I am researching some war time history/family links in Eastbourne, Sussex 1943, and would really appreciate some help from some of the great posters on this site. I am mainly trying to locate war diaries, unit history links etc to the following: Lt. Roland Nicoletti, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, Canadian Scottish Regiment. I have located his grave on Beny-sur-Mer, Calvados, France where he was buried on June 26 1944. However, I am trying to find out if Lt. Nicoletti's unit was stationed in or around Eastbourne in 1943 and what action this unit/regiment was involved in before his death. Very many thanks
Nell the Canadian Scottish regiments 1st battalion were a part of 7th bde of 3rd Canadian Infantry division and more than likley in Eastbourne before they landed on Juno beach on June 6th '44 and were involved in the battles for Caen from the landings - try the Veterans web site in Ottawa for more information www.dva-vcc .cg.ca Cheers
Hi Neil & welcome. Where do you live? The reason I ask, is for looking at the war diaries. They have copies in the UK National Archives from August 1941 to October 1945 and no doubt in the Canadian archives as well. Regards - Rob PS - Looking at the casualties for the Canadian Scottish, there are 8 men listed as having served in the 2nd Battalion. As far as I know, only the 1st Battalion served in France during 1944. If someone else can confirm this, I will send an e-mail to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to check this out.
Hello and welcome to the forum. Lt. Roland Nicoletti, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, Canadian Scottish Regiment. Is there a number missing somewhere along the line? Signals units are normally numbered or more descriptive rather than just RCCoS.
As Neil has said, the details on CWGC confirm what he said. Name: NICOLETTI, ROLAND Nationality: Canadian Rank: Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Secondary Regiment: Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C. Secondary Unit Text: attd. Age: 25 Date of Death: 26/06/1944 Additional information: Son of Francesco and Anne Isabella Nicoletti, of Toronto, ontario. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. D. 10. Cemetery: BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS Headstone photo from the Veterans Affairs of Canada website:-
The Regina Rifles were also part of 7 Cdn Bde and were in W. Sussex at various times prior to the invasion. The CanScots were presumably nearby as well. In addition to the D-Day landings, the CanScots were key in the bridgehead battles, particularly recapture of Putot-en-Bessin on 8 June where 12 SS had overrun the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. 7 Cdn Bde remained relatively static in the area until 8 July. I would assume Nicolleti to be the RCCS officer attached to command the CanScots Sigs platoon. I have a copy of the excellent regimental history, I'll see if there is any additional information. If you go the war diary route, I have found that of the CanScots to be generally excellent in terms of details when compared to other Canadian units.
After Putot, the CanScots got a few days out of the line before moving to Rots/Le Hamel on 17 June. Their time there mostly involved patrolling and enduring mortar and artillery fire from German positions that overlooked them. Daytime movement was virtually impossible. "Enemy shell and mortar fire on Rots and Le Hamel, although not severe, caused more casualties in the battalion than anything else. On June 26 the enemy began to range some of his heavy artillery on the two villages, and their accuracy aroused some concern that enemy observers in civilian clothes were correcting the enemy's fire. During the course of the evening, one shell hit the farmhouse where Battalion Headquarters was located. The shell exploded inside the building with a crash and a sheet of flame, hurling steel, bricks and wood splinters in all directions. Lieuts. R Nicoletti, the Signals Officer, FH Werts, the Intelligence Officer and Lieut O'Neil, a Mortar Officer from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, were killed instantly or mortally wounded. Lt Col Cabeldu, Major CM Wightman, Captain RS Gray, Sgts NA Lewis and H Watkins and Piper J McMillan were all wounded. Battalion Headquarters itself was a shambles. Cabeldu, although cut about the face, managed to contact the brigade commander and informed him of the incident, and then he too was evacuated with the rest. ... Cabeldu came back two days later, but the others were hospitalized for weeks and months. The deaths of Lieut Nicoletti, who had done a sterling job as Sigs officer, and Lieut Werts, who had displayed remarkable coolness on D-Day and at Putot in the face of enemy fire, were sincerely regretted." Ready For the Fray: The History of the Candian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) 1920 to 2002 by RH Roy.
Primary location for the unit in 1943 was Monk's Common, near Horsham. They did spend three weeks in the Seaford area in May. Only 1st Bn served overseas. 2nd Bn served on the West Coast of Canada throughout.
Hallo to all . Very many thanks to all you kind and thoughtful posters who have responded so quickly to my request. I am completely thrilled with the fantastic information you have posted up here, especially as we have been searching for a long time with very little progress. We live up in Yorkshire in the UK, so not very close for a personal visit to the National Archives in London though not impossible. Is it likely that we might find more information about the unit's posting near Eastbourne? I am also hoping to find some pictures somewhere of the regimental uniform/badges/insignia . Thank you all once again , your support is very much appreciated Nell
Nell- Try this link for a bit of History... Welcome to The Canadian Scottish Regiment. The Canadian Scottish Regiment is an Infantry Reserve unit on Vancouver Island.= Cheers
Nell - here is another bit of the regiments history as Piper Richardson V.C. of the 16th battalion in WW1 won his V.C.- but as he was killed his Pipes went missing and subsqently found a few years ago in Scotland- and returned to his birthplace of Chilliwack B.C. a few miles from where I live - wherupon a statue was built and stands outside the museum in Chilliwack to-day - an interesting side bar to this is that the Richardson V.C. statue was unveiled with due ceremony by "Smokey" Smith V.C. who won his V.C. near Cesena in Italy in Oct '44 when my regiment was in support of the Canadian Seaforths but bogged down by floods etc. I tried to contact Smokey but security was tight ... on getting the war diaries to show where they were on the South coast before D Day - Contact "psy-war-org" or "Drew" on the forum as they do copy all war diaries for a small fee - save a trip to london.. Cheers
wrong linkNell it's all history to-day - here is another bit that I wrote doem time ago for the BBc series and feateturea ver y fine but bery stubborn Yorkshire man - but then - aren't they all BBC - WW2 People's War - The Yalta Aftermath Cheers BBC - WW2 People's War - The Yalta Aftermath
Nell - here we go again - hope this one is about the right link BBC - WW2 People's War - The Yalta Aftermath I give up this PC is due for the shredder .....
Rob, I've searched a few times for the WD. Do you know what the ref number is? All I could find for WW2 is a couple of citations. If I know the code i'll put the whole series onto Excel. A
Rob, I've searched a few times for the WD. Do you know what the ref number is? All I could find for WW2 is a couple of citations. If I know the code i'll put the whole series onto Excel. A You'll find them in the WO179 series. All the Canucks should be listed there. I’ve seen South African units listed there too. Have a look in the Hard copy book first as there may be other Commonwealth Units listed as well. WO179/2969 - Jan to Sept 1944 WO179/2970 - Oct to Dec 1944
Here's a couple of examples of the RCCS cap badge. Found picture here. RCCS KC Cap Badges - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum Other pics of RCCS cap badges with King's Crown here. RCSigs.ca - RC Sigs Militaria Site - RCCS King's Crown Officers' Bronze (OSD) Cap Badge
As the CanScots were in 3rd Can Div. I think he'd have worn their grey formation sign at top of sleeves with RCCS over it. See-> RCSigs.ca - RC Sigs Militaria Site - RCCS 3rd Canadian Division - WWII Here's RCCS officer with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa , the MG Bn of 3 Cdn Div with similar badge on sleeves. This one has adopted the regiments bonnet. Item Display - Faces of War - Library and Archives Canada