VERITABLE 1945: the Canadian finale (Moyland Wood & Goch-Calcar road)

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by stolpi, Apr 28, 2013.

  1. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    An excerpt of the War Diary of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (courtesy of DYRCH):

    IMG_5638.jpg IMG_5639.jpg IMG_5640.jpg IMG_5642.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2017
  2. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    'C' Troop of the 18th Canadian Anti-tank Battery: Lieutenant David Heaps, MC

    'C' Troop of the 18th Canadian Anti-tank Battery, 2nd Canadian AT Regt, RCA, in support of the RHLI, was responsible for knocking out seven of the German Panther tanks. A feat that probably saved the day for the hardpressed Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. The Troop commander, Lieutenant David Heaps, received an immediate MC for his actions. The award reads as follows:

    Heaps 2 Cdn AT Regt (RHLI).png Heaps 2 Cdn AT Regt (RHLI) 1.png

    Sit Reps of 2nd Canadian AT Regt re the enemy counterattacks:
    2nd AT Regt 2.jpg 2nd AT Regt 1.jpg

    71a.png
    "C" Troop consisted of four SP 17-pounder guns (Archer) in action for the first time. Picture of an Archer displayed at the Overloon War Museum aka 'Liberty Park'.



    71b.png 71c.png 073a.jpg

    KO'd Panther SD&G Highlanders.png
    One of the culprits, a knocked out Panther near the Goch-Calcar road (with courtesy of youtube).


    KOd Panther.jpg
    Another Panther KO'd by the Canadians near the Goch-Calcar road

    Panther KO'd.jpg
    ... same Panther, still from a Canadian Army newsreel.


    Message 20 Feb 45 2nd CIDiv.jpg
    Message from the 2nd Cnd Inf Division War Diary with an ID of the Panzer Lehr Divsion. PW's battalion arrived at Appeldorn, just to the northwest of Marienbaum.

    Message 21 Feb 45 2nd CIDiv.jpg
    An Intell message from the 21st gives further detail of the Panzer Lehr attack.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
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  3. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Awards won by the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (19 - 22 Feb 1945)

    Lt.Col William D. Whitaker, the Bn CO, received a bar to his DSO for his conduct of the battle:
    Whitaker DSO 1 RHLI.png Whitaker DSO 1 RHLI 1.png

    Cpl. Arthur J. Kelly, received a MM:
    Kelly MM RHLI.png Kelly MM RHLI 1.png

    Capt. Duncan F. Kennedy, i/c of 'B' Company, was awarded a MC:
    Kennedy MC RHLI.png Kennedy MC RHLI 1.png

    CSM Ernest C. Knott, 'A' Company, won a bar to his MM:
    Knott MM RHLI.png

    Pte. Allan MacDonald, of 'A' Company, received a MM:
    MacDonald MM RHLI.png MacDonald MM RHLI 1.png

    Pte Leo Sloat, 'A' Company, received a MM:
    Sloat MM RHLI.png

    Sgt Robert J. McLelland, was awarded a MM:
    McLelland MM RHLI.png McLelland MM RHLI a.png
     
  4. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    A search on Geoff's Search Machine reveals the following casualties for the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry for the period of 19 - 22 Feb 1945

    001 BALL JA B/38071 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    002 BEERS LE G/2678 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    003 BREZINO J B/64985 - 21/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    004 BURTON AW H/18162 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    005 CODE HR M/8769 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    006 COLES AJ B/138207 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    007 CROUGH MD B/113597 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    008 FERGUSON FF K/51664 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    009 HANSEN HS M/8108 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    010 HILTS JD A/109555 - 22/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    011 HOLDER GR - - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    012 HOWELL V E/101542 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    013 LOXTON ME B/148760 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    014 MACK GE B/115290 1ST BN 21/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    015 MARTIN JJ B/43303 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    016 MCCLUGHAN AM K/66618 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    017 MCCORMICK GA H/101409 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    018 MCCULLOCH DH M/51085 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    019 MISNER EN B/136092 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    020 MORRISON RL B/44481 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    021 MURPHY RJ B/127779 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    022 MURRAY DF G/2500 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    023 O'CALLAGHAN TJ B/117757 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    024 QUINN RW M/1325 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    025 RANKINE WA B/41726 - 19/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    026 REEVES AH B/86909 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    027 ROBINSON A B/36787 - 21/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    028 SMITH WV - - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    029 TANSLEY GK B/138352 - 21/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    030 THOMSON GR - - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
    031 WHITE WA B/113950 - 20/02/1945 ROYAL HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY, R.C.I.C.
     
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  5. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    - THE END -
     
  6. gpo son

    gpo son Senior Member

    Thanks Stolpi I really get what you mean about the pictures not showing the conditions on the day. Feb would have been far more disimal.
    I have taken the liberty of including the link to the Essex Scottish from Canada At War in some cases gives a bit more detail on the men. http://www.canadaatwar.ca/memorial/world-war-ii/regiment/4/Essex%20Scottish%20Regiment,%20R.C.I.C./ For them the worst day of the war was the travisty at Dieppe August 19th 42 folllowed, by the action on Feb 19th 45 which you reported here.
    Matt
     
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  7. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Thanks again Stolpi for more first class work and presentation !! I have shown your threads to an old friend who is a veteran of 8 Royal Scots who fought in the Reichswald and it has brought back many memories for him !
     
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  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Annex 1: Aerials of the battlefield (courtesy of infocollector):

    The pictures were taken in Oct 1944

    Moyland Wood aerial.png

    Louisendorf - Moyland aerial.png

    Goch - Calcar road aerial.png
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2016
  9. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Stolpi,

    A superb account of the action around Moyland Wood.
    Bravo... We Canadians thank you for the excellent research, photos and diligence that went into this thread.

    Cheers
    17thDYRCH

    PS> All of this on the new forum format!
     
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  10. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Thanks DYRCH - yes new format! hopefully these stick for a while.
     
  11. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Great thread. Thanks for all the work it took putting it out.
     
  12. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    Well done Stolpi !
     
  13. Pen and Dagger

    Pen and Dagger Junior Member

    Stolpi, welldone, on to BLOCKBUSTER!
     
  14. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Annex 2: The 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment memorial at Mill (Holland)

    Kangaroo Moyland.png
    A “Kangaroo” of “A” Squadron with en-pouched infantrymen of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 16 February 1945. (Source: LAC PA137744)

    Today I cycled from Arnhem to the village of Mill, some 15 miles south of Nijmegen, and took a series of photographs of the Cdn Ram Kangaroo, which is displayed at the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (Cdn APCR) Memorial in this village. The carriers of the 1st Cdn APCR played a prominent part in the battle described in this thread: they reduced the casualties suffered en route to the objective and got the infantry there quicker than on foot. On dismount the carriers ensured that an adequate force was available for the final assault. The Regiment received two battle honours for the operation: Moyland Wood and the Goch-Calcar Road.

    For more info on the location and the memorial see the link in post #22. For some background on the 1st Cdn APCR See http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back issues/CMH/volume 4/Issue 2/Grodzinski - Kangaroos at War - The History of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment.pdf

    Why the 1st Cdn APCR memorial is located at Mill, the site of heavy fighting between the Dutch and German Armies in May 1940, is a bit of a riddle to me.

    047a.jpg
    A Ram Kangaroo. Fully laden, the vehicle weighed 55,000 pounds. Its maximum speed was 25 miles per hour with fuel consumption of one mile per gallon. The driver's visor is open. A .30-inch Browning machine gun is on the cupola. The Ram carrier could accomodate 11 infantry along with a crew of two.

    031a.jpg
    The 1st Cdn APCR was formed on 19 October 1944, incorporating the old 1st Cdn Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron ('Kangaroo Squadron') which was formed on 28 August 44, and came under command of 31 Brigade of the British 79th Armoured Division. Accordingly, Canadians of 1Cdn APCR were authorized to wear the 79th ‘Bullshead’ flash. The same was painted on their vehicles. Vehicle markings include the 79th Armoured Division on the right fender of the vehicle and the unit tactical sign on left. Unfortunately the number in the tactical sign is wrong, it should be '157' instead of '175'. The Regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. Gordon M. Churchill, with Major F.K. Bingham as Second-in-Command.

    034a.jpg

    029a.jpg

    Some details of the carrier:
    030a.jpg 045a.jpg 044a.jpg 042a.jpg 041a.jpg 046a.jpg Best 105.JPG Best 106.JPG Best 107.JPG

    RAM 1.jpg
    The Kangaroo was a turretless version of the Canadian Cruiser Tank aka Ram. Picture of a Ram MKIII taken during my visit in 2017 to Base Borden Military Museum, Ontario, Canada. For more info see also Cruiser Tank, Ram - Tank Encyclopedia.




    The Regimental flag & badge. The motto of the regiment (was) taken from Virgil’s Aenid Bk II, where reference is made to the first “Kangaroo” recorded in history, namely the Trojan Horse which so successfully transported Greek Warriors right into the midst of the enemy’s fortifications. Freely translated the motto read: “It pours forth armed men.” The colour scheme makes use of black as used in the beret of the CAC & orange because of the link with Holland in which country the regiment has been formed.

    kangaroo%20guidonv2%20(464x478)%2069_4kb.jpg

    Kangaroo.png Best 104.JPG
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2019
  15. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    I noticed that the Kangaroo in the first picture of the previous post is not the same as the one displayed at the 1st Cdn APCR monument, does anyone know which different types of Kangaroos were deployed in the Armoured Carrier Regiments ?

    Edit: I believe the picture shows a Mk V model, which is a late version of the Tank Cruiser Ram. The auxiliary turret and sponson door are removed, with the Browning .303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun fitted in the ball mount, whereas the model displayed at Mill is an earlier production (Mk II)??? Though it has an armoured air intake on the back, which was a later adaptation ???
     
  16. Wilco Vermeer

    Wilco Vermeer Junior Member

    There were many types of Kangeroes or better specified Armoured Personnel Carrier - APC.
    The first types were 102 converted M7 Priest SP guns to be used by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Most however were made by conversion of the RAM tank who became obsolete by the main use of the Sherman tank.
    Smaller numbers were converted from Churchill tanks.
    I do not have a good overvieuw of which unit used which type specificly.

    [​IMG]
    M7 Priest Conversion

    [​IMG]
    RAM conversion

    [​IMG]
    Churchill Conversion
     
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  17. Nijmegen

    Nijmegen Member

    :) "The Canadian Finale", sounds like a movie or book title!!

    Stolpi, it's a bit confusing now, why is this topic not in the NW Europe section, like all of your other ones?
     
  18. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    What other ones?
     
  19. Nijmegen

    Nijmegen Member

    You know, about your travels through the countryside. By bike, I once went along, surely you remember that?
     
  20. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    We should do that again, don't you think. Maybe a trip to Kranenburg, Germany?
     

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