 Caporal Albert Gagnon on parade with Baptiste at the Citadel, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Veteran of Royal 22e Regiment battle at Hill 355 in November,

More information

Figure Company Attack of a Block

Figure Company Attack of a Block Section III Rifle Company Operations 2301. Overview. This section addresses some of the operations the infantry battalion could assign to the rifle company in MOUT. For our focus, the rifle company is

More information

The 2015 Ross Ellis Memorial Lecture. A Perfectly Engineered Killing Ground: Calgary Highlanders and the Walcheren Causeway Battle

The 2015 Ross Ellis Memorial Lecture. A Perfectly Engineered Killing Ground: Calgary Highlanders and the Walcheren Causeway Battle Journal of Military and Strategic VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3 (2015) Studies The 2015 Ross Ellis Memorial Lecture A Perfectly Engineered Killing Ground: Calgary Highlanders and the Walcheren Causeway Battle Mark

More information

ELLESMERE PORT WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT

ELLESMERE PORT WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT ELLESMERE PORT WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT 9472 Private W. MANFORD D.C.M. 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment Died of wounds 28 March 1918 William Manford was born in Bilston in the industrial Black Country of the

More information

A Soldier of the Great War Private John Draddy 41 st Battalion AIF

A Soldier of the Great War Private John Draddy 41 st Battalion AIF A Soldier of the Great War Private John Draddy 41 st Battalion AIF John Thomas Patrick DRADDY enlisted on 9 February 1917 in the Machine Gun Company 11, Reinforcement 11, Australian Imperial Force, with

More information

The Final Battle for Normandy Northern France 9 July 30 August 1944

The Final Battle for Normandy Northern France 9 July 30 August 1944 60 ANNIVERSARY SECOND WORLD WAR TH The Final Battle for Normandy Northern France 9 July 30 August 1944 The decisive defeat of the German forces in Normandy No.5 The Final Battle for Normandy CAEN, LOWER

More information

Ch. 9.4 The War of 1812

Ch. 9.4 The War of 1812 Ch. 9.4 The War of 1812 Objectives 1. How did the war progress at sea and in the Great Lakes region? 2. How did actions by American Indians aid the British during the war? 3. What strategy did the British

More information

Employing the Stryker Formation in the Defense: An NTC Case Study

Employing the Stryker Formation in the Defense: An NTC Case Study Employing the Stryker Formation in the Defense: An NTC Case Study CPT JEFFREY COURCHAINE Since its roll-out in 2002, the Stryker vehicle combat platform has been a major contributor to the war on terrorism.

More information

The Dingo Register The Daimler Fighting Vehicles Project Part By On Active Service Post WW2- BAOR

The Dingo Register The Daimler Fighting Vehicles Project Part By On Active Service Post WW2- BAOR British Army Of the Rhine 1950 s to 1960 s There have been two formations named British Army on the Rhine (BAOR). Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after World War I, and the other

More information

11/28/2016. St. Mihiel Salient / September First time the Americans fight as an Army

11/28/2016. St. Mihiel Salient / September First time the Americans fight as an Army The Final American Campaign St. Mihiel and the Meuse Argonne 1 st US Army American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) 12 September 11 November 1918 1 2 St. Mihiel Salient / 12 16 September 1918 First time the

More information

The. Most Devastating War Battles

The. Most Devastating War Battles The 7 Most Devastating War Battles Prepared By: Kalon Jonasson, Ashley Rechik, April Spring, Trisha Marteinsson, Yasmin Busuttil, Laura Oddleifsson, Alicia Vernaus The Vietnam War took place from 1957

More information

Preparing to Occupy. Brigade Support Area. and Defend the. By Capt. Shayne D. Heap and Lt. Col. Brent Coryell

Preparing to Occupy. Brigade Support Area. and Defend the. By Capt. Shayne D. Heap and Lt. Col. Brent Coryell Preparing to Occupy and Defend the Brigade Support Area By Capt. Shayne D. Heap and Lt. Col. Brent Coryell A Soldier from 123rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division,

More information

Best-Laid Plans: Guy Simonds and Operation Totalize, 7-10 August 1944

Best-Laid Plans: Guy Simonds and Operation Totalize, 7-10 August 1944 Best-Laid Plans: Guy Simonds and Operation Totalize, 7-10 August 1944 Jody Perrun The Journal of Military History, Volume 67, Number 1, January 2003, pp. 137-173 (Article) Published by Society for Military

More information

Lt. Charles Richer, Canadian Film & Photo Unit, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion. By Roy Akins

Lt. Charles Richer, Canadian Film & Photo Unit, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion. By Roy Akins Lt. Charles Richer, Canadian Film & Photo Unit, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion By Roy Akins Charles Henry Richer was born 5 January 1918 in Toronto, Ontario. He was an accountant by trade and for many

More information

The 11 th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 11 th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry The 11 th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry The Boston Volunteers The 11th Massachusetts was among the first three-year regiments formed in the Bay State. The core companies were originally known as the

More information

Standard Internal Structure German Infantry Divisions

Standard Internal Structure German Infantry Divisions Old Type used from 1939-1943 Divisional HQ: Map Reproduction Section Military Police Section 158 Personnel 2 LMG's 17 Motorcycles 31 Motor Vehicles Standard Internal Structure German Infantry Divisions

More information

5/27/2016 CHC2P I HUNT. 2 minutes

5/27/2016 CHC2P I HUNT. 2 minutes 18 CHC2P I HUNT 2016 CHC2P I HUNT 2016 19 1 CHC2P I HUNT 2016 20 September 1, 1939 Poland Germans invaded Poland using blitzkrieg tactics Britain and France declare war on Germany Canada s declaration

More information

Organization German Type 44 Panzer Division 1 August 1944

Organization German Type 44 Panzer Division 1 August 1944 Organization German Type 44 Panzer Division 1 August 1944 Division Headquarters: 1 Divisional Staff (2 LMGs) 1 (mot) Panzer Division Escort Company (organization as of 1 February 1944) 1 Heavy Platoon

More information

French XVII Army Corps Verdun-sur-Meuse Front 18 September-6 November 1918

French XVII Army Corps Verdun-sur-Meuse Front 18 September-6 November 1918 French XVII Army Corps Verdun-sur-Meuse Front 18 September-6 November 1918 26th Division: 51st Infantry Brigade: 101st Infantry Regiment (3258/1738) 102nd Infantry Regiment (3125/1372) 102nd Machine Gun

More information

Lieutenant Robert Ainslie Hamilton

Lieutenant Robert Ainslie Hamilton Lieutenant Robert Ainslie Hamilton Birth and Family Robert Ainslie Hamilton was born on August 13 th 1894 in Liverpool, the son of Dr. Robert Jessop Hamilton FRCSE, an ophthalmic surgeon, and Lylia Sophia

More information

Kharkov, A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario

Kharkov, A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario Kharkov, 1942 A Flames of War Mega-Game Scenario After a very difficult winter of 1941, German forces on the eastern front spent the spring rebuilding and fending off ever weakening Soviet attacks, while

More information

The Hugh Jones Story

The Hugh Jones Story The Hugh Jones Story Hugh Jones was born in Rogersville, Tennessee. He was the son of Henry M. Jones and Edith Cordelia Robinson Jones. He grew up in Ben Hur, (Lee County), Virginia. After being injured

More information

The SADF/UNITA commanders that can be played as are: Commandant Les Rudman (SADF) Major Pierre Franken (SADF) Lieutenant Oranje* (UNITA)

The SADF/UNITA commanders that can be played as are: Commandant Les Rudman (SADF) Major Pierre Franken (SADF) Lieutenant Oranje* (UNITA) Scenarios: Scenario 1: First Contact 6 September 1987 Umpire notes: (for his eyes only) Players may not view an opponent s Order of Battle for this scenario. Each player is allocated to a side (either

More information

By Helen and Mark Warner. Teaching Packs - World War II - Page 1

By Helen and Mark Warner. Teaching Packs - World War II - Page 1 By Helen and Mark Warner Teaching Packs - World War II - Page 1 In this section, you will learn about... 1. When the two World Wars took place. In the 20th century, there were two World Wars. The First

More information

Army Assault Forces - Normandy 6-7 June 1944

Army Assault Forces - Normandy 6-7 June 1944 Army Assault Forces - Normandy 6-7 June 1944 This list identifies Army units that were awarded assault landing credit for the Normandy invasion,6 and 7 June 1944. It includes all units except for platoons

More information